Alien_Photons

I can't help it I'm addicted. I have multiple copies of the same book....

Soooo.. many. Check out your library then WH smiths Then eBay (amazing what you pick up for a pound plus pp) book fairs. You can work out what's interesting to you and what's not. I was rubbish at Englis literature at school. But you should see my astronomy and SF collection! The next thing you know you have a stack of books to read. I have three new books at home. Just read and finished this morning on the bus pale blue dot for the third time and the only reason I am looking at my phone now on the way home. Get to your nearest book shop immediately.......

Nothing to show. There is already an eight inch dob at my destination!!

Nothing wrong with looking at clouds in a new scope. It needs a check out.

That looks tidy and fun. Curious about the tripod and AYO.

William Optics 80FD. This is the limited edition that's says flourite on the lens cell when it has FPL53. It also says co designed with TMB under the dew shield. Regardless of the controversy its a very good refractor.

I like that. I might do that in the living room on one of the side tables. I could disguise it with a lamp shade if I got complaints.

There does seem to be more choice and range of quality in ALTZ mounts on the market that don't look expensive by comparison. On reflection when I think about the AP with a RA drive its not so bad compared to a GM8 or price. I have to admit that when I see these things at exhibitions and dealers shops I am always impressed with how they look especially the GM8. But an EQ5 with drives on a Bearlbach tripod, well I could just about get three of them for the same money.

Its an a good point. Why go the extra a take possession of a TAK but not the same approch with the mount. The AP is the updated GPDX unless I am mistaken. It begs further investigation really.

I have the MT1 motors on my EQ5 for the same purpose. I don't think I would buy another EQ5 even at the great price they sell for. If the new vixen mounts were compatible with the old drives I would have bought one a while ago.

that's the problem with my skywatcher EQ5 when you adjust or tighten bolts you can almost feel the metal give or bend. I have learnt to judge this (not the hard way) and having stripped it a couple of times now it could be engineered much better but its more than twelve years old and works. I don't know because I never owned a vixen mount but I assume the quality of materials and engineering is typical Japanese so that the mount gives a sence of confidence. Whilst the skywatcher is great value, when you own and use something for ten years the extra costs of better quality seems to make more sence. I have managed to make my skywatcher last that long without breaking it that's about five pounds a month in cost. On reflection I could have bought the vixen and it cost me ten pounds a month. I imagine many here have spent way more on mounts and broke them in the last ten years. Its tuff to justify spending more on something when something similar can be had for less and this is really vixens problem. But in the long term (ten years in my case) the extra cost is not so unresonable. My hobby, passion..... in these terms costs me very little, less than my mobile phone. I thing I have noticed is electronics seem to be the big issue with modern mounts and its the reason I still prefer the idea of a simple EQ and ALTZ Mount so maybe my next mount will be a vixen they still represent small light weight quailty mounts.

If you go looking for a second hand GPDX get to the back of the queue!

I like vixens products. They make quality at a price. But that's the problem and certainly for a four inch refractor used for visual a much more cost effectively solution can be had. A skywatcher EQ5 with drives on a Bearlbach tripod is more stable just as robust and better looking. Price's in Japan seem much more competitive which really is a shame for us in the UK, but there is no doubt that like for like they are better quality. I wouldnt put you off buying one, you will get a great mount and I would wish I had one if you posted a picture of your new mount.

Dave. Wonderful telescope and no doubt a wonderful wife! Tell her she has won us over with her understanding and support for you. Kevin.

Takahashi FC 100 DF, 6x30 finder, Parallax 95mm scope rings, William Optics 2 inch dielectric diagonal. Clear skies not included.

I took mine off as well. In the end I made new legs from 3x3 much longer / higher and less vibrations also a spreader just the right size so the whole setup fit through the doorway without having to dance with it.

Parallax rings. Ian King supplied them with the scope. To be honest they are not the best finish and the WO rings are a class above but they do the job well enough.