iOptron HEM15 Strain Wave Mount Head with iPolar
iOptron
iOptron HEM15 Strain Wave Mount Head with iPolar is a strain-wave GoTo mount for guided astrophotography rigs.
Best Current Offer
Specifications
Mount
- Mount type
- Hybrid strain-wave equatorial GoTo mount
- Drive system
- Strain-wave RA drive with belt-driven DEC
- Payload capacity
- 15 lb (6.8 kg) without counterweight; 21 lb (9.5 kg) with counterweight
- Mount weight
- 5.5 lb (2.5 kg)
- Latitude range
- 15º ~ 65º
Capacity
- Payload-to-weight ratio
- 3.8:1
Motion
- Slew rate
- 6º/sec
Electronics
- Controller
- Go2Nova® 8409 with ~212,000 objects database
- Power
- DC12V-5A (5.5/2.5 mm DC plug)
Mechanical
- Tripod / pier
- Optional
Astrophotography Fit
A portable strain-wave mount that should be chosen by realistic imaging payload, not headline capacity alone.
iOptron HEM15 Strain Wave Mount Head with iPolar is a midrange strain-wave GoTo mount for computerized tracking and guiding.
For long-exposure astrophotography, use a conservative imaging payload. The telescope, camera, guide hardware, dew heaters, dovetails, and cables all count, and guiding performance matters more than the catalog payload number.
Strain-wave mounts are wonderfully compact, but they still need stiffness, cable discipline, and sometimes counterweighting to keep long tubes calm.
Best paired with
- Compact refractors, cooled cameras, and tidy cable-managed power
- Guiding from a guide scope or OAG for long exposures
- Tripod or pier with enough stiffness for the full imaging load
Not recommended for
- Ignoring counterweights on long or heavy optical tubes
- Tall, flexible tripods with high wind exposure
- Payloads near the marketing limit for long-exposure imaging
Where To Buy
Some links on this page are affiliate links. Prices and availability are pulled automatically from each retailer and updated daily.
| Retailer | Price | Availability | View Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astronomics Astronomics | $1,498.00 | In stock Updated 8/5/2026 | View Offer - $1,498.00 |
| High Point Scientific High Point Scientific | $1,649.00 | In stock Updated 8/5/2026 | View Offer - $1,649.00 |
| Telescopes.net Telescopes.net | $1,649.00 | In stock Updated 8/4/2026 | View Offer - $1,649.00 |
Price History
Chronological retailer pricing with out-of-stock points shown at reduced opacity.