Hello everyone, i need advice on a replacement mount for my ES 127ED plus ST80, Canon DSLR configuration. I had them on an Atlas mount which is quite heavy... i also have a Sirius mount that i acquired as part of a purchase. What mount should i be looking at to replace both the Atlas and Sirius that is not as heavy and can hold my equipment weight that doesn't break my bank? I do plan on going CCD in the future to alleviate the weight a little but it will be a while. Thanks.
Well decent performance and lightweight means more expensive than decent performance and heavy. You also didn't define the criteria for "break the bank." I would look at the new iOptron CEM40.
I would look at a iOptron CEM60 at 26 lbs. I bought mine from Astronomics.
IMO - The new CEM40 may be just a bit undersized if considering a 50% AP weight criteria and the prices I've see so far are not that much less than the CEM60. However, the new CEM40 is a all new mount so I could be wrong. It will be interesting to see them at NEAF in a few weeks.
Edited by scadvice, 18 March 2019 - 01:48 PM.
Ioptron mounts have a very good payload/weight ratio and are not hugely more expensive than Synta's.
Vixen Sphinxes could be another option: SX, SXD2 (I have this one, weighs 9kg and declares 15kg as optimum max load for AP. However it has a big fault: a non replaceable VIxen-type clapm to secure the load), SXP (it has been recently discontinued, so may find a deal somewhere. The head weighs a couple of kgs more than SXD2 but has more payload and can use Losmandy-type clamps).
Thank you for your suggestions. I'll continue looking at the iOptron mounts... Losmandy are out of my range for now.