Telescope Reviews: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor?

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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

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ottovonrotton
super member

Reged: 01/01/09

Loc: Where is Port Perry?

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: Herenomore]
#3077623 - 04/30/09 06:35 PM Attachment (60 downloads)

Hello all. What about a stellarvue M7. I use an older M6 for visual use with a
Pier extension and a U.A. heavy duty tripod, works great and holds alot.

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Trever
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/18/03

Loc: North Alabama

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: ottovonrotton]
#3077706 - 04/30/09 07:19 PM

I will have to check that one out. I havent considered this one.

Otherwise, if I can work out the financials, the DM6 is the way I will go. Just have to decide on the tripod....

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Tamiji Homma
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 02/24/07

Loc: California, USA

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: Trever]
#3077768 - 04/30/09 08:01 PM

Quote:

I will have to check that one out. I havent considered this one.

Otherwise, if I can work out the financials, the DM6 is the way I will go. Just have to decide on the tripod....

There is mount called "DoubleStar Mount" by Universal Astronomics, supporting 30lb and 40lb side-by-side.

If 152ED is less than 40lb, this might work, too.
http://www.universalastronomics.com/

I am looking at this mount to replace retired WO EzTouch to mount 5" and 4" refractor side-by-side.

Tammy

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davidpitre
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/10/05

Loc: Central Texas

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: Tamiji Homma]
#3078554 - 05/01/09 08:30 AM

One thing the Disc Mounts lack is slow motion control.
I've heard people say they are so smooth they don't need one, but I find it hard to imagine they could track at high power as well as a nice slow motion control knob.

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Jim7728
Postmaster

Reged: 04/10/05

Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: davidpitre]
#3078581 - 05/01/09 08:47 AM

I played around with the Discmount everytime I went to NEAF and thought the motions were smooth, but a little stiff. I can see advantages as far as changing eyepieces with no movement and vibrations being controlled better, but thought it took a little more effort to move the ota then with other alt/az mounts. Just an observation, I'am sure tension can be adjusted.

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Tamiji Homma
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 02/24/07

Loc: California, USA

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: davidpitre]
#3078703 - 05/01/09 10:13 AM

Quote:

One thing the Disc Mounts lack is slow motion control.
I've heard people say they are so smooth they don't need one, but I find it hard to imagine they could track at high power as well as a nice slow motion control knob.

Hi David,

I can track at 300x with 40-ish degree AFOV eyepiece,
6" f/8 refractor or 260mm Mak-Cas f/11.5 scope on DM-6.

I can move the scope using handle attached to DM-6 saddle plate with two fingers, smooth, very little vibration. You do need to practice though.

I find most people (6-8 year old included) can track the setup at 150x/AFOV 70 degree eyepiece without practice judging from I observed at side-walk astronomy.

Tammy

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chboss
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/24/08

Loc: Zurich Switzerland

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: Herenomore]
#3078835 - 05/01/09 11:23 AM

How about this?
http://www.aokswiss.ch/d/mont/ayo/ayomaster/uebersicht_ayomaster.html

Even the smaller AyoDigi is up to the job:
http://www.aokswiss.ch/d/mont/ayo/ayodigi/ayodigi.html

regards
Chris

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hudson_yak
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/15/07

Loc: Hyde Park, NY, USA

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: Jim7728]
#3078863 - 05/01/09 11:39 AM

Quote:

I played around with the Discmount everytime I went to NEAF and thought the motions were smooth, but a little stiff. I can see advantages as far as changing eyepieces with no movement and vibrations being controlled better, but thought it took a little more effort to move the ota then with other alt/az mounts. Just an observation, I'am sure tension can be adjusted.

That was my impression as well, not quite what I was expecting, I guess, though I have no experience with alt-az other than my LB. Also when in motion it was pretty controllable in the direction of one or the other axis, but pushing smoothly in a direction requiring both axes to turn at the same time wasn't as easy to control. I would expect a handle to help quite a bit.

Mike

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scout72
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 05/12/08

Loc: SF Bay Area

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: Trever]
#3078880 - 05/01/09 11:47 AM

Another vote here for the Giro 3- I use mine for dual mounting a at111ed and a tmb 130ss- rated to 28lbs per side.

I use mine on a Quickset Hercules tripod as shown here (just happens to be the same setup I use- this one is not mine)

http://www.drapell.com/site/sMain.aspx

The great thing about this set up is that the tripod is very sturdy and has an adjustable center column so you can easily change the height when the viewing angle or observer changes.

The Giro is around $400 (Teton Telescopes) - you will also need saddle plate(s)- i highly reccomend the ADM Dual Sad- which bolts right up to the Giro3 and can accept vixen or Losmandy D dovetails.

http://www.admaccessories.com/ADM%20Products/DUAL-SAD-LOS.htm

I got my tripod off leBay for $150

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waterdog
member

Reged: 06/23/07

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: Trever]
#3078973 - 05/01/09 12:40 PM Attachment (56 downloads)

Trever-- I'll add a vote for the DM-6. I have one for my TEC140. It is terrific and you can track fairly smoothly by hand at high powers. The Sky Commander sets up quickly and is easy to use--the 2-star alignment is super easy and accurate. As to tripods, I'd suggest looking at Advanced Telescope Systems portable piers. Rock solid and yet light-weight and easy to handle. The way the legs and the central column are made, they never get in the way, even with the scope pointed straight-up at zenith. A pic of my setup is attached. Good luck with your choice.

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waterdog
member

Reged: 06/23/07

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: waterdog]
#3078988 - 05/01/09 12:49 PM Attachment (50 downloads)

While I'm at it-- the DM6 fits nicely in a large Plano or Pelican type pistol case. Makes for easy transport and storage--which is a plus too!

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Project Galileo
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/14/07

Loc: Jefferson County, Colorado

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: Herenomore]
#3079122 - 05/01/09 02:06 PM

Great thread. Good info. Sweet set up Tammy!

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Lenardo
sage

Reged: 02/19/09

Loc: Ma

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: Project Galileo]
#3079160 - 05/01/09 02:30 PM

nice looking mounts... i have so much to learn and buy...

as for the hundredths of a degree off- how many hundredths are we talking? 1? 2? 3? 4?) each hundredth of a degree it is off by = 0degrees 0minutes 36 seconds)

0.02 degrees (2 hundredths of a degree) is 1 minute 12seconds off of 90degrees(89degrees 58 minutes 48 seconds or 90d 1m 12s depending on which way it is)

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Trever
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/18/03

Loc: North Alabama

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: Lenardo]
#3079231 - 05/01/09 03:11 PM

Yeah, I was mentioning to Tom Peters as to how this thread has grown nicely!

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Herenomore
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/29/04

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: waterdog]
#3079239 - 05/01/09 03:15 PM

Quote:

While I'm at it-- the DM6 fits nicely in a large Plano or Pelican type pistol case. Makes for easy transport and storage--which is a plus too!

Very nice case, waterdog. Don Holcombe of Scopeguard owns a DM-6:

http://www.scopeguard.com/Page9.html

and he makes a case for it:

http://www.scopeguard.com/dm6.jpg

Tom

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drshr
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 06/09/08

Loc: Darwin, Australia

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: Herenomore]
#3079834 - 05/01/09 08:28 PM

I like the look of that Universal Astronomics setup. No electronics appeals to me.

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davidmcgo
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 10/09/04

Loc: San Diego, CA

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: drshr]
#3080989 - 05/02/09 12:16 PM

I routinely use a DM6 on a Stellarvue TSL6 tripod with an AP 130EDT or a Meade 8" f6 RG OTA at up to 350x. The mount gets very smooth after a bit of use compared to straight out of the box and is solid enough to see the image while focusing. Near the zenith tracking isn't so easy in azimuth, but that's the only time a geared slow motion might help. Te only downside to high magnification work with an alt az is is is no good for public viewing. Views can be shared with someone who can recenter an object and follow by themselves though.

Pentax XWs are nice for hand tracking but I do use a 4mm Takahashi Hi-Ortho quite a bit as well.

Dave

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StarmanDan
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/27/07

Loc: Deep in the heart of Texas

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new

[Re: davidmcgo]
#3081021 - 05/02/09 12:40 PM Attachment (71 downloads)

If you don't have a bottomless bucket of money to spend, I built this. Works like a charm! Made from 2" galvanized pipe!

Edited by StarmanDan (05/02/09 12:41 PM)

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Trever
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/18/03

Loc: North Alabama

Re: Alt-Az mount for a large refractor? new