camvan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/05
Posts: 2142
Loc: British Columbia
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my personal opinion is probably the SVP from Orion...but being I've never used any EQ mount before, that opinion may be flawed. it's an observation and feel I've gotten from the forums here.
almost everyone knows I want something for planetary viewing, and that I'm considering a Maksutov of some form. when I determine the best mount to get that fits my needs for some heft (stability), but still retains portability and a relative ease of setup, then I will choose what scope to get. I want something that is as best a compromise between aa full setup and 'grab n go'. 
thanks!
Cam
edit - oops, I thought I was in the 'mounts' forum when I posted this...sorry! 
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Cameron
"Aperture can only be replaced by even more aperture. Dark transparent skies cannot be replaced by anything else." - Stathis Kafalis
Intes MN66
Meade SN8
handfull of cheap ep's
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Jason B
My wife says I am Obsessed...
Reged: 06/21/04
Posts: 5759
Loc: Mid-Michigan
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Hey Cam,
My personal favorite for "portable but stable" is the Vixen GP. I feel it is a step ahead of the SVP/CG5/look alikes in terms of it's smoothness and accuracy. The SVP et al has a better tripod though. I upgraded to the HAL110 for my GP and am very happy with it. Whether or not the price difference is worth it depends on each individual. For me, there is no doubt it is worth it but I am also an imager so my expectations for a mount are much higher than they used to be. I have mounted 8" Newtonian and SCT's on my GP with success. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one for a MCT.
Jason
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Jason B
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camvan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/05
Posts: 2142
Loc: British Columbia
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I guess I should also state that cost is a factor and basically the rule I will have to follow is cheapest is best. if the performance of a certain level is so much better than the step below tho, then obviously the cost/performance ratio widen's, making the more expensive model the better choice. with how limited my budget is, I'm almost tempted to just buy a mount and wait for the funds to get a scope  stare at my mount  lovingly , awaiting something to set on it. of course, unless there is an amazing deal that's too good to pass up, I'll probably just wait till I have 'all' the money. I think I'd just feel better spending two 'smaller' sums of money than one 'big'...makes it easier to justify 
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Cameron
"Aperture can only be replaced by even more aperture. Dark transparent skies cannot be replaced by anything else." - Stathis Kafalis
Intes MN66
Meade SN8
handfull of cheap ep's
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Tim2723
The Moon Guy
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 5762
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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I have an SVP that I use for my MK66DX and it's perfect for me. Not too heavy, very stable, and I don't do photography, so it's OK by me.
Here's something you might find interesting though. When I bought mine, I just wanted the mount. Because of the way Orion had certain scope packages bundled, I ended up buying the 6LT/SVP package for about $60 more than the cost of the mount and drive. I ended up with the mount I wanted plus a whole Newt set up (OTA, rings, dovetail, finder, EPs) for only $60 more, which was a pretty good price at the time.
The only reason I mention it is that I know you're after a Mak, but if you can do this trick, you might be able to get the mount plus a second scope at a bargain that could compliment your Mak, like a fast refractor for wide fields. Something like that.
For instance, the SVP alone (no drive) is $330 and the RA drive is $70 ($400 total). The SVP 100 EQ with RA drive is $470, so for only $70 more you get the mount and drive you want plus a nice 100mm f/6 refractor to compliment your Mak when you get it (and something to occupy you while you're waiting).
I feel I got $60 worth of fun out of the Newt while I was waiting for my Mak. Just something to think about.
I know you're on a budget (heck, most of us are!), but getting a second scope for that kind of money is hard for me to pass up. I have to save pennies for every purchase, but I figure if $60-70 is going to break me, I'd better get a different hobby.  I mean, what the heck can you get for that money in this racket?
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Intes MK-66 Deluxe (6" f/12 Maksutov)
Celestron C-102HD (4" f/10 achromat)
Celestron C-102AZ (4" f/5 achromat)
Orion 6LT (6" f/8 classic Newtonian)
Orion Apex 90 (90mm Mak spotter/grab-n-go/little fun scope)
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mplkn1
sage
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 393
Loc: Centrally Inaccessible, PA
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I'll second (or third or fourth) an endorsement for the SVP.
There are a few plastic pieces on it - RA motor cover, for example. There's a horn-shaped cap that covers the eyepiece end of the empty polar-axis scope option: it immediately falls off. I just keep mine off and in storage.
They beefed up the tripod legs, I believe from 1.25 to 1.5 inches, within the last year. Some folks say they are 1.75. I bought mine in September 05 (under an 8" Orion (Celestron) SCT) - and I measured: it has 1.5 inch legs.
The mount has no trouble handling the 8" SCT (16.5 pounds), plus diagonal, plus eyepiece plus Telrad plus dew shield. Piece of cake.
I usually observe with the legs not extended at all, or only enough to bring polaris into view through the empty polar-axis scope tube (close enough for visual use w/ manual tracking). The SCT is a breeze to find comfortable seated viewing positions for: you can rotate the diagonal.
I added flex shaft manual slo-mo knobs from ScopeStuff, ridding the SVP of another of its less admirable plastic pieces, the plastic slo-mo knobs.
So far no problems with the Synta-glue grease. I've had it out in temps into the low teens F., with no binding or gagging. There's perhaps (or even probably) a rebuild/regrease for me in the SVP's future - but the mount hasn't screamed for it yet in practice.
I've a somewhat bad back - have to be careful. I usually carry the legs, mount and weights assembled (but legs folded) out from our house into the field. If you place the center of gravity right its not bad. Then a second trip for the OTA.
On a "good back" night I'll make sure no one's watching, then pick up the whole assembled rig to take it to a different part of the field if I need to. On a "bad back" night I won't do that.
I'd call the overall quality of the SVP to be decent: the metal components are sturdy. All the motions are smooth. I've no complaints whatsoever with its load handling for my purposes. If I ever get a bigger scope than the 8" SCT I'll put it on a non-goto Atlas.
For now, I'm a visual observer who feels freed by not dragging computers, 12 volt batteries, and other wired impedimentia into the field. For me, in this context, the basic manual SVP is ideal, and I recommmend it without hesitation.
I hope this is helpful - Best wishes!
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Michael -
"I am obliged to confess that I should sooner live in a society governed by the first two thousand names in the Boston telephone directory than in a society governed by the two thousand faculty members of Harvard University."
William F. Buckley, 1963.
Orion (Celestron) 8" SCT on SkyView Pro, Telrad.
Garrett Optical Gemini 25x100 WP IF,
Bogen 3051 tripod w/ 3063 head.
Oberwerk 10x60 Mariner.
Palm Planetarium.
Stellarium on a Motion Computing tablet PC.
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mcoren
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/11/06
Posts: 1403
Loc: Virginia, USA
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Hi Cam,
I've used my SVP beneath a 9.25" SCT for high-power planetary viewing (470x when conditions permitted) and it was stable enough to enable me to pick out some of the fine details in Mars and Saturn during their recent oppositions. It wasn't "rock steady" at that magnification, but it wasn't wobbling all over the place either. It generally did settle down in a couple of seconds as I fidgeted with the focus and whatnot.
Personally, I think the SVP is one of the best values in a lightweight EQ mount out there.
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Mike
Disclosure: I have received, and continue to benefit from, atoms that were fused by stars in the early universe, most notably carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen, and an assortment of others.
Orion SkyQuest XT10 Dob
6" f/8 Home-built Dob
Celestron C8 OTA (late 80's)
Vixen Super Polaris mount
Suburban Washington DC
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wilash
Fairy Godmother
Reged: 09/30/03
Posts: 5746
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Cheap, Stable, Portable
Pick any two.
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darylf96
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/28/04
Posts: 1432
Loc: Danville, California
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The CG5 non go-to would be my choice for price and stability. The tripod is simply the sturdiest around. The 2 inch diameter legs are super stiff.
http://www.telescopes.com/products/Celestron_CG-5_Mount_25847.html
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Intes Micro MN66 - Meade 10" SCT
Orion EON 120mm ED f7.5 Apo
Skywatcher 150mm f8 Achro
G-11, CG5A-GT Mounts
DM-6 With Sky Commander DSC
Astro-Tech AT80 Refractor f6.9 APO
Stellarvue 20x85 binos - Unimount
Kunming United Optics 7x50 binocs
Canon Rebel XT, Canon 20D, Canon 7D, Canon SXi
SBIG ST-8XE
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camvan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/05
Posts: 2142
Loc: British Columbia
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to be honest, I actually plan on getting myself a pier to take with me, instead of a tripod, so really, it's the 'mount' I am interested in the most. to put on the pier.
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Cameron
"Aperture can only be replaced by even more aperture. Dark transparent skies cannot be replaced by anything else." - Stathis Kafalis
Intes MN66
Meade SN8
handfull of cheap ep's
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Tim2723
The Moon Guy
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 5762
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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Oh. Then forget what I said. The pier option isn't available with any Orion bundle. The ecconomics go out the window.
Still, the SVP mount itself is a very good bargain I think, especially for visual use and non-goto planetary observing. If you're still thinking about a 5-6" Mak Cass, the pier might be a little harder to use though. It's a fixed hieght model (although they have an extension unit). I find that raising and lowering the whole mount with the leveling extensions on the tripod to be very important for comfortable Mak use. When the scope is near zenith, I raise the whole thing up a few inches. Just my personal habit. YMMV.
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Intes MK-66 Deluxe (6" f/12 Maksutov)
Celestron C-102HD (4" f/10 achromat)
Celestron C-102AZ (4" f/5 achromat)
Orion 6LT (6" f/8 classic Newtonian)
Orion Apex 90 (90mm Mak spotter/grab-n-go/little fun scope)
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camvan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/05
Posts: 2142
Loc: British Columbia
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well, I'm considering a Mak-Newt. I find how low our Dobsonian is a pain. I have a bad back and neck, very easy to make it twinge. so I want something much higher. a pier is only an idea, I find the idea of one more portable than for the space a tripod would take up. if I don't go with a pier, I'd actually be getting a wooden tripod I think. much better for dampening, and personally, it looks a lil better than steel, chrome and aluminum.
I'm open to suggestions tho. what kind of mount do you think is reasonable in the $1300US range? do you think one could find something used that's a step above the Atlas? 
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Cameron
"Aperture can only be replaced by even more aperture. Dark transparent skies cannot be replaced by anything else." - Stathis Kafalis
Intes MN66
Meade SN8
handfull of cheap ep's
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Raven911
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/12/05
Posts: 1899
Loc: by Cloudcroft, NM
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Occasionally, I have seen used Losmandy G11's go for around that price on Astromart. That is about the best you can get. You could also go for a Celestron CI700, if you can find one. They are roughly the same thing. Those are pretty big mounts. They can hold way more than a 6 inch Mak. I am not sure how portable they really are. Those and the Celestron CGE are pretty much your choices beyond the Atlas mount.
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http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v287/Raven911/Astrophotos/
http://www.eye-of-the-raven.blogspot.com/
My list of second-hand and home-made stuff:
Celestron SC6
Celestron C9.25
100mm F6/76mm F4.5/80mm F5/SV NHII 80mm F6 Achros
SBIG ST7/Canon 300D/DSI Pro Mono/Starshoot DSCI
8 inch F7 Newt on Edmund EQ
8 inch F4.5 Project Astrograph
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mcoren
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/11/06
Posts: 1403
Loc: Virginia, USA
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Quote:
I find how low our Dobsonian is a pain. I have a bad back and neck, very easy to make it twinge. so I want something much higher.
That's easy. You just need a bigger dob!
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Mike
Disclosure: I have received, and continue to benefit from, atoms that were fused by stars in the early universe, most notably carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen, and an assortment of others.
Orion SkyQuest XT10 Dob
6" f/8 Home-built Dob
Celestron C8 OTA (late 80's)
Vixen Super Polaris mount
Suburban Washington DC
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darylf96
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/28/04
Posts: 1432
Loc: Danville, California
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Camvan:
I think you might find that a pier with no other alternative is not a practical solution for portable use, unless you are set on a fork mounted scope. Your posts seem to indicate that you are considering a GEM mount. If that is the case, then you will find a portable pier may not be a flexible solution, and the type of scope yo decide on will also play a part in this decision.
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Intes Micro MN66 - Meade 10" SCT
Orion EON 120mm ED f7.5 Apo
Skywatcher 150mm f8 Achro
G-11, CG5A-GT Mounts
DM-6 With Sky Commander DSC
Astro-Tech AT80 Refractor f6.9 APO
Stellarvue 20x85 binos - Unimount
Kunming United Optics 7x50 binocs
Canon Rebel XT, Canon 20D, Canon 7D, Canon SXi
SBIG ST-8XE
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camvan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/05
Posts: 2142
Loc: British Columbia
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I'm curious to know if any of you think the Intelliscope controller is worth getting for the SkyView Pro mount?
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Cameron
"Aperture can only be replaced by even more aperture. Dark transparent skies cannot be replaced by anything else." - Stathis Kafalis
Intes MN66
Meade SN8
handfull of cheap ep's
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Tim2723
The Moon Guy
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 5762
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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For a planetary scope? No. As an add-on later if your plans change, sure.
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Intes MK-66 Deluxe (6" f/12 Maksutov)
Celestron C-102HD (4" f/10 achromat)
Celestron C-102AZ (4" f/5 achromat)
Orion 6LT (6" f/8 classic Newtonian)
Orion Apex 90 (90mm Mak spotter/grab-n-go/little fun scope)
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mcoren
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/11/06
Posts: 1403
Loc: Virginia, USA
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Quote:
I'm curious to know if any of you think the Intelliscope controller is worth getting for the SkyView Pro mount?
Personally, no, but I think finding objects by starhopping is half the fun.
As Tim said, you can always add it on later.
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Mike
Disclosure: I have received, and continue to benefit from, atoms that were fused by stars in the early universe, most notably carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen, and an assortment of others.
Orion SkyQuest XT10 Dob
6" f/8 Home-built Dob
Celestron C8 OTA (late 80's)
Vixen Super Polaris mount
Suburban Washington DC
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Tim2723
The Moon Guy
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 5762
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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Let me make sure I didn't say that badly. Nothing wrong with computer locating aids, but they're not especially useful for a planetary set up, and the money can go into something else more specific to planetary observing.
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Intes MK-66 Deluxe (6" f/12 Maksutov)
Celestron C-102HD (4" f/10 achromat)
Celestron C-102AZ (4" f/5 achromat)
Orion 6LT (6" f/8 classic Newtonian)
Orion Apex 90 (90mm Mak spotter/grab-n-go/little fun scope)
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camvan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/05
Posts: 2142
Loc: British Columbia
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just out of curiousity, has anyone ever made binoculars that are catadioptric?
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Cameron
"Aperture can only be replaced by even more aperture. Dark transparent skies cannot be replaced by anything else." - Stathis Kafalis
Intes MN66
Meade SN8
handfull of cheap ep's
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Bob Clift
sage
Reged: 03/22/05
Posts: 348
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Quote:
just out of curiousity, has anyone ever made binoculars that are catadioptric?
Found this (http://www.europa.com/~telscope/bintlhst.txt) which mentions some historical catadioptric binoculars.
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