Telescope Reviews: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor?

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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

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Tim A.
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 09/19/07

Loc: 40 30'N 105 3'W

Alt-az for a big ol' refractor?
#4524736 - 04/17/11 06:20 PM

My 6" refractor doesn't get as much use as I'd like, and that's on account of the CG-5GT mount. It's just enough for this big boy, but it is enough. The real issue is that as a rule I don't care for GEMs; too much hoo-hah per ah-ha! AP is not in the picture (pun intended); I'm a purely visual observer and I'd like a fast setup for this lovely cannon.

But with the OTA at 18.5 lbs., most alt-az mounts I've looked at just don't pack it (literally).

The Astro-Tech Voyager is spec'd "up to 20 pounds" (which is pretty much what the CG-5 is spec'd at). But I wonder if it'd really survive at that load.

Anyway, I'm sure I haven't seen everything out there. If anyone knows of an alt-az mount that would carry this big ... I'll go with "big 'ol", though I generally use a more colorful term ... refractor, I'd sure like to hear about it!

Post Extras:

mistyridge
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/28/05

Loc: Loomis, CA

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: Tim A.]
#4524789 - 04/17/11 06:42 PM

The DiscMount DM-6 will carry your yard cannon easily.

Post Extras:

Midnight Dan
Postmaster

Reged: 01/23/08

Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl...

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: mistyridge]
#4524835 - 04/17/11 07:10 PM

Quote:

too much hoo-hah per ah-ha!

Can't help you, but I'm DEFINITELY stealing this for my list of sayings!

-Dan

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Ira
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/22/10

Loc: Mitzpe Ramon, Israel

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: Midnight Dan]
#4524854 - 04/17/11 07:18 PM

Get the T-Rex:
http://www.kkohki.com/English/T-REXmount.html

/Ira

Post Extras:

mountain monk
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/06/09

Loc: Grand Teton National Park

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: Ira]
#4524885 - 04/17/11 07:30 PM

Tim,

I have the DM-6 and love it and certainly think it would handle your cannon. The DiscMount site has lots of photographs showing big, heavy refractors mounted on the DM-6. Like all alt-azs, it is difficult at the zenith. The long, offset handle helps a lot--assuming the tripod does not interfere with it. Peters is a great guy to work with. Expensive? Yes. I don't know of a cheap solution. The T-Rex is also quite expensive.

Dark skies.

mm

Post Extras:

Tim A.
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 09/19/07

Loc: 40 30'N 105 3'W

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: mountain monk]
#4524953 - 04/17/11 08:00 PM

Quote:

I have the DM-6 and love it ... Expensive? Yes. The T-Rex is also quite expensive. I don't know of a cheap solution.

Yeah, I've been noticing that ...

I may just have to bear the GEM (literally), until I find a used "mega-altaz".

Post Extras:

John Huntley
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/16/06

Loc: South West England

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: Tim A.]
#4525030 - 04/17/11 08:35 PM Attachment (43 downloads)

I use a Giro-type mount for my 6" yard cannon. With a set of vibration suppression pads and CG5 tripod plus 16" pillar it does the job quite well and is simplicity itself to use (sorry it's not a great photo):

Edited by John Huntley (04/17/11 08:37 PM)

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CharlieB
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 12/11/07

Loc: Southern NH

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: Tim A.]
#4525087 - 04/17/11 09:02 PM

I second the Giro mount. I just picked up a Giro-3 and it comfortably carries my 6" AND 5" refractors at the same time. A great mount!

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Jeff Morgan
Post Laureate

Reged: 09/28/03

Loc: Prescott, AZ

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: Tim A.]
#4525143 - 04/17/11 09:32 PM

There are some nicely machined high-dollar alt-az mounts to be had. However, Richard Berry has your answer for a lot less money. The alt-az mount published in his book "Build Your Own Telescope" is designed for a 6" f/15 and very robust.

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izar187
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 09/02/06

Loc: 43N

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: Jeff Morgan]
#4525235 - 04/17/11 10:26 PM

Look here perhaps:

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=berry+refractor+mount&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Post Extras:

george tatsis
sage

Reged: 11/20/08

Loc: Long Island, NY - Europe

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: Tim A.]
#4525567 - 04/18/11 02:40 AM

I second the Giro mount too. I used to have my 10" Orion Newt mounted on it. In a word ,excellent!!!

George

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GlenM
Vendor - Lyra Optic

Reged: 05/20/07

Loc: Lancashire England

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: george tatsis]
#4526162 - 04/18/11 11:41 AM Attachment (43 downloads)

Yes, the Giro III is an excellent mount.

I had one on a Losmandy G11 tripod with a 35lbs OTA on it,no problem.

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Krish Mandal
sage

Reged: 09/02/09

Loc: Forest Hills, NY

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: GlenM]
#4526793 - 04/18/11 04:10 PM

Glen that is a sweeeeet lookin' scope my friend. I'm not normally a fan of silvery bodies on a telescope but that one is the bees knees!

For those who have recommended the GIRO mount, where in the US is it sold? I only see the EU distributors come up when I Google it.

Thanks.

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GlenM
Vendor - Lyra Optic

Reged: 05/20/07

Loc: Lancashire England

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: Krish Mandal]
#4526813 - 04/18/11 04:16 PM

Thanks Krish.

It used to cool down real quick

Polished Aluminium is the way to go for excellent emissivity.

Not seen any actual dealers in the US for the Giro III,must be one somewhere I suppose.

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dscarpa
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 03/15/08

Loc: San Diego Ca.

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: Tim A.]
#4526821 - 04/18/11 04:18 PM

That scope would be way too much for my Voyager on a Oberwerk tripod, it's very good with WO ZS110. I have my C9.25- it's as heavy as a stock C11- on a Giro with a Sokkia tripod. It's stable, damps well and tracking is easy even at high power. I think the whole rig with shaft, weights, tray ect. was around $750. David

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george tatsis
sage

Reged: 11/20/08

Loc: Long Island, NY - Europe

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: Krish Mandal]
#4526868 - 04/18/11 04:35 PM

Here you are Krish,

http://www.tech2000astronomy.com/

George

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Krish Mandal
sage

Reged: 09/02/09

Loc: Forest Hills, NY

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: george tatsis]
#4528065 - 04/19/11 12:37 AM

George, thanks for the link. I've been there before, but don't know why I never noticed they sell the Giro mount. Maybe because I wasn't actively looking for an alt-az at the time.

'preciate it!

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dscarpa
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 03/15/08

Loc: San Diego Ca.

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: Tim A.]
#4528667 - 04/19/11 10:31 AM

There is a new post here about the Giro 3 no longer being avalable in North America. I got mine from Teton which is MIA. OPT has a Giro clone from Expore Scientific. It goes for $400 with a 2" steel tripod. It looked heavy duty to me. David

Edited by dscarpa (04/19/11 10:34 AM)

Post Extras:

Doug Reilly
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/29/08

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: dscarpa]
#4528696 - 04/19/11 10:43 AM

You might also look at the M7 by Stellarvue or the upcoming Super Half-Hitch...both would handle that on a good tripod. I've used and reviewed the Half-Hitch Mark II and it was superb, the "Super" is designed for bigger scopes. It holds a lot with less brute force than the others. The DM6 would be very nice, too. Tom Peters had a very large refractor on one at NEAF this weekend and it held it very, very nicely. Those are all pricier by far than a GIRO 3 or the ES mount built on the same principles. Don't have any experience with them.

BTW, I think Teton is more KIA than MIA. Mark is thinking about his next steps, last I heard.

Post Extras:

jason_milani
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/03/04

Loc: Northeast Ohio

Re: Alt-az for a big ol' refractor? new

[Re: Doug Reilly]
#4528841 - 04/19/11 11:33 AM

I put my 6" achro on a Unistar Deluxe. Handled it just fine using a beefy tripod. Not so well with an Oberwerk surveyor tripod but i think that would be the case with any mount. The Unistar is priced very competitively.

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