Options for an adjustable camera mount

[pie_in_the_sky]

This seems like a sensible place for this question...let me know if not.

I bought a dovetail bar so I can directly mount a DSLR to my SkyWatcher Star Adventurer GTi. As you'd expect, the camera ends up at all sorts of angles. What do you use to level / compose / orient the camera when mounting direct?

I've see some geared options that look like they would do the trick but spending as much (or much more) than my actual mount on something like this seems OTT.

I've read mixed reviews of ball-head mounts. They would probably work for what I need but interested in what others use. Are there any other options out there?

Cheers

[Mandy D]

@pie_in_the_sky I use this:

https://uk.benroeu.com/benro-gd3wh-3-way-geared-head/

You can set it to any angle and it locks. Micro-adjustment is easy and there is a fast adjustment, too. Shop around as they are much cheaper from dealers than direct.

[Elp]

It's easier if you mount a lens collar to the dovetail instead and rotate the camera accordingly, this will depend on how many lenses you intend to use, if you're fixed on using mainly one (like a Samyang 135mm) it's not a problem. An alternative is to mount a z axis tilt mount to the dovetail, then you can directly mount the camera and rotate it to whatever, but these don't fix and hold at angles well, you have to tighten them so much that they won't move at all once you've set the angle, there are alternative designs which have hand tightening locking screws, or you can use a normal camera tilt adjuster plate with their limited range of adjustment.

[pie_in_the_sky]

Thanks Mandy / Elp.

I think I'll take a look at the lens collar for now and look at the Benro a bit further down the line (I did find it £100 cheaper on a reseller site vs. direct).