StargazerBill
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/27/07
Posts: 518
Loc: Catawba, VA
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I've owned and used both the Vixen PortaMount and AT Voyager mounts. I just received my SW AZ4. I am impressed. It is a much beefier mount than either the PortaMount or Voyager. The axis motions have adjustable clutchs and work silky smooth. The legs are the exact legs that come with the Orion SVP mount. They are WAY more sturdy than the flimsy aluminum legs on the other mounts. This mount is the least expensive of the 3 and better, IMHO. I urge anyone considering an AZ mount to take a long look at the AZ4.
In addition to the mount being a winner SW support is A1. They did not have one in stock when I ordered but they did some fancy footwork, made some adjustments, and pulled a rabbit (AZ4) out their hat, all at a VERY attractive price. During the process numerous emails and phone calls were always answered promptly and the same customer service rep helped all the way through the process. I talked with real people that could (and did) make things happen. They went over the top to assure I got the mount I wanted when I wanted it. A very refreshing encounter, I must say. 
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37;23N 80;10W (Jet Stream Alley) 
Vixen ED100sf
Orion ST 120
Orion XT6i
Meade 8" SCT
Sky-Watcher 10" Dob
GSO 42mm Wide Field
Meade 5000 UWA 24, 18, 14, 8.8, 6.7, 4.7mm
Vixen NPL Plossl 30mm, 20mm, 15mm, 10mm
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5553
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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That kind of customer service is always nice to hear about, and thanks for the heads up on that mount.
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OMNICELL
newbie
Reged: 01/21/08
Posts: 120
Loc: WASHINGTOn STATE
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Quote:
and thanks for the heads up on that mount.
I agree..!!
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Celestron C6R f/8 refractor
Orion 100mm f/6.0 Short-Tube refractor
Orion 90mm refractor f/10
Celestron astronomy binoculars...with Monopod..
G5 mount
Favorite and interesting Eye Pieces.. AgenaAstro 2.3mm ED. Orion Deep View 35mm 2 inch.. Owl 2 inch ED Barlow....
Im breathing.. and strangely against my consent.. and Im aware of it..!!
" IT is better to have an imagination then knowledge" Einstein
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ebusinesstutor
sage
Reged: 07/01/09
Posts: 461
Loc: Nanaimo, BC, Canada
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I went to the Skywatcher web site to check out the AZ4 and only found an AZ 1, 2, and 3 - no AZ4.
Can someone send me the link to where I can see one?
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Garland Coulson
Orion XT8i Dob & Celestron 80 ED on a Vixen Porta Mount Mini
Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Click Zoom & Siebert Observatory 36mm
Siebert Black Knight Binoviewers
SkyWatcher Observing Chair
Celestron Skymaster 15x70mm binos
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Patrick
Postmaster
Reged: 05/16/03
Posts: 7807
Loc: Franklin, Ohio
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It's on the SkyWatcher 'USA' Website. I saw one of the AZ4's at a star party recently sitting next to a Vixen Portamount and came to the same conclusion...a very nice alt/az mount and more substantial looking than the Portamount.
Patrick
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10" f/6 Truss Tube Newtonian
Celestron C6S-GT SCT
AT66ED Refractor
Oberwerk Ultra 15x70 Binocular
475B Geared Tripod & 501HDV Head
Celestron Regal 8x42 Binocular
Canon XSi; Meade DSI;SPC900-NC
Vixen GP2 Photo Guider Mount
My Astronomy Pages
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5553
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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But for what I hang on my PortaMount I like it just fine. It's the best Alt-az I've ever owned, and I use it with my small refractors.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors, 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor, 90mm
1 SCT, 8 inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
Carton 100mm f/13 under construction 
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ebusinesstutor
sage
Reged: 07/01/09
Posts: 461
Loc: Nanaimo, BC, Canada
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Thanks,
Couldn't find it at Skywatcher.com. However, It looks like it is a panhandle motion and doesn't have slow motion knobs like the Porta.
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Garland Coulson
Orion XT8i Dob & Celestron 80 ED on a Vixen Porta Mount Mini
Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Click Zoom & Siebert Observatory 36mm
Siebert Black Knight Binoviewers
SkyWatcher Observing Chair
Celestron Skymaster 15x70mm binos
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AlexRM
member
Reged: 08/20/09
Posts: 24
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OPT carries them
http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=439-277-12369
There are two versions, one with steel legs and one with the cheaper aluminum legs.
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Used to be 'AlexM'
Harding DSH 10
Vixen ED80SF
Orion 100mm f/6
Orion 6" f/8
Celestron C6 SCT
Edited by AlexRM (10/12/09 02:04 PM)
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Phillip Creed
Idiot Seeking Village
Reged: 07/25/06
Posts: 1302
Loc: Canton, OH
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I was at this year's Black Forest Star Party, and there was a 6" f/5 Skywatcher Newt on the AZ4 mount. It was very smooth, and *quickly* dampened vibrations. BUT...
...the 6" f/5 scope only could go ~70-deg in altitude before it hit the tripod legs. You could swing the legs of the tripod around to prevent this, but that'd get old.
Clear Skies,
Phil
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"The hopeful depend on a world without end, whatever the hopeless may say"--Rush, "Manhattan Project"
Wilderness Center Astronomy Club member since 1995
ICQ Comet Observer Code: CRE01
*****
(1) 12" f/4.9 Skywatcher Collapsible Dobsonian
(2) Orion 120mm ST Refractor
(3) Oberwerk 15x70 Binoculars
(4) Minimalist Eyepiece Set:
"23"-mm Axiom LX (~24mm; long story...)
13mm Nagler Type 6
9mm Nagler Type 6
7mm Nagler Type 6
1.75X Siebert Barlow
*****
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dscarpa
sage
Reged: 03/15/08
Posts: 257
Loc: San Diego Ca.
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I have a AZ4 and use it with my Lunt 60 by day and WO ZS 110 by night. I read a review on OPT's website so I already knew my IM 715 wouldn't point straight up on it. The mak hits the base not the legs, it looks like it will go up to about 80 degrees. I use the mak on my WO EZ. The AZ 4 is very smooth and damps quickly with all 3 scopes. David
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morden8uk
sage
Reged: 03/01/05
Posts: 473
Loc: Southampton, England
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To carry the 110 do you have the ali leg tripod or steel?.
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Orion Optics [UK] SPX200 8" f6 Newtonian
Celestron ED80 f7 Refractor
EQ5 with DK3 photo drives on a steel leg tripod
* 7mm Antares Ortho *
* 10.5mm Research Grade Ortho
* 12.5mm Smart Astro SPL *
* 20mm Parks Gold *
* 25mm Sterling *
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dscarpa
sage
Reged: 03/15/08
Posts: 257
Loc: San Diego Ca.
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My mount has the steel legs. The mount scope combo is not heavy but the ends of the legs are kind of far apart when extended all the way. David
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Djarum
sage
Reged: 03/12/09
Posts: 218
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Can a pier extension be added to give more clearance?
Dj
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Celestron Astromaster 130eq with a 60mm finderscope
Bushnell Legend 10x50
TMB planetary 5mm EP
Enhanced Wide Angle 6mm EP
Plossl 10mm EP
Plossl 32mm EP
Ultima 2x barlow
Baader M&SG and UHC filters.
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AlexRM
member
Reged: 08/20/09
Posts: 24
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Quote:
Can a pier extension be added to give more clearance?
That's what I was wondering. Will the pier for a Voyager fit?
Also, is the tripod the same as the Orion SVP? I could purchase the aluminum leg version then use the head on my SVP tripod.
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Used to be 'AlexM'
Harding DSH 10
Vixen ED80SF
Orion 100mm f/6
Orion 6" f/8
Celestron C6 SCT
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Djarum
sage
Reged: 03/12/09
Posts: 218
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I'd be curious because an 8 inch newt on an alt-az like the skywatcher mount would be cool. Most 8 inch news are under 20 pounds with rings. It would be a matter of having enough clearance with both the center support and then enough clearance with the tripod legs when looking at the zenith.
Dj
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Celestron Astromaster 130eq with a 60mm finderscope
Bushnell Legend 10x50
TMB planetary 5mm EP
Enhanced Wide Angle 6mm EP
Plossl 10mm EP
Plossl 32mm EP
Ultima 2x barlow
Baader M&SG and UHC filters.
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