Vixen mount on an Intes Micro M603

[Richard136]

Just picked up one of these lovely scopes second hand.

The mount bar (vixen style dovetail) is continuous and doesn't have any holes/shapes in it to take the screws on my mount head. In essence the scope is just held in place by me screwing the nut very tight. Is his normal or is here a better way? I can't help but feel this is less secure than a normal camera tripod!

[Cornelius Varley]

Which model mount do you have ?

[John]

It's only the shortest dovetail bars that have those indentations, the longer ones are usually straight edged and, yes, they are held in place by tightening the 2 screws down onto them.  It works well enough despite seeming a bit crude.

[Richard136]

I've got a CG5

Sounds like this is the way to go... It just does look crude!

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

The screws have held my C8 solidly on my Vixen GP mount for over 18 years. Seems to work

[Cornelius Varley]

It is a bit crude but it does work. If you want to improve the dovetail clamp you might be able to upgrade your mount with an ADM replacement saddle http://www.firstlightoptics.com/adm-replacement-saddles.html

[John]

I use a similar system on my Istar 6" F/12 refractor and that tube is over 6 feet long and weighs 35 lbs !

[Richard136]

Thanks

The saddle looks good.