Vixen Skypod: GOTO alt/az

[Miaplacidus]

After moaning for a while that there ought to be a reasonable quality GOTO alt-azimuth mount that allows you to swap OTAs, Vixen has come out with one that matches the description. Hopefully this is a vanguard, with heavier duty mounts to follow.

http://www.orionoptics.co.uk/acatalog/skypod.html

[h0ughy]

looks nice and expensive, how did you find that one?

[GrampianStars]

Not much chop though "Max. loading weight : 5 Kg"

[h0ughy]

that would be ok for a etx 125 or another small mak or cass scope, or even a ED80

[Miaplacidus]

H0ughy, I found it when I was complaining loudly in another thread and someone pointed it out to me.

Robert, I agree about the limited load capacity. I'd prefer one that was capable of taking heavier OTAs (although even the options for this one seem respectable). I just hope the idea of a GOTO alt-az with a standard dovetail takes off. (I wonder if there could be a way of balancing the OTA on top of an alt-az mount, something that didn't require fork arms or a counterweight system...)

Mmmmmm..........

[JohnH]

Can't tell a lie it was me! Just call me the Vixen guy....grin of Sphinx