Telescope Reviews: Alt/Az Mount Heads

· 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

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | (show all)

mogur
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/29/11

Loc: WI

Alt/Az Mount Heads
#5687486 - 02/18/13 06:16 PM

Hey, all. Is there an on-line or otherwise outlet that sells just mount heads? Tripods I have a-plenty. I'm looking for a source that sells just the Alt/Az mount heads. Preferably with the standard 3/8 x 16 threads to attach to a tripod. Must have slo-mo controls for both axis.

Post Extras:

kevint1
sage

Reged: 04/19/11

Loc: Michigan

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: mogur]
#5687496 - 02/18/13 06:24 PM

Desert Sky Astro has Alt Az mounts with slow motion controls. See my post below on their DSV-3 mount. They have other models also.

Post Extras:

Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: kevint1]
#5687514 - 02/18/13 06:35 PM

Opt sells the Vixen Portamount II heads without the tripod for $200.

Jon

Post Extras:

tomharri
sage

Reged: 09/19/08

Loc: Arizona

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: kevint1]
#5687515 - 02/18/13 06:37 PM Attachment (47 downloads)

Stellarvue has a nice one, and canadian telescopes co. has a slightly different version that I have and its really convertable. You can take one of the knobs off each axis and attach the flexi slow mo cables.

Post Extras:

Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: tomharri]
#5687910 - 02/18/13 09:57 PM

I think most of them can be bought without the tripod.

Post Extras:

mogur
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/29/11

Loc: WI

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: Lane]
#5688024 - 02/18/13 11:02 PM

I guess I should have specified that I'm looking for SMALL mounts. Something that would fit on a Manfrotto tripod.

Post Extras:

chboss
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/24/08

Loc: Zurich Switzerland

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: mogur]
#5688091 - 02/18/13 11:55 PM

How about a AYOtraveler from AOK Swiss?

http://www.aokswiss.ch/d/mont/ayo/ayotraveler/uebersicht_ayotraveler.html

regards
Chris

Post Extras:

ASTERON
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/24/07

Loc: ISRAEL

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: chboss]
#5688239 - 02/19/13 02:36 AM

Mogul,
I highly recommend Universal astronomics
http://www.universalastronomics.com/
They have several types of Alt-as mount heads for sale.
Moreover, their level of service and honesty is incredible.
Their owner Larry communicated with me by e-mail and patiently answered all my questions untill I ended having a solution tailored exactly to my needs. He even advised me against buying unnecessary stuff and was not interested in just making a profit. He truly labored until I had something that truly fitted my needs.
Give them a shot.

Edited by ASTERON (02/19/13 02:44 AM)

Post Extras:

Midnight Dan
Postmaster

Reged: 01/23/08

Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl...

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: ASTERON]
#5688384 - 02/19/13 07:05 AM

Check out the DSV-M, DSV-1 or DSV-2 at http://www.desertskyastro.com. I have the DSV-1 and can attest to the fact that these are very high quality, well made mounts with buttery smooth motion.

They can be purchased with a 5/8" thread for contractor's tripod, or 3/8" for photo tripod. Or you can get the 5/8" threaded mount and for $25, an adapter for 3/8" use so you can use it on either.

-Dan

Post Extras:

gmartin02
sage

Reged: 04/11/05

Loc: Santa Clarita, CA

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: mogur]
#5689273 - 02/19/13 04:57 PM

I have my eye on a Stellarview M2 - Threaded with 3/8-16 hole, only weights 4 pounds, ans states it will carry up to 20 pounds. It is reasonably priced too. Here is the link:

Stellarview M2

Greg

Post Extras:

ASTERON
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/24/07

Loc: ISRAEL

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: gmartin02]
#5689312 - 02/19/13 05:15 PM

Mogul,
I just now saw that you wanted slo-mo on the mount.
Thr UA mounts don' have them.

Post Extras:

Widespread
sage

Reged: 05/11/11

Loc: Bowling Green, Kentucky

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: ASTERON]
#5689338 - 02/19/13 05:31 PM

As far as I know, the SV M2 mount doesn't have slo-mo controls either.

Best,
David

Post Extras:

mogur
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/29/11

Loc: WI

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: chboss]
#5689392 - 02/19/13 05:58 PM

Quote:

How about a AYOtraveler from AOK Swiss?

http://www.aokswiss.ch/d/mont/ayo/ayotraveler/uebersicht_ayotraveler.html

regards
Chris

Wow! This looks like exactly what I'm after. Wish I could read Swiss.

Post Extras:

ASTERON
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/24/07

Loc: ISRAEL

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: mogur]
#5690168 - 02/20/13 03:52 AM

Mogur,
Aok make very nicely engineerd products.
Just note that the AOK traveller carrying capacity is limited to 6 kilograms.

Post Extras:

Chucky
sage

Reged: 04/16/10

Loc: Dublin, Ohio

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: ASTERON]
#5690284 - 02/20/13 07:30 AM

Discmount heads can be purchased separately.

Post Extras:

ASTERON
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/24/07

Loc: ISRAEL

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: Chucky]
#5690671 - 02/20/13 11:27 AM

Chucky,
Discmount heads are Fantastic - but the OP specifically said he wants Slo-Mo- controls while the discmounts are strictly push-to (nudge to).
I agree with you that they are exquisite mounts !

Post Extras:

Chucky
sage

Reged: 04/16/10

Loc: Dublin, Ohio

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: ASTERON]
#5691047 - 02/20/13 02:43 PM

<< but the OP specifically said he wants Slo-Mo- controls while the discmounts are strictly push-to >>

Oops. I obviously can't read, and/or need to get a more recent eye exam!

Post Extras:

ASTERON
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/24/07

Loc: ISRAEL

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: Chucky]
#5691071 - 02/20/13 02:52 PM

Chucky,
No damage done

I made the same mistake by recommending UA mounts and then I saw that Slo-Mo was a requirement.
BTW - I have a DM4 and a DM6 and I love them both, They are very convenient and I dont find I need SLO-MO with them at all.
With the encoders and a sky commander they are killer combo's for Grab'n Go.

Edited by ASTERON (02/20/13 02:53 PM)

Post Extras:

Chucky
sage

Reged: 04/16/10

Loc: Dublin, Ohio

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: ASTERON]
#5691174 - 02/20/13 03:42 PM

<< I have a DM4 and a DM6 and I love them both, They are very convenient and I dont find I need SLO-MO with them at all.
With the encoders and a sky commander they are killer combo's for Grab'n Go. >>

Totally concur. I just added an Ipad Mini to the mix, so things for me get even better with my DM-4!

Post Extras:

skullpin
sage

Reged: 03/13/09

Loc: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Re: Alt/Az Mount Heads new

[Re: Chucky]
#5691224 - 02/20/13 04:05 PM

I had a DesertSky DSV-2 with slo-mo controls. Then I got a DiscMount DM4 and sold the DSV-2 with no regrets. I found the DSV-2 to be very shakey at 200+ powers, shaking violently (in the eyepiece) when using slo-mo controls or when focusing. With the DiscMount I can track by hand easily at 200+ powers with very little shake or backlash. Raul's new DSV-3 might improve on stability, though I now see little point for slo-mo controls. The simplicity of the DiskMount is sublime.

My $0.02, Keith

Post Extras:

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | (show all)

Extra information

13 registered and 29 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator: Bowmoreman, bilgebay, iceblaze

Print Thread

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Thread views: 1721

Jump to

CN Forums

Home

Cloudy Nights LLC
Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics