Mounts & accessories > Mounts > Alt-azimuth without GoTo > Skywatcher > Skywatcher Mount AZ-3

( 3 / 5 )

Product no.: 5044

Mount AZ-3

Name: Skywatcher Mount AZ-3
Brand: Skywatcher
Price: 193 USD
Rating: 3 (1 reviews)

$ 193.00 incl. VAT, plus shipping costs

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Product description

The Skywatcher AZ-3 is a practical altazimuth mount, easy-to-use and providing good stability.

It can serve as a base for terrestrial or astronomical observing and support telescopes or spotting scopes up to a maximum weight of 5kg (refractors of up to 120mm aperture and reflectors of up to 150mm diameter).

The AZ-3 has horizontal quick adjustment plus a locking screw, and vertical quick adjustment with a slipper clutch. There is fine adjustment with flexible slow motions available on both axes. The tracking is absolutely smooth and sensitive adjustment and allows fine adjustment even at high magnification.

The vertical angle can be adjusted between 50 and 90 degrees, allowing viewing from the horizon up to nearly the zenith and panning 360°. The AZ-3 mount is hence equally suited for terrestrial and astronomical observing. The telescope/spotting scope is mounted via tube ring clamps.

Technical data:

altazimuth mount allowing 360° panning and adjustable from the horizon to almost the zenith
vertical rapid adjustment with slipper clutch
fine adjustment via flexible slow motions
aluminium tripod - infinitely adjustable from 70cm to 123cm
entire weight only approx. 3.9kg, including tripod

Included in delivery:

AZ-3 altazimuth mount
height-adjustable tripod

Our expert comment:

Tip: Optimal alignment of AZ-3 mount

The AZ-3 mount is well suited for both terrestrial and astronomical observing.

1. Terrestrial observing

For terrestrial observing, just set the telescope in the AZ-3 in a horizontal position. Slightly loosen the tube ring clamps and push the OTA slightly forwards or backwards so that the tube is balanced and does not tip forwards or backwards. Then re-tighten the clamps.

2. Astronomical observing

loosen you the large side screw and position the OTA pointing upwards at an angle of about 45°.
loosen the tube ring clamps slightly and slide the OTA forwards or backwards until optimal balance is achieved. It should not tip forwards or backwards.
then set the OTA in a horizontal position and tighten the locking screw so that the instrument is just prevented from tipping forwards. This ensures an optimal load distribution on the mount.

(Bernd Gährken)

Specifications

Capacity

Designation

AZ-3

Max. additional load capacity (kg)

Special features

Fine adjustment

yes

Fitting for prism rail

Traveling mount

Equipment

Tripod

Stand column

Max. tripod height (cm)

123

Tripod weight (kg)

1,5

Tripod material

Aluminium

General

Colour

black/silver

Length (mm)

Width (mm)

Height (mm)

Total weight (kg)

4,6

Type

Mount

Type of build

Azimuthal

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Customer reviews

portable and easy to set-up but too rough

Review by ralphy1976 on 12.01.2014 07:07:28

( 3 / 5 )

This tripod / head assembly came as part of the package i purchased. setting up is very easy, operation is also very easy and the weight is low making it a great tripod to move about. My major problem is the fact that the "fine" alt-az adjustment make my own set-up wobble a lot: the image becomes shaky and out of focus, requiring a further focusing. This is not a problem at low magnification but when following a planet at high magnification the image is permanently blurred, not good.