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Alt-Azimuth Mounts

An alt-azimuth mount moves the way you point: up, down, left, right. That intuitiveness is why it dominates casual and grab-and-go observing, and why a telescope on one gets used on marginal nights when a telescope needing polar alignment stays indoors. David Astro carries alt-azimuth mounts in Canada, from manual push-to heads to WiFi-controlled GoTo units, in stock and shipping from Canada.

The limitation is field rotation, which constrains long-exposure imaging without a wedge. Tell us whether you plan to image and we will advise honestly on whether this is the right mount type.

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$465.00 - $465.00
$465.00
$465.00 - $465.00
$465.00

Sky-Watcher AZ5 Mount with Steel Tripod

SW-S20110

15 lb Payload Capacity V-Style Mounting Saddle 1.75-inch Steel Tripod Legs Total Assembled Weight of 17.3 lbs Included Pier Extension Descripti...

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$465.00 - $465.00
$465.00
$465.00 - $465.00
$465.00
$585.00 - $585.00
$585.00
$585.00 - $585.00
$585.00

Sky-Watcher SolarQuest Mount

SW-S21170

One-touch, fully automatic solar alignment Built-in GPS and HelioFind solar finder technology Automatically levels and calculates Sun's posi...

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$585.00 - $585.00
$585.00
$585.00 - $585.00
$585.00
$2,295.00 - $2,295.00
$2,295.00
$2,295.00 - $2,295.00
$2,295.00

Sky-Watcher Wave 100i Pro Mount with Carbon Fiber Tripod & Pier Extension

SW-S40013

Complete mount kit weighs only 17.2 lb (7.8 kg) Strain wave drive supports 22 lb (10 kg) without a counterweight 9.5 lb (4.3 kg) mount head with E...

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$2,295.00 - $2,295.00
$2,295.00
$2,295.00 - $2,295.00
$2,295.00
$2,195.00 - $2,195.00
$2,195.00
$2,195.00 - $2,195.00
$2,195.00

Sky-Watcher Wave 100i Pro Mount with Steel Tripod & Pier Extension

SW-S40014

Supports a 22 lb imaging payload on a mount head that weighs only 9.5 lbs Includes a heavy-duty 2-inch adjustable steel tripod and extension tube ...

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$2,195.00 - $2,195.00
$2,195.00
$2,195.00 - $2,195.00
$2,195.00
$1,895.00 - $1,895.00
$1,895.00
$1,895.00 - $1,895.00
$1,895.00

Sky-Watcher Wave 100i Strainwave Mount

SW-S30900
1 in stock

Supports a 22-pound payload without counterweights Ultra-portable 9.5-pound mount head weight Dual AZ/EQ modes for visual and astrophotography Hig...

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$1,895.00 - $1,895.00
$1,895.00
$1,895.00 - $1,895.00
$1,895.00
$2,895.00 - $2,895.00
$2,895.00
$2,895.00 - $2,895.00
$2,895.00

Sky-Watcher Wave 150i Pro Mount Kit w/ Carbon Fiber Tripod and Pier Extension Tube

SW-S40015

Wave 150i GoTo strainwave head EQ and AZ modes Built-in cable management Weighs 12.8 pounds (5.8kg) 33-pound (15kg) payload capacity without optio...

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$2,895.00 - $2,895.00
$2,895.00
$2,895.00 - $2,895.00
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$2,795.00 - $2,795.00
$2,795.00
$2,795.00 - $2,795.00
$2,795.00

Sky-Watcher Wave 150i Pro Mount Kit w/ Steel Tripod and Pier Extension Tube

SW-S40016
1 in stock

Supports 33 lbs without counterweights, expandable to 55 lbs Ultra-portable 12.8 lb mount head weight Dual AZ and EQ tracking modes for visual and...

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$2,795.00 - $2,795.00
$2,795.00
$2,795.00 - $2,795.00
$2,795.00
$2,495.00 - $2,495.00
$2,495.00
$2,495.00 - $2,495.00
$2,495.00

Sky-Watcher Wave 150i Strainwave Mount

SW-S30905
1 in stock

Supports imaging payloads up to 33 pounds without counterweights, or 55 pounds with the optional counterweight kit Ultra-portable 12.8-pound mount...

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$2,495.00 - $2,495.00
$2,495.00
$2,495.00 - $2,495.00
$2,495.00
SVBONY SV225 Alt-Azimuth Telescope Mount
SVBONY SV225 Alt-Azimuth Telescope Mount
$125.00 - $125.00
$125.00
$125.00 - $125.00
$125.00

SVBONY SV225 Alt-Azimuth Telescope Mount

SV-W9181A
3 in stock

Payload Capacity: 10kg (22 lbs) Mount Weight: 3kg (6.6 lbs) Drive System: 120-Tooth Worm Gear on Both Axes Saddle Type: Vixen-Style Motion Ra...

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$125.00 - $125.00
$125.00
$125.00 - $125.00
$125.00
Svbony SV225 MINI Alt-Azimuth Telescope Mount
$89.99 - $89.99
$89.99
$89.99 - $89.99
$89.99

SVBONY SV225 Mini Alt-Azimuth Telescope Mount

SV-W9181B

Lightweight CNC Aluminum Construction Net Weight of 1546g Dual Axis Slow-Motion Controls Standard Vixen-style Dovetail Saddle Mounts to Tripods vi...

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$89.99 - $89.99
$89.99
$89.99 - $89.99
$89.99
Tele Vue Gibraltar HD4 - Encoder Equipped 1
$1,657.00 - $1,657.00
$1,657.00
$1,657.00 - $1,657.00
$1,657.00

Tele Vue Gibraltar HD4 - Encoder Equipped

TV-G4E-6023

Recommended for the Tele Vue NP101is Weight: 20.5 lbs (mount) Height (to altitude axis): 3.5 to 5 ft Altitude range: +80° to -12° Thick wood legs ...

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$1,657.00 - $1,657.00
$1,657.00
$1,657.00 - $1,657.00
$1,657.00
Tele Vue Gibraltar HD4 Mount 1
$1,434.00 - $1,434.00
$1,434.00
$1,434.00 - $1,434.00
$1,434.00

Tele Vue Gibraltar HD4 Mount

TV-G4M-6014

Recommended for the Tele Vue NP101is Weight: 20.5 lbs Height (to altitude axis): 3.5 to 5 ft Altitude range: +80° to -12° Thick wood legs with leg...

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$1,434.00 - $1,434.00
$1,434.00
$1,434.00 - $1,434.00
$1,434.00
Tele Vue Gibraltar HD5 - Encoder Equipped 1
$1,983.00 - $1,983.00
$1,983.00
$1,983.00 - $1,983.00
$1,983.00

Tele Vue Gibraltar HD5 - Encoder Equipped

TV-G5E-5023

Recommended for the Tele Vue NP127is Weight: 22.9 lbs (mount) Height (to altitude axis): 3.5 to 5 ft Altitude range: +80° to -12° Thick wood legs ...

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$1,983.00 - $1,983.00
$1,983.00
$1,983.00 - $1,983.00
$1,983.00
Tele Vue Gibraltar HD5 Mount 1
$1,494.00 - $1,494.00
$1,494.00
$1,494.00 - $1,494.00
$1,494.00

Tele Vue Gibraltar HD5 Mount

TV-G5M-5014

Recommended for the Tele Vue NP127is Weight: 22.9 lbs Height (to altitude axis): 3.5 to 5 ft Altitude range: +80° to -12° Thick wood legs with leg...

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$1,494.00 - $1,494.00
$1,494.00
$1,494.00 - $1,494.00
$1,494.00
Tele Vue Pano-Ash Advanced - Encoder Equipped 1
$1,370.00 - $1,370.00
$1,370.00
$1,370.00 - $1,370.00
$1,370.00

Tele Vue Pano-Ash Advanced - Encoder Equipped

TV-P4E-7023

Tele-Pod head on solid ash wood legs Pre-installed 2160-step encoders; computer sold separately Height: about 2.3 to 4 ft Altitude range: +85° to ...

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$1,370.00 - $1,370.00
$1,370.00
$1,370.00 - $1,370.00
$1,370.00
Tele Vue Pano-Ash Advanced Mount 1
$1,004.00 - $1,004.00
$1,004.00
$1,004.00 - $1,004.00
$1,004.00

Tele Vue Pano-Ash Advanced Mount

TV-P4M-7011
1 in stock

Alt-Azimuth Yoke-Style Head Solid Ash Wood Tripod Construction Height Range: 28" to 46" Altitude Motion Range: +85° to -17° Tension-Adjustable Bra...

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$1,004.00 - $1,004.00
$1,004.00
$1,004.00 - $1,004.00
$1,004.00
Tele Vue Tele-Pod - Head Only 1
$425.00 - $425.00
$425.00
$425.00 - $425.00
$425.00

Tele Vue Tele-Pod - Head Only

TV-TPH-1016

Mount Type: Alt-Azimuth Head Payload Capacity: Recommended for Tele Vue 60, 76, 85, and Pronto telescopes Motion Control: Manual with adjustable t...

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$425.00 - $425.00
$425.00
$425.00 - $425.00
$425.00
Tele Vue Tele-Pod Advanced - Encoder Equipped 1
$944.00 - $944.00
$944.00
$944.00 - $944.00
$944.00

Tele Vue Tele-Pod Advanced - Encoder Equipped

TV-TPE-3023

Tele-Pod alt-azimuth head with pre-installed encoders 2160-step encoders (0.167° per step) Black-anodized 3-section aluminum tripod Tripod height:...

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$944.00 - $944.00
$944.00
$944.00 - $944.00
$944.00
Tele Vue Tele-Pod Advanced Mount 1
$606.00 - $606.00
$606.00
$606.00 - $606.00
$606.00

Tele Vue Tele-Pod Advanced Mount

TV-TPM-3015

Alt-azimuth head with handle, encoder-ready Black-anodized 3-section aluminum tripod Weight: 9 lbs Tripod height: 2.4 to 5+ ft Altitude range: +85...

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$606.00 - $606.00
$606.00
$606.00 - $606.00
$606.00
$1,499.00 - $1,499.00
$1,499.00
$1,499.00 - $1,499.00
$1,499.00

ZWO AM3N Harmonic Equatorial Mount with TC40 Tripod

ZWO-AM3N-KIT
1 in stock

17.64 lb. payload capacity without counterweights Weighs only 9.04 lb. for extreme portability Dual Alt-Azimuth and Equatorial modes 0-90° latitud...

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$1,499.00 - $1,499.00
$1,499.00
$1,499.00 - $1,499.00
$1,499.00
$1,999.00 - $1,999.00
$1,999.00
$1,999.00 - $1,999.00
$1,999.00

ZWO AM5N Harmonic Equatorial Mount with TC40 Tripod

ZWO-AM5N-KIT

Carries 33 lb. without counterweights 12.1 lb. lightweight mount head Dual Equatorial and Alt-Azimuth modes 0° to 90° latitude range for worldwide...

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$1,999.00 - $1,999.00
$1,999.00
$1,999.00 - $1,999.00
$1,999.00
$2,499.00 - $2,499.00
$2,499.00
$2,499.00 - $2,499.00
$2,499.00

ZWO AM7 Harmonic Equatorial Mount with TC40 Tripod

ZWO-AM7-KIT
1 in stock

44 lb. payload capacity without a counterweight 14.9 lb. mount head weight Dual Equatorial and Alt-Azimuth modes Stepper motor with 0.17" resoluti...

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$2,499.00 - $2,499.00
$2,499.00
$2,499.00 - $2,499.00
$2,499.00

Alt-Azimuth Mounts and Field Rotation

Two axes track a target by moving in both simultaneously. This works perfectly for visual use and introduces a slow rotation of the field, which matters only for long exposures.

  • Manual alt-azimuth heads: Smooth-motion mounts with slow-motion controls, ideal for refractors used visually and for terrestrial observing.
  • GoTo alt-azimuth mounts: Computerized pointing with large object databases, aligning on two or three stars and finding targets automatically.
  • WiFi-controlled mounts: Operated from a phone or tablet, removing the hand controller and simplifying setup considerably.
  • Field rotation: The field slowly rotates during tracking, limiting unguided exposures to roughly 30 to 60 seconds depending on target position — fine for the Moon and planets, limiting for deep sky.
  • Equatorial wedges: Tilt the whole mount to the latitude angle, converting it to equatorial operation and eliminating field rotation entirely.
  • Payload and portability: Generally lighter than equatorials of the same capacity, since no counterweight is required.

Why Choose David Astro for Alt-Azimuth Mounts

The right mount is the one you will actually set up, and that is often not the most capable one.

  • Honest imaging advice: If you intend serious deep-sky imaging we will say that an equatorial is the right tool, rather than selling a wedge to work around a design limitation.
  • Setup-time realism: For observers with limited clear nights, we weigh how quickly a mount deploys as a genuine factor rather than a footnote.
  • Payload sized with the tripod: Alt-azimuth stability depends heavily on the base, and we specify the two together.
  • Authorized dealer: Full manufacturer warranty with service handled in Canada.
  • Ships from Canada: Domestic delivery with no duties or brokerage fees for Canadian buyers.

Alt-Azimuth Mounts in Canada — Frequently Asked Questions

Can I image with an alt-azimuth mount?
Lunar, planetary and short-exposure work, yes, very effectively. Deep-sky exposures beyond roughly a minute show field rotation as trailed stars at the frame edges, unless you add an equatorial wedge.
Is GoTo worth it for visual observing?
It depends on your sky. Under heavy light pollution where few stars are visible for star hopping, GoTo transforms what you can find. Under dark skies many observers prefer manual star hopping.
How does a wedge change things?
It tilts the azimuth axis to point at the celestial pole, making the mount equatorial in effect. Field rotation disappears, but you take on polar alignment and a heavier, less convenient setup.
Do alt-azimuth mounts need counterweights?
Generally no, which is a large part of their portability advantage. Balance is achieved by positioning the tube in its saddle rather than by adding mass.

Grab-and-go setup?

Tell us your telescope and how you observe and we will match the mount and tripod. Ships from our Canadian warehouse.