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Mounts

Every experienced imager gives the same advice and most beginners discount it: buy the mount first. A modest telescope on a capable mount produces good images; an excellent telescope on an inadequate mount produces trailed stars and frustration. David Astro carries mounts in Canada — German equatorial, harmonic drive, alt-azimuth and observatory-class — shipping from Canadian inventory.

We size mounts against real imaging payloads rather than headline ratings, and we will recommend a larger mount when your setup genuinely needs one. Tell us your optic, camera and focal length.

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CA$1,528.00 - CA$1,528.00
CA$1,528.00
CA$1,528.00 - CA$1,528.00
CA$1,528.00

Celestron Advanced VX Mount and Tripod

CEL-91519

30 lb (13.6 kg) instrument load capacity Computerized GoTo German Equatorial Mount DC servo motors with 9 slew speeds up to 4°/second Dual CG-5/CG...

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CA$1,528.00 - CA$1,528.00
CA$1,528.00
CA$1,528.00 - CA$1,528.00
CA$1,528.00
CA$2,640.00 - CA$2,640.00
CA$2,640.00
CA$2,640.00 - CA$2,640.00
CA$2,640.00

Celestron CGEM II EQ Mount and Tripod

CEL-91523

40 lb (18 kg) instrument load capacity Dual CG-5 and CGE dovetail saddle plates 2" diameter steel tripod legs for stability NexStar+ hand control ...

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CA$2,640.00 - CA$2,640.00
CA$2,640.00
CA$2,640.00 - CA$2,640.00
CA$2,640.00
CA$3,752.00 - CA$3,752.00
CA$3,752.00
CA$3,752.00 - CA$3,752.00
CA$3,752.00

Celestron CGX Equatorial Mount and Tripod

CEL-91530
1 in stock

Supports imaging payloads up to 55 lbs (25 kg) Low-profile equatorial head for increased stability and rigidity Dual CG-5 and CGE dovetail saddle ...

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CA$3,752.00 - CA$3,752.00
CA$3,752.00
CA$3,752.00 - CA$3,752.00
CA$3,752.00
CA$5,976.00 - CA$5,976.00
CA$5,976.00
CA$5,976.00 - CA$5,976.00
CA$5,976.00

Celestron CGX-L Equatorial Mount and Tripod

CEL-91531

Supports a 75 lb (34 kg) instrument payload Massive 144mm diameter worm wheels for smooth, precise tracking Heavy-duty 2.75" steel tripod legs pro...

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CA$5,976.00 - CA$5,976.00
CA$5,976.00
CA$5,976.00 - CA$5,976.00
CA$5,976.00
CA$4,864.00 - CA$4,864.00
CA$4,864.00
CA$4,864.00 - CA$4,864.00
CA$4,864.00

Celestron CGX-L Equatorial Mount Without Tripod

CEL-91532

Supports imaging payloads up to 75 lbs (34 kg) Dual CG-5 and CGE dovetail saddle for broad telescope compatibility Maximum slew speed of 3° per se...

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CA$4,864.00 - CA$4,864.00
CA$4,864.00
CA$4,864.00 - CA$4,864.00
CA$4,864.00
CA$584.00 - CA$584.00
CA$584.00
CA$584.00 - CA$584.00
CA$584.00

Celestron Omni CG-4 Telescope Mount and Tripod

CEL-91509

German Equatorial mount enables easy tracking of celestial objects Includes both a 7 lb and a 4 lb counterweight for balancing a variety of optica...

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CA$584.00 - CA$584.00
CA$584.00
CA$584.00 - CA$584.00
CA$584.00
CA$209.99 - CA$209.99
CA$209.99
CA$209.99 - CA$209.99
CA$209.99

Explore Scientific FirstLight EXOS Nano Mount

ES-FL-EXOSNANOT1-00

15 lb Payload Capacity 10 lb Mount Head Weight German Equatorial Design for Easy Tracking Vixen-Style Dovetail Saddle 1.25" Adjustable Steel Tripo...

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CA$209.99 - CA$209.99
CA$209.99
CA$209.99 - CA$209.99
CA$209.99
Explore Scientific Sidara Pro GoTo Mount with SkyAssist
CA$700.00 - CA$700.00
CA$700.00
CA$700.00 - CA$700.00
CA$700.00

Explore Scientific Sidara Pro GoTo Mount with SkyAssist

ES-SAGT-ST10

SkyAssist GoTo System Automated Self-Alignment App-Based Wireless Control Intuitive Alt-Azimuth Design Vixen-Style Dovetail Saddle Dual Power Opti...

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CA$700.00 - CA$700.00
CA$700.00
CA$700.00 - CA$700.00
CA$700.00
CA$419.99 - CA$419.99
CA$419.99
CA$419.99 - CA$419.99
CA$419.99

Explore Scientific Twilight I Adjustable Angle Alt-Azimuth Mount

ES-MAZ01-00

Light-to-medium-duty alt-azimuth mount Adjustable angle head for zenith clearance Slow-motion controls on both axes Vixen-style universal dovetail...

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CA$419.99 - CA$419.99
CA$419.99
CA$419.99 - CA$419.99
CA$419.99
iOptron AZ Mount Pro - AZ Mount Pro w/ Tri-Pier
iOptron AZ Mount Pro - AZ Mount Pro w/ LiteRoc Tripod
CA$1,987.00 - CA$3,095.00
CA$1,987.00 - CA$3,095.00
CA$1,987.00 - CA$3,095.00
CA$1,987.00

iOptron AZ Mount Pro

Options available

33 lb (15 kg) primary and 10 lb secondary payload capacity 13 lb (5.9 kg) mount head, including CW shaft and battery "Level and Go" alignment with...

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CA$1,987.00 - CA$3,095.00
CA$1,987.00 - CA$3,095.00
CA$1,987.00 - CA$3,095.00
CA$1,987.00
CA$7,909.00 - CA$13,397.00
CA$7,909.00 - CA$13,397.00
CA$7,909.00 - CA$13,397.00
CA$7,909.00

iOptron CEM120 Mount

Options available

Payload Capacity: 115 lbs (52 kg) Mount Head Weight: 57 lbs (26 kg) Payload to Weight Ratio: 2:1 Drive System: Precision Stepper Motor Tracking Re...

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CA$7,909.00 - CA$13,397.00
CA$7,909.00 - CA$13,397.00
CA$7,909.00 - CA$13,397.00
CA$7,909.00
CA$1,817.00 - CA$4,437.00
CA$1,817.00 - CA$4,437.00
CA$1,817.00 - CA$4,437.00
CA$1,817.00

iOptron CEM26 Mount

Options available
1 variants in stock

26 lbs (12 kg) payload capacity 10 lbs (4.5 kg) mount head weight Center-Balanced Equatorial Mount (CEM) design Go2Nova controller with ~212,000 o...

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CA$1,817.00 - CA$4,437.00
CA$1,817.00 - CA$4,437.00
CA$1,817.00 - CA$4,437.00
CA$1,817.00
iOptron CEM40 Mount - CEM40 Head Only w/ iPolar & Case
CA$3,625.00 - CA$6,159.00
CA$3,625.00 - CA$6,159.00
CA$3,625.00 - CA$6,159.00
CA$3,625.00

iOptron CEM40 Mount

Options available

40 lb (18 kg) payload on a 17.4 lb (7.9 kg) mount head, 2.28 payload-to-weight ratio Integrated iPolar electronic polar scope and built-in 32-chan...

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CA$3,625.00 - CA$6,159.00
CA$3,625.00 - CA$6,159.00
CA$3,625.00 - CA$6,159.00
CA$3,625.00
iOptron CEM70 Mount - CEM70EC w/ iPolar, WiFi & USB3
CA$4,701.00 - CA$9,995.00
CA$4,701.00 - CA$9,995.00
CA$4,701.00 - CA$9,995.00
CA$4,701.00

iOptron CEM70 Mount

Options available
1 variants in stock

70 lbs (31.8 kg) payload on a 30 lbs (13.6 kg) mount head, 2.33 payload-to-weight ratio Center-balanced equatorial mount (CEM) design with Φ151mm ...

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CA$4,701.00 - CA$9,995.00
CA$4,701.00 - CA$9,995.00
CA$4,701.00 - CA$9,995.00
CA$4,701.00
CA$1,887.00 - CA$4,521.00
CA$1,887.00 - CA$4,521.00
CA$1,887.00 - CA$4,521.00
CA$1,887.00

iOptron GEM28 Mount

Options available
1 variants in stock

28 lbs (12.7 kg) instrument payload capacity 10 lbs (4.5 kg) mount head weight Payload-to-weight ratio of 2.80 Go2Nova® 8409 controller with ~212,...

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CA$1,887.00 - CA$4,521.00
CA$1,887.00 - CA$4,521.00
CA$1,887.00 - CA$4,521.00
CA$1,887.00
iOptron GEM45 Mount - GEM45 Head Only w/ iPolar & Case
CA$3,695.00 - CA$6,229.00
CA$3,695.00 - CA$6,229.00
CA$3,695.00 - CA$6,229.00
CA$3,695.00

iOptron GEM45 Mount

Options available
1 variants in stock

45 lb (20 kg) payload on a 17.5 lb (7.9 kg) mount head <±7.5 arcsec PE with PPEC; <0.3 arcsec RMS on encoder-equipped EC versions Φ110mm, 21...

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CA$3,695.00 - CA$6,229.00
CA$3,695.00 - CA$6,229.00
CA$3,695.00 - CA$6,229.00
CA$3,695.00
CA$1,957.00 - CA$1,957.00
CA$1,957.00
CA$1,957.00 - CA$1,957.00
CA$1,957.00

iOptron HAE16C AZ/EQ Dual SWG

IOP-HE162C

Hybrid EQ/Alt-Az Mount Design 18 lbs (8.2 kg) Payload without Counterweight 5.7 lbs (2.6 kg) Mount Head Weight StrainWave RA Gear & Worm/Belt ...

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CA$1,957.00 - CA$1,957.00
CA$1,957.00
CA$1,957.00 - CA$1,957.00
CA$1,957.00
iOptron HAE18C AZ/EQ Dual Strain Wave GoTo Mount
CA$2,309.00 - CA$2,309.00
CA$2,309.00
CA$2,309.00 - CA$2,309.00
CA$2,309.00

iOptron HAE18C AZ/EQ Dual Strain Wave GoTo Mount

IOP-HE182C

Payload (without counterweight): 18.7 lbs (8.5 kg) Mount Head Weight: 6.2 lbs (2.82 kg) Payload-to-Weight Ratio: 3.01 Drive System: Dual Strain Wa...

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CA$2,309.00 - CA$2,309.00
CA$2,309.00
CA$2,309.00 - CA$2,309.00
CA$2,309.00
iOptron HAE29 Dual AZ/EQ SWG Mount - HAE29C
CA$2,797.00 - CA$5,459.00
CA$2,797.00 - CA$5,459.00
CA$2,797.00 - CA$5,459.00
CA$2,797.00

iOptron HAE29 Dual AZ/EQ SWG Mount

Options available

Zero-backlash strain wave gears in RA (480:1) and DEC (360:1) 29.7 lbs (13.5 kg) payload without counterweights (29 lbs / 13 kg on HAE29B versions...

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CA$2,797.00 - CA$5,459.00
CA$2,797.00 - CA$5,459.00
CA$2,797.00 - CA$5,459.00
CA$2,797.00
iOptron HAE43 Dual AZ/EQ SWG Mount - HAE43C
CA$3,917.00 - CA$6,845.00
CA$3,917.00 - CA$6,845.00
CA$3,917.00 - CA$6,845.00
CA$3,917.00

iOptron HAE43 Dual AZ/EQ SWG Mount

Options available

44 lbs (20 kg) payload without counterweights, 55 lbs (25 kg) with optional counterweight Strain wave gears on RA and DEC (640:1 / 480:1) with ele...

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CA$3,917.00 - CA$6,845.00
CA$3,917.00 - CA$6,845.00
CA$3,917.00 - CA$6,845.00
CA$3,917.00
iOptron HAE69 Dual AZ/EQ SWG Mount - HAE69C
CA$5,387.00 - CA$8,525.00
CA$5,387.00 - CA$8,525.00
CA$5,387.00 - CA$8,525.00
CA$5,387.00

iOptron HAE69 Dual AZ/EQ SWG Mount

Options available

69 lbs (31 kg) payload without counterweights; 79 lbs (36 kg) with optional counterweight Mount head under 20 lbs: 19.8 lbs (9 kg) HAE69C/HAE69B, ...

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CA$5,387.00 - CA$8,525.00
CA$5,387.00 - CA$8,525.00
CA$5,387.00 - CA$8,525.00
CA$5,387.00
iOptron HAZ130 Dual SWG Altazimuth Mount
CA$14,783.00 - CA$14,783.00
CA$14,783.00
CA$14,783.00 - CA$14,783.00
CA$14,783.00

iOptron HAZ130 Dual SWG Altazimuth Mount

IOP-HZ130

132 lbs (60 kg) payload capacity Dual Strain Wave Gear (SWG) system for zero backlash 70 lbs (32 kg) mount head weight Go2Nova® 8411 controller wi...

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CA$14,783.00 - CA$14,783.00
CA$14,783.00
CA$14,783.00 - CA$14,783.00
CA$14,783.00
CA$2,937.00 - CA$2,937.00
CA$2,937.00
CA$2,937.00 - CA$2,937.00
CA$2,937.00

iOptron HAZ31 Strain Wave Alt-Az

HZ312

31 lb (14 kg) instrument payload capacity 8.2 lb (3.7 kg) mount head weight Dual-axis strain wave gear system with 480:1 reduction ratio Go2Nova c...

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CA$2,937.00 - CA$2,937.00
CA$2,937.00
CA$2,937.00 - CA$2,937.00
CA$2,937.00
CA$3,989.00 - CA$3,989.00
CA$3,989.00
CA$3,989.00 - CA$3,989.00
CA$3,989.00

iOptron HAZ46 Alt-Az Strain Wave Mount

IOP-HZ462

Supports a 44 lbs (20 kg) payload without counterweights Lightweight mount head weighs only 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg) Strain wave gear system with 640:1 r...

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CA$3,989.00 - CA$3,989.00
CA$3,989.00
CA$3,989.00 - CA$3,989.00
CA$3,989.00

What Separates a Good Mount from an Adequate One

Payload rating is the number on the box. The numbers that actually determine your results are periodic error, its smoothness, and the mount's stiffness under load.

  • Periodic error and its smoothness: A large but smooth error guides out easily; a small but jerky one does not. This is why two mounts with the same specification can perform very differently.
  • Payload margin for imaging: Load an imaging mount to roughly 50 to 60% of its visual rating. The remainder is the margin that keeps guiding stable in wind and at awkward angles.
  • Belt versus gear drive: Belt-driven mounts largely remove gear meshing error and backlash, which is why they have become the standard in mid-range imaging mounts.
  • Harmonic drive mounts: Strain-wave gearing carries very high payloads with little counterweight, trading some periodic error smoothness for extraordinary portability.
  • Encoders: Absolute or incremental encoders correct mechanical error in real time, reducing or eliminating the need for guiding at long focal lengths.
  • Focal length sensitivity: Guiding tolerance scales with image scale. A mount that is excellent at 500 mm may be marginal at 2000 mm with the same payload.

Why Choose David Astro for Mounts

A mount is the purchase people most often regret undersizing, and it is the most expensive one to correct later.

  • Sized to focal length, not just weight: We factor your imaging focal length into the recommendation, because guiding demands tighten sharply as image scale increases.
  • Cold-weather behaviour: We advise on lubrication, power supply sizing and the settings that keep a mount tracking reliably below minus 20.
  • Authorized dealer: Full manufacturer warranty and verified authenticity, with service and diagnostics performed in Canada.
  • Domestic shipping on heavy goods: Mounts ship from our Canadian warehouse, avoiding duties, brokerage fees and an extra freight handoff.
  • Setup support: Help with polar alignment, guiding configuration and firmware after the mount arrives.

Mounts in Canada — Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my mount is limiting me?
If your guiding RMS is a large fraction of your pixel scale, if stars trail at particular tube angles, or if you routinely discard subs, the mount is likely the constraint rather than the camera or optics.
Are encoders worth the cost?
At long focal lengths and for unattended operation, yes — they correct error faster than guiding can and remove dependence on a guide star. At short focal lengths, good guiding achieves most of the same result for far less.
Can a harmonic mount replace a heavy equatorial?
For most portable imaging, yes. They carry more per kilogram than any other design and set up in minutes. A high-end worm-gear mount still has an edge in raw tracking smoothness at long focal length.
What supply does my mount need in winter?
More current than the summer specification. Stiff grease raises draw, and voltage sag through a thin or long cable is the usual cause of cold-weather stalls. Size the supply and the cable together.

Buying the mount first?

Send us your optic, camera and focal length and we will size it properly. Ships from Canada with setup support.