What photo tripod for Star Adventurer?

[andy435]

What photo tripod for Star Adventurer? Would a Manfrotto 055xprob be stable enough? I also consider a second hand Benro A3580T with 15 kg max load.

Thanks

[DorsetBlue]

When I bought my SA, I asked FLO if my existing tripod would be robust enough.  They said yes:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/tripods/horizon-8115-2-way-heavy-duty-tripod.html

I have indeed found it very stable, although it does benefit from hanging some weight (normally a couple bottles of coke in a shopping bag) below it whilst doing a photo sequence.

[MattJenko]

I tried a cheap XCSource tripod for mine and it was OK for DSLR usage, but upgraded to a Berleback mini, which is rock solid, albeit extremely low.

[bdlbug]

I've gone down the Berlebach  route as well to mount my Star Adventurer, gone for a  taller version, Report 102. They are superbly engineered tripods and very stable.

@MattJenko where did you source the dovetail mount adapter, shown in your image with orange clamp ? 

[MattJenko]

Its an old version of one of these : https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dovetail-bars/baader-vixen-style-dovetail-clamp.html

[Eduardo Ventura]

On 17/02/2017 at 11:39, MattJenko said:

I tried a cheap XCSource tripod for mine and it was OK for DSLR usage, but upgraded to a Berleback mini, which is rock solid, albeit extremely low.

Boy, that must be a pain to polar align, or do you use a different polar alignment routine, other than the polarscope?

 

I use a TRIOPO MT3232X8C with a TRIOPO B-3 ballhead (max payload of the whole set is 12kg):

http://foto-tip.pl/en/products/statyw-triopo-mt-3232x8c/

http://foto-tip.pl/en/products/glowica-triopo-b-3/

 

And to this date, no problems whatsoever, but I have been using it with Canon 7D MkII with grip and a Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 OS, which weighs in at roughly 3kg (without considering the mount itself)... Was concerned about it being a lesser known brand but it certainly suited all of my photographic requirements plus astrophotography using the Staradventurer...

 

Cheers,

[MattJenko]

3 hours ago, Eduardo Ventura said:

Boy, that must be a pain to polar align, or do you use a different polar alignment routine, other than the polarscope?

 

If you see the red circular adaptor which is on the dovetail bar, this is for a QHY PoleMaster.

[Martin Meredith]

Another vote for the Berlebach (in this case, the Report 112). Very light, stable (quick damping), and compact. Easy to polar align at this height. Not cheap... 

Martin

 

 

 

[DorsetBlue]

On 17/02/2017 at 11:39, MattJenko said:

I tried a cheap XCSource tripod for mine and it was OK for DSLR usage, but upgraded to a Berleback mini, which is rock solid, albeit extremely low.

I would be very interested to see what pictures you are getting with this setup? :-)

[MattJenko]

6 hours ago, DorsetBlue said:

I would be very interested to see what pictures you are getting with this setup? :-)

I have used this unguided, and camping at Kelling last year I used a combination of 30sec and 10 sec exposures:

M45

M31:

[Eduardo Ventura]

On 20/02/2017 at 15:59, MattJenko said:

If you see the red circular adaptor which is on the dovetail bar, this is for a QHY PoleMaster.

I didn't notice it... OK... This way being low isn't such a problem... Cheers...