Kenko Alt-Az?

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pakarinen United States of America
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Kenko Alt-Az?

#1

Post by pakarinen »


In my misguided wanderings, I stumbled across this on AMZ:

https://www.amazon.com/Kenko-121658-KEN ... op?ie=UTF8

Intriguing b/c of the setting circles, but the reviews are just meh.

Experiences? Thoughts?
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AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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JayTee United States of America
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Re: Kenko Alt-Az?

#2

Post by JayTee »


So the reviews pretty much kill this mount. My question is why on Earth would you put setting circles on an Alt-Az mount? Those numbers are continuously changing during the night for a particular object.

JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
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SonnyE
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Re: Kenko Alt-Az?

#3

Post by SonnyE »


I can't read the Japanese reviews.

But for the price, I believe I would pass.
(And I have more than enough heads already. Including the brainless one on my shoulders. :twocents: )
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bladekeeper
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Re: Kenko Alt-Az?

#4

Post by bladekeeper »


Yeah, I think I'd pass on that one.

Setting circles work wonderfully on an alt/az mount provided you have an app that tells you the present alt/az coordinates of an object from your location. I've got a setting circle on my 12" dob base and an inclinometer. I used it at first in conjunction with Stellarium on my laptop. Dead-nuts accurate every time. I moved on to more fun star-hopping not too long afterward, but the setting circle did its job nicely. :)

Not too hard to craft a setting circle for a Twilight I or II mount. John [mention]Lowjiber[/mention] has some blog entries over on AF on doing this. In my mind, his methods should be easily adaptable to other alt/az mounts with a little study and DYI acumen. :)
Bryan
Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10
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Re: Kenko Alt-Az?

#5

Post by JayTee »


Setting circles work wonderfully on an alt/az mount provided you have an app that tells you the present alt/az coordinates of an object from your location.
Well color me "corrected". YLSNED! :clap:

JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

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Lady Fraktor Slovakia
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Re: Kenko Alt-Az?

#6

Post by Lady Fraktor »


Reading a few reviews it seems it is only good for at most 5lb capacity.
Telescopes such as the Vixen VMC110 or Celestron C90 seem to be alright with it.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
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Graeme1858 Great Britain
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Re: Kenko Alt-Az?

#7

Post by Graeme1858 »


bladekeeper wrote: Sat Mar 07, 2020 4:30 am I've got a setting circle on my 12" dob base and an inclinometer.

I printed a compass on A0 paper the same diameter as my Dob base, when I had a Dob. It worked really well. As you say, after converting RA Dec to Alt Az on a phone app. (With a digital spirit level for alt!)

Regards

Graeme
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ZWO EFW, ZWO OAG, ASI220MM Mini.
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pakarinen United States of America
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Re: Kenko Alt-Az?

#8

Post by pakarinen »


Before I bought my Astro Devices encoders, I used a Wixey for altitude and a DIY az circle and got realtime alt-az coords from Sky Safari. Not as accurate as my push-to, but my thought was the Kenko might be better than a DIY since it has etched circles. Obviously not the same class, but the Losmandy AZ8 has machined alt-az circles (for $700 more LOL).

I wouldn't dump my push-to, but a purely manual solution could come in handy for really quick looks or if my push-to flaked out.

A bigger concern for me would be the small payload capacity.
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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Re: Kenko Alt-Az?

#9

Post by Lowjiber »


JayTee wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 10:18 pm ... My question is why on Earth would you put setting circles on an Alt-Az mount? Those numbers are continuously changing during the night for a particular object.
Why? Because it is super-fast.

As I've demonstrated to several folks on here and AF, I can be dead-nuts on any target while they're reaching for their hand controller. :lol:

Here's my "secret"...

I'm an observer that never gets in a hurry... too much heartburn. :lol: When I first set up my site, I run the time on Stellarium ahead five minutes. Five minutes gives me time to light a cigarette; change eyepieces if needed; and put the Alt/Az data on the circle and Wixey.

Then I have a seat and watch the target come into view... it's usually there within thirty seconds.

Badda-Bing, Badda-Boom!

(Yes, I can do it faster, but this is a hobby as opposed to a sweatshop.:lol:)
John (Urban Astronomer) Apertura AD10 Dob; XLT 150 Dob; XLT 120EQ; Lunt Solar 60 PT/B1200; ES AR102; SW Pro 100ED; 2 SW Pro 80ED's; 90mm Eq; WO Z-61; SW 90mm Virtuso Mak; 2 Orion ST-80's; Quark-C; Cams: Polemaster, ASI120MM-S, ASI174MM & ASI174MM-C
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