Jump to content

Banner.jpg.b83b14cd4142fe10848741bb2a14c66b.jpg

Travel Mount and Tripod for small Frac?

Commanderfish

Recommended Posts

Commanderfish

Commanderfish

Posted
Posted

Hi,

I'd like your advice on a mount and tripod for my new Explore Scientific ED80 F6 Triplet. Scope is on the heavy side for an ED80, at 3.4Kg plus eyepieces.  Some of my eyepieces are 454g televues so the total load is about 4Kg.

 

Now for the mount and tripod - need to be light enough for travel but hefty enough to carry the weight steady for decent visual use.

 

Will Manfrotto Junior  Geared head give a stable view?  It's got a safety payload of 5KG.  As this is for visual only I wonder if this is just enough for a stable view with a 4KG load?

 

What about the tripod - Redsnapper?  How tall should it be - I'm 5 foot 9 which is 175cm.  Will this 155cm, 8KG max load Redsnapper be enough http://www.redsnappe...284M_.html#nogo

or do I need it's more expensive, heavier 177cm bigger brother: http://www.redsnappe...ion_Tripod.html

 

Any other recommendations would be great.  I'm looking for things that are stable, but pack down small for travel.

 

Cheers

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 38
  • Created
  • Last Reply
Tinker1947

Tinker1947

Posted
Posted

I use a NEQ6 Tripod with a Star Adventurer, that about as stable as they get, just requires a 300mm length of 3/8" UNC plus a couple of wing nuts one hold the SA base and the other the EP tray, its rated at 5kg load...

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-star-adventurer/skywatcher-star-adventurer-astronomy-bundle.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Commanderfish

Commanderfish

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks Dave.  That DV7000 looks pretty good - seems to have an Alt Az head built into the tripod, right?  Only thing is, at a minimum of 70cm folded, it doesn't pack down anywhere near as much as the Redsnapper and Manfrotto.    The claimed max load is 4.5Kg, it's great to hear your 5KG rig is stable on it!

Tinker, NEQ6 looks great but the rig needs to be small enough to fit into hand luggage, or main luggage at least.  Weight is also a concern (flight allowances).  The DV7000 and the Redsnapper/Manfrotto combo each come to about 3.5KG total (mount and tripod).

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Davey-T

Davey-T

Posted
Posted

Thanks Dave.  That DV7000 looks pretty good - seems to have an Alt Az head built into the tripod, right?  Only thing is, at a minimum of 70cm folded, it doesn't pack down anywhere near as much as the Redsnapper and Manfrotto.    The claimed max load is 4.5Kg, it's great to hear your 5KG rig is stable on it!

Tinker, NEQ6 looks great but the rig needs to be small enough to fit into hand luggage, or main luggage at least.  Weight is also a concern (flight allowances).  The DV7000 and the Redsnapper/Manfrotto combo each come to about 3.5KG total (mount and tripod).

You take the head off and the SW SA screws on instead, one thing it does have is a really wide leg spread with a locking spreader.

Head weighs 650gms

Dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Commanderfish

Commanderfish

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hi Dave - I can see why you like the DV7000.  I'm guessing it's easier to use the handle to pan/elevate the scope than it would be to use a geared head - is that right?

I think the spreader plate is probably an advantage too.

Just wondering how you mount a scope with a standard dovetail to the tripod head - must need some kind of adapter?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Stu

Stu

Posted
Posted

Dave, do you just use this for imaging?

My concern would be that with an imaging rig you are not touching the scope during the imaging run. With visual, I've found that when you are focusing and moving a scope, particularly at higher powers, the vibrations can take a while to dampen down. I suspect a tripod rated at 5kg may not be as stable as you would like. The more sections a tripod has, the less solid it is likely to be.

I use an Induro AT413 tripod which weighs 3.2kg, with a Giro-WR head which is under a kilo. It is rated at 20kg and is pretty solid, but still suffers some vibrations, particularly at high power.

At home, I use an EQ6 tripod with a home made pillar extension with the Giro-WR. This is rock solid which shows the head can take the weight, it's the tripod which provides the stability.

As with all these things. It is a compromise between cost, weight and stability.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Davey-T

Davey-T

Posted
Posted

Hi Stu (did you get my PM ?) yes mainly imaging but I have used it for visual only with the LS60 and ST80 and Quark, not ideal but usable at short focal lengths / low mag.

As you say a compromise between weight and stability, an EQ6 tripod may be a bit heavy for hand baggage  :grin:

I used an old dovetail and rings which fitted the ST80 and the LS60 but would recommend some sort of safety strap as plastic tripod mount isn't very strong.

Looking at the red snapper is has a hook to hang a weight on for more stability always useful

Dave

post-21198-0-89882300-1438276044_thumb.p

post-21198-0-50586300-1438276048_thumb.p

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Stu

Stu

Posted
Posted

Interesting Big Sumorian. The Redsnapper tripod I'm looking at is rated for 12Kg and has 4 sections. No centre spreader though:

http://www.redsnapperuk.com/camera-accessories/RSF-324_Alloy_4_Section_Tripod.html

The Redsnapper looks quite good, worth a try. Remember that if its not up to the job you can return it if you are not happy.

I suspect it would not be as steady as the Induro, but then it's lighter, cheaper and smaller to carry around. Compromise again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Stu

Stu

Posted
Posted

Hi Stu (did you get my PM ?) yes mainly imaging but I have used it for visual only with the LS60 and ST80 and Quark, not ideal but usable at short focal lengths / low mag.

As you say a compromise between weight and stability, an EQ6 tripod may be a bit heavy for hand baggage :grin:

I used an old dovetail and rings which fitted the ST80 and the LS60 but would recommend some sort of safety strap as plastic tripod mount isn't very strong.

Looking at the red snapper is has a hook to hang a weight on for more stability always useful

Dave

attachicon.gifDSCF0600.png

attachicon.gifDSCF0601.png

http://us9.campaign-archive2.com/?u=cef7b51e103c79aa0ca1c1d37&id=af1a118ed6&e=0e993c2489

Yes Dave, will reply later.

EQ6 is a bit challenging for carry on admittedly :-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Piero

Piero

Posted
Posted

I use this: Manfrotto MVH500AH 755XBK. It holds 2.2kg as if this were a feather even when fully extended. It can also point to the zenith.

Alternatively a giro mount works well too. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Commanderfish

Commanderfish

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yes I saw that thread - interesting approach.  My concern there is that my rig is going to be a lot heavier than he's using, I don't know how stable it would be.

As I want the rig to be stable and secure, am I better off going for a geared head like the Vixen Porta Mini or Manfrotto geared junior?  The cost will be higher than a combined photographic tripod and mount, but the head will be solid.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Commanderfish

Commanderfish

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Was going to buy a Manfrotto Junior 410 with a 5Kg payload limit when I saw this very useful review which I recommend watching: 

Clearly the bigger Manfrotto 405 with it's 7.5Kg payload limit, is an excellent bit of kit and I have no doubt it would hold any ED80 steady at any angle.  You can see it's very smooth to operate.  Only issue is the cost which is massive at around £330, but luckily I managed to find a used unit at Wex Photographic for £160.

It's a slightly weighty travel head at 1.6KG but that ought to help the stability.

So what do I go for on the tripod?  I might look for second hand after scoring that bargain Manfrotto head.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Fozzie

Fozzie

Posted
Posted

Yes I saw that thread - interesting approach.  My concern there is that my rig is going to be a lot heavier than he's using, I don't know how stable it would be.

Those gear heads are in a different league to what I've cobbled up as my solution, im sure they have no issue taking an 80 ed looking at some of the photographic equipment and lenses around to day..

The pan head combo on my tipod is designed to be airplane friendly so weight is a minimum and the scope etc will not be more than 3kg.. maybe even 2.5kg.. It'll suit for quick obs when life afords me the time and for holiday use only..

Those geared heads look the business but at £300 I would hope so too.. nice find second hand btw..

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Piero

Piero

Posted
Posted

If you go for the photo tripod route, I suggest you a video mount head, rather than a the Manfrotto 405 (assuming you mean this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manfrotto-405-Pro-Geared-Head/dp/B000RTW9S0). 

A video head is much easier and only has two movements equivalent to Alt-Azimuth. 

I have this one: 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manfrotto-MVH500AH-Lightweight-Fluid-Video/dp/B00CHNREYS/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1438548896&sr=1-2&keywords=manfrotto+video+head 

And is excellent for my needs. My telescope+diagonal+heaviest ep+tele-extender is about 2.2kg . There is no problem at all. 

If you are scared that your telescope won't be sufficiently stable, you could consider its up-version: 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manfrotto-Size-Flat-Video-MVH502AH/dp/B006TZE0UQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1438548896&sr=1-1&keywords=manfrotto+video+head

This should be really sufficient for your needs. 

Hope this is useful.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Thalestris24

Thalestris24

Posted
Posted

I use a NEQ6 Tripod with a Star Adventurer, that about as stable as they get, just requires a 300mm length of 3/8" UNC plus a couple of wing nuts one hold the SA base and the other the EP tray, its rated at 5kg load...

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-star-adventurer/skywatcher-star-adventurer-astronomy-bundle.html

Hiya

Do you by any chance know if I can do the same with an heq5 pro tripod? Do you think an evostar 80ED + dslr would be too much for an SA?

Thanks

Louise

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tinker1947

Tinker1947

Posted
Posted

Fixing the SA to the HEQ5 tripod should just need the 3/8" UNC studding, measure the distance from the EP holder to the top of the tripod to get the right length (a bit longer won't hurt) and a couple of wing nuts one to hold the EP tray against the tripod legs and the other to tighten the SA base to the Tripod, the 3/8" studding went through the hole on my NEQ6 with out the need to make it bigger, your HEQ5 i think has the same MM Threaded hole......

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.