Orion 9829 SkyView Pro Equatorial Telescope Mount

I purchased and returned 2 telescopes. They came with a mount. After being on the learning curve for better than months, I learned that you spent more on the mount than the scope at first. The scopes I purchased were mediocre. The manufacturer was splitting the $ between the mount and the scope.Now, I am hard to please, but I had to realize that I had to compromises. This was a compromise that was perfect. In order get a better mount, for my needs( stable, tracks accurately, and is within my budget.My mount and scope cost about a $1000. If I wanted to go better I'd have to spent $2000.This mount is not a $1500 mount, but it is very well engineered. It's been a mainstay of Orion for a long time. In fact, Celestron has a mount that looks a lot like Orion's SVP. Cost $20 less. And if you look, it has plastic gears( the SVP- brass) and the battery pack, hand controller look almost the same.The SVP is a workhorse. I wanted to go with a clock drive instead of a go-to for several reasons, all personal I guess. A properly tuned equitorial mount can get you anywhere a go-to mount can and one gets the sense of accomplishment that comes with truly knowing ones machine and the sky.My system is not a $3K system, but it's very good.My suggestion, to alleviate disappointments is to do your homework and understand exactly what you want and what you can have. It can be done.This mount did not disappoint me.

I bought this 9829 orion EQ about three months ago and has become my best piece of equipment for my night views of the sky. wow super steady, sturdy but light for its size and mount weight. I love it, has a nice smooth sliding of DEC and RA! other mounts, when releasing the locking knobs, they either get too loose or stay too tight making the movement of the telescope choppy! this Orion 9829 is super smooth and very steady, keeps your telescope put and without vibration once in place. I have mounted on it a RC154, a 110mm refractor (with accessories weighting up to 20 lbs), a 120mm refractor, an 8" orion newtonian weigthing 19 lbs, and smaller equipment and does not present any backlash nor sliding out of position!! great product at a great price!!

A great product all around. Very sturdy and well made, overall (with a few exceptions, as noted below). Easy to assemble with clear instructions. I have three complaints which in no way affect the capability of the mount.1) The packaging effort was dismal. It appears that whomever worked in shipping that day got into a fight with the tape dispenser, and lost. Small cardboard boxes were intentionally crushed and inserted as space filler to protect the other items. I get it. It works, and it avoids the use of plastic shipping pillows, which is great. But the first impression a customer has is opening the box. My impression was that nothing survived. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised to learn there was not a scratch. So, maybe Orion could spend a little more time in building their shipping boxes, using compostable (edible) shipping peanuts and put a little more time into the application of the tape.2) There is a simple, plastic space-filler which is suppose to snap into place opposite the side you choose to attach the manual knob for one of the axis of rotation. I appreciate space fillers, as they keep the internal mechanisms clean. But this one is super cheap and falls off as easily as it is pressed in place. I'd rather have 2 knobs as depending upon the position of the telescope, it can be awkward to reach around or beneath to adjust the pointing.3) The manual knobs have a brass fitting which is suppose to press-fit onto the shaft. However, it is so tight that it doesn't really ever go on. I pressed, and then hit it repeatedly with the palm of my hand only to find the brass shaving small flakes of the flat side of the shaft. Not good. As the shaft has a flat spot, it would be much better to ship knobs that have a set-screw, and again, one for each side to accommodate all positions of the telescope. I am headed to Ace hardware to pickup replacements.4) The weights that came with the kit are not ample to counter-balance the Orion 8" telescope. But the cost of an additional weight from Orion is quite high ($30+). I found weights at the local Big 5 sporting goods store fit perfectly, for just a few dollars per pound.Overall, I am pleased. For the price, this is a great product that should last a lifetime if kept clean and treated properly. Just a few items that reduce the "feeling" one has when opening the box and using it for the first time. Seems simple, inexpensive adjustments to the Orion product would make a big difference.

EXCELLENT tripod. Strong and stable and easy to erect. Medium weight. My only complaint is the VERY poor fit of the polar alignment hole cap (rear) which DOES NOT STAY ATTACHED. It constantly falls off... but since it is only a trim cap "for looks" and serves no other useful function, I don't care. This is a good tripod.