Rowan AZ100 Mount Owners Thread

[Allanto]

Finally all set up and have to say that the engineering on the mount is superb - its certainly heavy 👍. Hooked DSC up to sky safari and did the two star alignment just through a standard 15mm eyepiece (don't currently have a reticle eyepiece) and alignment was well within the FOV on the 15mm but slightly out of center. So simply put one dead center in 5mm and the hit align in sky safari, and from that point on it was perfect. Unfortunately the clouds go the better of me so it was a short first session, but so far so good. All the gear is new to me so lots to learn and experiment with 😜

   

[Steve Clay]

5 hours ago, Allanto said:

Finally all set up and have to say that the engineering on the mount is superb - its certainly heavy 👍. Hooked DSC up to sky safari and did the two star alignment just through a standard 15mm eyepiece (don't currently have a reticle eyepiece) and alignment was well within the FOV on the 15mm but slightly out of center. So simply put one dead center in 5mm and the hit align in sky safari, and from that point on it was perfect. Unfortunately the clouds go the better of me so it was a short first session, but so far so good. All the gear is new to me so lots to learn and experiment with 😜

   

Sound fantastic. Not managed 1st light yet as it's been clouded out here in Falmouth. 

[laudropb]

At last a clear night. All set up to put the AZ100 through its paces.

[johninderby]

Forecast was for clear skies but looking outside it’s cloudy. 😢

Good luck with tonight with the AZ100. 👍🏻

Edited April 1, 2021 by johninderby

[JeremyS]

19 hours ago, Allanto said:

Finally all set up and have to say that the engineering on the mount is superb - its certainly heavy 👍. Hooked DSC up to sky safari and did the two star alignment just through a standard 15mm eyepiece (don't currently have a reticle eyepiece) and alignment was well within the FOV on the 15mm but slightly out of center. So simply put one dead center in 5mm and the hit align in sky safari, and from that point on it was perfect. Unfortunately the clouds go the better of me so it was a short first session, but so far so good. All the gear is new to me so lots to learn and experiment with 😜

   

Might just be me, but the images are blank for me 🤔

[johninderby]

The images were there earlier today but can’t see them now.🤔

[JeremyS]

41 minutes ago, johninderby said:

The images were there earlier today but can’t see them now.🤔

Perhaps somebody liked them so much they cut them out to stick on their wall.

[johninderby]

Maybe this man knows what happened to them. 🤔

[JeremyS]

Or this one

[Steve Clay]

12 hours ago, johninderby said:

Forecast was for clear skies but looking outside it’s cloudy. 😢

Good luck with tonight with the AZ100. 👍🏻

Same here last night. 

[Steve Clay]

So first light with the Az100 carrying my Ed120. Had a bit of a faf with the nexus alignment (all my fault) as I hadn't done the test to see if the numbers increase when pushing clockwise and up. Mine decreased, so a simple change in the settings menu and that was sorted. Alignment was then straightforward.  Connecting to sky safari was painless.  The mount moves so smoothly and the slow mo controls are fantastic. There was no fettling required once the initial clutch tensions were set. Easy to push through to get on target and then easy to track with slow mo. Overall it was fantastic and worth every penny. I'm starting to wonder if I even need the motors now.

Edited April 3, 2021 by Steve Clay
Update

[HollyHound]

First proper test of my AZ100 mounted with the “Stella twins” (StellaMira 80mm f/10 and StellaLyra 6” CC)... such an effortless and smooth mount that carried both of them with ease and was a joy to use. Both pushing around and slow motion controls were super easy 😃

Only (expected) issue was the scopes weren’t aligned with each other, but I’ve ordered the adjustable saddle plate now to solve that minor problem. I do have the counterweight and bar too, so can use a single scope too 👍

Next decision is whether to go Nexus DSC (I have the tray already for this) or Nexus II 🤔

It’s a superb mount, solid (and heavy of course)...this is most definitely not “grab and go” but is going to get a lot of use on those nights where the weather will allow long sessions 🤞

Edited April 3, 2021 by HollyHound

[JeremyS]

3 minutes ago, HollyHound said:

First proper test of my AZ100 mounted with the “Stella twins” (StellaMira 80mm f/10 and StellaLyra 6” CC)... such an effortless and smooth mount that carried both of them with ease and was a joy to use. Both pushing around and slow motion controls were super easy 😃

Only (expected) issue was the scopes weren’t aligned with each other, but I’ve ordered the adjustable saddle plate now to solve that minor problem. I do have the counterweight and bar too, so can use a single scope too 👍

Next decision is whether to go Nexus DSC (I have the tray already for this) or Nexus II 🤔

It’s a superb mount, solid (and heavy of course) and is going to get a lot of use on those nights where the weather will allow long sessions 🤞

Colour coordination is exemplary 

Hope you’re not going to mess up the look with your Tak 🤣

Edited April 3, 2021 by JeremyS

[HollyHound]

12 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

Colour coordination is exemplary 

Hope you’re not going to mess it up with your Tak 🤣

Umm no, the Tak 76 is only being used on the ScopeTech/Report. I’ve removed the saddle and bolted it directly, deliberately to keep it as purely “grab and go” 👍

I did put the Mak 127 (with binoviewers) on as a test and that combo worked fine too... just a touch of white, but hopefully not enough to clash 🤣

I “may” use the little Tak 60 as a super finder/widefield scope but for now have the (adjustable) ST80 for that if needed.

Edited April 3, 2021 by HollyHound

[johninderby]

You could easilr colour coordinate the Tak. 😁😁😁

 

Edited April 3, 2021 by johninderby

[HollyHound]

34 minutes ago, johninderby said:

You could easilr colour coordinate the Tak. 😁😁😁

 

Now there’s a thought 🤔😬🤣

I think your old StellaLyra goes well with the StellaMira on the AZ100... a match made in heaven 😃

Oh and seriously, thanks so much for the handle, it really helps getting it on the mount 👍

[johninderby]

Re: the handle. Pity FLO doesn’t stock the ADM radius blocks on their own as they are perfect for attaching a handle to the scope using existing holes in the OTA.

[Steve Clay]

1 hour ago, HollyHound said:

First proper test of my AZ100 mounted with the “Stella twins” (StellaMira 80mm f/10 and StellaLyra 6” CC)... such an effortless and smooth mount that carried both of them with ease and was a joy to use. Both pushing around and slow motion controls were super easy 😃

Only (expected) issue was the scopes weren’t aligned with each other, but I’ve ordered the adjustable saddle plate now to solve that minor problem. I do have the counterweight and bar too, so can use a single scope too 👍

Next decision is whether to go Nexus DSC (I have the tray already for this) or Nexus II 🤔

It’s a superb mount, solid (and heavy of course)...this is most definitely not “grab and go” but is going to get a lot of use on those nights where the weather will allow long sessions 🤞

Echoes my1st light. The DSC does give a totally standalone option. 1 less thing to charge. Is the tripod a uni or planet?

Steve

[johninderby]

Speaking of being colour coridinated. 🙂

[JeremyS]

5 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Speaking of being colour coridinated. 🙂

Black & white or monochrome?

[Stephenstargazer]

33 minutes ago, Steve Clay said:

The DSC does give a totally standalone option. 1

Another advantage is that unlike tablet or phone the DSC display is pure red led so can be set to give best preservation of dark eye adaption.

[HollyHound]

1 hour ago, Steve Clay said:

Echoes my1st light. The DSC does give a totally standalone option. 1 less thing to charge. Is the tripod a uni or planet?

Steve

Yes, I was thinking that with the DSC I can use it standalone and not have to bother bringing an iPad out 🤔

Its a Uni 28...perfectly up to the job for these scopes, and they’re quite well balanced too 👍

[HollyHound]

1 hour ago, JeremyS said:

Black & white or monochrome?

I see a little splash of red... an accent if you will 😃

[HollyHound]

1 hour ago, Stephenstargazer said:

Another advantage is that unlike tablet or phone the DSC display is pure red led so can be set to give best preservation of dark eye adaption.

Exactly... I use SkySafari on the iPad with my iOptron AZ Mount Pro, but sometimes just drop back to using the handset, as it’s totally night vision safe, even has a little red led torch and heater built in 🤣

[Telescope40]

5 hours ago, Steve Clay said:

So first light with the Az100 carrying my Ed120. Had a bit of a faf with the nexus alignment (all my fault) as I hadn't done the test to see if the numbers increase when pushing clockwise and up. Mine decreased, so a simple change in the settings menu and that was sorted. Alignment was then straightforward.  Connecting to sky safari was painless.  The mount moves so smoothly and the slow mo controls are fantastic. There was no fettling required once the initial clutch tensions were set. Easy to push through to get on target and then easy to track with slow mo. Overall it was fantastic and worth every penny. I'm starting to wonder if I even need the motors now.

Hello.  Exactly mirrors my experience so far apart from the encoder settings. Been out a few times now and the mount is a dream to use. 
No foul ups, misalignments or issues. Has transformed my astronomy sessions. As said. I’m aware a motor kit is due in the near future. Not sure if I need it ATM. The SLO mo “feel” is good. Even think when on a target it crosses the FOV slower than it did on my old Skytee mount. LOL. So easy to flick back into the centre of the EP again when needed. 
Have mine on a Uni 28 and it’s not over heavy to carry. Solid as a rock once set up. SS on my I pad has just worked. No connection issues unlike a couple of previous WiFi mounts I’ve had.   Most of the funds for the AZ came from selling kit. This is the only mount I have now. 
Very happy as you can tell. John