Rowan AZ75 - Stu’s thoughts

[John]

1 hour ago, Mark at Beaufort said:

Yes that is the info I require. I have the AZ5 metal tripod which is 3/8th thread same as a standard photo tripod. If it fits I fancy this new mount but don't want to purchase another tripod.

The tripod I have in mind if I went for it is the Berlebach Uni 28 with an EQ5/HEQ5 hub. Sounds like this is a possible option from Rowan (M10 bolt fitting).

 

[Stu]

29 minutes ago, John said:

The tripod I have in mind if I went for it is the Berlebach Uni 28 with an EQ5/HEQ5 hub. Sounds like this is a possible option from Rowan (M10 bolt fitting).

 

Yep, that should work John.

[johninderby]

Maybe a Report tripod if you’re not fitting a heavy OTA? 🤔

[Tiny Clanger]

35 minutes ago, Stu said:

Just renamed a YouTube channel I had messed around with some time back and uploaded the videos there. Hope it works…

I’ll maybe add some more useful stuff on there as I go along. There’s a Jupiter video on there too just for interest.

Aha! That I can see 🙂

Even more relaxing with the delightfully smooth rotation added to the bird song , you could market that as an anti-insomnia vid, with sweet dreams of lovely altaz mounts promised for the viewer after it takes effect ...

Heather

[Stu]

2 hours ago, Mark at Beaufort said:

Yes that is the info I require. I have the AZ5 metal tripod which is 3/8th thread same as a standard photo tripod. If it fits I fancy this new mount but don't want to purchase another tripod.

I’ve just tried it on my Gitzo Mark and this one, with M10 threaded base fits perfectly. Sits very nicely on it too, ideal for a lighter setup.

[UKDiver]

25 minutes ago, Tiny Clanger said:

Aha! That I can see 🙂

Even more relaxing with the delightfully smooth rotation added to the bird song , you could market that as an anti-insomnia vid, with sweet dreams of lovely altaz mounts promised for the viewer after it takes effect ...

Heather

It's a Magic Roundabout for me. Though I did appreciate the bird song.

[Deadlake]

Will this need a half pier as well to make sure of clean clearence?

[Stu]

21 minutes ago, Deadlake said:

Will this need a half pier as well to make sure of clean clearence?

Maybe not as the tripod top is much smaller than the Planet. It fits with the Skywatcher AZGTI pillar but I would be starting to be concerned about stability in this configuration. Would probably hang a weight off the tripod, which kind of defeats the object of the lighter setup.

[Stu]

4 hours ago, John said:

What fitting is the centre threaded hole in the base of the AZ75 Stu ?

(apologies if you have already mentioned this)

It’s M10 John, which will take a 3/8” too.

[John]

6 minutes ago, Stu said:

It’s M10 John, which will take a 3/8” too.

Thanks Stu

[Stu]

Some more videos on YouTube now.

First with clutches loose and only one scope on to show how smooth it is even without counterweight.

Second one is with clutches set. For observing, smooth motion, no stiction but scope stays put.

Finally, Stu’s tap test. Even on the pillar, it damps within a second.

 

[RobertI]

The second video is very revealing - it’s impressive that it can be moved so easily with a light touch yet retain the altitude balance at any angle with that large eyepiece fitted. Looks promising. 😊

[StarryEyed]

A novel problem with loosen clutches, stopping the scope once its moving...  Look at at the sky look back down and the scopes gone !

If I held that ethos in an out stretched arm and some one tapped me on the head I think I would wobble.

Edited October 16, 2021 by StarryEyed

[Stu]

38 minutes ago, StarryEyed said:

A novel problem with loosen clutches, stopping the scope once its moving...  Look at at the sky look back down and the scopes gone !

If I held that ethos in an out stretched arm and some one tapped me on the head I think I would wobble.

It did nearly get away from me at the start!

[Deadlake]

Videos also make the case for a half-pier. Looks good! 😃

[Alan White]

I think you missed out on the hit it with a Club Hammer option @Stu,
I joked on this in one of my replies on my own thread, go on, you know it would make a good video 😉 🤣

For those who have concerns about my soundness of thought, it's a joke, it truly it is.
So please resist the temptation to tap test anything astronomical with a Club Hammer.

 

Edited October 16, 2021 by Alan White

[johninderby]

This hammer would test any mount. 😁😁😁

[Alan White]

But Thor make rubber faced ones @johninderby

Edited October 16, 2021 by Alan White

[Stu]

I confess I was a little uncertain about tapping my lovely Vixen too hard, but I’m sure it didn’t mind my gentle taps. Looking through the eyepiece shows that vibration when focusing was very well controlled.

I may pop the 130mm on it tomorrow if I get the chance.

[Stu]

For info, these are the adjustment knobs on the AZ75. All the rest are just for the vixen clamps. It is simpler than the AZ100 because there are no adjustments on the slo mo gearing.

[Stu]

Some solar observing this afternoon. AZ75 on the skywatcher pillar and Uni-28 again. Scopes are the Tak FC100DC with Baader CoolWedge and Baader Zeiss Mark IV binoviewers and my Vixen 102mm PST mod with TS binoviewers on the other.

Any vibration settles down very quick - around the 1 second mark. There was a little more with this setup which is to be expected as they are heavier and a little longer than just the Tak and Vixen in Astro guise. I found panning around very easy, with very small movements quite possible without stiction. Not quite the same as keeping the target centred with slo motion controls, but still very easy for high power observations. I normally hold the binoviewers much as I would a pair of binoculars, and use them to pan around in the same way.

For full disclosure, I did have the Alt clutch set a little tighter on the second video, enough to hold the binoviewers when the scope was vertical but in reality you would optimise the balance for where you are observing.

 

 

[JeremyS]

26 minutes ago, Stu said:

Some solar observing this afternoon. AZ75 on the skywatcher pillar and Uni-28 again. Scopes are the Tak FC100DC with Baader CoolWedge and Baader Zeiss Mark IV binoviewers and my Vixen 102mm PST mod with TS binoviewers on the other.

Any vibration settles down very quick - around the 1 second mark. There was a little more with this setup which is to be expected as they are heavier and a little longer than just the Tak and Vixen in Astro guise. I found panning around very easy, with very small movements quite possible without stiction. Not quite the same as keeping the target centred with slo motion controls, but still very easy for high power observations. I normally hold the binoviewers much as I would a pair of binoculars, and use them to pan around in the same way.

For full disclosure, I did have the Alt clutch set a little tighter on the second video, enough to hold the binoviewers when the scope was vertical but in reality you would optimise the balance for where you are observing.

 

 

Looks good @Stu 👍🏻
 Do you have a panning handle to try out? I’d be interested to learn how much control you have moving the scope at high power when following, say, a planet.

Also, do you actually need the SW pier extension to ovoid bumping the tripod?. I mount my AZ100 directly on a BB Uni 28 or Planet and have enough clearance. It’s a bit taller that the AZ75 I presume (which I’m thinking is 75% of the height of the AZ100)

Edited October 17, 2021 by JeremyS

[Stu]

1 hour ago, JeremyS said:

Looks good @Stu 👍🏻
 Do you have a panning handle to try out? I’d be interested to learn how much control you have moving the scope at high power when following, say, a planet.

Also, do you actually need the SW pier extension to ovoid bumping the tripod?. I mount my AZ100 directly on a BB Uni 28 or Planet and have enough clearance. It’s a bit taller that the AZ75 I presume (which I’m thinking is 75% of the height of the AZ100)

Thanks Jeremy. Which scope/s is that with? Certainly the 130mm f6 needs it even with the AZ100, it gets very tight with the tripod at the zenith. Pretty sure the Vixen f8.8 does, might get away without using the Tak FC100DC. Would be interested in seeing, say, your TSA120 pointed at the zenith on the AZ100 for comparison.

This may give you some idea, taken through the PST mod at x250 today. I found panning more difficult when viewing through the phone, more intuitive when actually looking. The tap test at x250 settled after about 2 seconds. I’ll try it without the pillar too on another day. Not sure what the dog was barking at 🤪🤣🐶

EDIT, thinking about it, this was with the x2 lens on my iPhone, so presumably actually x500???

 

[JeremyS]

32 minutes ago, Stu said:

Thanks Jeremy. Which scope/s is that with? Certainly the 130mm f6 needs it even with the AZ100, it gets very tight with the tripod at the zenith. Pretty sure the Vixen f8.8 does, might get away without using the Tak FC100DC. Would be interested in seeing, say, your TSA120 pointed at the zenith on the AZ100 for comparison.

This may give you some idea, taken through the PST mod at x250 today. I found panning more difficult when viewing through the phone, more intuitive when actually looking. The tap test at x250 settled after about 2 seconds. I’ll try it without the pillar too on another day. Not sure what the dog was barking at 🤪🤣🐶

 

Thanks Stu. I was referring to the FC100 DZ. I’m not sure about the TSA120. I use that without a mini pier as well, but not sure I’ve visited the Zenith with it. Will test when out next time.

 

[Stu]

18 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

Thanks Stu. I was referring to the FC100 DZ. I’m not sure about the TSA120. I use that without a mini pier as well, but not sure I’ve visited the Zenith with it. Will test when out next time.

 

Yes, pretty sure the FC100DC would be ok without the pillar. The LZOS mounts a bit further back because of its beast of a lens and cell, so that’s probably why it needs the pillar.