iPeace

*Sigh* I was dreading that question. Oh well. Digital kitchen scales is the best I can do. Left side (Borg + diagonal + EP): 2278 g Right side (TV-60 + diagonal + EP + RDF + alignment unit): 3406 g Mount (Berlebach Castor II): 1666 g Total: 7350 g So, perhaps not as much as you might expect. Still WELL under half the rated capacity of the tripod, or more specifically, the geared centre column (20 kg). Plenty of "head room" left. Did someone say Mak 150?

Yes, I know. I'm a nutter. Will enjoy it while it lasts.

@Piero, as promised, just had first session with this tripod tonight and it's rock solid with this setup, even when column is fully extended.

Orion Nebula Pleiades Owl Cluster Extremely comfortable observing

From Switzerland, the AYO VAMO Traveller P.S. That's the mount, not the frac, wrong forum, apologies.

Ah yes, indeed, the flowers are for my own admittance to the sitting room. It's the nice wooden tripod that does it for the fracs.

The secret to getting their permanent admittance to the sitting room...

Looks like a great vintage specimen - and a thrill to have the pair of them! There's still a green TV-76 out there somewhere to go with my own TV-85...

It's my pleasure. I've put up some photos, hope they clarify a bit. I will report further on actual use. P.S. It's hard to get a feel for the scale of these things from pictures on a web site. It is so much more impressive than I expected...

Yes. Works well, keeps the legs solidly in place at the specified angle. Well made, heavy duty with satisfying click. Note: the click is when you move the bit to select the angle, not when the leg hits the stop. Yes. The gearing mechanism also automatically locks in place, so it doesn't all come rushing back down when you release the handle; the locking knob is sort of an "extra". Apologies for how the camera flash makes this look... Warm butter. Olive oil. Premium grease. Soap in the shower. And this is WITH the mount and scopes on. Depends on where you slap the assembly. It might just slap you back for impertinence. Slap one of the legs, it hardly seems to vibrate at all (it does, of course). Slap the fully-extended centre column at the very top, yes it will vibrate for a very short time. Milliseconds, microseconds? It's very, very solid and dampens beautifully, but I will gladly report on first light when the clouds break. Yes. It's nice; has round solid bits at the ends to give it "tubular" shape when in use, but folds up neatly when not. Durable, nice zipper. It's not padded, so not designed for hermetic-case-type protection, but will keep it clean, won't rip and is "breathable" which is recommended for the wood.

It's just one of those promises I made myself a while ago...there's no way you know how lovely one of these is until you see, touch and smell one. Couldn't be happier.

Oh, very well... For those so inclined, this is the Berlebach UNI 29C. I will collect my thoughts while the tears of joy subside.

A very nice compliments card. Oh, yes - there were some other bits in the box as well...

I doubt it's meant to be truly appealing - more to be appreciated for its wrongness. Glad you're sorted, anyway.

I have a few of those. I am ambivalent on the color myself...

Looking forward to seeing them on the other "show us" thread!

I've had it for a while now: It seems (feels) like I've had it longer than this, I can't imagine being without it. I've only done one brief side by side comparison with the exact same magnifications (identical diagonals, both with Nagler Zooms). It was lunar only and not the steadiest of nights. The TV-85 has the edge - easy to say "aperture wins" or to praise Al Nagler for knowing his stuff - but the 71FL comes close enough for when Stanley's weight is prohibitive. In fact, instead of replacing Stanley, Bjorn will travel with me instead of Moose the TV-60 (not that Moose is going anywhere, the TV-60 is like a Nagler Zoom - far too handy to pass on, happily living wherever there's space). Already thinking ahead to a Borg 90mm fluorite objective (supposedly just screws on in place of the 71mm objective) which should make the comparison even more interesting...

Well you can still grab it.

Otherwise, I have a spare EQ5 tripod and pillar, if you're interested...

Stanley and Bjorn together on some old mount I had standing around.

I know it's confusing - and I can't really say why it fits both, but it does This goes for the Ercole Mini as well. Photo tripod: EQ5 tripod: What can I say?

I used my Ercole both on an EQ5 extension pillar and on a photo tripod with 3/8" bolt. I don't think you need an adapter.

Easy setup is not lost... light weight may be slipping a bit.

We've certainly moved on from something sticking out of the umbrella stand, ready to go with the scope on it... The Ercole is a very nice mount indeed, congratulations! I used mine on an extension pillar atop a EQ5 tripod. "One day" I will get a nice wooden Berlebach...

Nice one! Glad you got your grab-and-go frac. Looks a lot like the INED70 I used to have, surely must be the same thing except for the carbon tube. Great build, very nice focuser and great views, excellent value.