Rowan AZ100?

If we see enough activity with a given brand we will create a new subforum.
Post Reply
User avatar
pakarinen United States of America
Inter-Galactic Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 4013
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:33 pm
4
Location: NE Illinois
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Rowan AZ100?

#1

Post by pakarinen »


Anybody have experience or stories to tell about this kahuna? Thinking about adding it to my wish list.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/alt-az ... mount.html

It looks like a thing of beauty, especially since you can order it with encoders.
=============================================================================
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
User avatar
Lady Fraktor Slovakia
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 9860
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
4
Location: Slovakia
Status:
Offline

Re: Rowan AZ100?

#2

Post by Lady Fraktor »


A nice looking mount, it reminds me of a Swiss offering that I cannot remember the name of offhand.
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
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
Image
mtminnesota
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 6:36 pm
2
Location: Minnesota
Status:
Offline

Re: Rowan AZ100?

#3

Post by mtminnesota »


I haven't used mine yet, but nonetheless I'm flabbergasted at the quality. If Astro-Physics made an alt-az mount, the Rowan would be it. It's worth every penny imo. When the GOTO tracking kit becomes available soon, I think it will be the perfect medium duty mount. It's extremely easy to use, too.

It's a very advanced mount, and there is nothing else like it. An instant classic. I hear people complain about the price, but none of them are Rowan owners. When you see and handle it, you immediately understand the cost.
Refractordude
Interdicted
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 1493
Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 1:05 am
4
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Rowan AZ100?

#4

Post by Refractordude »


It was on my wish list. However, I think the SkyTee II with SkEye Pro downloaded onto my android is more affordable and almost as good. The encoders incorporated into the Rowan AZ100 mount is awesome. However, way out of my financial league for now.
Refractordude
Interdicted
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 1493
Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 1:05 am
4
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Rowan AZ100?

#5

Post by Refractordude »


User avatar
25585
Moon Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 91
Joined: Mon May 24, 2021 11:15 am
2
Location: UK
Status:
Offline

Re: Rowan AZ100?

#6

Post by 25585 »


I recently bought one with encoders, DSC to follow next year.

The 100 is bigger and stronger than a Skytee2. It has slow motion controls (unlike the smaller AZ75 which will not be made with any) and is capable of taking my 120mm refractors, I was nervous about putting on my Skytee2 (fine for 100mm) or Giro Ercole.

Of course now I'm tempted by larger refractors....
Unashamed Linda Ronstadt ♡ fan! :dance: :Clap:

Eyepieces from: Aero, Antares, APM, Baader, Brandon, Bresser, Celestron, Datysun, Docter, Explore Scientific, GSO, I R Poyser, Meade, Nikon, Orion, Pentax, Rodenstock, Siberia, Sky-Watcher, Taiso, Takahashi, TAL, Tele Vue, TS, Vernonscope, Vixen, Zeiss.

Scopes from: Altair, Bresser, Lumicon, Orion Optics UK, Sky-Watcher, Takahashi, Tele Vue, TS, Vixen.
User avatar
Bigzmey United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 8
Online
Posts: 7548
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 7:55 pm
4
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Status:
Online

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Rowan AZ100?

#7

Post by Bigzmey »


25585 wrote: Mon Nov 15, 2021 7:40 pm I recently bought one with encoders, DSC to follow next year.

The 100 is bigger and stronger than a Skytee2. It has slow motion controls (unlike the smaller AZ75 which will not be made with any) and is capable of taking my 120mm refractors, I was nervous about putting on my Skytee2 (fine for 100mm) or Giro Ercole.

Of course now I'm tempted by larger refractors....
I think you are confusing Skytee2 with something. It is build like a tank, has slow mo and can handle 2x 30lb scopes no problem.
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
User avatar
WilliamPaolini United States of America
Saturn Ambassador
Articles: 9
Offline
Posts: 303
Joined: Tue May 25, 2021 8:57 pm
2
Location: Virginia, USA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Rowan AZ100?

#8

Post by WilliamPaolini »


Here is a rather long thread on it in SGL.

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/3459 ... ad/page/2/
-Bill

U.S.A.F. Veteran - Visual Amateur Astronomer since 1966 - Fully Retired since 2019
8" f/5 Newt - Lunt 152 f/7.9 - TSA 102 f/8 - Vixen 81S f/7.7 - P.S.T. - Pentax 65ED II - Nikon 12x50 AE
Pentax XWs - Baader Morpheus - Takahashi LEs - Edmund RKEs - BST Starguiders - 6ZAO-II/5XO/4Abbe
PM and Email communications always welcomed
User avatar
25585
Moon Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 91
Joined: Mon May 24, 2021 11:15 am
2
Location: UK
Status:
Offline

Re: Rowan AZ100?

#9

Post by 25585 »


The photo of one that broke is indelibly etched in my mind. I was never sure of my ST2s durability after that.
Unashamed Linda Ronstadt ♡ fan! :dance: :Clap:

Eyepieces from: Aero, Antares, APM, Baader, Brandon, Bresser, Celestron, Datysun, Docter, Explore Scientific, GSO, I R Poyser, Meade, Nikon, Orion, Pentax, Rodenstock, Siberia, Sky-Watcher, Taiso, Takahashi, TAL, Tele Vue, TS, Vernonscope, Vixen, Zeiss.

Scopes from: Altair, Bresser, Lumicon, Orion Optics UK, Sky-Watcher, Takahashi, Tele Vue, TS, Vixen.
User avatar
pakarinen United States of America
Inter-Galactic Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 4013
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:33 pm
4
Location: NE Illinois
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Rowan AZ100?

#10

Post by pakarinen »


25585 wrote: Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:45 pm The photo of one that broke is indelibly etched in my mind.
That's definitely creepy. I do wonder if that was something of a rarity though. If the STs were shearing a lot, I assume there'd be more buzz about it. Dunno, haven't really researched it.
=============================================================================
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
User avatar
25585
Moon Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 91
Joined: Mon May 24, 2021 11:15 am
2
Location: UK
Status:
Offline

Re: Rowan AZ100?

#11

Post by 25585 »


pakarinen wrote: Tue Nov 23, 2021 1:28 pm
25585 wrote: Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:45 pm The photo of one that broke is indelibly etched in my mind.
That's definitely creepy. I do wonder if that was something of a rarity though. If the STs were shearing a lot, I assume there'd be more buzz about it. Dunno, haven't really researched it.
Here's the thing. Even if everyone else's was fine, I did not want mine to be #2! A Rowan AZ100 is cheaper than a new refractor.
Unashamed Linda Ronstadt ♡ fan! :dance: :Clap:

Eyepieces from: Aero, Antares, APM, Baader, Brandon, Bresser, Celestron, Datysun, Docter, Explore Scientific, GSO, I R Poyser, Meade, Nikon, Orion, Pentax, Rodenstock, Siberia, Sky-Watcher, Taiso, Takahashi, TAL, Tele Vue, TS, Vernonscope, Vixen, Zeiss.

Scopes from: Altair, Bresser, Lumicon, Orion Optics UK, Sky-Watcher, Takahashi, Tele Vue, TS, Vixen.
User avatar
25585
Moon Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 91
Joined: Mon May 24, 2021 11:15 am
2
Location: UK
Status:
Offline

Re: Rowan AZ100?

#12

Post by 25585 »


Lady Fraktor wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2020 4:21 am A nice looking mount, it reminds me of a Swiss offering that I cannot remember the name of offhand.
This Swiss http://www.aokswiss.ch/ayo/ayo_ii/main_ayo_ii.html
Unashamed Linda Ronstadt ♡ fan! :dance: :Clap:

Eyepieces from: Aero, Antares, APM, Baader, Brandon, Bresser, Celestron, Datysun, Docter, Explore Scientific, GSO, I R Poyser, Meade, Nikon, Orion, Pentax, Rodenstock, Siberia, Sky-Watcher, Taiso, Takahashi, TAL, Tele Vue, TS, Vernonscope, Vixen, Zeiss.

Scopes from: Altair, Bresser, Lumicon, Orion Optics UK, Sky-Watcher, Takahashi, Tele Vue, TS, Vixen.
User avatar
Bigzmey United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 8
Online
Posts: 7548
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 7:55 pm
4
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Status:
Online

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Rowan AZ100?

#13

Post by Bigzmey »


25585 wrote: Tue Nov 23, 2021 9:47 pm
pakarinen wrote: Tue Nov 23, 2021 1:28 pm
25585 wrote: Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:45 pm The photo of one that broke is indelibly etched in my mind.
That's definitely creepy. I do wonder if that was something of a rarity though. If the STs were shearing a lot, I assume there'd be more buzz about it. Dunno, haven't really researched it.
Here's the thing. Even if everyone else's was fine, I did not want mine to be #2! A Rowan AZ100 is cheaper than a new refractor.
You are looking at this from the wrong end. You are saying that £895 mount is better than £299. Well it is better be! :D However in £299 range you will be hard pressed to find any AltAz mount with stability, payload and features like SkyTee2.

I can also show you dozens of fracs cheaper than AZ100. :D

I found the thread were the guy gives a bit more details on the ST2 failure. He was overloading the mount.

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/3159 ... nt/page/3/
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
User avatar
25585
Moon Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 91
Joined: Mon May 24, 2021 11:15 am
2
Location: UK
Status:
Offline

Re: Rowan AZ100?

#14

Post by 25585 »


ST2 fine with my Chinese fracs up to 100mm. The grub screws for its settings are a nightmare though.

AZ100 addresses all the worries and frustrations I have with my ST2.

In the SGL thread linked, a Giro Ercole was discussed. It is a far stronger mount, but does not have slow motion controls. A Losmandy AZ8 would be my choice, but is very expensive. Now I have ruled out a Rowan AZ75 as it will not have slo mo, an AZ8, is on my distant radar for a more portable AA mount, I like its analogue setting circles as well.
Unashamed Linda Ronstadt ♡ fan! :dance: :Clap:

Eyepieces from: Aero, Antares, APM, Baader, Brandon, Bresser, Celestron, Datysun, Docter, Explore Scientific, GSO, I R Poyser, Meade, Nikon, Orion, Pentax, Rodenstock, Siberia, Sky-Watcher, Taiso, Takahashi, TAL, Tele Vue, TS, Vernonscope, Vixen, Zeiss.

Scopes from: Altair, Bresser, Lumicon, Orion Optics UK, Sky-Watcher, Takahashi, Tele Vue, TS, Vixen.
Post Reply

Create an account or sign in to join the discussion

You need to be a member in order to post a reply

Create an account

Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute

Register

Sign in

Return to “Other brands of mounts”