17 replies to this topic

[Princess Leah]

I was wondering the best way to mount this very light in weight 50mm F12 Towa for astronomical use.

For me slow-mo controls are very useful.

My Svbony SV225 is very good, but perhaps overkill in terms of weight.

Is there anything lighter on the market?

 

Thanks Leah.

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[deSitter]

I was wondering the best way to mount this very light in weight 50mm F12 Towa for astronomical use.

For me slow-mo controls are very useful.

My Svbony SV225 is very good, but perhaps overkill in terms of weight.

Is there anything lighter on the market?

 

Thanks Leah.

 

I have this scope! It is a Monolux 4348. I transferred the yoke to a tripod hub, then replaced the aluminum legs with nice long wooden ones. No slo-mos, no locks, but nice smooth motions and the perfect tiny telescope for just goofing off with a refreshing beverage. Excellent optics, although it took some fiddling to get the alignment right.

 

https://www.cloudyni...x-4348-arrived/

 

-drl

[deSitter]

There are electrical conduit hangers that are 2" clamshells with a mounting hole. Just add a dovetail. This allows use on a 1-arm Meade DS2000 go-to mount with a modified saddle. The ABS plastic is so hard that it actually gets cold like cast aluminum, and if you didn't know better, you would think it WAS cast aluminum.

 

You pop out the insert to get to 2" diameter.

 

https://www.amazon.c...p/dp/B0758WGKP8

 

-drl

[jragsdale]

I was just going to say the SV225 is perfect, but if that's too big then I'm not sure.

[Princess Leah]

I was just going to say the SV225 is perfect, but if that's too big then I'm not sure.

Yes it a bit of a push as the scope is so light weight. The slow mo controls work fine though.

I was considering a geared Manfrotto head. I don't have any experience with this head though.

[Princess Leah]

I have this scope! It is a Monolux 4348. I transferred the yoke to a tripod hub, then replaced the aluminum legs with nice long wooden ones. No slo-mos, no locks, but nice smooth motions and the perfect tiny telescope for just goofing off with a refreshing beverage. Excellent optics, although it took some fiddling to get the alignment right.

 

https://www.cloudyni...x-4348-arrived/

 

-drl

Why does this telescope exhibit such high contrast?

Lack of scatter ?

[jragsdale]

Why does this telescope exhibit such high contrast?

Lack of scatter ?

The smaller the objective usually the easier it is to make well. And a CA ratio of 6 is excellent as well, on par with a 60mm f/15.

[Princess Leah]

It's not down to CA. Less CA in my triplet. But better contrast is shown with this at moderate magnification.

[Bomber Bob]

I have this scope! It is a Monolux 4348. I transferred the yoke to a tripod hub, then replaced the aluminum legs with nice long wooden ones. No slo-mos, no locks, but nice smooth motions and the perfect tiny telescope for just goofing off with a refreshing beverage. Excellent optics, although it took some fiddling to get the alignment right.

 

https://www.cloudyni...x-4348-arrived/

 

-drl

Great Solution!  My Monolux 4348 had an excellent lens.  I never used it on the tabletop mount.  First, I adapted it to a Vixen dovetail, and it rode on the VersaGo.  After I restored my Edmund 4" F15 refractor, I put the 4348 on it as a super finder.

 

 

TOWA sourced these 50mm F12 objectives very well & for years...  Ditto for their 8x50 Finders -- maybe the same Maker?

 

[Can't see it in the pix, but this 4348 had the shiniest chrome focuser tubes of any of my old scopes.]

Edited by Bomber Bob, 10 May 2025 - 12:26 PM.

[deSitter]

Why does this telescope exhibit such high contrast?

Lack of scatter ?

 

Good bafflng in the focuser I think.

 

-drl

[jragsdale]

It's not down to CA. Less CA in my triplet. But better contrast is shown with this at moderate magnification.

Yeah, less glass, better baffles.

[Princess Leah]

I removed all the baffles and flocked the whole thing to suit a 1.25 inch prism ....

I think there is less scatter on a flatter/slower objective. The very small air space may help 

[grif 678]

I would think use a good light weight photo tripod, and get the small  vixen slow motion control, and put between the scope and tripod.

[Princess Leah]

Probablem solved.

 

I picked up this Skywatcher pronto used. It works pretty well and the slow-mo controls are great.

Still a little over-mounted it worked better with a heavier 60/700.

No wobble at all when focusing.

 

When I tried a 80/900 then mount became overwhelmed near the zenith.

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[Jae]

I was wondering the best way to mount this very light in weight 50mm F12 Towa for astronomical use.

For me slow-mo controls are very useful.

My Svbony SV225 is very good, but perhaps overkill in terms of weight.

Is there anything lighter on the market?

 

Thanks Leah.

Seems like you solved it but I would recommend this Unitron mount if you ever find one.  I got mine with the original Brandon 80.  They are sold with the Unitron spotters.

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[Princess Leah]

Seems like you solved it but I would recommend this Unitron mount if you ever find one.  I got mine with the original Brandon 80.  They are sold with the Unitron spotters.

Makes you wonder why something like that isn't made today. Even for spotting scopes, I'd find that useful. What does it weigh?

[Jae]

Makes you wonder why something like that isn't made today. Even for spotting scopes, I'd find that useful. What does it weigh?

Gosh, it weighs like nothing.  I think it’s cast, polished aluminum with enamel.  I’m not in MA to weigh it for you but can check in a couple of weeks.

 

Also not all of them seem to separate as pictured so you can mount it on a tripod.

Edited by Jae, Yesterday, 10:11 AM.

[Princess Leah]

Thanks Jae.

 

No need to weigh, I get the idea.

Will keep my eye out for one.

 

Thanks Leah.