Can anyone identify this mount please?

[Russko13]

Hi been looking at purchasing an orion 80ed sometime after Xmas have also been looking at various mounts and came across this picture on google images, it looks like a great grab and go mount and I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light on what it is or where I can find a similar one, thanks!

[nameunknown]

Looks like a camera tripod to me.

[John]

Looks like a camera tripod to me.

Me too. Doesn't look stable enough for astronomy really, to be honest. Maybe just for low power views at most. Scopes a nice one though 

The Skywatcher ED80 Pro is the same scope, in case you want another option. 

[RT65CB-SWL]

Hi Russko13 and welcome to SGL.

From personal experience, I would not put my TeleVue Ranger* on an camera tripod ever again. The tripod looks like a Manfrotto 055 that I used to use. I still have the tripod and now use it for mounting my binoculars and digital camera.

As for the tripod head, I cannot help. I have tried many heads, ie fluid heads, pan & tilt, slo-mo and a portable GEM/EQ, etc and to be honest vibrations do take s while to settle on a camera tripod.

If I were you I would look at FLO's Mounts/Motor section, (pages 2 & 3), if you are after something lightweight.

* the Ranger is a 70mm semi-apo refractor.

[Davey-T]

Me too. Doesn't look stable enough for astronomy really, to be honest. Maybe just for low power views at most. Scopes a nice one though 

Doesn't look stable enough for "normal" photography  

Dave

[rowan46]

is it one of these http://www.optical-systems.com/explore-scientific-girospherical-head-double-mount-p-23889.html

[RT65CB-SWL]

Hi again Russko13,

Just found this tripod and mount on FLO too...

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/celestron-mounts/astromaster-tripod.html

...and it's a fraction of what a Manfrotto tripod & head cost.

[StuartJPP]

I'd rather use the watering can as a mount...

Looks like a Gitzo GH5750QR head on a Manfrotto tripod.

[Russko13]

Thanks for the replies I wasn't convinced myself that it would be stable enough especially with a finder scope attached I just can't seem to find a decent alt azimuth mount and my garden where il be doing most of my observing has only a decent view looking south or se,sw so Equatorial seems a scary concept not being able to look north

[GazK]

Skywatcher AZ4 (aluminium version) FTW. Accept no substitutes ;-)

[Russko13]

Thanks gazK just been looking at the az4 it looks pretty good and great price