printmongrel

OK, I decided to order the Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi mount today even though I initially didn't want to pay for the added technology/headache. For either of the manual mounts with 15# payloads I was looking at $350 to $450 while for $430 I can get unlocking clutches and a goto functionality. I figure with my light polluted skys, the telescope pointing me in the right direction will help find fainter objects. In the daytime I just loosen the clutches and it's a reasonable wildlife alt-az mount. With the ota at 6.5#, eyepiece and diagonal at about 1#, I should be at about 70% capacity. People seem to be quite happy with a 80mm or even 102mm reflector on this mount. An added bonus is that the scope and mount are very portable - 7.5# + 8.6#. I have given up on the turret for now as the Morpheus eyepieces I have pretty much decided on are too much for the plastic Baader housing. I'm just getting the 17.5mm eyepiece for now and seeing how I like the Morpheus characteristics. Thanks for all the ideas, everything helped.

Thanks for all the input so far - its been quite educational. After looking at the so many options & postings, I'm really impressed by the ease of use & quality of the Morpheus eyepieces! As Ratlet suggested, I think I'll buy only one eyepiece to start & that will be the 17.5mm. With its 1.25" barrel it can be used with the turret if I decide I need that in the future. I know it's 4x the price, but it looks like an eyepiece that would provided a lot of enjoyment & I'm only looking at buying one eyepiece now. 25585 on Cloudy Nights suggested 17.5, 12.5, 6.5 and 4.5. With my 80mm F7 ota, does 32x, 45x, 86x, & 125x with possibly a 2.25x barlow for 23x, 45x, 72x, 86x,101x, 125x, 200x, 281x if I become addicted (usability of the last two magnifications would be suspect) sound like a good plan? If I won't be buying a set for the moment, I'd like to at least know I'm on a reasonable path... As far as loading the turret up with eyepieces, Battlestamps on Cloudy Nights says he uses a Baader turret with ES eyepieces - 82's - 8.8mm, 11mm, 14mm and the 24mm 68. This weighs in at 39.3 oz. and the above set comes in at 46 oz., so I have a reply in over there to see what he thinks of the additional weight.

How would a Twilight I or a Porta II with a Kokusai Kohki Guide Handle from agena work? Is one better?

As SeattleScott pointed out on another forum, the 10mm is non-existent, it 8 or 12! So many eyepieces/options! Since I'm going from binoculars to a "spotting scope" I am trying to keep as much afov at 24*. Cheaper 8-24 zooms give 40* @ 24mm compared to the 60* using the turret. A Hyperion Mark IV 8-24mm Zoom gives 48* afov for $310 compared to 4 eyepieces (4 x $70) + baader turret ($63) = $343. Maybe the baader zoom + 2.25 barlow kit (3.6-10.7) for $410 might be the most convenient & flexible option & worth the extra money. It seems from my reading that I would notice the difference of 48* to 60* @ 24/25mm, but would I really? The Orion 8-24mm Pro Lanthanum Zoom ($210) appeals for its parfocal feature but that's going down to 40* @ 24mm. On a separate note, is the 5mm @ 112x really enough for jupiter & saturn on good nights?

Purely manual is best. The Vixen Mobile Porta Alt-Az Mount looks a bit small for my setup but at $300 it is where I'd like to be. The Celestron Omni CG-4 Telescope Mount seems to be spec'd for 20# ($400) but can an eq mount work comfortably for daytime viewing? Sky-Watcher AZ5 Mount ($420) & Vixen Porta II Alt-Az Mount ($475) are more money but stability is a priority.

I've bought a svbony sv503 80mm f7 OTA. It will be used mostly for daytime viewing of wildlife (eagles, orcas, ships & boats) but we'd like to look at galaxies & planets too. I'm looking at buying a baader turret & four agena starguider dual ed eyepieces - just 1.25". What is the least expensive mount that will keep things stable - both following wildlife and changing eyepieces while starwatching?

I've bought a svbony sv503 80mm f7 OTA. It will be used mostly for daytime viewing of wildlife (eagles, orcas, ships & boats) but we'd like to look at galaxies & planets too. I'm looking at buying a baader turret & four agena starguider dual ed eyepieces (moderately priced, good eye relief, 60* fov, moderate weight, & parfocal). I'm thinking that 25mm, 10mm, 5mm, & 3.2mm for 22x, 56x, 112x, & 175x would be good but what suggestions do you more experienced folks have?