[madbadgalaxyman (Robert)]

Hi All,

I just joined the tribe of "Apo" owners , recently buying a four inch apochromatic refractor. While most of my nights are usually spent navigating through galaxies data, it is now time to have a bit of fun with a high quality "grab and go" telescope!!

I have had a look at the options available for a lightweight altazimuth mount for the 4 inch apo, and I am NOT impressed. Most of them are actually even worse than the traditional very-closely-spaced set of axes, with microscrew controls, sitting at the top of a tripod. (The unitron 3 inch F15 refractor had an altaz mount of this type)

There is obviously a limit to the stability possible with a lightweight mount, but mounts like the AZ4 and the Vixen Porta II mount, are in (in my opinion) very badly designed.

Many reviewers have said that the Vixen Porta mount, for example, is only satisfactory for the shorter tube Apo refractors.....that the extra torque from the longer tubes is too much for the mount.....but this is not surprising when you actually look at the design of this mount!!!

I would like to avoid the size and weight of a full equatorial mount, for a "quick setup observing session" with the four inch Apo, so does anyone have any suggestions as to a stable altazimuth mount for an Apo??

cheers, madbadgalaxyman

(Oh well, I can always put the apo on my 20 year old Super Polaris mount)