davidpitre
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/10/05
Posts: 1593
Loc: Central Texas
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I'm looking for an Alt/Az mount for my 80mm refractor and saw this . What do ya' think?
http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=402361
If nothing else, it is certainly elegant.
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David
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Erik D
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 3042
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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A VERY attractive mount! Excellent price too. I like the choice of finishes.
For comparison my Giro 2 DX is nearly twice the cost, Wt ~4.5 lbs but will carry 30 lb OTA on EACH side.....The DSV-1 looks like a very good mount for scopes up to the size of Orion 100mm ED.
Erik D
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CharlesStG
sage
Reged: 01/01/06
Posts: 243
Loc: Kansas USA
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Hi David,
I just ordered one of these with one dovetail clamp on each side so I can mount two scopes (a TMB 80/480 and a Wegat <Meade> 127mm Maksutov) at the same time. The design looks very promising and there is a full money-back guarantee if not satisfied. Speaking with the maker, it appears he did his research and engineering homework. The bearings are a triple combination of ball bearings, needle bearings and an UHMW polyethylene ring which he says was chosen as the drag affords smooth motion like teflon, but he said he tried teflon and it was too slippery to hold position without using excessive clamping force. If the function matches the aesthetics, it should work great. Like any mount head, the tripod you use will likely determine ultimate satisfaction as vibration is an even greater concern to smooth rotation. He tells me the design is perfectly smooth without backlash and that eyepieces can be changed without image shift or re-balance, in most cases. I was going to order a William Optics EZ-touch based on the highly-praised AYO-swiss mount head, but decided to buy this one instead as the price was cheaper and allows me to choose my own tripod. I am about as picky a customer as they come with no quibbles about returning what does not please, so I will follow-up this post with a review if it works out to my satisfaction. Should be here in a week or so. It does look great. Very hard to make an alt-az mount with superlative functionality, like I demand. I'm hoping to be wowed. We'll see.
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Charles
2X Meade/Terabeam ETX-125 variants w/DDII Control
A few more Meade ETX-125AT UHTC
Just one APM/TMB 80/480 LZOS Super APO, FT Focuser
Working on 8"f/12 D&G folded bino-refractor
Denk binoviewers until work is done on above
Still working on elevated observatory/spaceship
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davidpitre
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/10/05
Posts: 1593
Loc: Central Texas
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Charles,
Great. Please give us a review ASAP when it comes. I almost ordered one for my new W.O 80mm FD, but chickened out last minute wanting to hear a review first. I'm on the verge of ordering a Helix single arm, but will await your opinion .
I emailed W.O. re: their new alt/az mount, and they said it would not be available by itself without the tripod.
Glad to see someone else is still using Brandons. IMHO they produce a darker background than any EP.
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David
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CharlesStG
sage
Reged: 01/01/06
Posts: 243
Loc: Kansas USA
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David, Sure - happy to let all know how it goes. If well executed, as this design appears similar to the one used by the WO EZ Touch (AKA AYO mount), it may just be a wowser. If so, the price is a rare bargain. Mine is coming in the clear finish and I am getting two of his 6" dovetail adapters, as well. At only $25. ea. and machined out of aluminum, another good deal. Below is a pic of the custom tripod I will be using. The top plate is 1/4" stainless, 8" wide and the top legs are 2" schedule 80 aluminum. Do you think it will be stable enough? - lol. Another bargain in new condition off Astromart yesterday at only $200. including shipping. Yup, Brandons are about tops in my book for sharpness and contrast and I even use them in my Denk binoviewer which is another nice piece. One more thing on the new mount - one of the main reasons I bought mine with the twin dovetail heads is to interest my 3 boys in astronomy. The maker said he would collimate these heads so I can share the same views with one of my boys -- each of us looking through different scopes at the same thing at the same time. Astronomy is such a GREAT hobby and I really want my boys to take it up as everyone should have such a fine hobby, don't you think?
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Charles
2X Meade/Terabeam ETX-125 variants w/DDII Control
A few more Meade ETX-125AT UHTC
Just one APM/TMB 80/480 LZOS Super APO, FT Focuser
Working on 8"f/12 D&G folded bino-refractor
Denk binoviewers until work is done on above
Still working on elevated observatory/spaceship
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davidpitre
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/10/05
Posts: 1593
Loc: Central Texas
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Charles,
Are you concerned about the weight you will be putting on this mount? The add states it will support 15lbs.
What will your two scopes, diagonals, eyepieces.... weigh?
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David
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CharlesStG
sage
Reged: 01/01/06
Posts: 243
Loc: Kansas USA
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Not really. In speaking with the maker, the 15 pound suggested weight limit refers to the amount of weight which one could hang off of one side without any counterweight on the other - the design can handle very much more weight if balanced, side to side. My 80mm APO weighs 6 pounds and 8 fully loaded. My 127mm Mak weighs 9 pounds and 11 fully loaded. Placing them on either side of the center support, using TWO dovetail binders, makes for a weight imbalance of only 3 pounds. As a weight imbalance of 15 pounds is OK on this mount, my arrangement should behave with far greater stability and stress to the mount than if I only had one scope mounted instead. Just found a really fine tripod for this mount at a great price, too. It looks like a standard surveyor tripod, except I much prefer the black and medium yellow of this one to the garish orange and bright yellow of surveyor models in wood. This one by CST/Berger is what they call a Robotics tripod and has a dual clamp per leg design for maximum stability, poly coated maple dowels on the outside of each leg for best vibration damping with a composite extender leg for no shrinkage/loosening over time. Heavy, but should work well and looks pretty nice.
Model 60-RT20WDF. Only $161.88 with free shipping from: http://www.southern-tool.com/store/robotics_tripods.html
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Charles
2X Meade/Terabeam ETX-125 variants w/DDII Control
A few more Meade ETX-125AT UHTC
Just one APM/TMB 80/480 LZOS Super APO, FT Focuser
Working on 8"f/12 D&G folded bino-refractor
Denk binoviewers until work is done on above
Still working on elevated observatory/spaceship
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Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 30797
Loc: Sunny Oregon
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I'm going to order one of these myself. I keep looking for a decent, travel-worthy alt-az and the price and specs appear to be a steal. I will mount an achro 90mm f/11 (~7 pounds) and use my binoviewers on it for lunar/planetary use. I hope it works out.
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Tom 
Tele Vue 102mm f/8.6 on an EzTouch
Vixen 80mm f/5 A80SSWT on a grab-n-go mount
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davidpitre
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/10/05
Posts: 1593
Loc: Central Texas
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Tom,
Great to hear someone else is investigating this one.
Will you give us a review?
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David
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Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 30797
Loc: Sunny Oregon
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Most definitely. It should be here on the 27th. I think my setup will put it to a decent test, so we'll see...hopefully my weather will cooperate long enough to let me actually try it out when it shows up.
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Tom
Tele Vue 102mm f/8.6 on an EzTouch
Vixen 80mm f/5 A80SSWT on a grab-n-go mount
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CharlesStG
sage
Reged: 01/01/06
Posts: 243
Loc: Kansas USA
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Mine should also be here on the 27th - a pic just received of mine finished, but still on the workbench, before testing and then coating. He said it should go out to me on the 25th. Getting closer to being able to evaluate it here. My Berger tripod arrived two days ago.
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Charles
2X Meade/Terabeam ETX-125 variants w/DDII Control
A few more Meade ETX-125AT UHTC
Just one APM/TMB 80/480 LZOS Super APO, FT Focuser
Working on 8"f/12 D&G folded bino-refractor
Denk binoviewers until work is done on above
Still working on elevated observatory/spaceship
Edited by Tom L (01/21/06 02:20 PM)
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AstroWheels
super member
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 110
Loc: Mid-Michigan
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I've ordered one of these in black, with the two adapters as well. I hope to see it the week after next  .
Don
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13" T-scope "Bertha"
6" UTI-6c traveler "Polly"
5" Televue NP-127 "Betty"
4.5" Starblast "O'l Blue"
3.5" Megrez 90 APO "Scooter"
Collins I-3 "The Eye"
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ylin
sage
Reged: 05/23/05
Posts: 246
Loc: Irvine, CA
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How much in total for the mount and the two adapter option? I am interesting in this one too...
Thanks,
Yusen
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Yusen
MN66/Meade 102ED/William Optics ZS80FD [天鵝牌紅標米洒]/SVF50B2
Meade LXD650/AstroTech Voyager
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CharlesStG
sage
Reged: 01/01/06
Posts: 243
Loc: Kansas USA
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Pricing per this ad: http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=402361
I think he charged me about $20. more for the second dovetail head.
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Charles
2X Meade/Terabeam ETX-125 variants w/DDII Control
A few more Meade ETX-125AT UHTC
Just one APM/TMB 80/480 LZOS Super APO, FT Focuser
Working on 8"f/12 D&G folded bino-refractor
Denk binoviewers until work is done on above
Still working on elevated observatory/spaceship
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ylin
sage
Reged: 05/23/05
Posts: 246
Loc: Irvine, CA
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I exchanged several e-mails with the marker. According to him, at first, the mount is designed for only one scope... I think with only 20 dollars more, able to mount two scopes is a great plus, expecially compare to other same price range mounts...
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Yusen
MN66/Meade 102ED/William Optics ZS80FD [天鵝牌紅標米洒]/SVF50B2
Meade LXD650/AstroTech Voyager
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Amalia
Reged: 10/16/04
Posts: 5165
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Quote:
I was going to order a William Optics EZ-touch based on the highly-praised AYO-swiss mount head, but... (snip)
Yesterday we e-mailed AOK about this mount.
Here AOK's translated answer:
"Thank you for the link.
This is one more competitor for the Giro, but not for the AYO/EzTouch.
This mount looks at the first moment kind of irritating.
{to him as the inventor of the AYO/EzTouch, as it seems a copy - A.}
But when I look at the details, this mount looks not as well made as mine.
I don't want to seem overweening, but when I take a look at these pictures
I see that the clamping screws put pressure directly to the axles. This is not
an optimal solution."
Amalia - only few days to get my AYO
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Edited by Amalia (01/21/06 08:45 AM)
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 29219
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It certainly appears to have several items in common with the WO/AYO.
FWIW, looking at the photos, it looks like the diameter of the cylinders is smaller than on the AYO. IF that's the case, the motions may not be quite as smooth - as it may require more tension to lock down the axis and control movement of the mount - if it's not perfectly balanced. (I hope that the dovetail plate he's supplying is 6-8" long so it can be slid back and forth for balance.) This, however, won't be as much a factor with small scopes - 80mm and under, as it might with larger ones - 4" and up.
However, it may very well be lighter and smaller - perhaps better for travel. The price looks decent as well. Provided it stays there.
Plus, I'd agree with the assesment that direct pressure on the axis may not be the best way to control tension - this could put a lot of pressure directly on the axle which might have negative effects on the performance of the mount in the long term. However in a small shop, designs can be changed quickly.
It will be intersting to hear first reports on this one, but it may be more interesting to see how it performs in the long run.
For those looking to pair a tripod with it (and not looking for the surveyor yellow paint job) you might try this one
http://www.bigbinoculars.com/obwtri.htm
Sold by BigBinoculars.com, it's only around $150 and finished (IMO) much nicer.
Does anyone know if the manufacturer has plans for a version with encoders?
Tom T.
Edited by Tom Trusock (01/21/06 03:00 PM)
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jclark2
sage
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 340
Loc: Michigan, USA
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Hi Tom, Slightly off topic but are you still planning a review of the EZtouch? I am thinking about ordering one but would like to see your review first. -- Jim
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Jim
WO ZS80FD 10th Anniv
WO ZS110
PST-DS
EQ6
iOptron Mini-Tower
WO EZ-Touch
UA Unistar Light
Celestron SkyScout
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 29219
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Hi Jim,
I wound up getting one for my own use, and it showed earlier this week. I'll be reviewing it when I review the WO105.
I have some photos of the WO105 and WO66SD mounted on the EZ touch over in the refractors forum if you are interested.
No comments on it as yet. The only thing I've used so far has been the 66sd. I was just mounting everything and thought - Dang this looks purty, I gotta post some pics. 
If we're gonna continue the discussion on the EZT, let's do it in a different thread or via PM. I don't want to hijack this one any further.
Thanks
Tom T.
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Time spent doing something you love is not wasted.
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jclark2
sage
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 340
Loc: Michigan, USA
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As always Tom thanks for all the information. I am looking forward to your review and I agree with you that is sure does look purty. My ZS80FD would like really nice... Of course it would need to find a friend for the other side. Thanks for the pictures. Jim
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Jim
WO ZS80FD 10th Anniv
WO ZS110
PST-DS
EQ6
iOptron Mini-Tower
WO EZ-Touch
UA Unistar Light
Celestron SkyScout
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