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Mounting telescope on a camera tripod

Elm0

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nicoscy

nicoscy

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Well, you could use it for low powered views and try locking the mount once you find whatever it is you are looking for but that's just about it. Any telescope in alt/az configuration is better balanced if it's side saddle mounted...

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Piero

Piero

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Using your small refractor on a photo tripod is a nice and effective solution. Light and compact. However, I also think that the tripod/mount you mentioned will not give you an enjoyable experience.

Worth mentioning that if the mount/head are very wobbly you won't be able to use high magnifications very well.

My tripod/head weighs 3.5kg and the stated payload capacity is about 5kg. It is still sturdy at 144x, unless strong wind is blowing.

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Elm0

Elm0

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The one I listed can apparently take 4kg, but comparatively lighter than yours. I plan to hook it up in the house, with patio doors opens. Jupiter is right outside in clear view at the moment, so wind shouldnt be a problem!

I think my concerns are mounting the actual scope to it. I dont need any mods do I?

Thanks for your helps peeps!

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rowan46

rowan46

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the problem with photo heads is they need to be mounted backwards to get them to point to zenith and even with good ones they are not at their most stable when pointed up high. it does work after a fashion I use to use one but ended up getting an alt az head they just work better.

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Elm0

Elm0

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Trying to get my missus involved. Went took a flight over the shetlands to see the aurora and she has been slightly interested. Im playing on that and trying my luck with Jupiter for her!

Thanks for the help guys!

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nicoscy

nicoscy

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That's why side saddle alt/az mounts are the best. I have 3 in the house. A mini-gyro, a DSV-M and a Stellarvue M2  :grin:

http://www.desertskyastro.com/DSV-M.html

http://www.stellarvue.com/m2/

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p1541_Giro-Mini-ultracompact-Azimutal-Mount-for-Phototripods---up-to-9-kgs-load.html

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Piero

Piero

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I haven't ever used your ZS71, but looking at http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/167799-william-optics-zs71-ed-2013/ and  http://www.firstlightoptics.com/user/william_optics_zs71_review.pdf , I would say that you can put your ZS71 on a photo tripod without any mod. 

The only thing is that your ZS still weighs 2.5kg which I think is too much for a tripod weighing 1.38kg (ratio: 1.96). 

I would not put a C14 (~20kg) on a EQ5 including counterweights (~16kg) either (ratio: 1.25)!

Now, if we consider the EQ5 without counterweights (~11kg) (ratio: 1.8), well, I don't want to imagine what might happen to that poor C14!   :shocked:  

I guess we end up seeing Earth at high power instead of Jupiter!

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rowan46

rowan46

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Here in http://www.astroboot.co.uk/AstroBoot there is a SW EQ1 Mount for £15.00 and an EQ1 tripod for

£22.00 very cheap and far more stable, and much easier to use, and the mount comes with all the extras,

worth a look.

I wouldn't seriously consider putting anything decent on an eq1 mount and tripod except maybe hydroflouric acid. The eq1 is an exercise in frustration

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Dave In Vermont

Dave In Vermont

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Don't use hydrofluoric acid! If so much as a drop gets on you, it heads straight for the nearest bone in your body - and eats it! Try some nice sulfuric acid!

I'd check around in used-equipment sites for a decent & cheap AltAz mount and tripod. You can find them. I recently found a drastically price-reduced new one in Orion. It essentially didn't have a workable clutch to hold the declination-shaft in place. It would just let go and your scope would bang on the mount-head. Poorly designed by someone's poor cousin Goober. I took it apart and fixed it. Thus the thing became a super-bargain! My repair cost about 10p.

Keep your eyes open, I'm sure you'll find something more suitable than a photo-tripod.

Clear & Steady Skies,

Dave

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Alien 13

Alien 13

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Video camera tripods will hold a ZS71 ok I often use mine with a Konig KN-100 for daytime photography and some lunar work but they are awkward when pointing at the zenith, the mounting system allows the use of both screws on the scope foot so its nice and secure.

The ZS71 is very back heavy mine is sometimes used with an extra 2" extension (two in total) and a DSLR hanging off it for "macro" daytime shots, the foot can be reversed which hepls a little but it still is a lot of offset weight which I think would probably rip the mounting block off on some cheap tripods.

Alan

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LittleSkink

LittleSkink

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fwiw I think the 'Amazon Basics' tripods are pretty much the same, for similar money

Used photo tripods can be excellent value, especially if they are big and not Manfrotto / Gitzo names that everyone wants. I picked up really solid Giottos beasty that was pretty much unused for 1/3 of retail on ebay (having a search set to within 20 miles means no postage costs too)

Our 100P mini Dob works fine in the Giottos but I am still unsure if photo tripods are well suited to Astro use in general

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