What is the best way to Piggyback a DSLR

[valleyman]

Can anybody give advice on what is the best way to Piggyback a DSLR onto a 200pds.

using a Canon 1000d and 70-300 lens

[AndyExton]

On my Evostar 120 I have two screws on the top of the tube rings that my 1000d screws down onto. Do your tuberings have these?

[jgs001]

If you have the bolt on the tube ring, get a ball head and fit that to it, then the camera on top. It means you can fine tune the camera position and orientation

[valleyman]

I have the screw on the tube ring but when i attach the camera it just flops about. What is a Ballhead? and where can I get one

[jgs001]

A ballhead is a camera mount, it contains a ball that allows you to adjust the position of the camera. I use one for this purpose.

Some ideas here, they vary in price a lot though... Probably worth checking on ebay

Ball Heads - Tripod Heads - Warehouse Express

[ollypenrice]

Beware the cheap ones. They are intended for short daytime exposures with light lenses. You will be taking long exposures. If you don't mind having no orientation adjustment, bolted down is best. I bought one from Telescope House for my SCT. Total junk. Tiltable Piggyback Mount 12"

Even when I had beefed up the plastic with steel it was poor.

Olly

[Psychobilly]

There should have been a knurled ring on the bolt.. screw the camera on then run the knurled ring up underneath the camera to tighten it up...

Theres another thread discussing Ball and socket heads...

http://stargazerslounge.com/equipment-discussion/134503-opinions-ball-socket-head-please.html

Peter...

[valleyman]

Did that Peter but the screws are differant sizes.

Ordered a ballhead from Amazon but it did not fit the OTA screw

sent it back.

[valleyman]

Found this which seems to fit the Bill

B. Hague & Co. Ltd Ball Heads

[Sp@ce_d]

I use the Manfrotto 234RC ... nice and solid

Jessops - Manfrotto Monopod Quick Release Tilt Head (234RC)

[Psychobilly]

The two sizes are 1/4"-20 UNC (1/4" BSW) or 3/16"-16 UNC (3/16" BSW) a lot of the "better" B&S heads wil haver the larger thread and you use an adaptor to reduce it...

The thread on the ring is usually the 1/4" variety...