3. M002CS Complete Mount System - Stainless steel tripod

Ken: I am sorry the Denali Tripod required washers! This should not have gotten through our QC without being able to tighten. I think I know what happened (we had some bolts that were 1/4" too long) but not testing it after assembly is not up to our standards. So I apologize for this and I will make sure to review this with assembly staff. The other comment regarding the tray is interesting. I come from a biased perspective since I use 2" eyepieces so I can see it would not work as well for you. I prefer eyepieces anchored through holes as wooden trays with the small side walls will stop eyepieces from rolling off but when bumped everything hits the ground. So you have me thinking of making a triangular tray with the short side walls as an option. Thanks for your comments and again, I apologize for the hassle with the legs. That should not have happened. Vic Maris President Stellarvue Inc. This is my third or fourth SV "box-style" alt/az mount. I had an original M3 as well as the successor M1 mount (the box shaped one, not the V model). I ordered the M2 and metal tripod combination but found that, while functional, the metal tripod wasn't nearly as nice as the M2 mount head. It just felt cheap compared to the US-made Stellarvue M2. I exchanged the metal tripod for a wooden Denali. The Denali is a much nicer tripod and very solid. I did have to buy extra washers because the leg-top bolts would bottom out before the legs were actually tight against the hub - which made the tripod unusable. Moreover, the spreader/tray is slow to deploy because it requires kneeling under the tripod to align and screw-in the three connecting knobs . Once it's set-up, though, it's great. I don't use the tripod tray as a tray, though. It has no edges and half the holes are drilled for 2" eyepieces, which I don't own. Several items have fallen off the edge or through the holes. For my TV-85 and TV-76 or Pronto, however, I find a Manfrotto 475 tripod to be the best solution for the M2 - compact, steady, fast & well finished. The M2 mount is superb. Smooth, steady, versatile. It easily handles my (heavy duty vintage Stellarvue) 4" f/8 SV-102t triplet refractor. It's quick to adjust and rebalance. The dual-size saddle gets in the way of the focuser on smaller refractors (like an SV70) but this mount was really meant for bigger OTAs and the flexibility is nice. The M2 mount provides a wonderful smooth & steady experience. The handle is a nice accessory but can interfere with pointing to zenith or the OTA's focuser, depending on tripod and OTA. It can be flipped to angle up or down, though. I did eventually buy the Nexus DSC, mounting shelf and encoder kit from Australia. It's a really nice system but does replace some of the solid metal panels of the M2 with plastic panels. Overall, the M2 is a 5 star piece of gear. I'd rate the tripods as 3 or 4 stars. Both tripod options work but neither are quite up to the same level as the M2 mount itself.

The build quality on this mount is outstanding ,the 2" tripod extension column and m2 head are as solid as they come , I wondered how people were mounting heavier scopes on this but after seeing it ,I can see how ...

I use a 4" f/7 refractor with this. Both axes have a lot of modulation in their adjustment, and feel very precise in their motion. The tripod offers a very stable support. The mount seems to disappear beneath my telescope, and is really a joy to use! I believe this mount bridges the gap between inexpensive mass produced ones which are frustrating to use, and uber-expensive niche mounts. Thank you Stellarvue!

The M2C mount is a keeper. The fit and finish are fantastic and the operation in both axis’ is silky smooth. Along with Stellarvue’s world class customer service, you can’t go wrong! Ken F.

A well-made compliment applies. So does it’s simplicity. Both common traits of SV products. I regularly mount an SVR-102T (the carbon fiber variant), SV-80S (a 2004 heavy variant) and a Lunt 60mm H-alpha double stack refractor. Switching between these scopes is a snap, with only small adjustments to axis friction towards smooth movements in alt and az directions. The handle extension also assists greatly in movement without having to move the scope itself - which can be a good thing in the dark for features like diagonals that can inadvertently come loose. It just works...

The tripod is heavier than I thought, but it's also very stable. The mount head is well made, it looks and feels great. The whole system, once assembled, with telescope mounted, is as steady as a rock. It took me several attempts to learn how to use it. I'm getting better on its handling, but I believe I can get even better using it effectively by more practice. This is a system screaming 'quality' from the outset. I am now a very satisfied Stellarvue customer!

All I have to say is, wow. This mount is not a joke. If you're looking for an alt-az mount, just go ahead and buy this one. I am very impressed. Thank you, Stellarvue.

This wasn't at all what I was expecting. I was expecting something half as massive as this set. I unwrapped the tripod first and was shocked by the 2" leg tubes. Then while unwrapping the extension I was thinking it would be somewhere around 1-1/2" in diameter. It's over 2-1/2". I figured the clutch knobs would be about 1". Try about 2". It's all very solid and stable and well put together. It doesn't even flinch with a Celestron 6. I don't think it will mind a C8, either. I have a lot of telescopes that will ride well on this mount. I'm very happy with the mount.

I recently got the M002CS for my new 115mm refractor. After using this mount for a couple of weeks, I can gladly say its a decision I do not regret! The packages arrived at my doorstep in less than a week and the assembly took less than 5 minutes without any issues. This is a very sturdy mount, but the tension knobs allow me easily adjust the movements to my needs. I'll tighten them up before I move the scope outside, then loosen them with a couple of quick turns before observing. Very high quality, easy-to-use system and one I'd definitely recommend to others. Thanks Stellarvue!