Telescope Reviews: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock!

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BKBrown
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/23/09

Loc: Northern Virginia, USA

Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock!
#5091407 - 02/26/12 01:17 AM Attachment (150 downloads)

I got a set of upgrades from Manny Miles this week: mounting bracket, panning handle, and eyepiece tray, and finally got everything installed on my Vixen Porta II. What a difference they make! I never cared for the side mounting of the OTA with the factory set up, the new bracket takes care of that and leaves the OTA in a more "natural" position (with less stress to the rings, dovetail, and mount I believe). The tray is also very nice, I got the small model so that it would fit on my Hands On Optics wood legs...no worries at all. My OTAs ride much more smoothly in their new position, and everything seems to balance more easily as well. I have tested the new rig with my ES80ED and SW100ED OTAs so far and they both ride very nicely. Highly recommended...

Clear Skies,
Brian

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BKBrown
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/23/09

Loc: Northern Virginia, USA

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: BKBrown]
#5091410 - 02/26/12 01:18 AM Attachment (108 downloads)

Here is a close up of the bracket position...

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BKBrown
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/23/09

Loc: Northern Virginia, USA

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: BKBrown]
#5091413 - 02/26/12 01:19 AM Attachment (62 downloads)

And finally, here is the eyepiece tray...

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Manny Myles
Postmaster

Reged: 11/29/05

Loc: Far South of the flyover city ...

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: BKBrown]
#5091827 - 02/26/12 10:49 AM

Thanks for the high praise Brian, BUT I hope they don't rock ,,, I hope they are quite solid!!!
m2

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RTLR 12
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: Manny Myles]
#5091882 - 02/26/12 11:13 AM

Rock solid, Manny!

Stan

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BKBrown
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/23/09

Loc: Northern Virginia, USA

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: Manny Myles]
#5091885 - 02/26/12 11:14 AM

Absolutely ROCK solid! I got some eyepiece time in last night using a range of EPs with my ES80ED and there was essentially zero settle down time...the rig is very stable. I plan to get the SW100ED out for some time with the heavier, longer OTA and I expect pretty much the same performance. Great work sir, thanks!

Clear Skies,
Brian

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KeithTC
member

Reged: 09/25/07

Loc: Charlottetown, PEI, Canada

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: BKBrown]
#5280706 - 06/20/12 12:54 PM

Nice mods, where are these available?

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BKBrown
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/23/09

Loc: Northern Virginia, USA

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: KeithTC]
#5281142 - 06/20/12 06:21 PM

These came from Manny Miles, the gentleman who replied earlier in this thread...

Clear Skies,
Brian

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Locoman
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/09/09

Loc: Abilene, Kansas

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: BKBrown]
#5281262 - 06/20/12 08:06 PM

I got the mounting bracket and panning handle for my StarGuy a while back. I agree with everything you said. "Rocks".

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davebuechler
sage

Reged: 08/21/11

Loc: Red River Gorge Kentucky

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: Locoman]
#5290645 - 06/26/12 08:19 PM

Hey that looks great. Does Manny Myles have a web site? I checked and found nothing. How do you order?

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iceblaze
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/15/11

Loc: 33.9° N, 118.4° W Lawndale, CA

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: davebuechler]
#5290649 - 06/26/12 08:22 PM

Send him a message on CN. My pan handle should be arriving this week from him, so he's still taking orders

-James

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davebuechler
sage

Reged: 08/21/11

Loc: Red River Gorge Kentucky

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: iceblaze]
#5290681 - 06/26/12 08:51 PM

Thanks. PM sent

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Bart
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/28/06

Loc: Somewhere near Charlottesville...

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: davebuechler]
#5290736 - 06/26/12 09:45 PM

Is there a web site?

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davebuechler
sage

Reged: 08/21/11

Loc: Red River Gorge Kentucky

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: Bart]
#5290860 - 06/26/12 10:54 PM

Hi Bart

Looks not. You can try sending a PM as I have done. Waiting his reply. Nice looking stuff huh?

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SteveG
Post Laureate

Reged: 09/27/06

Loc: Seattle, WA

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: davebuechler]
#5291521 - 06/27/12 12:34 PM Attachment (39 downloads)

Yes - Love the Panhandle. Here's mine:

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rigel123
Postmaster

Reged: 06/29/09

Loc: SW Ohio

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: SteveG]
#5293811 - 06/28/12 07:20 PM

Just ordered my bracket and panhandle, I think I'll feel much better about attaching my Lunt to this set up than the sideways mount!

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Binojunky
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/25/10

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: rigel123]
#5294539 - 06/29/12 09:24 AM

I got the same upgrade for my early version of the Portamount, now I can stick my maks on the mount with out the finder being at the bottom, the heaviest scope I put on is an older Japan Special Optics 5" S/Cass: that weighs a ton, rides like a champ,Manny was great to deal with.DA.

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rigel123
Postmaster

Reged: 06/29/09

Loc: SW Ohio

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: Binojunky]
#5308540 - 07/08/12 04:17 PM Attachment (32 downloads)

Just rec'd mine, my Lunt never looked so comfortable and secure!! Much better than the side mount!!

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RAKing
Postmaster

Reged: 12/28/07

Loc: West of the D.C. Nebula

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: rigel123]
#5308636 - 07/08/12 05:08 PM

Quote:

Just rec'd mine, my Lunt never looked so comfortable and secure!! Much better than the side mount!!

I agree! I just sent Manny a PM. I don't feel comfortable with the side mount, either.

Ron

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BKBrown
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/23/09

Loc: Northern Virginia, USA

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: RAKing]
#5310488 - 07/09/12 09:05 PM

Hi Ron. I don't think you will be disappointed, Manny does great work. I wonder if he could do something similar for a T-Rex Apex mount?

Clear Skies,
Brian

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iceblaze
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/15/11

Loc: 33.9° N, 118.4° W Lawndale, CA

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: BKBrown]
#5310503 - 07/09/12 09:13 PM

Manny's panhandle does indeed rock.

-James

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RAKing
Postmaster

Reged: 12/28/07

Loc: West of the D.C. Nebula

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: BKBrown]
#5310975 - 07/10/12 07:47 AM

Quote:

Hi Ron. I don't think you will be disappointed, Manny does great work. I wonder if he could do something similar for a T-Rex Apex mount?

Clear Skies,
Brian

It wouldn't hurt to ask.

I was happy to see these mods because I was not happy with any of my previous grab and go setups. I am facing back surgery and the Mach 1 will have to go on 'injured reserve' for a few months.

Take care,

Ron

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SteveG
Post Laureate

Reged: 09/27/06

Loc: Seattle, WA

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: iceblaze]
#5311484 - 07/10/12 02:50 PM

Quote:

Manny's panhandle does indeed rock.

-James

Good choice on the slo-mo handles!

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BKBrown
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/23/09

Loc: Northern Virginia, USA

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: RAKing]
#5311788 - 07/10/12 06:27 PM

Yikes!

Sorry to hear about the surgery, I hope you are up and about quickly...we have a great Jupiter opposition coming up! I'll check with Manny about modding a T-Rex Apex, I am seriously considering one for observing when I don't feel like trotting a GEM out and setting it up. I'll keep folks posted.

Clear Skies,
Brian

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tpatnode
super member

Reged: 01/03/09

Loc: Southern Pines, North Carolina

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: BKBrown]
#5312526 - 07/11/12 08:26 AM

I have contacted Manny and am planning to place an order with him soon. In the pictures posted by Iceblaze, where were those slow motion control knobs purchased? The ones that came on my Porta II are flexible rods and plastic knobs that are about 8" long.

Thanks,

Tony

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iceblaze
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/15/11

Loc: 33.9° N, 118.4° W Lawndale, CA

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: tpatnode]
#5313735 - 07/12/12 03:57 AM

Yes, they came from focus knobs:

http://www.focusknobs.com/

Take a look at the "DEC150"

-James

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rtomw77
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/06/04

Loc: Deer Valley, AZ

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: iceblaze]
#5313742 - 07/12/12 04:33 AM

James

Thanks for the link to focusknobs.com. A pair of these are now on my wish list for my Porta II.

Manny's bracket and panhandle do indeed rock!

Tom

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RAKing
Postmaster

Reged: 12/28/07

Loc: West of the D.C. Nebula

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: rtomw77]
#5335291 - 07/25/12 05:59 PM Attachment (15 downloads)

I finally got mine set up and ready to go. Instead of changing dovetails on my OTAs, I just drilled an ADM saddle and mounted it on the bracket.

The TEC 6 looks great and I'm hoping for some clear skies to try it out soon.

Great job, Manny!

Ron

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Poochpa
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/12/05

Loc: Buffalo Burbs, NY

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: BKBrown]
#5423894 - 09/16/12 02:52 PM

I just received my Manny Miles Porta II bracket and panhandle. With the upgrade, my Porta II on a Vixen HAL130 tripod (same as Vixen Starguy mount) no longer fits in the soft carrying bag I was using, because of the width. For those of you with the same or similar setup, what are you using for a carrying bag? Thanks.
Mike

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Anders Asp
member

Reged: 07/18/08

Loc: Eskilstuna, Sweden

Re: Manny Miles Porta II upgrades rock! new

[Re: Poochpa]
#5424110 - 09/16/12 05:14 PM

Hi guys! I just wonder if this Vixen porta II mount can handle my set ups weight at around 7.5kg? My set up is an APM triplet APO 100mm f/8 light weight tube, 2" william optics diagonal + eyepeice and sometimes i will also use a bino with the setup.

I will get a little stronger tripod to make the set up more solid, do u guys think i need to make some changes to the mounthead it self or is it strong enough to handle my gear in a good way? Thanks Anders

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