In astronomy and photography, a mount is a device that holds a telescope, camera, or other imaging equipment. Vixen, Losmandy, and Arca Swiss are three types of mounts commonly used in astronomy and astrophotography. Here are some differences between them:
- Design: Vixen and Losmandy mounts are equatorial, meaning they are designed to track celestial objects as they move across the sky. On the other hand, Arca Swiss mounts are ball head mounts typically used for landscape and portrait photography.
- Payload capacity: Vixen mounts are generally designed to carry smaller telescopes and cameras, with a maximum payload capacity of around 30-40 pounds. Losmandy mounts, on the other hand, are more heavy-duty and can handle larger payloads of up to 100 pounds or more. Arca Swiss mounts are designed for smaller cameras and lenses and typically have a maximum payload capacity of 10-15 pounds.
- Mounting plates: Vixen mounts typically use a Vixen-style mounting plate, a narrow dovetail plate that attaches to the telescope or camera. Losmandy mounts, on the other hand, use a wider dovetail plate called the Losmandy-style plate. Arca Swiss mounts use an Arca-style plate, a rectangular plate with a dovetail design.
- Precision and stability: Losmandy mounts, with high-quality machining and materials, are generally considered the most precise and stable of the three. Vixen mounts are also known for their precision but may not be as stable as Losmandy mounts. Arca Swiss mounts are generally considered less precise and stable than the other two but are still suitable for many types of photography.
In summary, the main differences between Vixen, Losmandy, and Arca Swiss mounts are their design, payload capacity, mounting plates, and precision/stability. The choice of mount will depend on the specific needs and equipment of the user.