· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums 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] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Mounts Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 GeezerGazer super member Reged: 01/06/05 Loc: Modesto, CA Tiny alt/az       #3000154 - 03/23/09 01:50 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Does anyone have a suggestion for the smallest (most portable) alt/az mount for the tiniest APO (TV-60)? I want it to work smoothly and be backlash free. But I also want it to be small and I don't need slo-mo on this one... just a tiny mount for the tiny scope so I have no excuses for not taking it with me! I'm not as concerned about cost as much as function. Ray Post Extras:       Scott in NC Mad Hatter Reged: 03/05/05 Loc: NC Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: GeezerGazer]       #3000205 - 03/23/09 02:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   How about the Universal Astronomics Dwarfstar? Post Extras:       Luigi Postmaster Reged: 07/03/07 Loc: MA Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: Scott in NC]       #3000231 - 03/23/09 02:24 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Put it on a Manfrotto tripod with fluid head. I forget the model number I use but it's small and light and supports my 85mm Zeiss spotting scope very well. Post Extras:       Trombone scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 07/11/05 Loc: Canadian west (and north!) Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: Luigi]       #3000271 - 03/23/09 02:38 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Too much backlash on a fluid mount. Better a ball head tipped to the side. Post Extras:       Jim7728 Postmaster Reged: 04/10/05 Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: GeezerGazer]       #3000345 - 03/23/09 02:56 PM Attachment (30 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   One thing I really like about the TV-60 is how well it works with a "quality" fluid head. I've been happy with the Bogen/Manfrotto 128RC head which I got for a good price here The Bogen head was somewhat stiff initially, but has smoothed out with use. Very solid with no backlash that I can detect. Post Extras:       chboss professor emeritus Reged: 03/24/08 Loc: Tokyo Japan Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: Jim7728]       #3000749 - 03/23/09 06:06 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Here is a new thing that fits the bill the AYOtraveler small but capable. http://www.aokswiss.ch/d/mont/ayo/ayotraveler/uebersicht_ayotraveler.html Cheers Chris Post Extras:       maknewtnut Member Reged: 10/08/06 Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: GeezerGazer]       #3000793 - 03/23/09 06:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Not promotion, just a lead for your consideration. http://www.tetontelescope.com/product_info.php?cPath=25_36_70&products_id=99 Post Extras:       Jim7728 Postmaster Reged: 04/10/05 Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: maknewtnut]       #3000986 - 03/23/09 08:02 PM Attachment (35 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That's a good one, too. Unfortunately,a lady friend now owns my GR-mini for her WO-66. Post Extras:       Nick Lloyd He asked for it Reged: 10/24/06 Loc: cincinnati Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: Jim7728]       #3001003 - 03/23/09 08:12 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I use a small mount- the Hercules Mini. www.helix-mfg.com It's very compact, packs away easy, and I've had a 4" triplet refractor w/binoviewers mounted on it. Can't say enough good things about it! Post Extras:       Mike Sandy Pooh-Bah Reged: 08/29/03 Loc: SF Bay Area, CA Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: Nick Lloyd]       #3001178 - 03/23/09 09:56 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   This one is my current favoite (I bought two of them)....very light, and exceptionally well built: http://www.halfhitchtelescope.com/ Post Extras:       GeezerGazer super member Reged: 01/06/05 Loc: Modesto, CA Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: Nick Lloyd]       #3001196 - 03/23/09 10:03 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Ahhhh. Thank you one and all. For my purposes, either the Dwarfstar or the Giro Mini look to be ideal... small and compact but user friendly. The TV-60 is so darn small and light, even the Giro Mini looks to be overkill. The fluidhead is larger than I want to carry for the 60 and the only ones I've used do suffer from blacklash which becomes annoying. The AYO and Helix also look to be larger than my purpose requires. Thank you so much for your responses. They have been very helpful in seeking what I need. Clear skies. Ray Post Extras:       TONGKW scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 01/16/07 Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: GeezerGazer]       #3001275 - 03/23/09 10:43 PM Attachment (39 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have a Kenko KDS AltAz mount weighing at only 2.75 lb purchased in Japan which can just support my WO Megrez 72FD refractor OTA. I think this one is a very suitable candidate as it has both push to and slow motion control. K W TONG ---------------- C8 + CG-5GT, TSA102 + HEQ5 PRO, MK67 + Voyager Mount, WO ZS 80FD + Kenko NES, NexStar 6SE, WO Megrez 72 + Mizar K Mount, Mini Borg 50, C5, PST Post Extras:       leexeen scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 08/08/07 Loc: Beijing, China Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: TONGKW]       #3001339 - 03/23/09 11:12 PM Attachment (29 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Maybe Dwarfstar is one for you. I like that design and mine is similar. This mount is only availble in my country. I am very grateful a mechanical genius designs it and takes in all the amateurs' thoughts and build a product I can't say any better things about. Post Extras:       astroN00B sage Reged: 10/21/06 Loc: Bakersfield, CA Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: GeezerGazer]       #3001519 - 03/24/09 01:23 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The suggestions listed here are great but I'm working on an alt-az adapter for my WO tripod similar to the Easy Alt-Az Modification. After using the first prototype, it's amazing how different the mount feels with the scope in line with the alt axis. My design introduced some vibration though, so it's a work in progress. I'm not saying to do it, just thought I'd throw it out there Like others, I really like what I've seen of the DwarfStar but have not used it. Edited by astroN00B (03/24/09 02:37 AM) Post Extras:       GeezerGazer super member Reged: 01/06/05 Loc: Modesto, CA Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: astroN00B]       #3001618 - 03/24/09 04:21 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The Kenko KDS really looks interesting... and w/slo mo! The Dwarfstar looks a lot like the Stellarvue M-1. Nice choices. Thank you. Post Extras:       Luigi Postmaster Reged: 07/03/07 Loc: MA Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: GeezerGazer]       #3001713 - 03/24/09 08:02 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   >>>Too much backlash on a fluid mount. Better a ball head tipped to the side.<<< I considered those but they're usually not rated for much weight. I do find the tripod and mount I have to work quite well. Anyway a good photo tripod and head will usually be significantly lighter than the astro setups discussed. Post Extras:       astroN00B sage Reged: 10/21/06 Loc: Bakersfield, CA Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: Luigi]       #3002733 - 03/24/09 06:48 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I don't see that the Kenko KDS is available in the States, unless any one has seen one over here. I really like the look and slow-mo of that mount. Post Extras:       TONGKW scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 01/16/07 Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: astroN00B]       #3002952 - 03/24/09 09:02 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   As far as I know, this Kenko KDS AltAz mount is not available in the USA now and I ordered mine from Japan. http://www.kenko-tokina.co.jp/optics/tele-scope/new-kds/121603.html Post Extras:       Steve310 journeyman Reged: 01/27/07 Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: TONGKW]       #3003422 - 03/25/09 01:55 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Try this for the Kenko in the USA http://www.sciencecenter.net/hutech/borg/parts/html/3101.htm Post Extras:       GeezerGazer super member Reged: 01/06/05 Loc: Modesto, CA Re: Tiny alt/az [Re: Steve310]       #3004106 - 03/25/09 01:12 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have ordered from Hutech before and they are very good to do business with; very quick delivery. Thanks. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 16 registered and 30 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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