Telescope Reviews: This vs. that and what minimum mount/tripod

I'm dreaming of a setup I can get part in a backpack and the other parts of the setup on the luggage rack of a bike. I want to go out on all the paved paths we have to find dark pockets to observe from.

I've got a small dob, but for this I want a different observing experience. I want to be seated on a small collapsible chair or just kneeling, and looking through a diagonal with a scope on a tripod mount.

Is a good photo tripod out of the question for even the lightest of these?

I also would like slow motion controls. I suppose an eq mount is out of the question.

Also tracking I suppose out of the question considering the weight of these items?

The OTA weights would have maybe a 1.25" barlow and a small not the huge giant heavy but small quality plossl eyepieces, light but decent 1.25 diag, and a rdf, so I am thinking with mount plate the weights I am dealing with are the OTA weights below plus maybe 1.5 lbs.

Here are the three:

celestron c6a 6" sct, 37%co, 10lbs, 1500mm, 25 mm mystery ep, 6x30 finder, star diag starbrigtht xlt coating, 399highpoint, no case

orion 5" mak, 31%CO, 8.6lbs, 1540mm, 25mm plossl, 6x26 finder, 45 erect diag, multi-coated, 399orion, soft case

celestron c5 5" sct, 37%co, 6lbs, 1250mm, 25mm mystery eyepeice, 8x20 finder, 45" erect diagonal, xlt coatings, 539optcorp, soft case

of these, the c6 seems the greatest value. it's also the biggest so if i would have a miserable time with a small mount vibrating that i'd need a bigger then non-portable mount?

The orion apex 127 is a good price also but I loose an inch and it's only 1.8 lbs lighter?

so to really go light the more expensive of the three, Celestron c5 and I loose an inch to the c6.

Really how much does the aperture differences and COs matter when I am going to be biking to dark pockets to observe from? if the 1 inch is worth the extra weight I really don't mind.

I figure I can carry a 15 lb pack on my back, fairly good size, and another 15 lb fairly good size pack, even something like a small mount and collapsed tripod.

So should I consider a 4th scope- the new etx 90 package for 399??

I think the tendancy of recommendations would be for some kind of quality alt-z mount and tripod. budget is not unlimited but I'll save up a little for quality.

Thanks for reading my spelling errors and bad grammar and all. I'm pumping out lots of text in lots of places right now.

ALSO note I will have a smartphone with skymaps, 12x50 binos and a planisphere.

Kind regards!
-mike

Edited by psi_chemie (12/09/12 10:08 PM)