Discmount DM6 / Berlebach Uni 18

[Space Hopper]

G'day folks.....

After a few weeks of waiting i now have my 'ultimate' Alt-az set-up.

A significant purchase all in all, and i'm now fully clued up in importing gear from the US.

I'm just waiting for a small adapter from Green Witch for my red dot finder (which fits on the mount, not my scope) and i'll be good to go.

 

Over the next few weeks, i'll be testing it out, getting to grips with the 'Sky-Commander', balancing my scopes properly and letting the mount 'bed in'.

Yes, i'm told by Tom Peters (who runs Discmounts out of Florida) that these mounts need a good bedding in period.

So far, the mount had exceeded my expectations. I'll do a user review in the mount section in due course.

 

My long awaited tripod arrived this week, and i'm thrilled with it.

I'd been to-ing and fro-ing between the Uni tripods and Planet tripods for a week or two while Berlebach were on factory holiday shutdown

before finally opting for the Uni. My initial tests have shown the tripod to be really solid and the mount is buttery smooth to use. 

In the meantime heres a selection of images with both my scopes set up  

[lardy]

Very nice 

[DirkSteele]

By all accounts, the Discmounts are up there with the very best Alt-Az mounts available.  I look forward to reading more of your experiences with the DM6.

[jetstream]

Awesome set up Rob! I am eagerly waiting your report,the C8 may be hard to beat with the Sky Commander on DSO.I hope you get clear skies soon......

[Steve Ward]

Is it just me or does that look inherently wrong having all that weight on one side of the tripod with no counter-weight of any kind ... must cause long term wear issues surely , not to mention the potential for the whole lot to get accidentally toppled over  .... ?

Seen loads of pics on CN with oversize and very expensive tubes aloft , rather them than me ... 

Should think it'll soon 'bed itself in' alright ... bed itself EP deep in someone's lawn ... 

[Space Hopper]

I see your point Steve. Especially as i'll be using the 8" extender most of the time.

However, don't underestimate the DM6. They are typically designed to carry 5" class refractors / 11" SCT tubes with no issues assuming a good tripod.

The mount has floor spikes if i'm observing on soft ground. 

And i don't tend to observe in gale force winds. 

Yes, if i were to mount a 12" reflector on it i'd be pushing my luck.

My C8 is only 6Kg and the Refractor about 10. I don't foresee any problems. I will be careful though..........

[Steve Ward]

Were it mine I'd make sure the mount was attached to the tripod so that the tube was over the single leg rather than over the space between two legs ... 

[russ.will]

What would happen when you want to look somewhere else....

Russell

[Space Hopper]

.............she won't be toppling over, trust me !  

[Piero]

I think it is an excellent mount and mount head, a very solid set up which will work well with your equipment. 

PLUS, the two looks beautiful together. Congratulations! 

 

I've been thinking about a Berlebach tripod to work together with my AOK AYOII which is coming soon hopefully. I haven't yet decided the model though. 

[Doc]

Wonderful set up.

[Chris]

Some amazing dream setups posted here recently, and this is certainly another one  

[Space Hopper]

Thankyou....

 

One or two changes since i posted this 3 years ago. Is it really that long ago.?

The Sky Commander DSC has been sold, and upgraded to a Nexus DSC. And the Nexus is super.

The Skysurfer 3 was upgraded to a Skysurfer 5 (indestructible) after i accidentally broke the 3.

The C8 Edge has been sold and a C9.25 (Non-Edge) has taken its spot.

The Baader Maxbright gave me a nice taste into the world of bino-viewing. Sold and upgraded to a Mk V. Nirvana with 24 Panoptics.

My OO VX10L is now a VX12 F4.

And i sold the 21 Ethos..............!!!!!! Nooooooooooooooo !!!! 

Why did i sell my 21E  ?????  I so regret selling it.........

 

I'll never part with the DM6 though. That stays till i head skywards myself........

[Moonshane]

and I think your maxbrights ended up in my sweaty mits 

lovely set up.

 

[Space Hopper]

They did indeed Shane, thankyou.

Hope you're enjoying them.

[Doc]

On 01/09/2014 at 20:57, Steve Ward said:

Were it mine I'd make sure the mount was attached to the tripod so that the tube was over the single leg rather than over the space between two legs ... 

Well I made a DM6 clone, see the photo below and it ain't going anywhere, it's rock steady and will not topple over.

 

 

 

 

 

[Moonshane]

certainly am, they have been in almost constant use since I bought them and for solar and lunar I 'hate' observing with one eye now.

[Space Hopper]

A genius at work Doc.

It looks amazing.

[iPeace]

50 minutes ago, Tubby Bear said:

Is it really that long ago.?

I'm afraid I brought this one back to life by looking for considerations on UNI vs. PLANET.

Excellent looking setup. 

But now we're here, how's the UNI holding up? Ever think you should have gone for the PLANET?

 

[Space Hopper]

The Uni is fine, in all likelihood plenty sturdy enough for my needs.

The Uni is around 8kg, to the Planets 11kg, but the Planet is rated much higher...upto 120kg payload to the Uni's 55kg.

I take those figures with a 'pinch of salt' though.

 

I remember funds being a bit limited at the time i purchased the Uni, and i thought i'd save myself 100 or so £'s.

I was also concerned about a longish refractor hitting the top of the Planet, when observing near the Zenith, as the Planet has a bigger top than the Uni.

I think i'd have been fine though.

Whichever one you go for, i'd recommend the 'spreader' and double clamp option for extra security. Avoid the 'chain option' if you can.

The tray, which sits on the spreader is a major plus point. 

 

I'm happy with the Uni : probably a Planet would have been a wiser choice though. 

But they are both nice tripods.

 

If i was thinking of a second tripod, or an upgrade to something beefier, would i go for a Planet ?

Maybe. But i'd also consider a Losmandy HD. 

HTH, Rob.

 

 

 

[iPeace]

40 minutes ago, Tubby Bear said:

The Uni is fine, in all likelihood plenty sturdy enough for my needs.

The Uni is around 8kg, to the Planets 11kg, but the Planet is rated much higher...upto 120kg payload to the Uni's 55kg.

I take those figures with a 'pinch of salt' though.

 

I remember funds being a bit limited at the time i purchased the Uni, and i thought i'd save myself 100 or so £'s.

I was also concerned about a longish refractor hitting the top of the Planet, when observing near the Zenith, as the Planet has a bigger top than the Uni.

I think i'd have been fine though.

Whichever one you go for, i'd recommend the 'spreader' and double clamp option for extra security. Avoid the 'chain option' if you can.

The tray, which sits on the spreader is a major plus point. 

 

I'm happy with the Uni : probably a Planet would have been a wiser choice though. 

But they are both nice tripods.

 

If i was thinking of a second tripod, or an upgrade to something beefier, would i go for a Planet ?

Maybe. But i'd also consider a Losmandy HD. 

HTH, Rob.

 

 

 

Thanks, I appreciate this. I've ordered the Planet (comes standard with spreader and tray, no chains) with double clamps and (additional) plastic feet with a padded tripod bag. It will come with the DM6 mounting plate, as my Losmandy AZ8 should bolt straight on to it.

I'll let you know it if doesn't work out for me - perhaps you'll want to upgrade by then, who knows? 

Thanks again!

[Space Hopper]

You won't go far wrong with the Planet.

Nice purchase.