LIGHTWEIGHT & CHEAP gems?

I think I am looking for the impossible. I want a lightweight, inexpensive equatorial mount that accepts Vixen-style dovetails and has slo-mo controls. It needs to hold up to my 4" Celestron f/9 C102F, even when I am binoviewing - so I am guessing up to 15 pounds capacity. I know there are some good systems available but they seem to be either heavier or more expensive than I want. My criteria: 15 pounds or less total with weights and $250 or less used. I would like something that is mechanically very reliable and rugged. I am not thinking Ioptron, as I don't need the motors or fuss. I want something that I can push to a object, then engage the gears and use the slo-mo. Does any such mount exist? I do want to get my 4" Celestron up to 200X or more with stability. I can sometimes find either price or weight criteria met, but not both.

A second question that doesn't exactly jibe with the first because of the motors & not being a GEM: Anyone know if any of the Nexstar mounts (I know they aren't typically sold separately and they have motors) will support 15 pounds? Would a long tube refractor be limited in movement?

Thanks

Jackie... Lightweight/Inexpensive/GEM/Stable are mutually exclusive.

I think your best bet would be an older CG-5 with an upgraded tripod. You should be able to do this for under $250. Another choice would be a later model AstroView with an upgraded tripod but it would be nearly as large as the CG-5.

As far as the Nexstar mount, which model are you considering, maybe the GT or SLT? I have had a couple of GTs and even with heavier tripods they are not sufficient for an 4 inch F/9.

Have you considered a geared ALT-AZ mount like the Portamount or the Astro-Tech Voyeur? I use a 102mm F/7 on the Portamount, it's works but it is pushing it. It's not a GEM but it does have slo-mo controls on both axises and being alt-az, there is no need for counter weights. Vixen sold their 100mm F/9 on the Portamount.


Jon

It may be so that you could consider an old Unitron mount. Those are very reliabla and can take a lot more weight than told in the specifications.
I have for instance this old Polarex 803 mount (Unitron was also marketed with the name Polarex in Europe) and it can easily take my 8" Schmidt-Newton with 2.4" guide scope and DSLR camera for photography. OK, I have a frequency corrector for the motor drive but thats needed for photography, not visual.
It's a lightweight mount as might be seen in the picture attached.

Regards

Jonas

Attached Image:

I should mention that of the 4 things I desire the most, I would rank them in this decreasing order of importance: 1) light weight 2) slo-mo controls 3) vixen-style clamp holder and 4) under $250. The least important would be price in other words... I could go somewhat higher for a lightweight, steady mount & tripod with slo-mo controls. Again, must be a equatorial, as I have nice alt-az setups. Thanks.