All purpose tripod for Star Adventurer/DSLR/Small Scope

[djdurance]

Hi all,

I just picked up a the Star Adventurer Pro pack and am in the steep learning curve of learning about tracking for the first time...

I had this tripod already for my DSLR but this does not seem up for the task. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/tripods/fotomate-vt-5006-medium-duty-2-way-tripod.html

Budget is tight so I need to keep it in the 50-100 GBP range. I also really need a ball head for my DSLR so getting this include would be a bonus. There are the 4 that I looked at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neewer-centimeters-Monopod-Camcorder-kilograms/dp/B00NSEKEMO/ref=sr_1_14?crid=1NM5MZMWXAAEA&dchild=1&keywords=neewer+tripod+ball+head&qid=1598856611&sprefix=neewer+tripod%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-14

(^also looking at the all aluminum version of this which seems to be the same but just slightly heavier, both up to 8KG)

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/tripods/sky-watcher-tripod-for-star-adventurer-mini.html

^standard issue one. Seems to indicate only 3 KG

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/tripods/sky-watcher-38-stainless-steel-tripod.html

^ this is really a stretch for me as I'd probably need to get the extension as well and a ball head as well... but if this is much better than the Neewer options then I might consider waiting for a bit. 

Equipment is currently: Canon 450d, 55-250mm lens, and a SkyWatcher mak90 (not for imaging but for visual). Looking to get a 400m -500m reflector in the next 6 months as well. 

I'm trying to get something that will be my "daily driver" as well as what I can pack for camping and global travel (whenever that resumes)! This includes walking 5-10 minutes to get any kind of shot with the gear to a nearby field.

Any thoughts on this? Or other things I should be considering? Thanks in advance! Now just for some clear skies here in the UK!

 

[Tenor Viol]

You could take the head off the tripod you've got and bolt the Star Adventurer to it. The tripod's bolt is likely to be 3/8" - the base of the SA is probably the same, if not you can get a 3/8 - 1/4 bushing. If you attached directly to the tripod would that give greater stability? You'd then just need a ball head for attaching the camera to the SA.

tbh I've hit the same problem with my Sky Guider. The heavier of my two camera tripods is a Manfrotto and it is stiff enough, but I don't think it's heavy enough.    

[djdurance]

5 minutes ago, Tenor Viol said:

You could take the head off the tripod you've got and bolt the Star Adventurer to it. The tripod's bolt is likely to be 3/8" - the base of the SA is probably the same, if not you can get a 3/8 - 1/4 bushing. If you attached directly to the tripod would that give greater stability? You'd then just need a ball head for attaching the camera to the SA.

tbh I've hit the same problem with my Sky Guider. The heavier of my two camera tripods is a Manfrotto and it is stiff enough, but I don't think it's heavy enough.    

Yes, this is what I am currently doing. The base on the tripod was 1/4 but the Star Adventurer comes with a 1/4 to 3/8 adapter so I was able to get this right on the tripod itself. Have you tried adding some weight to the base of your tripod? 

[Tenor Viol]

1 minute ago, djdurance said:

Yes, this is what I am currently doing. The base on the tripod was 1/4 but the Star Adventurer comes with a 1/4 to 3/8 adapter so I was able to get this right on the tripod itself. Have you tried adding some weight to the base of your tripod? 

Yes, I could do that - hang say 5 or 10kg from the central column. Some tripods have a hook for doing that, but this one doesn't. 

[djdurance]

32 minutes ago, Tenor Viol said:

Yes, I could do that - hang say 5 or 10kg from the central column. Some tripods have a hook for doing that, but this one doesn't. 

http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=402335912929&category=30093&pm=1&ds=0&t=1598832859912

This version of the Neewer seems to have it... Might be worth a try. Decent price as well...

 

[Helen]

I'd avoid the official tripod for two reasons - it's not particularly rigid, and it doesn't fold down very small for travel (won't go in a suitcase).  The other one you've linked to at FLO is very robust indeed, but is heavy, takes up a lot of space and you wouldn't contemplate travelling with it. 

So a standard photo tripod would seem to meet your needs better.  

WEX has some tripod offers this weekend.  How about this? https://www.wexphotovideo.com/calumet-aluminium-tripod-1682338/ £169 reduced to £99 but 30% extra off today! So £69 😁 less than half price!!!

Helen

[Waldemar]

This Berlebach wooden tripod works great for the Star Adventurer and such: https://www.berlebach.de/en/?bereich=details&id=439

[djdurance]

1 hour ago, Helen said:

I'd avoid the official tripod for two reasons - it's not particularly rigid, and it doesn't fold down very small for travel (won't go in a suitcase).  The other one you've linked to at FLO is very robust indeed, but is heavy, takes up a lot of space and you wouldn't contemplate travelling with it. 

So a standard photo tripod would seem to meet your needs better.  

WEX has some tripod offers this weekend.  How about this? https://www.wexphotovideo.com/calumet-aluminium-tripod-1682338/ £169 reduced to £99 but 30% extra off today! So £69 😁 less than half price!!!

Helen

Wow! Great Find. I'll do some reading on this... Looks like a decent option. A tad heavier but looks super stable. 

[djdurance]

6 hours ago, Helen said:

I'd avoid the official tripod for two reasons - it's not particularly rigid, and it doesn't fold down very small for travel (won't go in a suitcase).  The other one you've linked to at FLO is very robust indeed, but is heavy, takes up a lot of space and you wouldn't contemplate travelling with it. 

So a standard photo tripod would seem to meet your needs better.  

WEX has some tripod offers this weekend.  How about this? https://www.wexphotovideo.com/calumet-aluminium-tripod-1682338/ £169 reduced to £99 but 30% extra off today! So £69 😁 less than half price!!!

Helen

Oh no!! They ran out of stock... Will look at their other options tonight. 

[djdurance]

Hi folks... Just an update on my journey here. I purchased the Neewer CF tripod off of Amazon. Very nice tripod! HOWEVER, no matter how much I tighten the column the middle column has some 'give" each way. It is super stable once I'm on target but the small shift in the middle column when I'm slewing can mess up my polar alignment (this movement is left right about 5mm). I can obviously return this but was curious if you had heard of this?

Edited September 3, 2020 by djdurance

[djdurance]

Update for future buyers... Having now used the Neewer CF Tripod and the Calumet 8202 I can conclusively say this isn't close! I was able to speak with WEX and they honored the 30% off coupon so the price was not that different. 

https://www.wexphotovideo.com/calumet-carbon-tripod-without-head-1682343/

MASSIVE difference in the middle column stability between these two. The difference was not so much in the vertical but more more so in the left/right movements. The legs are thicker and provide a bit more stability as well. I have my MAK90, Canon 600D and 55-250 lens on the Skywatcher mount all the same time and things are super stable. With the Neewer I would have to keep checking if I was still polar aligned because of small movements in the tripod. This is especially noticeable if you adjust the focus. Things settle so much more quickly, especially if you load up the tripod with a bit of weight in the column in the middle. Even in moderate wind things were quite stable for me yesterday. If the carbon fiber is out of reach then the aluminum one might be a good choice (just slightly heavier). Anyway, I will be using this full-time for this setup and selling my the tripod and base that came with my Skywatcher 90MAK as this is significantly more stable AND is more portable. 

Thank you all for the advice! I hope this can be helpful for those looking for something around the ~100-150 GBP mark with a 5-10KG payload. 

[baggywrinkle]

I have the Skywatcher tripod. Excellent and light weight but still stiff enough not to wobble.