Ioptron AZ mount pro

[vince 66]

I am looking to purchase a better quality altazimuth mount I have looked at the Rowan AZ 100 which I believe is quite heavy. I’ve also looked at the losmandy AZ8. 
  As I weigh up the pro’s and cons another mount has come to my attention. The Ioptron AZ mount pro which seems to tick all the boxes. Go to and tracking without the need to carry cables and power supplies.                                    
  I have read up a lot on the Rowan AZ 100 but struggling to find any good reviews of the Losmandy AZ8 or the Ioptron AZ mount pro. The main scopes I would be using are the C9.25 and Intes m715 one at a time. 

[MalcolmM]

I have the IOptron and like it very much. I use a Mewlon 180 with Binoviewers on it, which weighs in at roughly 7.5kg. I find it rock steady.

The pros for me are; not too heavy, I can just lift it around the garden with the scope on, to tree dodge (small garden though). No cables and no separate power source needed - a big advantage for me. Tracks well, even if no effort is put in to leveling it. I never use the leveling screws and bubble now, just plonk it down and turn it on. Very steady and minimal vibration with the Mewlon. Great range of slewing speeds. I never use the goto so can't comment on that. With the Mewlon, I never bother with a counterweight, though arguably I should. With a cheap accessory, you can mount a second scope on the counterweight bar. I sometimes put a 60mm refractor on. The mount copes with this easily. Also, the battery lasts very well. I'm not sure of the specifications but it will do me a good number of 2 hour sessions. I've occasionally run it out mid session which is very annoying but that would typically be weeks after a charge and me ignoring the flashing warning light!

The only problem I have had with it was the tracking jumping a bit. I returned it to FLO and it's been great since.

So in summary (in my opinion), I think this is a great mount. I find it simple and quick to setup and use (albeit not properly leveled and not using goto) and it does not get in the way of my observing. 

I hope this is useful. I'm happy to answer any specific questions you might have.

Malcolm 

 

[Deadlake]

I'd also look at the HAZ31, it's a similar price to the AZ mount pro but weighs just 3.1 kg. 
A lot of AZ owners  are moving off from the AZ pro to the HAZ31 for this reason and from the people I know who have one rate it quite highly.
 

[vince 66]

Sorry for the delayed reply I haven’t looked at this for several days. Thanks for the feed back on the AZ Pro would like to see one in the flesh. 
The AZ31 is that one of the strain wave mounts which are about lately? I will take a look but I assume I would need to carry power with the mount.

I may be wrong in saying this but I always thought the heavier the mount the more stable it is. So I am struggling with a mount that weighs 3.1 KG holding a 12 kg set up steady. I think the option AZ pro is twice that weight so may be better.  
  

[Deadlake]

Apparently works very well, the supplied saddle’s knob is badly thought out but can be replaced or a new saddle ordered from ADM.

About to take the plunge.