http://www.buzzillions.com The latest Vixen Optics PORTA Manual Altazimuth Telescope Mount w/ Tripod reviews from Buzzillions.com http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/vixen-optics-porta-manual-altazimuth-telescope-mount-tripod-reviews#bz-model-review-7965643 Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:01 GMT http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/vixen-optics-porta-manual-altazimuth-telescope-mount-tripod-reviews#bz-model-review-7965643 <h1>A pleasant surprise...</h1> <img src="http://www.powerreviews.com/images/stars_large_4.gif" alt="4 stars" /> <p> <strong>Scott Holland</strong> from <strong>Lowell, North Carolina</strong> </p> <p> I purchased this mount/tripod combination to hold my new (for me) Antares 1056 Vixen spec 4 inch f6.3 refractor. I have a couple of GEMs that I use for bigger scopes, but I wanted light, portable grab and go. The unit arrived well packaged and in fine condition. While I waited for its arrival, I read as many reviews as I could find and one of the biggest complaints I read was about the substandard Alt and Az slow-mo knobs/handles. Everyone recommended buying flex handles to replace the ones that come with the mount. Vixen sells these for about[$] each, but I had a few stored away from old scopes I no longer have. To my surprise, when I dug out the contents of the shipment, there were two Vixen slo-mo flex extenders in the box at no extra charge.The mount moves smoothly on both axis in either the "push-to" or slow motion mode. The aluminum tripod is steady as aluminum tripods go, particulary with an f6 scope. Even with a 5mm eyepiece at ~125X splitting Gamma Leonis, the view was quite s … <a href="http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/vixen-optics-porta-manual-altazimuth-telescope-mount-tripod-reviews#bz-model-review-7965643">Read more</a> </p>