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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts
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Darren B
sage


Reged: 05/02/05

Loc: UK
What's the biggest scope for the Portamount?
      #4512526 - 04/12/11 01:10 AM
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What the biggest scope a Portamount can handle?
I have sorted out the tripod issues with my Portamount and upgraded to the HAL SX130.
The scope I was thinking about a 6 inck Maksutov weighing around 6kg/ 12Lbs OTA only.

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RTLR 12
Post Laureate
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Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca
Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: Darren B]
      #4512648 - 04/12/11 03:56 AM Attachment (47 downloads)
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Darren,

I have a PortaII mount and mount my SV115T on it. With the original tripod it's a little shakey so I use the tripod from my CG-5 and this makes for a more sturdy platform. I'm using a 2" diag. and EPs so the configuration weighs in at about 15#. I was getting some flexure in the alt and azm axis, but I tightened them up a bit and this solved the problem. I'm fairly confident with the Porta II now and I do enjoy it's ease of set up and portability.

Stan

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Darren B
sage


Reged: 05/02/05

Loc: UK
Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: RTLR 12]
      #4513629 - 04/12/11 03:40 PM
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That telescope does look quite substantial on that mount. The heaviest I had on mine is 9lbs, it handled that easily.

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Don Trinko
Carpal Tunnel
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Reged: 07/05/09

Loc: Ohio
Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: Darren B]
      #4513652 - 04/12/11 03:50 PM
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I think 12 lbs is a little to much. I'm not sure what they officially say but I think it's 10 lbs.
If you want to look at higher magnifications it's better to go under the rating. All IMO; Don T.

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wz2
Most Boring Astronomer...


Reged: 07/30/10

Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: Don Trinko]
      #4513916 - 04/12/11 06:32 PM
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The Portascope, of course

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RTLR 12
Post Laureate
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Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca
Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: wz2]
      #4513947 - 04/12/11 06:48 PM
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Load capacity listed in the book that came with my Porta II is 15lbs. Load capacity for the Mini Porta is 10lbs.

Stan

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Don Trinko
Carpal Tunnel
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Reged: 07/05/09

Loc: Ohio
Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: RTLR 12]
      #4514123 - 04/12/11 08:06 PM
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I have the AT voyager and the Vixen mini porta. I would not put 10lbs on the miniporta! All IMO; Don T.

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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster
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Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA
Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: RTLR 12]
      #4514164 - 04/12/11 08:27 PM
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Quote:

Darren,

I have a PortaII mount and mount my SV115T on it. With the original tripod it's a little shakey so I use the tripod from my CG-5 and this makes for a more sturdy platform. I'm using a 2" diag. and EPs so the configuration weighs in at about 15#. I was getting some flexure in the alt and azm axis, but I tightened them up a bit and this solved the problem. I'm fairly confident with the Porta II now and I do enjoy it's ease of set up and portability.

Stan



I think scopes like this are about the limit but they do require a tripod upgrade. I have my NP-101 on a Portamount, it's a couple of pounds lighter than the 115 and probably a couple of inches shorter. I am using the Hands on Optics wooden legs but I think the CG-5 ASGT tripod would be even better.

jon

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TONGKW
scholastic sledgehammer


Reged: 01/16/07

Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: Darren B]
      #4514732 - 04/13/11 04:01 AM Attachment (32 downloads)
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In my experience, a 6” Maksutov of 13 lb would be a bit too much for a Porta AltAz mount and a C6 is about the maximum. I think a Voyager would be better. Also because of the construction of the Porta, the finderscope is placed on the lower left which is not convenient for me.

K W TONG
C8+CG5 GT, TSA102+HEQ5 PRO, MK67+Voyager, NexStar 6SE, C5+Mizar K, WO ZS80FD+Kenko NES, Megrez 72FD+Kenko KDS, Mini Borg 50, PST

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RTLR 12
Post Laureate
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Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca
Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: TONGKW]
      #4514808 - 04/13/11 05:52 AM
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Tong,
One of these brackets will help with the orientation of your finder scope.

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/4513810/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1

Stan

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TONGKW
scholastic sledgehammer


Reged: 01/16/07

Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: RTLR 12]
      #4515207 - 04/13/11 10:41 AM Attachment (35 downloads)
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Dear Stan,
Thanks for your suggestion. I have seen these brackets.
I have in stead chosen to dispose of the long arm of my Porta mount altogether and substitute with a custom made short arm and this work out very well for mounting my C6. I can revert to the long arm when I want to mount a refractor.

K W TONG
C8+CG5 GT, TSA102+HEQ5 PRO, MK67+Voyager, NexStar 6SE, C5+Mizar K, WO ZS80FD+Kenko NES, Megrez 72FD+Kenko KDS, Mini Borg 50, PST

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Don Trinko
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 07/05/09

Loc: Ohio
Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: TONGKW]
      #4515259 - 04/13/11 11:11 AM
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The Voyager has a top bracket that can be put in 3 different positions. This makes it a little more flexible for finder scope possition. Don T.

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Doug76
Long Achro Junkie
*****

Reged: 12/05/07

Loc: Refractor Heaven
Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: Don Trinko]
      #4515430 - 04/13/11 12:17 PM
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I've had up to an 8" SCT on my PM. A little shaky while focusing, but not too bad. A 6" SCT definitely worked better.
As for longer scopes, I was able to successfully mount a 6" f/5 reflector on it with good results, but also a little shaky when focusing.
In long refractors, I found the PM will handle any 60mm, all the way up to f/20, but it had problems with an 80mm f/11.4.
With the PM, it's not just about weight, although I've found 12lbs is about it's limit. It's also about the length of the scope. So if the scope is short, it handles weight better, and if the scope is long, the weight must be rather light.

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orlyandico
Carpal Tunnel
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Reged: 08/10/09

Loc: Singapore
Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: Doug76]
      #4515452 - 04/13/11 12:23 PM
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someone i know has a C8 on his porta mount.. but i found even his 127mm mak a bit on the shaky side.

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cavefrog
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 11/11/08

Loc: loozyanna
Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: Don Trinko]
      #4515514 - 04/13/11 12:54 PM
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I use a celestron 100ED on mine. it is almost necessary to use my damping pads and/or Oberwerk wood tripod though. but it does work well in this configuration.
I have also added a large piece of angle aluminum between the mount and the saddle to bring the scope into a more comfortable position.

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Darren B
sage


Reged: 05/02/05

Loc: UK
Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: cavefrog]
      #4515662 - 04/13/11 02:11 PM
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Thanks, some interesting replies there.

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ottovonrotton
super member
*****

Reged: 01/01/09

Loc: Where is Port Perry?
Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: Darren B]
      #4515839 - 04/13/11 03:27 PM
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I have a C8 I use with an AT Voyager on a Oberwerk tripod and even a 127/1200mm refractor, You must ditch the tripod for something better to get the most (weight) from the mount.

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Darren B
sage


Reged: 05/02/05

Loc: UK
Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: ottovonrotton]
      #4515885 - 04/13/11 03:44 PM
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Ditched the original tripod long ago. I've got so it settles down less than a second at x225 mag.

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BKBrown
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 08/23/09

Loc: Northern Virginia, USA
Re: What's the biggest scope for the Portamount? new [Re: Darren B]
      #4516420 - 04/13/11 08:04 PM Attachment (37 downloads)
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The most I have used at one time is a SW100ED with a WO66SD Zenithstar and an Antares RACI finder on board, say 13-14 pounds...seemed to work just fine.

Clear Skies,
BrianB

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