Alan White

@mikeDnight has written about a Masuyama here on SGL.

The DSC can be made very dim on dsiplay and keyboard, twi seperate settings, In fact so dim it is barely readable. I do see the appeal of the nearby targets on a tablet or phone though, I really must give it a whirl.

Not experience on this one, but in a conversation with Serge who makes the Nexus kit, I asked about using other units with differing encoders. He said it depended upon the number of ticks each encoder makes and how the various hand units work. The higher the ticks the more accurate, such as the Rowan units, which are a high tick rate. I know others have changed from Nexus to Argo Navis as they liked the wheel selector. I hope someone has tried options and can report from hands on experience soon.

So truly Rowan Red then ... And you know it really is poor weather when the convesation turns to bird droppings (being polite here) 🤣

Indeed it is and in reality part of what this and I assume @Stu thread are all about. Rowan are receptive to customer feedback, even the desire for a Pink mount...... but don't get to hopeful on that colour 😉

I am not sure as to take this as an unitended slight, I am sure that was not inteded. I think Rowan were expanding the testing pot, bearing in mind that I was an exponent of the different class of mount to the lovelly AZ100. As @Stuhas already said but swp the names around. I will add all I use are Alt-Az mounts and have abroad experience with them, I come from an engineering background as well.

Indeed John. And I doubt anyone else could provide quality at that price point either.

I cannot say yet John, as I have an 800mm FL scope in use presently. Is that wide field? If so, then I best stop observing Planets with it, its only f7.8 after all 😉 If I can find a big long refractor, then indeed I will try one out.

Exactly my thoughts, and humour John 🤣

I added some better images from Rowan at the start of this thread, but for those reading later on; Alongside the AZ100 and then each angle of the AZ75, these shot's truly show the Family and DNA links.

It is available in 'Rowan' but 'Rowan Black' 😉

That's exactly my thoughts @Stu, if you do just Planets, then you have a very limited menu.

I have taken some images of my own, not copying Stu's again. Here we are with the counterweinght bar and Counterweight fitted. The weight and bar feel close to the weight of the mount itself. I have noticed that I forgot to fit the retaining screw to the end of the bar, shows how little I use counterweights tp forget that highly important componant.

I use one to block stray lights in some locations at home and sometimes for Solar as well to help with stray light across the eyepiece. It's one of the R-Sky ones from Russia, very well made, sits in my Observing case all the time. Images from the R-Sky webpage. Highly reccomend a hood, but you could just wear a Hoodie Jumper as I do sometimes as well. The R-Sky just envelopes everything better. Perhaps an idea for @FLO and the Astro Essentials range??

Steve, just wow... what a beuty and what a pleasure to see close to completion. I am not prone to jealousy, I share others joy, but I think a little bit of it has has crept in...... That really looks the part. I can see you outside in your best suit and tie, wooly hat, monacle and on Sky At Night with those scopes.

I have been asked on CN how it compares to the AYO ii mount. I like the AYO ii mounts, the AZ75 is of the same size class. This mount has higher resolution encoders, you can change the clamps on both sides, the finish is smother and more polished in look, (its not polished, its how it comes of the machines). If someone wishes lend me an AYO ii that I can compare, that's fine, but not really the point of this Prototype testing I / We are doing. @Stu has owned AYO mounts so can talk from experience, I tried but the production runs were never at the time I had the cash.

On the Riser front; This has already been discussed with Rowan by myself and Stu in seperate conversations, this was before the testing and we both said 'A matching Riser would be Good', and we have said it again since the mounts arrived, as have some of you here too. Rowan have told me/us that a Riser is in the works, one that fits both the AZ100 and AZ75, so very much customer feedback being acted upon, as I thought it would be. So good news indeed.

@johninderby we all named a smaller Rowan mount a while ago, I posted it would be the AZ75, before I knew of its existance and before my trip to Rowans. The 75 is the logical step in size due to metal stock sizes, so a 50? who knows.

Last night it cleared for a while, and being the dedicated tester I am, although full of Cold, I made for the Observing Pad for some Planet and Lunar testing. The conditions were improved on Friday night, but still far from perfect. Ignoring the awful image presented, this was about smothness and shakes at higher magnification. The reality was as follows: 5mm XW gives me 159x and Jupiter was observable for some moments, conditions would not allow more, but I did more... I needed a slight reballance, its a dramatic change of EP weight and size and then: Popped in the 3-6 Nagler Zoom and it went to mush at 4mm, but it was stable in view and stable as I hand tracked. In went the 3.4 HR and wow, that's magic, not perfect but oddly better than 4mm and giving 233x At 3mm I had no idea if the mount or image danced, the image was so dire and wobbly.....but I am sure it was the conditions at play. Another night will tell, but lets face it Jupiter shows great detail at 150X to an observers eye anyway. Another night, another test to come. 5mm XW gives me the same 159x on Lunar and although a bit fish bowl was very stable. The mount was invisible to my tracking etc. Reballance again and in goes the Nagler 3-6. All magnifications were ok, but 4mm + 199x and it went to mush. But the mount again was smooth, tracking was no issue and very much dissapered. In again went the 3.4 HR and magic again is bestowed, a nice sharp (sky allowing) and a mount steady view. However the mount with a fine set of EP cannot change the sky conditions; that would be magic and would sell like hot cakes if it did. But in summary, mount tracked smothly at any magnification and exceded the smothness of other AltAz I have owned or tried.

Keep on with the Videos @Stu, they are great, something I do not do, but perhaps I should. I might do a round up video at the end of my testing to explain the mount and how it worked. The mount is indeed very controlled and puts you in the driving seat, unlike every other Alt Az of this size I have tried or owned. And boy have I tried some mounts to find 'the one'!

They may do indeed, nice Apple and Pear Crumble anyone? Oh and Custard, got to be Custard.

Indeed I think they do.... And who knows what might be on the CAD files, the Neuralyzer may be blocking my thoughts 🤣

But then it would not be the 'Lighter Mount' as it would have the worms, additional controls etc. It would then be a 25mm smaller AZ100. I do see where you are coming from, but this is an Apples and Pears thing; if you want Apples, buy Apples, If you want Pears buy Pears.

A comment on @Stu spin videos: It has been noted by one of our old SGL friends who now frequesnts CN that the spin test is pointless fresh from the factory. What we need is one thats done a long time in varying conditions. I can see the initial point, but unless we have a Time Machine available, then we cannot do that in testing, can we. I think that the AZ75 will be just as smooth after use than fresh from Rowan, They greases they use are of aviation quality, so they are not intended to fail in use. The AZ100 is greased with Aeroshell 33, which is used heavily in the Aviation Industry, It has wide temp range and is designed for a long service life, its great even at -73 Degrees Celcius, so I think we should be OK The same grease was on the assembly area for the AZ75, but it will have far less to lubricate as no worms or internal gears.

I have pinched one of Stu's Images again, saves mne just doing the same. The simple controls all just work. The clutches work exactly the same as the AZ100 and are of the same design, they are very smooth and progressive. The Altitude lock is very similar to the AZ100 one, I notice @Stu has magnified the 'Stu's Knob' (Any Psychologists amongst us here?) 😉 All is metal and all is very smooth.