Mount options for large refractor

[catburglar]

I think I've got the refractor bug, and am looking at the possibility of getting a larger achromatic scope- maybe the 120 or 150mm F/8 variety. My favoured mount at the minute is a Skywatcher AZ4 with a stainless steel tripod. Does anyone have any experience or opinions on this combination.

I read that these refractors are a bit unwieldy, and require a more substantial mount than expected. I'm purely visual, so don't need high precision drives and don't particularly want goto.

Any thoughts?

[catburglar]

Oops- posted in the wrong section.

Mods- can this be moved to the Equipment Discussion section?

[John]

This is the "for sale" section so not the right place for this thead - I expect the mods will move it soon.

I have an AZ4 - it will take a 4" F/10 refractor fine but a 120 F/8.3 or a 150 F/8 (I've owned both) are too much for it.

You want to look out for a Giro mount or similar (William Optics Easy Touch ?)

plus a really solid tripod (eg: CG5 2" steel legged) and a 16" pillar extension to get the eyepiece to a reasonable height. This was my setup a short while ago:

http://stargazerslounge.com/members-equipment-gallery/101540-refractors-secret-weapon.html

[catburglar]

Realized I'd posted in the wrong section as soon as I'd clicked "Submit".

The AZ4 comes with either an aluminium or a stainless steel tripod- I've got the stainless steel version- do your comments refer to this one?

[John]

Realized I'd posted in the wrong section as soon as I'd clicked "Submit".

The AZ4 comes with either an aluminium or a stainless steel tripod- I've got the stainless steel version- do your comments refer to this one?

Yep - I have the 1.75" stainless steel tripod and I've used it on the 2" steel CG5 tripod as well. The AZ-4 is a very good mount but the long, heavy tubes of large refractors would be too much for it I'm sure.

[catburglar]

Thanks for the clarification- so now my question is how large do I go- if I'm going to need another mount? A 120 achromatic + EZtouch (or similar) won't come cheap. Would a 100mm ED be a better/more cost effective upgrade path from my current 80mm?

[A McEwan]

I'm purely visual, so don't need high precision drives... ?

I would question this, personally. I'm 99% visual too and value my "precision driven" (Well, Skywatcher drives but tracking is superb) GP equatorial as one of my best astronomical investments ever - and it takes my Equinox 120 easily to-boot! However, if I had to nudge my Equinox + high-power planetary eyepiece along, my actual observing of planetary detail would I'm sure be compromised, if only in the comfort stakes if nothing else.

Just something to consider.

Ant

[ollypenrice]

You can pick up these big achromats incredibly cheaply second hand and I like them. In fact I have a 6 inch which is rarely used now but I'm in France so not of much help, probably. I've seen them for sale here on SGL and in fact I think Grahame Carter has a 120 on the market at the moment.

I had my 150 on an EQ3 (marginal but not impossible.) I don't know the AZ mounts, I'm afraid.

Olly

[southernman]

I have a 4" f/10 celestron mounted on an old CG-4 mount (aluminium tripod). I believe they are the same as the EQ3-2. This setup is ok for visual use. I'm not brave enough to mount the 150mm refractor on that mount. I also have a Skywatcher 150mm F/8 achro on a EQ5. Which again is ok for visual use but even with the Synscan goto , astrophotography is problematic. My advice go for the heaviest duty mount ( preferably driven ) that you can afford.

[John]

I have a CG5 mount with the 2" steel legs and dual axis drives. I found that provided a decent mount for a 6" F/8 OTA for visual observing. The pillar extension is a very useful addition though otherwise the eyepiece can get very low when viewing around the zenith area.

The main challenge I found was getting the 6" OTA onto the mount - I found myself wobbling around on a small stool, in the dark, clutching a 20lb, 4 foot long, top heavy "cannon" - goodness knows what it's like to deal with an 8" or 10" refractor like some of our US friends seem to have !.