· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article    Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Cloudy Nights - Official Forums of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User   You are not logged in. [Login] Forum Archives · Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Mounts Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 bykhed sage Reged: 10/22/07 Posts: 299 Loc: Westminster, CO Suggestions for Orion ED 80mm?       #2093610 - 01/03/08 06:33 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   This is my first refractor, so I have no clue about what mount to choose. I'm only interested in something basic (no GoTo), cheap, portable but steady. I'd estimate that the OTA w/finder, EP, diagonal around 10 lbs. Thanks for you help! -------------------- Celestron C9.25 XLT Celestron C5 Intes MK65 Denkmeier Binoviewer Giro III alt-az on a Oberwerk tripod "The evolution of the universe can be likened to a display of fireworks that has just ended: some few wisps, ashes and smoke. Standing on a well-cooled cinder, we see the fading of the suns, and try to recall the vanished brilliance of the origins of the worlds." - Georges Lemaitre Post Extras:       KWB Postmaster Reged: 09/30/06 Posts: 9268 Loc: Westminster,Co Elev.1646Meters Re: Suggestions for Orion ED 80mm? [Re: bykhed]       #2093684 - 01/03/08 06:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The combined OTA weight will be less than that. I have a similar Synta 80ED on a Vixen Portamount with a combined weight of about 19 pounds with the mount weighing roughly 12 pounds. This mount isn't cheap but it is precise,portable and steady when used with small refractors. Too bad it's not in your price range,considering I don't know what "cheap" means to you. Do you have a dollar amount in mind that can be spent for a mount? -------------------- Kenny "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." - Albert Einstein Post Extras:       bykhed sage Reged: 10/22/07 Posts: 299 Loc: Westminster, CO Re: Suggestions for Orion ED 80mm? [Re: KWB]       #2096243 - 01/04/08 04:41 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Decided to pick up a used Desert Skies DSV-1 from Astromart classifieds and a surveyors tripod after reading some reviews. All in all quite the deal for a 80mm APO: approx. $740 for OTA, diagonal, rings, 13" dovetail plate, alt-az mount and green laser "finder". I'll post a report & pics in the refractor forum once it's all together. -------------------- Celestron C9.25 XLT Celestron C5 Intes MK65 Denkmeier Binoviewer Giro III alt-az on a Oberwerk tripod "The evolution of the universe can be likened to a display of fireworks that has just ended: some few wisps, ashes and smoke. Standing on a well-cooled cinder, we see the fading of the suns, and try to recall the vanished brilliance of the origins of the worlds." - Georges Lemaitre Post Extras:       Nick Lloyd He asked for it Reged: 10/24/06 Posts: 2156 Loc: cincinnati Re: Suggestions for Orion ED 80mm? [Re: bykhed]       #2096487 - 01/04/08 06:18 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The DSV-1 is a really stable and fun mount for the 80mm scopes. Congrats! -------------------- "The best scope is the one you use." -rcg Post Extras:       Jared Carpal Tunnel Reged: 10/11/05 Posts: 2534 Loc: Piedmont, California, U.S. Re: Suggestions for Orion ED 80mm? [Re: bykhed]       #2096792 - 01/04/08 08:28 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Equatorial or alt-az? Most people prefer alt-az for their grab-and-go scope, but I still prefer equatorial... -------------------- - Jared Willson TMB 152 f/8 Apochromat Fluorostar FLT-110 w/ TEC optics Stellarvue SV80S Astro-Physics Mach1 GTO Takahashi Teegul SP Mount STL-11000 Post Extras:       cuir Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/03/07 Posts: 1132 Loc: Up north. Re: Suggestions for Orion ED 80mm? [Re: Jared]       #2099791 - 01/05/08 10:51 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   For astronomy, nothing less than EQ3-2, SkyviewPro or EQ5 if you can swing it. If Alt-az is more your thing, Versa-go if your on a low budget, or a WO Easy Touch if something serious and capable can be purchased. I have nothing against the Porta-mount, except that I believe it is way overpriced for it's load capacity, compared to a WO easy touch, wich can take a much heavier load, and use counter-weights should feel a need for them. -------------------- Seb Eyepiece spreadsheet v6.8 Choosing the right eyepiece Main scope: 150mm Maksutov Scnd scope: 200mm Schmidt-Cassegrain Favorite ep: 24 Panoptic and 11m T6 Nagler Pref'ed filters: Lumicon 0III and UHC Mounts: EQ6-Pro and Skyview AZ Post Extras:       KWB Postmaster Reged: 09/30/06 Posts: 9268 Loc: Westminster,Co Elev.1646Meters Re: Suggestions for Orion ED 80mm? [Re: cuir]       #2100132 - 01/06/08 02:00 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   One thing the Portamount has going for it that the WO Easy Touch or the Veras Go do not is slow motion control and to me it means a lot. It is not cheaply priced but for mounting 80mm refractors it is plenty sturdy. -------------------- Kenny "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." - Albert Einstein Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 9 registered and 7 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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