Anyone else have tripod trouble ?

[spacemanblue]

It's not the setting up but the taking down, I lower one leg and the hole lot want to smash in to the dirt. It's a heavy beast and gets me every time, I'm 6'2 and 15 stone. There has to be some kind knack other then stopping it with my head. help.

[david o]

Collapse the legs last of all, after removing the 'scope and then the mount head.

Maybe even turn it upside down and gather the legs together.

HTH

[Ad Astra]

You must always unload the tripod before taking it down, anything else is unsafe. You can not only smash the lot, having an OTA land on your foot can ruin your whole day!

Always adjust, level and secure the tripod before mounting equipment - then reverse the process for takedown.

Dan

[spacemanblue]

You know i have not been removing the azimuth from the tripod so you can guess that it's top heavy, I'm a lazy sod.

More bits How do you store all this stuff, Cheers you made me think (which is a slow process), thank you.

[spacemanblue]

Just have to add, showed me mate Saturn and my Kids 'n Wife, They all jumped around, shouting. That's what it's all about, Yer..

[brantuk]

Hahaha! First view of Saturn in a scope gives everyone a "WOW" moment

Do make sure you pack down in reverse order though so you don't damage your gear or cause yourself a back problem - I allways take the scope(s) off first, then the weights - everything is easier after that

[david o]

How do you store all this stuff....

Well I keep the AZ4, with its Alt-Az head still mounted (!), in one of those padded 'scope bags. Ready to grab 'n' go.