Hi,
Does anyone or has anyone used an Orion Skyview Pro mount here? I've been trying to use a C8 on it but it doesn't seem all that stable - even focusing shakes the scope a little. I've seen Orion selling C9.25s on that mount and Celestron's C8 with CG5 seems like a popular combi.
Am I doing something wrong? Will insufficient counterweights contribute to the problem?
The C8 OTA I think came from Nexstar8 before so it attaches to the mount via 2 metal plates/adapters (more points of contact = more chance of something shaking?) .. will converting to using just one dovetail plate ease my problem? Anyone knows of a way to attach a standard dovetail to a C8? I've emailed Orion and they say the dovetail plate they sell needs modification/an adapter before it can mount on a C8 - I like my old 127MAk where the saddle screws straight onto the OTA. =)
Will getting those Vibration Suppression Pads ease my problems? I think the shaking comes more from the mount/OTA than the tripod so I don't know how much these will help.
Been pretty frustrating with the shaky mount and it hasn't been giving me enjoyable ob sessions .. if push comes to shove, I might have to upgrade the mount - here comes the million dollar question - which mount is considered a minimum for mounting a C8, a Megrez 80, 2" accesories and DSLR?
Is the EQ6/Orion Atlas a worthy upgrade? Or should I give up on Chinese mechanics/workmanship and go for one of those Vixen or Losmandy mounts?
It's alot of questions for one post but I spent half a day in the office talking to Charlie about mounts and scopes and stuff so forgive me .... =)
Cheers!
Jeremy Ng
Orion Skyview Pro Mount
I have the SVP mount and the dual axis drive (which keeps slipping out of its position!). Basically, it came with my Orion 100ED but I have only use it for my PST. I suggest you tighten everything and use the tray spreader. I noticed that the tripod legs sag (bend inwards) at the mid-section joint if the load is too heavy. Using vibration suppression pads helps.
Cheers!
Cheers!
[80% Steve, 20% Alfred] ------- Probability of Clear Skies = (Age of newest equipment in days) / [(Number of observers) * (Total Aperture of all telescopes present in mm)]
Hi,
yeah, I'll probably give everything a once through this weekend and tighten all bolts .. see if that helps .. if not, I'll be forced to take more drastic measures ... =)
What do you mean the dual drives keep slipping out? You mean the gears or the cables? Mine seems ok, although it's the mount itself which isn't living up to expectations .. even for a "budget" mount ...
Cheers!
Jeremy
yeah, I'll probably give everything a once through this weekend and tighten all bolts .. see if that helps .. if not, I'll be forced to take more drastic measures ... =)
What do you mean the dual drives keep slipping out? You mean the gears or the cables? Mine seems ok, although it's the mount itself which isn't living up to expectations .. even for a "budget" mount ...
Cheers!
Jeremy
Hi Jeremy,
I think the mount is a capable mount. Some tips:
1) Do not extend the legs fully.
2) Make sure you balance the scope in RA and dec.
3) Lock down all screws.
4) Do remember that high mag magnifies (pun intended) the shakes.
5) Use the VSPs or at least put the tripod tips into rubber feet (for furniture)
Do re-think the EQ6. It is *big and heavy*
Kay Heem
I think the mount is a capable mount. Some tips:
1) Do not extend the legs fully.
2) Make sure you balance the scope in RA and dec.
3) Lock down all screws.
4) Do remember that high mag magnifies (pun intended) the shakes.
5) Use the VSPs or at least put the tripod tips into rubber feet (for furniture)
Do re-think the EQ6. It is *big and heavy*
Kay Heem
Re: Orion Skyview Pro Mount
This mount is actually a very capable mount. Do not look down on it.jermng wrote:Hi,
Does anyone or has anyone used an Orion Skyview Pro mount here? I've been trying to use a C8 on it but it doesn't seem all that stable - even focusing shakes the scope a little. I've seen Orion selling C9.25s on that mount and Celestron's C8 with CG5 seems like a popular combi.
Am I doing something wrong? Will insufficient counterweights contribute to the problem?
The C8 OTA I think came from Nexstar8 before so it attaches to the mount via 2 metal plates/adapters (more points of contact = more chance of something shaking?) .. will converting to using just one dovetail plate ease my problem? Anyone knows of a way to attach a standard dovetail to a C8? I've emailed Orion and they say the dovetail plate they sell needs modification/an adapter before it can mount on a C8 - I like my old 127MAk where the saddle screws straight onto the OTA. =)
Will getting those Vibration Suppression Pads ease my problems? I think the shaking comes more from the mount/OTA than the tripod so I don't know how much these will help.
Been pretty frustrating with the shaky mount and it hasn't been giving me enjoyable ob sessions .. if push comes to shove, I might have to upgrade the mount - here comes the million dollar question - which mount is considered a minimum for mounting a C8, a Megrez 80, 2" accesories and DSLR?
Is the EQ6/Orion Atlas a worthy upgrade? Or should I give up on Chinese mechanics/workmanship and go for one of those Vixen or Losmandy mounts?
It's alot of questions for one post but I spent half a day in the office talking to Charlie about mounts and scopes and stuff so forgive me .... =)
Cheers!
Jeremy Ng
I am not sure how severe is your shake. But I have never seen a scope that doesn't shake even a little if you use your hand to focus it. If you want a "shakeless" scope when you focus, consider using a electric focuser. The electric focuser is certainly much cheaper than the EQ6 mount.
Sometimes it depends also on the smoothness of the focusing knob. If it is very smooth, the "shake" is barely noticable. If it is tight, then very often the scope will shake a little even on a good mount.
So how bad exactly is your "shake"?
The SVP pro is more than enough to handle a C8. I use to have a 8" SCT on the LXD55 mount which is almost the same thing as the SVP Pro. So I know.
Save some money and get a electric focuser if even a slight shake disturbs u.
Thanks guys for your help! =) I've heard many good things bout the SVP .. So it's probably just me ... although the SVP was amazing when paired with my old 127MAk =) I'll try and fix a few stuff here and there and see how I end up. =)
Charlie - thanks for your help. I'm already helping you for RT next monday ... HAHA ... =)
BTW, are there any technically capable guys here who can help me improve my mount as per astroboy.com or andy's shot glass? I tried on 2 occasions to dismantle the mount and put it back together but I dun think I made much difference ... I'm admittedly not technical at all .. so I'm pretty hopeless with such things .. =)
Cheers!
Jeremy
Charlie - thanks for your help. I'm already helping you for RT next monday ... HAHA ... =)
BTW, are there any technically capable guys here who can help me improve my mount as per astroboy.com or andy's shot glass? I tried on 2 occasions to dismantle the mount and put it back together but I dun think I made much difference ... I'm admittedly not technical at all .. so I'm pretty hopeless with such things .. =)
Cheers!
Jeremy
Jeremy,jermng wrote:Thanks guys for your help! =) I've heard many good things bout the SVP .. So it's probably just me ... although the SVP was amazing when paired with my old 127MAk =) I'll try and fix a few stuff here and there and see how I end up. =)
Charlie - thanks for your help. I'm already helping you for RT next monday ... HAHA ... =)
BTW, are there any technically capable guys here who can help me improve my mount as per astroboy.com or andy's shot glass? I tried on 2 occasions to dismantle the mount and put it back together but I dun think I made much difference ... I'm admittedly not technical at all .. so I'm pretty hopeless with such things .. =)
Cheers!
Jeremy
Was it a shake or was it an image shift? There are a few reasons why a shake is more prominent on a C8 and not on a Mak 127. I owned a 5" SCT now (and previously I had a Orion Mak 127) and I had a 8" SCT on the LXD55. Check out these points:
1) Is the focuser easier to turn on the Mak? My previous Mak 127 focuser is so smooth that it moves at a slight touch. The Meade 8" SCT has a tighter knob, so obviously more shake was seen on the 8"
2) Image shift on a small scope is barely noticable. On the Mak 127 and my current N5, image shift is non existent even at 200X. But the Meade 8" has noticable image shift. The 12" LX200 has even more image shift. A stronger force is needed to move a heavier mirror and hence a slight "jerk" at the start.
Do a damping test. Tap the body of the scope. If it takes more than 3 seconds to damp, then the mount is not beefy enough. if it takes 1-2 seconds...you are fine.
Hi,
I think the focuser on this particular C8 is smoother. Don't know why, but it's so much smoother than other C and Meade 8"SCTs I've tried. =)
However, I agree with you on the image shift ... =) The image shift on this thing is significant ... =)
I think it's more because of the attachments and adapters between the OTA and mount and the insufficient CWs that cause the vibrations ...
I'll try a damping test and report the results soon ... =)
Cheers!
Jeremy
I think the focuser on this particular C8 is smoother. Don't know why, but it's so much smoother than other C and Meade 8"SCTs I've tried. =)
However, I agree with you on the image shift ... =) The image shift on this thing is significant ... =)
I think it's more because of the attachments and adapters between the OTA and mount and the insufficient CWs that cause the vibrations ...
I'll try a damping test and report the results soon ... =)
Cheers!
Jeremy
Insufficient counterweights? Gosh...make sure the scope is balance yeah.jermng wrote:Hi,
I think the focuser on this particular C8 is smoother. Don't know why, but it's so much smoother than other C and Meade 8"SCTs I've tried. =)
However, I agree with you on the image shift ... =) The image shift on this thing is significant ... =)
I think it's more because of the attachments and adapters between the OTA and mount and the insufficient CWs that cause the vibrations ...
I'll try a damping test and report the results soon ... =)
Cheers!
Jeremy
Make sure the scope is balance and the scope is mounted like the way it should before you do any damping test.