For astro photo work, in the same price range as the CG-5 is the Atlas EQ-G. It is a better astro photo mount in my opinion than the CG-5. It's also sold as the Skywatcher EQ-6 outside the US. See:
http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php...=827&pr=2x8x34
for a review. I don't particularly like it for visual work but its not bad for DSO photography. Certainly better than the CG-5 from my experience. Of course all this is very personal. What bothers one person can be an asset to another! This is why its so important to get the experience of actually trying these in the field at star parties, even if you have to travel quite a ways to find one that has someone with what you are looking at. He may love it and you find you hate it.

Rick