John

Thanks Mike, very interesting

Mike, the arrangement of the 6 bolt holes around where the arm of the mount connects to the base suggest that you could, if you wished, alter the angle that the arm is at by selecting different holes for the fixing bolts. Is that the case ?

I'm very much looking forward to hearing how the DL fares on the AZ5 Paul / Mike

Wonderful looking scope as well as a joy to use

Very nice John but you could have just said that it's very nice to observe the planets with it rather that to inject that note of competition ?

This seems to happen quite frequently in astronomy. You push the boat out to get the top dog at that time then something else comes out which is a little better and sometimes even a little less expensive. I guess the options are to either keep chasing to keep on top of "having the best" or to step off the "kit roundabout" and get on with using what you have, which has not got any worse of course I was thinking this the other day re-reading this thread on diagonals (non-solar): https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/291658-the-baader-bbhs-sitall-silver-diagonal-is-it-really-that-good/ While it's nice to have the best in class I suspect that it's ultimately a mugs game constantly trying to maintain that It's nice to hear about new products though, all the same

The pillar is available on it's own for £24. I suppose that puts the cost of the tripod in perspective - £169 for the mount head plus pillar, £40 more gets the tripod as well.

Sounds sensible to me Mike. So far the tripod looks none to impressive with these new alt-az mounts. The rest of the AZ5 looks very interesting though

Did you order the mount and tripod Mike, or just the mount head ?

Womderful setup lardy I see that you have a LZOS 130 F/9.25 as well ? - another superb scope

Insurance is a marvellous thing

It's a shortish 10 lbs OTA so it should be OK.

I'll put it on a more sturdy tripod and see how it does compared with the stock one.

Will do !

When I test the AZ5, I'll be trying 3 scopes on it: Skywatcher ED120 F/7.5 Takahashi FC 100 F/9 Vixen 102 F/6.5 When I had an AZ-4 I found the ED120 just a little too much for that mount even when it was on a 2" steel tubed tripod. It will be interesting to see how the AZ5 fares. FLO are also sending me the Pronto version to compare with the AZ5 as well. Thanks FLO

I'm a little confused by that as well. Similar design mounts by Explore Scientific, Orion (USA) and other brandings seem to be rated for 8kg

I'm tempted as well. Looking for a lightweight alt-az head to go on my Oberwerk hardwood tripod to carry the Tak FC100DL when I don't want the weight of the Skytee II. I think I'd need to try one though - an F/9 tube can pose issues that an F/7.4 does not.

Well, I'd certainly like to look through one, one day

My APM / TMB / LZOS 130 triplet is very impressive indeed. No false colour at all, on any object and even either side of focus. No FPL-53 in that lens though.

My experiences with the supplier mentioned here are positive so a balanced view is important.

Steve (FLO) told me a while back that Synta could beat the very best if they put their minds / resources to it. The Esprit triplet refractors encountered a lot of resistance on the CN forum initially but I notice now that they are often recommended as high end options.

I think TV has said that they won't go further than 21 for the 100 degree field so the door is ajar. ES had a go but I've read quite a few mixed things about their 25mm / 100 and it's a £600+ eyepiece here. Maybe Lunt can step up to the mark ? Might as well hang onto my Ethos's now that they aren't worth much !

Lots of interesting history where you are as well Gerry, as my wife and I found when we visited Canada last year. Really enjoyable trip - we will be back !

My little holiday included viewing the Doomsday Book, one of the 4 Magna Carta copies in existance and visting Isaac Newton's birthplace so a very enjoyable and stimulating trip I do think that manufacturers produce a number of quality gradings which are available to selected brandings depending on the size and value of their order, specficiations etc, etc. We can make guesses where the other stuff ends up !

I think it might be a 4 element objective but I'd have to do a lot more research to find out for sure.