Ideal travel mount - Altair Astro Starwave Mini AZ

[Mark at Beaufort]

On 11/10/2017 at 14:06, Sky-J said:

Hi Mark, 

Just reading through this post and came across your comment about using this mount for the 130p. Did you end up going for it and if so, how does it perform? I'm also looking at this mount at the moment for the heritage 130p.

I have in the back of my mind that you've already told me the setup you use for the 130 but I can't find the post so sorry if this is a repeat question.    Jeremy

Sorry Jeremy I must have missed your question. This is now my quick set up for my Heritage 130P. As you can see its the new AZ5 on a pillar attached to a Celestron Astromaster tripod.

[AdeKing]

1 hour ago, GavStar said:

I’ve just noticed that telescope express now sell the mount head (without the clamp or counterweight) for only 99 Euros - seems like a good deal to me for an ultra portable setup.

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p9115_TS-Optics-Altazimuth-Travel-Mount-for-astro-and-photo-tripods---support-up-to-6-kg.html

This looks to be a good deal if you already have a suitable clamp and don't need the counterweight and bar.

However, the bundle offered direct by Altair Astro (https://www.altairastro.com/Starwave-Mini-AZ-Mount.html) still looks remarkably good value at £179.99 given that it includes a clamp, counterweight, counterweight bar and side extension piece.

[GavStar]

5 minutes ago, AdeKing said:

This looks to be a good deal if you already have a suitable clamp and don't need the counterweight and bar.

However, the bundle offered direct by Altair Astro (https://www.altairastro.com/Starwave-Mini-AZ-Mount.html) still looks remarkably good value at £179.99 given that it includes a clamp, counterweight, counterweight bar and side extension piece.

Yes agreed. Good to have an alternative option if you don’t need the counterweight etc.

[AdeKing]

It certainly is if you don't need all the bits in the kit Gav.  I actually went to the TS site to take a look and realised that the costs were mounting when I added all the extras (which I would also need), which was when I went back to the Altair site.

Not looking for one at the moment, but possibly in the not too distant future, I'm on a complete spending freeze at the moment .

[Stu]

15 minutes ago, GavStar said:

Yes agreed. Good to have an alternative option if you don’t need the counterweight etc.

I guess you would just need a vixen clamp, unless there is a way of connecting directly?

[GavStar]

17 hours ago, Stu said:

I guess you would just need a vixen clamp, unless there is a way of connecting directly?

Yes, I have one in my kitbag that would be fine.

[Piero]

I am also considering one of these mounts for my TV-60, since I miss my sturdy video-tripod, which was given as a gift to my mother as she likes observing with 15x70 binos. 

The AZT6 (including clamp) now costs 129 Eur on TS. I could get this tripod too (TS Optics A284FMO,  https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php?products_id=8275#cs). I believe this should be sufficient for the (TV-60 + diagonal + 24 Pan) payload. I also welcome the 4 legs which should make the tripod more transportable. 

Thoughts? 

[SpaceBass]

19 hours ago, Piero said:

Thoughts? 

Personally, I'd go for this, which is the CF version of the same tripod as TS's offering (AFAICT), with excellent ball head included.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071CV3RX7/ref=psdc_1104574_t3_B014241XDW

If you want alu, then this is the one I bought recently, although wish I'd gone for the 'Neewer' above, which appears to be the same tripod/ballhead but cheaper and CF to boot.  The Z888 weighs 1368 grams, plus 365 grams for the ball head.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B014A31E4I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Piero]

1 hour ago, SpaceBass said:

Personally, I'd go for this, which is the CF version of the same tripod as TS's offering (AFAICT), with excellent ball head included.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071CV3RX7/ref=psdc_1104574_t3_B014241XDW

If you want alu, then this is the one I bought recently, although wish I'd gone for the 'Neewer' above, which appears to be the same tripod/ballhead but cheaper and CF to boot.  The Z888 weighs 1368 grams, plus 365 grams for the ball head.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B014A31E4I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

That's a great suggestion! just to confirm, is the ball head attached to the tripod via 3/8" bolt? 

[SpaceBass]

You're welcome.  Yup 3/8".  I've attached my ravelli pistol grip to it for using binos.

Disclaimer:  I'm fairly sure the Neewer and Zomei are the same tripod/ ball head, looking closely at the photos and description etc, but not "100%" sure.

 

FWIW, here's a thread with somebody using the same tripod/ ball head for a lightweight travelling set up