New Alt-Az mount from Losmandy - AZ 8

[Logieberra (Logan)]

Bumped into this vid: "AZ 8 Alt-Azimuth mount" http://youtu.be/NUq0I2mo0nw

Sounds like a re-worked GM8.
Dual saddle.
Holds 18KG of equipment weight.
$800 USD with tripod.
Feb/March 2015 release.

Some good info here: http://www.highpointscientific.com/l...and-tripod-az8

If anyone come across a pic, please share. Cheers.

[mikerr (Michael)]

Logan, thanks for posting. This really interests me.

Here are some conversations on Cloudy Nights including input from the Losmandy owner.

Second link has some photos of the Prototype.

http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/48...dy-alaz-mount/

http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/48...commendations/

Michael

[MortonH]

Now listed on the Bintel website at $1599. Says first production run expected in April.

http://www.bintel.com.au/Mounts---Tr...oductview.aspx

$1599 seems a reasonably good price considering it includes a tripod. I'm assuming the price reflects the current exchange rate, but not sure.

Bintel are also listing an optional encoder kit for $549.

If I didn't already have my DSV-3 I'd be all over this one.

[killswitch (Edison)]

Looks pretty good. Not sure how i feel about the rat cage though.

This could be a cheaper alternative to the T-Rex

[dannat (Daniel)]

as Losmandy mounts are modular you can actually disassemble either a gm8 or g11 & make an alt/az mount yourself

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

I wonder how conservative their payload figures are? A C11 with diagonal and a nice eyepiece is mighty close to 15kg, almost seems a missed opportunity

[MortonH]

Originally Posted by Camelopardalis

I wonder how conservative their payload figures are? A C11 with diagonal and a nice eyepiece is mighty close to 15kg, almost seems a missed opportunity

Good question.

If I can use my DSV-3 as a reference, the Desert Sky Astro website lists the capacity for SCTs as 28lb, which is around 12.7kg. But they have run adverts on Astromart saying it can handle a C11 provided the tripod is capable.

So I wonder if the Losmandy tripod might be the limiting factor rather than the mount head?

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by killswitch

Looks pretty good. Not sure how i feel about the rat cage though.

This could be a cheaper alternative to the T-Rex

Only a cheaper alternative if you don't intend on using encoders/DTC.
Once you add the cost of the encoders you're pretty close to the T-Rex.
A very nice looking mount though ......


$2148 vs $2183.

The real question is when Losmandy will come out with the Motors and Gemini to suit this AZ-8

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Originally Posted by MortonH

Good question.

If I can use my DSV-3 as a reference, the Desert Sky Astro website lists the capacity for SCTs as 28lb, which is around 12.7kg. But they have run adverts on Astromart saying it can handle a C11 provided the tripod is capable.

So I wonder if the Losmandy tripod might be the limiting factor rather than the mount head?

Good point. The dustbin shape of the SCT might make it doable moreso than a large frac.

[killswitch (Edison)]

It should be able to do a 15kg+ scope as long as its counter balanced evenly on the other side. The bearings and column should be solid enough, it weights 13lbs!

Originally Posted by Kunama

Only a cheaper alternative if you don't intend on using encoders/DTC.
Once you add the cost of the encoders you're pretty close to the T-Rex.
A very nice looking mount though ......

Yes true but you do get two saddles.

Deep field scope on one side and rich field finder on the other!

[Wavytone]

Seriously considering this mount for 2 x 180mm Maks. I'd equip it with the encoders, Argo Navis and SkyFi to make it PUSH-TO when coupled to an iPad/iPhone running SkySafari. My only concern is shimming the dovetails to make the scopes reasonably parallel.

The Skywatcher AZ-EQ6 is nice but overkill...