PORTA mount

    While the scope's standard equipment split-ring tube holder/tripod adapter lets you mount the scope on any optional sturdy photo tripod for nature study use, most of the time you will probably mount it on the supplied Vixen/TeleVue PORTA altazimuth mount. The PORTA mount weighs little more than a photo tripod, but is more stable and has convenient manual slow motion controls that you won't find on a camera tripod.

    The premium quality machined aluminum PORTA altazimuth mount has no heavy counterweights to attach, no alignment on the celestial pole to do. Simply install your scope on the supplied adapter plate and slip the plate into the PORTA mount's Vixen-style dovetail slot. Balance the scope fore and aft on the lightweight PORTA mount's altitude axis and start viewing. The split ring design of the tube holder allows your scope to be easily moved fore and aft in the holder to balance the weight of camera or accessories on the PORTA mount.

    The PORTA mount has a newly designed friction clutch system that lets you quickly point your scope towards a target, then track it with the 360° slow-motion controls. There's no need to undo mechanical clutches in order to aim your scope as you have to do when conventional slow motion controls run out of travel before you reach your target. If you want to aim your scope at another part of the sky, simply push it in that direction. The friction clutches disengage and the scope moves freely 360° in any direction. Once you're on or near the target, the slow motion control knobs let you center the object precisely and track it accurately as it moves across the sky or landscape.

    Other brands of scopes can be used on the PORTA mount as well, letting the mount serve a double purpose for you. The PORTA mount has a standard Vixen dovetail mounting slot (with lock and safety screws) that is fully Vixen Sphinx and Great Polaris/Celestron CG5 and Advanced Series dovetail plate-compatible. The dovetail mounting slot can be removed to reveal 1/4"-20 thread and M8-1.25 threaded holes for custom mounting solutions.

    The PORTA mount has slow-motion control knobs of different lengths that can be interchanged so you can arrange them in the configuration that best suits your personal preferences. It comes with tension adjustment and disassembly tools and a built-in tool storage bay. A metal accessory tray holds spare eyepieces and locks the legs in place for stability. The adjustable height aluminum tripod legs have pointed tips for a solid stance on dirt or grass. They can be adjusted to set the height of the centerline of dovetail slot in the mounting plate to between approximately 36" and 56" high for comfortable observing from a seated position.

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