38 replies to this topic

[Chris1485]

Hi,
I have a 102mm Achro that I'm having trouble using with my current mounts. EQ-3 + AZ-4.
I'm looking for a light weight mount that can satisfactorily hold the relatively long tube of the F10 Achro.
Both my mounts generate shake when extended to sufficient height for the Scope and are very prone to being affected by wind.
I struggle a little currently to lift and move my EQ-3 particularly when mounting the scope.
Any suggestions?

 

Thanks,

 

Chris (UK)

 

[Andrea Salati]

Visually I used a 102/1100 achro on a Meade LX-70 and it was a pleasure.

[LDW47]

Hi,
I have a 102mm Achro that I'm having trouble using with my current mounts. EQ-3 + AZ-4.
I'm looking for a light weight mount that can satisfactorily hold the relatively long tube of the F10 Achro.
Both my mounts generate shake when extended to sufficient height for the Scope and are very prone to being affected by wind.
I struggle a little currently to lift and move my EQ-3 particularly when mounting the scope.
Any suggestions?

 

Thanks,

 

Chris (UK)

If you can find a Porta II grab it fast, real fast. With a scope that long you will find it hard to have it light but no shake, eh  Unless you weight it down to stabilize.

Edited by LDW47, 20 March 2025 - 11:15 AM.

[Chris1485]

Thanks for the reply.

Is the LX-70 equal to an EQ-5?

Currently I'm having a little trouble carying my EQ-3 due to back problems..

[LDW47]

Hi,
I have a 102mm Achro that I'm having trouble using with my current mounts. EQ-3 + AZ-4.
I'm looking for a light weight mount that can satisfactorily hold the relatively long tube of the F10 Achro.
Both my mounts generate shake when extended to sufficient height for the Scope and are very prone to being affected by wind.
I struggle a little currently to lift and move my EQ-3 particularly when mounting the scope.
Any suggestions?

 

Thanks,

 

Chris (UK)

I would tell you a SW AZ5 but its a 20lb plus mount / tripod but it is stable, very stable.

[cookjaiii]

Add another vote for a Vixen Porta II.

[Jethro7]

Hello Chris 

+1 For the Porta II.

 

https://www.rotherva...unt-tripod.html

 

Another nice one for the money with room to grow.

 

https://www.rotherva...ith-tripod.html

 

HAPPY SKIES AND KEEP LOOKING UP Jethro

Edited by Jethro7, 20 March 2025 - 10:06 AM.

[Andrea Salati]

Thanks for the reply.

Is the LX-70 equal to an EQ-5?

Currently I'm having a little trouble carying my EQ-3 due to back problems..

Yes, same class of mount and very, very similar.

[Bomber Bob]

Hi,
I have a 102mm Achro that I'm having trouble using with my current mounts. EQ-3 + AZ-4.
I'm looking for a light weight mount that can satisfactorily hold the relatively long tube of the F10 Achro.
Both my mounts generate shake when extended to sufficient height for the Scope and are very prone to being affected by wind.
I struggle a little currently to lift and move my EQ-3 particularly when mounting the scope.
Any suggestions?

 

Thanks,

 

Chris (UK)

I feel your pain - literally.  I had to part with my 2017 APM 152ED F8 because it got too painful to hoist up into the cradle.

 

I also have a 4" F10 Achro.  I use mine on a Kenko NES -- a bit smaller / lighter than a Vixen SP.   For no shakes, I have a larger & heavier 1980s Meade StarFinder (1" shafts) on a 5' pedestal.  FYI:  My Dakin 4" F10 is a custom build -- about twice the weight of a C102.

 

 

Zero jitters on a Takahashi EM-1S, but that platform was not an easy tote!

 

IOW:  It's tough to find a robust mount for a 4' long scope that doesn't shake, but is still light enough to tote.

 

 

Edited by Bomber Bob, 21 March 2025 - 08:11 AM.

[Mike W]

Televue Gibraltar

[Oldfracguy]

Hi,
I have a 102mm Achro that I'm having trouble using with my current mounts. EQ-3 + AZ-4.
I'm looking for a light weight mount that can satisfactorily hold the relatively long tube of the F10 Achro.
Both my mounts generate shake when extended to sufficient height for the Scope and are very prone to being affected by wind.
I struggle a little currently to lift and move my EQ-3 particularly when mounting the scope.
Any suggestions?

 

Thanks,

 

Chris (UK)

A very good option for that scope is to convert a Celestron CG-4 EQ mount to Alt-Az configuration.  I have done that with two of them, and they work very well indeed for these 4" f/9.8 achromats:

 

[vtornado]

+1 on used celestron CG4 or CG5.   The CG5 can't be converted to Alt-Az (?)

Don't get the model with the aluminum channel legs.  I thought the vixen porta was a bit shakey with a 100 f/10.   I consider it a 80mm class mount.

 

One thing that helps is a two speed focuser.  It requires a much lighter touch to focus.  This does not help with the wind though.

Edited by vtornado, 20 March 2025 - 01:43 PM.

[LDW47]

+1 on used celestron CG4 or CG5.   The CG5 can't be converted to Alt-Az (?)

Don't get the model with the aluminum channel legs.  I thought the vixen porta was a bit shakey with a 100 f/10.   I consider it a 80mm class mount.

 

One thing that helps is a two speed focuser.  It requires a much lighter touch to focus.  This does not help with the wind though.

Mines pretty solid and its light at f11.4. It settles down quite fast. Its not a small scope. The next step up I think will cost a lot more and will be a lot heavier, its just to keep your eyes open for the Porta 2, eh  Its hard to get everything in one package, ya think. PS:  I even mount my NP101 on it accasionally for a quick night out.

 

Edited by LDW47, 20 March 2025 - 02:24 PM.

[vtornado]

I had a porta II and in my opinion the 80 f/11 was at the top end of the mount.  I have a scope just like yours it is amazing!.  100 f/10 is a bit bigger of a beast and I wasn't happy the porta.  If that is all I had then I would use it.  If I had to buy new at retail I would be sad. 

 

Other variables are the 100's lens cell (metal or plastic)  and dew shield (metal or plastic)  They add a lot of weight at the extreme end of the tube. Does the OP intend to put on a big finder and 2 inch eyepieces?

 

A two speed focuser can help because it takes less force to reach perfect focus. 

 

I had to sell my porta during the pandemic, because I could not change the handedness of the mount head, and I had an SCT that had the dovetail on the wrong side.  I shopped for rings for a long time but could not come up with a pair.  I now use a tw1.  I don't think it is quite as rigid as the porta.

 

Ohh ... another point does the OPs scope have rings or a bolt on dovetail?  That can make a lot of difference in balancing the scope properly.

Edited by vtornado, 20 March 2025 - 02:41 PM.

[LDW47]

I had a porta II and in my opinion the 80 f/11 was at the top end of the mount.  I have a scope just like yours it is amazing!.  100 f/10 is a bit bigger of a beast and I wasn't happy the porta.  If that is all I had then I would use it.  If I had to buy new at retail I would be sad. 

 

Other variables are the 100's lens cell (metal or plastic)  and dew shield (metal or plastic)  They add a lot of weight at the extreme end of the tube. Does the OP intend to put on a big finder and 2 inch eyepieces?

 

A two speed focuser can help because it takes less force to reach perfect focus. 

 

I had to sell my porta during the pandemic, because I could not change the handedness of the mount head, and I had an SCT that had the dovetail on the wrong side.  I shopped for rings for a long time but could not come up with a pair.  I now use a tw1.  I don't think it is quite as rigid as the porta.

 

Ohh ... another point does the OPs scope have rings or a bolt on dovetail?  That can make a lot of difference in balancing the scope properly.

I had a T1 it performed well but no better, why I got rid of it is that it mounts the scope about 5-6" lower, too low for my liking unless you use an adjustable astro chair.  I didn't have one at the time, lol.

[Chris1485]

Thanks for all the replies. 

It has the metal lens cell and rings with dovetail bar.

I'm not planning on using a 2" diagonal or large eyepieces.

I like the idea if trying my EQ-3 in alt-az configuration. 

I've just been doing side by side with my ED80 on Jupiter and I wonder how much I'm gaining with the 102. Nit much this evening. 

I think I'll hang fire before I buy a bigger mount, I'm not sure I can manage a heavier mount at the moment. 

[stomias]

I really like my Porta II. SC 102 f7 is about as big as I'd go with it. Works really nice on my SP. Really solid on that!

Edited by stomias, 20 March 2025 - 06:58 PM.

[Oldfracguy]

I had a porta II and in my opinion the 80 f/11 was at the top end of the mount.  I have a scope just like yours it is amazing!.  100 f/10 is a bit bigger of a beast and I wasn't happy the porta.  If that is all I had then I would use it.  If I had to buy new at retail I would be sad. 

 

 

So did I, and I agree with your assessment:

 

[CHASLX200]

Visually I used a 102/1100 achro on a Meade LX-70 and it was a pleasure.

My 70 was good and my GP can do it easy.

[Chris1485]

I really like long refractors, they have that 'Proper Telescope' look.

In the past I've had some Maks due to the limitations of my mounts.

I would really like an EQ-5 mount but am starting to think that I would need to break up the mount into at least two parts to move it around.

I think I've hit upon a size limit for my scopes, I'd like more power, more resolution but think 5" in a fairly compact tube is going to be my limit unless I can come up with some clever way of moving about a bigger mount.

[Chris1485]

Televue Gibraltar

I'd love one, but unfortunately out of my current budget..

 

https://www.firstlig...h-mounting.html

 

[Bomber Bob]

Chris, BIF:  Wood Legs.  I upped the jitter-free capabilities of several mounts EQ & AZ by swapping metal legs for wood.  (Got a pristine set of old Vixen legs on ZEN Market at a bargain price!)  They're heftier than Tak or Surveyor Gear versions... but don't up the rig weight too much.

Edited by Bomber Bob, 21 March 2025 - 08:26 AM.

[BigC]

My CG4 with C102HD is stable and the max I can carry assembled. Anything bigger means multiple trips. 

Edited by BigC, 21 March 2025 - 08:33 AM.

[Oldfracguy]

I really like long refractors, they have that 'Proper Telescope' look.

In the past I've had some Maks due to the limitations of my mounts.

I would really like an EQ-5 mount but am starting to think that I would need to break up the mount into at least two parts to move it around.

I think I've hit upon a size limit for my scopes, I'd like more power, more resolution but think 5" in a fairly compact tube is going to be my limit unless I can come up with some clever way of moving about a bigger mount.

As far as carrying capacity is concerned, you really don't need an EQ-5 class mount to hold a 5" Mak.  I have mounted 5" Maks, 6" Maks, as well as 6" and 8" SCTs on my CG-4 converted to Alt-Az mode.  Here is a 6" Mak on it:

 

 

 

All I have to do with the CG-4 is to remove the nut underneath the triagular leg brace/eyepiece tray and pull off the leg brace, then fold up the tripod legs.  The CG-4 mount head stays attached, and I can lay the whole mount in one piece on the floor of my little car behind the front seats.

 

I had to make a modification to an Explore Scientific Twilight I that I has a few years ago to hold another 5" Mak:

 

 

 

The ES Twilight I comes with a long T-handle bar underneath the mount head.  It is necessary to take that out and remove the mount head from the tripod in order to fold up the tripod legs for transport.  That was something I did not want to have to do all the time, so I replaced that long T-handle with a length of M10x1.5 threaded rod.  That way the mount head can stay attached to the top of the tripod, and made the Twilight I as easy to fold up as the CG-4.

 

What is not known is whether you prefer an EQ mount with counterweights and one-axis tracking using the R.A. control, or even automatic tracking and Go-To capability.  If so, even an EQ-4 class mount with sufficient counterweights to balance a 9.5 lb. (4.3 kg) 5" Mak can be a little difficult to pick up and move around.

Edited by Oldfracguy, 21 March 2025 - 11:31 AM.

[BigC]

CG5 mounts and larger scopes mean three or four trips: mount+tripod,counterweight, scope,everything else.