Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Loc: Sunny California
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: jrbarnett]
#3032497 - 04/08/09 04:46 PM
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Or perhaps the little elves in the far east actually making much of this gear are missing their deadlines, causing the middle-men selling it in the US to likewise miss their deadlines.
With the global recession in full sway, many manufacturing companies, such as those making astro-gear in China, have cut back production. Flagging demand makes sustaining supply a silly proposition. Cut a shift here and a shift there, prioritize projects that are yielding higher volumes and margins, etc.
It's even worse when you're just a pass-through; you have neither control nor up-to-date information. Patience and a grain of salt are useful in these cases.
Regards,
Jim
You might have hit the nail on the old head. Explore Scientific has a new dual-head mount that's not yet available. I've been told it's a manufacturing issue. That mount looks intriguing, especially at the low price advertised.
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Loc: Sunny California
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: Starlighter]
#3034910 - 04/09/09 08:44 PM
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I finally received the mount today and it was a disaster. First of all, the pillar on the head was loose and since there was no instructions included, I had to figure it's held in place by six tiny allen screws that bite into the mount shaft. The bottom of the pillar has a hole where the screw on the tripod supposedly attaches, but the hole is too small. Then, the head is painted in flat gray which shows up the slightest fingerprint. Plus the head has a nice scratch in the paint. The cap was missing on one end and from what I could tell, this is the opposite of the Orion as far as tension goes. This one has way too much tension. Releasing the levers, I could barely turn the pivot where the dovetail attaches. The apple tray that supposedly snaps in with ease is a bear to fit and once in place is darned near impossible to remove. I get the feeling this is a work in progress. So I'm shipping it back.
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hwman
member
Reged: 02/16/09
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: Starlighter]
#3035176 - 04/09/09 11:19 PM
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Bummer . . . talk about disappointing. Thanks for cluing us all in though. Unfortunately I seem to be hearing other similar stores about SV at the moment. What a headache to go through to get something that shouldn't even be for sale.
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Loc: Sunny California
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: hwman]
#3035224 - 04/09/09 11:52 PM
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The whole thing looked cheap and hastily shoved together. Certainly not worth what's being charged for it. It's not like Vic to offer something less than satisfactory. I've been extremely happy with my SV102ED. Hopefully, this will quickly be resolved to my liking.
What's interesting is on the other end where there's no dovetail mounted, I could tell this could be a dual-head mount. I guess this is what United Optics manufactures as a dual-head minus one side. I could look into the hole since the cap was missing to see where a dovetial could mount. It appeared that when I turned the alt slow motion knob, inside I could see the mount moves.
The biggest problem with the head is it needs to be totally free when the lock levers are disengaged just like it is with my CG4 mount. Instead, this mount is as stiff as imaginable.
Oh, and I didn't mention that the aluminum tripod was marked up with several scratches. Inexcusable. And it wasn't due to shipping either. Everything was protected in bubble wrap. The outside box arrived in perfect condition. I ordered it with the aluminum surveyor's tripod which I was told was quite stable. Well, it has the same cheap aluminum legs that I replaced on my Portamount plus at the top where they attach is made of black plastic which I'm sure will flex. I see where Vic sells a wooden version made in the USA, but it costs $100 more. That's probably the tripod to get. But until the mount problems are rectified, I'd stay away from it.
So now I've ordered two different AZ mounts that turned out to be not as represented. The other was the Orion deluxe dual-head AZ mount which I sent back for a refund.
I'm now very reluctant to be thrice burned. So I guess I'll stick with the Portamount. It's soundly made and with the addition of wooden legs and flexible slow motion knobs, hard to beat.
I see where Explore Scientific's Twilight dual-head mount is not yet available and no one seems to know when it will arrive. I've had my eye on that one. But I'll have to see it first, play with it to know if it's for me. No more buying new stuff sight unseen. Those days are over.
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Teal'c
Indeed
Reged: 08/02/05
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: Starlighter]
#3035510 - 04/10/09 06:04 AM
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Do yourself a favor and check into the Giro 3. I doubt that you'll find anything (if properly used) to complain about with these German made mounts.
The Giro 3 and my old DM-6 have been extremely solid mounts.
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Jim7728
Postmaster
Reged: 04/10/05
Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: Teal'c]
#3035604 - 04/10/09 07:54 AM
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Not to play monday morning quarterback, but it sounds like the MG mount was made available too soon without working out the bugs,QA or going through some kind of beta testing. That said, potentialy this could be a nice functioning mount, though I'am not a huge fan of slow motion controls when, imo, they cannot be reached easily with longer, larger ota's.
I would also recommend the GIRO 3. It does cost more, but you do get what you pay for. 
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skyjim
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/13/07
Loc: Long Island, NY
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: Starlighter]
#3035835 - 04/10/09 10:24 AM
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Hey star I've been watching your posts and feel your pain,I went with the Orion mount to and after 3 went to something else but not a Alt/Az, Orion gave me full credit after 6 months to a Sirius EQ-G so I have no problems with Orions CS. I was kinda expecting that the SV MG would have been better only because Vic seems to do a good job on QC of his products but it looks more to me that they got the mount in and shipped it to you, no QC done at all. I know with Neaf coming up the man is spread way to thin but keep you customers 1st is alway the most important aspect of your comitment to your marketplace. I like you did hope that this MG mount was going to work for you and its a shame what happened to you, I feel that maybe this mount was re bagged and shipped without being checked, to me there is no excuse for this and at the price he is charging its a shame
 .
I hope you finally get what you want but it might take some time, good luck.
Jim
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rick rian
Seeker of Truth(s)
Reged: 08/03/04
Loc: Upper Mid West
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: Jim7728]
#3036134 - 04/10/09 12:54 PM
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Interesting design, it looks like it has potential to be motorised.
United Optics dual helical mount
Hope it works well out the box, will be awaiting your first slew report.
Yup! That looks like it, Jim ... good catch. I hope they get the QC where it needs to be.
I'm sorry your unit didn't pan out for you Starlighter, it's customer service time ...
Best of luck.
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Loc: Sunny California
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: skyjim]
#3036150 - 04/10/09 01:03 PM
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I spoke with Vic this morning. He apologized saying the mount should never have been shipped to me. Preparing for NEAF has taken time away from him going though these mounts to make sure they all come up to his high standard of quality. The reason the mount was so stiff is it's loaded inside with that thick Chinese grease. Vic had planned to open them all up and remove that grease and replace it with good old American grease, but that didn't happen. Plus the mount lacks the end cap because they haven't been made. So back it goes. It will take another few months before Vic has the mount I really want which is a dual-head version of the MG.
My search for the proper AZ mount ends today. Unless I see one in person and can use it, no way will I buy another. The Discmount looks great, but not for over $2,000 which is how much one would run me that way I'd want it. The TV Gibraltar is nice, but besides being expensive, when using one it's hard to aim a scope at Zenith. I know since each time I've seen one in person, I've noticed this. Had the Orion dual head AZ mount not had the lack of tension issue, that would have been the ideal mount for me. It's built well, looks great and handles two scopes at once.
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Scott in NC
Mad Hatter
Reged: 03/05/05
Loc: NC
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: Starlighter]
#3036197 - 04/10/09 01:31 PM
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Have you considered the Unistar Heavy Deluxe mount from Universal Astronomics? Mine does a great job supporting my SV102ABV.
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Loc: Sunny California
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: Scott in NC]
#3036247 - 04/10/09 02:00 PM
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From now on unless I see one, get one in my grubby fat hands to test, I won't buy another. It's like buying shoes via the web. They never fit once delivered.
I did look at the Teton website where they sell the German made Giro. It looks interesting. The Germans make great stuff. But I'd need to see how it operates with two scopes mounted at the same time. If it lacks proper tension and balance is critical, it's off my potential list.
The Half Hitch looks wonderful. But it's also very expensive.
Maybe I should just take my CG4 EQ mount and turn it into an AZ mount. I wonder what would be needed to accomplish this. As it is, I rarely use the CG4 for viewing since it's a pain to move it around and then when I do find a target, I have to lock it down and then switch on the RA motor. I want something that's simple, lightweight yet can carry any scope I own. Two at a time would be even better.
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Scott in NC
Mad Hatter
Reged: 03/05/05
Loc: NC
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: Starlighter]
#3036320 - 04/10/09 02:35 PM
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What about buying something used? At least if it turns out to be not to your liking, you could probably sell it for about what you paid for it.
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frankcf5
member
Reged: 09/27/05
Loc: Carbondale, Colorado
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: Scott in NC]
#3036695 - 04/10/09 06:15 PM
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Starlighter, I’m sorry to here about your troubles with the MG mount. I second Scott’s recommendation regarding the Universal Astronomics Unistar Deluxe. I picked mine up used a couple years ago for under $300. It carries the 102ED easily without being fussy at all regarding balance. Set right I can remove a 31 Nagler without fear of the scopes nose dropping. It carries my 15+lb. SV115 well but requires a little more attention to fore/aft balance. I was at a star party were a guy used the same mount with a 20+-lb SV5 and it was surprisingly smooth. UA has come out with a duel scope version called the Doublestar that looks interesting in the way it can be adjusted so both scopes alignment match. (you can adjust the left-hand scope so it points exactly the same as the right-hand scope) I do not know of any other duel scope mount with that ability. A nice feature I find with the UA mounts is that they carry the scope up and back away from the tripod making viewing near zenith effortless. I had JMI add encoders to mine making it a nice push to system. One other thing, the Unistar is very light. Whatever mount you go with I suggest you don’t skimp on the tripod. Good luck!
Frank
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Loc: Sunny California
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: frankcf5]
#3036796 - 04/10/09 07:13 PM
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Frank, with the Unistar I take it you can lock it down so when changing out eyepieces the scope doesn't suddenly pitch forward or backward depending on how it's balanced? If so, that might be a mount for me to consider.
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Myles
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/25/06
Loc: Seattle, Washington
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: Starlighter]
#3036859 - 04/10/09 07:51 PM
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If you were ready to use the MG why wouldn't the DM4 work?
Without encoders it comes in around $950 when adding a saddle. A DM4 doesn't approach $2000 until you add encoders and the sky commander.
- Myles
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Scott in NC
Mad Hatter
Reged: 03/05/05
Loc: NC
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: Starlighter]
#3036881 - 04/10/09 07:58 PM
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Frank, with the Unistar I take it you can lock it down so when changing out eyepieces the scope doesn't suddenly pitch forward or backward depending on how it's balanced?
Yes, and it's really easy to lock down with the twist of a knob. If you're careful, you can even do so without knocking the scope off its target. The only caveat is that if you're using heavy EPs with a nose-heavy scope, you really do need to lock it down when changing EPs.
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Loc: Sunny California
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: Myles]
#3036939 - 04/10/09 08:20 PM
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The DM4 lists for $800. Then I'd need a decent tripod. A good wooden one they sell runs $450. Now we're up to $1250 and that doesn't include a saddle plate so I can attach my scopes. Add another $125 for that and I'm up to $1375. Then add whatever they charge for shipping. Plus in California, they now force us to pay sales tax on taxable items purchased out of state. Taxpayers must list all purchases and then pay the sales tax that's in their district. Otherwise, if they ever come and audit you and discover those taxes weren't paid, well, it means penalties. Most people ignore it, but I happen to know someone who purchased a very expensive camera from New York, didn't list it and the store sent California the info so he got snagged. So starting this month, California sales tax where I reside will hit 10%. So add another $137.50. That comes to $1512.50 plus whatever the shipping charge happens to be so lets say it's $50. That means the entire rig will run me $1562.50.
What people tend to forget is once everything is added up, nothing in this hobby is cheap. Take my simple Vixen A80Mf achromat that I paid $239 for. It sits on a Portamount that back when I bought it cost me $399 plus tax. I added wooden legs to it for another $79. Plus I bought a WO dielectric diagonal for $80 and a Stellarvue RDF for around $24 plus shipping and sales tax. So when I take that scope outside and start using it, I'm using equipment that cost nearly $860. And that's with no eyepiece save the two el cheapo Plossls that came with the scope. If I plug in say my 13mm Ethos which by the way works incredibly well with that scope, we're now talking about a setup that ran me just under $1,500!
Oh, speaking of the Ethos, I see where a fifth has just been announced. A 10mm will be coming out listing for $620.
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Loc: Sunny California
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: Scott in NC]
#3036954 - 04/10/09 08:24 PM
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Frank, with the Unistar I take it you can lock it down so when changing out eyepieces the scope doesn't suddenly pitch forward or backward depending on how it's balanced?
Yes, and it's really easy to lock down with the twist of a knob. If you're careful, you can even do so without knocking the scope off its target. The only caveat is that if you're using heavy EPs with a nose-heavy scope, you really do need to lock it down when changing EPs.
That's not a problem. I wish the Orion had that feature. I'd have kept it. Oh well....
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frankcf5
member
Reged: 09/27/05
Loc: Carbondale, Colorado
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: Scott in NC]
#3036978 - 04/10/09 08:34 PM
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Yea to what Scott said. I find with the weight of the 102ED I may just snug the altitude knob up a bit when switching out the heavy eyepieces, depending on how well balanced I am initially. You can also tighten both axis’s to be “locked down”, something I do when mounting/ unmounting the scope. I have spoken to Larry at UA a couple of times and he is very helpful and seems concerned that his customers are happy.
Frank
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Loc: Sunny California
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Re: Stellarvue MG mount
[Re: frankcf5]
#3037005 - 04/10/09 08:47 PM
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Where are they manufactured?
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