· 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 core scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 02/23/08 Loc: Mostly in Norman, OK List of compact portable tracking mounts       #5487796 - 10/24/12 10:50 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Since there's been quite a few threads going on recently, I thought a 'master' list of what's commercially available would be a great resource. A couple of notes: a) quite a few of the mounts are from Japan/China/Taiwan/HK, if you click on the links in Chrome browser it should automatically translate it to English (or what ever else you need) - if not cut and past url to translation site. b) Estimated base prices are from websites that I have found; take it as more of a ballpark figure. c) iirc forum rules prevent posting pictures that do not belong to the poster (including mfg photos) - it would be nice if it were possible to include a quick snapshot of each mount imo. So here goes: 1) Vixen Polarie US$430 - 4 track rates 2) Vixen GP2 Photo Guider US$1,100 - complete with wedge, tripod 3) Kenko Sky Memo US$800 - two versions, R and RS (adds 4 track rates) 4) AstroTrac US$580 - 3 track rates 5) Losmandy StarLapse US$700 - 9 track/pan rates 6) TOAST Pro US$1,100 - 2 track rates 7) unitec SWAT-200 US$1,000 - 6 track/pan rates 8) Sightron nano-tracker US$250 - 5 track/pan rates 9) MusicBox EQII US$250 - mechanical wind-up tracker! 10) eyeball CD-1 US$435 11) Pentax O-GPS1 (technically not a mount, but it tracks! ) US$200 - useable on some Pentax DSLR 12) PanHeadEQ US$550 - 6 track/pan rates 13) Takahashi Teegul Sky Patrol III US$1,300 14) Takahashi PM-1 US$3,200 - 5 or 7 track/pan rates, multi-configuration GEM, 2nd version PM-1XY 15) Orion Min-EQ Tabletop EQ manual drive US$70, drive motor +$80 16) iOptron SmartEQ GOTO GEM US$399, complete with tripod, US$60 polar scope optional 17) iOptron SmartEQ Pro US$499 - metal gears ,polar scope, guide port Edited by core (10/25/12 10:57 PM) Post Extras:       Traveler Pooh-Bah Reged: 08/19/07 Loc: The Netherlands Re: List of compact portable tracking mounts [Re: core]       #5488171 - 10/25/12 08:08 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks for this list Peter! Post Extras:       themos member Reged: 04/01/08 Re: List of compact portable tracking mounts [Re: Traveler]       #5488314 - 10/25/12 10:17 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   you forgot http://www.amazon.com/Orion-Min-EQ-Tabletop-Equatorial-Telescope/dp/B0000XMX8O/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top Post Extras:       core scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 02/23/08 Loc: Mostly in Norman, OK Re: List of compact portable tracking mounts [Re: themos]       #5488351 - 10/25/12 10:37 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Updated with Orion's tabletop mount - thanks!. hmm, I was thinking since skymemo is in the list, iOptron's SmartEQ at <14lb should make it there to? ... and maybe the list should be in 2 approximate categories - on one end there's GEM type mounts like the StarLapse (9lb head alone) and SmartEQ , and on the other are the really compact trackers like the Polarie ... Edited by core (10/25/12 11:14 AM) Post Extras:       Midnight Dan Postmaster Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl... Re: List of compact portable tracking mounts [Re: core]       #5488364 - 10/25/12 10:45 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes, the iOptron SmartEQ is specifically sold as a lightweight portable tracking mount. -Dan Post Extras:       *skyguy* Pooh-Bah Reged: 12/31/08 Loc: Western New York Re: List of compact portable tracking mounts [Re: core]       #5488369 - 10/25/12 10:48 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great list ... you might consider the GOTO Ioptron Smarteq GEM ($399) for this list. Its innovative design that places all the weight of the batteries, drive motors and gears below the polar axis allows the attachment of a DSLR and lens (up to 4 lbs.) without the need of a counterweight. https://www.ioptron.com/index.cfm?select=productdetails&phid=03c86716-b870-417b-8beb-0c0ba49ddf1d Thanks for posting ... Post Extras:       Phil Wheeler Carpal Tunnel Reged: 12/31/05 Loc: 3 miles WNW of Celestron Re: List of compact portable tracking mounts [Re: core]       #5488402 - 10/25/12 11:05 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great list. I wish I'd seen it *before* buying my Polarie. Not that I'm disappointed with the Polarie, just that I might have gone for something with a bit more weight capacity. But it will hold my 60Da with 200L f/2.8 lens so probably would still have chosen the Vixen Polarie. Post Extras:       themos member Reged: 04/01/08 Re: List of compact portable tracking mounts [Re: Phil Wheeler]       #5488534 - 10/25/12 12:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Plenty of choice, covering $150 EQ1-M - $1300 Teegul! Post Extras:       Joe Cipriano Entropy Personified Reged: 09/03/05 Loc: Uh... anyone have a GPS? Re: List of compact portable tracking mounts [Re: themos]       #5489173 - 10/25/12 07:48 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Good reference. Should probably be pinned, or added to the "Best Threads" list. Post Extras:       chboss professor emeritus Reged: 03/24/08 Loc: Zurich Switzerland Re: List of compact portable tracking mounts [Re: Joe Cipriano]       #5490918 - 10/26/12 09:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Excellent list Peter! regards Chris Post Extras:       Don Trinko Carpal Tunnel Reged: 07/05/09 Loc: Ohio Re: List of compact portable tracking mounts [Re: chboss]       #5491396 - 10/27/12 09:46 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Celestron SLT is portable and OK for a small scope. Don T. Post Extras:       core scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 02/23/08 Loc: Mostly in Norman, OK Re: List of compact portable tracking mounts [Re: core]       #5675070 - 02/12/13 12:39 AM Attachment (14 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A quick bump and single update to the list 18) iOptron SkyTracker US$349 - built-in 'wedge', 2 rates, $50 polar scope option Might have to revise the MSRP listing for the Japanese mounts in the initial post, since the Yen/USD has shifted quite a bit in the last 3 months. hmm, wondering if the SLT be included - not a dedicated tracker, may require some add-ons for polar alignment, but at around $100 used imo it's mighty tempting; even has goto! (fwiw I do have a SLT but haven't considered using it in EQ mode) ... oh and one more thing, pic of prototype/to-be-released mount from Sightron, even smaller than the nano-tracker, battery and controls on the unit itself (rather than a separate hand box for power and controls). Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 17 registered and 32 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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