9 replies to this topic

[MemoAstronomy]

Hello friends, i have a nice iOptron Photron 8" Ritchey Chretien, and i really like to observe, usualy i use it for Astrophotography, but i want to observe with it, so i saw this mount in a good price in Amazon.

The question is, do you think i can put the RC8 on the mount (SvBony says that the Payload is 10kg, RC8 is 8.2 kg)?
Anyone with experience?

This is the mount, i think it´s like the Vixen Porta, or the ES Twilight

https://www.svbony.c...N35ovu_5zpI_qJh

Clear skies?

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[Jaimo!]

 

 

That mount has been around for a while and badged by a number of different resellers, i.e. Astonomics Voyager 2 and Explore Scientific Twilight.  While I have no first hand experience, from what I have read over the years that scope is probably a little too big for that mount, while technically it should work according to the vendors load ratings, I feel using that combination will be disappointing and frustrating.

[davidmcgo]

I have an SV225 and I like it more than the Porta or Astro Tech Voyager, I think that an 8” scope will be too much load for it.  It is pretty well maxed out with my FC100DC on a Skywatcher AZ5 tripod for visual with high power eyepieces.  This means I can use it effectively and focus but the jitter when focusing is borderline getting objectionable.  It is possible a wood Berlebach tripod might improve things but I don’t own one to try.

 

For a 200mm class scope, I would rather have the Sky Tee from First Light Optics or the Stellarvue M002C.

 

Dave

[Oldfracguy]

I would have to say no.  That SV225 is very similar to a ES Twilight I, of which I've had two before.  I have an 8" Classical Cassegrain that strains a Stellarvue M002C.  The problem is that these OTAs are so wide that a lot of weight is far away from the axis of the mount, putting a lot of extra stress of the bottom portion where the mount arm attaches to the base.  Last night I tried the 8" Classical Cassegrain on a Celstron CG-4  but I could hear and feel the Altitude position gear straining under the weight, so I took that big scope off that mount right away.  So, please don't try to put your 8" R-C on that SV225 or else it might suffer damage and not be able to work with the smaller scopes for which it was designed.

[MemoAstronomy]

Thanks guys!
I already bought the mount, but I'll use it with my other scopes like my Takahashi FC50, FS60, even my Meade 115 6000 series, as you say can be bad for the equipment

Thanks and clear skies!

[Kevin_A]

Thanks guys!
I already bought the mount, but I'll use it with my other scopes like my Takahashi FC50, FS60, even my Meade 115 6000 series, as you say can be bad for the equipment

Thanks and clear skies!

Yes, it is maxed out using a Meade 115! 
 

[Brain&Force]

Glad to see a fellow visual RC user!

 

Yes, it is maxed out using a Meade 115! 

What's the maximum altitude you can achieve with this combo? It seems pretty restrictive.

[Kevin_A]

Glad to see a fellow visual RC user!

 

What's the maximum altitude you can achieve with this combo? It seems pretty restrictive.

I cannot remember what the actual altitude was, but I had no problems seeing every target I wanted to see. If a target is straight up then I would put the scope on my AM5 mount. Then again I am just a casual viewer and do mostly astrophotography. I was impressed with the rigidity and smoothness of the mount for the price. I do use Sorbathane ring pads under my tripod feet to eliminate vibrations while adjusting my views.

[Oldfracguy]

I cannot remember what the actual altitude was, but I had no problems seeing every target I wanted to see. If a target is straight up then I would put the scope on my AM5 mount. Then again I am just a casual viewer and do mostly astrophotography. I was impressed with the rigidity and smoothness of the mount for the price. I do use Sorbathane ring pads under my tripod feet to eliminate vibrations while adjusting my views.

Like the ES Twilight I, the arm of the SV225 can be attached at an angle.  See some of the photos on the SvBONY website:

 

https://www.svbony.c...elescope-mount/

 

You can certainly position a scope so that it points straight up, at least any scope of the size and weight that is capable of being carried by the SV225.

[Kevin_A]

Like the ES Twilight I, the arm of the SV225 can be attached at an angle.  See some of the photos on the SvBONY website:

 

https://www.svbony.c...elescope-mount/

 

You can certainly position a scope so that it points straight up, at least any scope of the size and weight that is capable of being carried by the SV225.

I personally only view targets at an angle that does not break my neck! Haha Yes, it can be positioned at an angle but I found it less desirable and less stable to use with the mass off center… and for targets higher up I would be sitting on the ground and waking up the next day in need of a chiropractor fixing my neck. If I had an observatory then I could put it on a really tall tripod or pier and then I would angle the mount and be able to sit without contorting my head. So sure it can be setup at an angle… but not worth it for me to change it for the few times I use it as it goes high enough for me. I found it nicely balanced with a heavy scope in the normal straight up orientation… not so much angled as it puts the center of mass slightly off the tripod centerline. My scope is very front heavy so moving it further back with a backwards tilted arm was a little sketchy for me. To each is own as I guess it comes down to how comfortable you feel with a heavy expensive scope on this low end mount. I know my harmonic mount would not think twice about the weight so I still would do high up targets with it. Overall it is a great mount for the price! I just don't do much visual as I have a bad neck.

Edited by Kevin_A, 11 February 2025 - 08:51 PM.