AZ4 - how heavy and unwieldy a tube can it take?

[chiltonstar]

I'm thinking of getting an AZ4 for "grab and go" purposes using my ED80. However, I'm wondering if an AZ4 would be man enough to take my 4" long focal length refractor which is heavy-ish and unwieldy (on my Vixen SP mount, I'm always worried in case I wreck the gears because of the long-lever effect of the refractor tube).

Anyone with an AZ4 got any ideas how robust it would be?

Chris

[RikM]

I've had a 5" f/9.4 Achromat on mine for a public stargazing evening at Cheltenham science festival. It was possible, if not particularly comfortable. Eyepiece height was more the problem than stability.

[John]

I've used my ED120 F/7.5 refractor on my AZ-4 for quick sessions and it works quite well up to around 150x. The mount copes with shorter tubed scopes such as a 6" F/5 newtonian or 6" F/10 SCT really pretty well.

I have a feeling that your 4" F/13 might be pushing the AZ-4 a bit more because of the tube length. A SkyTee II would deal with it but thats a heavier and more expensive proposition of course.

[Qualia]

For purely visual work, an AZ 4 steel leg loaded with a 4" f/10 4.5kg frac, 9x50 RA finder, Telrad and EPs, works fine, even when pushing higher magnifications. One does need a little practice getting the balance and tension right to one's own 'strength of tug' disposition, that is, when moving the two axis (horizontal and vertical) so that the planets or DSOs don't leap out of view, but in time it shouldn't be too big a deal.

There is a slight wobble in the image if I knock the tripod or OTA - which takes a few seconds to settle thus, rendering the AZ4 unpratical in windy weather. It is also for this reason of slight-wobble that I think it would be far better to get the steel legged version rather than the aluminium one - it's going to be a whole lot more stable and the weight difference isn't really that significant.

I'm not sure if there are slow-mo controls for the AZ4 and I wonder if one were doing such precision work whether this kind of mount was the best to purchase. What the AZ4 excels at is its ease of set up, its weight, its ability to simply pan the sky, locate an object and observe it. I use mine mainly for solar viewing and it simply cannot be bettered; rather than playing around with your EQ system, putting on the weight, balancing the scope, for example, the AZ4 is rapidly set up and you're observing in minutes. For this reason, it is an outstanding portable grab (lug) and go mount.

You might find this manual guide handy:

AZ4 Manual

[chiltonstar]

Many thanks......looks like a cautious "yes", with limits, and taking into account the awkward eye position when the scope is pointed zenith-wards.

Next step is to persuade my good lady that I've identified a suitable Xmas/birthday prezzie for me!

Chris

[Stargazer_00]

I use a 6" reflector on my AZ4 with great comfort both standing (with legs extended) and seated with a height adjustable chair (where it becomes a dob basically).  The eyepiece is always in the perfect position when use on an AZ4, as opposed to an EQ mount where the tube needs rotating iun its rings constantly

I hear some people use a C8 XLT on it without any issues, too. 

I've often wondered if it can hold an 8" F4 reflector, although it's clear the diameter of the tube would prevent it going vertical.
 

[John]

The length of the tube has more influence over the steadiness of a mount / scope combination than the weight, which is why I was cautious re: the AZ-4 and Chris's 4" F/13. That extra 12" of tube length can make a lot of difference.

[Corpze]

I have fitted a 9,25" SCT without any problems, i have mounted a 20cm extension pillar though.

// Daniel

[JonF]

I often use my Skywatcher Evostar 120/1000 frac on my AZ4, and it really is OK. I do have a pier extension on it, which both adds mass and raises it to a useful height.