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rtomw77
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/06/04
Posts: 617
Loc: Deer Valley, AZ
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Anyone here use a Celestron AZ3 with a 70-80mm f/6 or f/7 refractor?
I know this mount will need work: weight inside the legs, tighten up the mount to leg joints, a counterweight system ( http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=401 ) if needed, and so forth.
The plan is to get an AT 72mm ED or 80mm ED plus this mount, and later as finances allow get a Voyager or Porta mount.
Tom
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Celestron 8" Nexstar GPS XLT
Meade 8" f/6 newtonian on GEM-New GSO Mirror
StarBlast 4.5" Dob
XT12 IntelliScope Dob with COL
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Eddgie
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 2703
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I used one with an 80mm ED scope. I had trouble with the mount cascading back when using heavy 2" eyepieces in that scope. It was pretty bad.
If I tightened the nylon friction adjusting nut, I could elimate the cascade, but at the expense of having the altitude motion become VERY stiff, making it difficlute to move the scope with one hand.
Vixen used to sell a version that INCLUDED a counterweigt system. I think it would be difficult and potentially expensive to retro-fit the Celestron version.
These make wonderful terrestial mounts, and I use one with a Meade ETX 90 OTA as my primary spotter. THAT scope actually works ok, even in astro-usage, but it is very light.
Personally? I would steer clear unless you get it cheap. Even then, cheap is only good if it works well, and these mounts are questionable. Some may like them though. I am only relating my own experience, and may not be representitive of the audience as a whole.
Good luck.
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Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Televue 101 (No name, but I call it my Widescreen HD Space TV)
The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.
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Erik D
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 3196
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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I bought one from Orion around 2001. Used it two or three times and left it in the basement after that. Too many dislikes. Just a few off the top of my head:
1. You have to lock the AZ konb to engage the slo mo cable to make fine adjustments. Then unlock to make large adjustments, re lock and start all over.
2. The slo mo cable are stiff. Takes a lot of twisting to make small adjustments.
3. You can not fold the tripod unless you take off the mid level tray each time. If you don't the leg spread is too wide to get thru most door ways. My Manfrotto and Quickset tripod with mid level spreader takes a second or two to fold.
4. For me the tripod is too tall for seated viewing with a regular height desk chair. Too short for standing observation. I have to carry an adjustable height chair too use it. Another 17 lbs to lug around.
I agree with the suggestion to stay clear.
I paid ~$150 for mine new. Seems like a good deal at the time, to get the an Alt az mount WITH tripod for that. Turned out to be a waste. I enjoy using heavy duty photo tripod with geared center column for my small scopes. In fact, all of my scopes from 80 mm F5 to my AP 6" F8 are mounted on tripods with center column.
Save up for a Vixen Porta or UA Unistar light, MarcroStar.
ERik D
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darylf96
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/28/04
Posts: 1391
Loc: Danville, California
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I had the same AZ mount from Orion and gave up on it. I converted an old Orion Astroview mount to Alt-Az configuration and it works great for small refractors. Very solid and the slow motion controls are very smooth. Shortened the counterweight shaft and installed nice brass slow-mo knobs. It has held up very well.
Regards
Daryl
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Intes Micro MN66 - Meade 10" SCT
Orion EON 120mmm ED f7.5 Apo
Skywatcher 150mm f8 Achro
G-11, CG5A-GT Mounts
DM-6 With Sky Commander DSC
Astro-Tech AT80 Refractor f6.9 APO
Stellarvue 20x85 binos - Unimount
Kunming United Optics 7x50 binocs
Canon Rebel XT, Canon 20D, Canon SXi
SBIG ST-8XE
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rtomw77
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/06/04
Posts: 617
Loc: Deer Valley, AZ
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Thank you all for your advice. You have saved me from making a mistake.
Tom
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Celestron 8" Nexstar GPS XLT
Meade 8" f/6 newtonian on GEM-New GSO Mirror
StarBlast 4.5" Dob
XT12 IntelliScope Dob with COL
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Megawatt
member
Reged: 05/02/09
Posts: 91
Loc: Flamborough, Ontario
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I traded my AZ3 in for an AZ4 with a steel tripod. Excellent mount. Very smooth and sturdy; I can move it with two fingers and it stays where I point it. No slo-mo controls, though.
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Telescopes:
Orion Skyquest XT8
Skywatcher 1205 on AZ4 mount
Accessories:
Stratus 8mm and a couple of Sirius Plossls
Orion Ultrablock, Celestron UHC/LPR, Ultima Barlow
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