Heavy Duty Losmandy-style Alt-az mounts with Tracking

I'm just wondering if anyone knows of a mount which is alt-az, can take a losmandy dovetail plate and a decent enough payload and, ideally, have tracking. The closest I have found are the discmounts. As I understand, they only have digital setting setting circles.
Any other suggestions?

MIchael

I don't think there is one, I had a look a while back and the discmount was the only one I could find that even had encoders (would not be easy to get over here, don't think there is a european seller).

There are quite a few alt/az mounts that can take a losmandy plate available but none driven that I could find.

I think, of the alt/az mounts, the APM Azmaxload has probably the highest payload, on a G11 tripod it will take a 6" apo

I'm just wondering if anyone knows of a mount which is alt-az, can take a losmandy dovetail plate and a decent enough payload and, ideally, have tracking. The closest I have found are the discmounts. As I understand, they only have digital setting setting circles.
Any other suggestions?

Dear friends ... and that guy O'Connell,

This is something I looked into and, in fact, here is my first-light result: www.perseus.gr/Astro-Lunar-Scenes-New-Moon-23hr.htm ... if tracking is NOT an issue (or at least can be ignored), there is an easy way out of this dilemma and was something I had to resolve for myself in order to be able to take photos such as in the link I just provided.

The solution involved a Bogen 3047 head which I picked up from eBay for $40 and which has an "official" limit of 13 lbs and allows one to tilt and swivel in all three dimensions. The other half of the solution is a Meade field tripod I picked up from a local friend for 80 euro and which has a capacity of about 35 kg (for observing).

The bottom of the Bogen head screws into the screw that comes up through the tripod pier whereas the other end screws into the Socal plate (virtually identical to a Losmandy plate) that holds my Tak FSQ.

I cannot emphasize enough how sturdy and rock-stable the above configuration is and remember that I am using a very expensive APO refractor in all of this.

PS. I also picked up a Losmandy G11 tripod and pier (no equatorial head) to use for my AP Mach1GTO and I had entertained the idea of using it with the Bogen 3047 head and the Tak FSQ for terrestrial work.

However, the Meade field tripod is much lighter and an overkill anyway for the Tak FSQ. The Losmandy G11 tripod and pier can accomodate loads in the hundreds of pounds involving an equatorial head, counterweights and a large telescope but would represent an ever greater overkill for a smaller telescope such as my Tak FSQ and no equatorial head.

I have seen ads on Astromart for Meade tripods such as the one for the LDX55 for around $50 (brand new) and this may be another way to go as well.

A visit to a local Meade rep for a look at cheap demo tripods may be worthwhile.

Thanks lads.

Anthony.
I'm not sure I would go with that little tripod head for my 5.5" apo. I need something with a capacity closer to 13kg than 13 lbs. Howheavy is the FSQ?

Neil,
That APM Azmaxload mount looks interesting. But pricey though for what it is. You can get a relatively decent gem for the same money.
Having said that, the discmounts are very pricey too.

I'm not sure I would go with that little tripod head for my 5.5" apo.

Your comment about Alt-Az mode had me thinking of a small(er) scope. My mistake.

I need something with a capacity closer to 13kg than 13 lbs.

I know Bogen has similar heads with an official capacity of 26 lbs ... I say official since they can really accommodate a heavier load.

How heavy is the FSQ?

The OTA alone is 13 lbs ... now add a SOCAL Losmandy-type plate as well as a Canon EOS 300D with power grip and double battery plus 90-degree right-angled finder and a shutter release cable and I must be close to 20 lbs ... and the Bogen 3047 manages it perfectly.