If not a Manfrotto 504HD then what? (1 Viewer)

[Nixterdemus]

I realize for the load, 14-16 lbs, and this price point, 400 clams, that this represents a good value albeit a mite heavy. The 4 setting counterbalance sounds nice though in reality I'll always have a minimum of 14 lb mounted and the CB will be set at maximum.

My quandary appears to encompass a three axis , 75mm half bowl, design when indeed all I require is two axis. I'm mounting heavy BT 70-100mm/20-40x. I find nothing else in the financial ballpark that will handle the weight.

I have a couple of Samson tripods, also heavy, that are quite steady. The 45* 40x is mounted on the Samson spring loaded friction head & C of G is set so that I can completely back off the vertical locking knob.

I have me mitts wrapped around the turret/prism housing using them as a tiller. Not quite as smooth as a fluid head, yet very responsive up close should I need to cover a lot of territory quickly.

The friction head is great for viewing clusters/Moon/Jupiter/Saturn. However, panning & scanning flying objects, from a few hundred feet to five miles, 32-40x could use a tad bit of damping to provide a sharper view though it's quite clean now. Plus, I have plans to purchase another set of eyepieces in the 50/53x range.

I do not own a cam recorder nor do I fancy taking pics w/this equipment. I suppose the third axis tilt wouldn't be a liability for me, but it seems that a two axis/flat base design would be simpler & more sturdy. I also believe the half bowl design might require me to purchase an additional flat plate for adjustment.

I know little & would appreciate any & all advice/opinion.

 

[John Russell]

This might be the ideal solution for a binocular telescope: http://www.vixen.co.jp/en/at/at-hf2.html. You would need the additional swing bracket.

If you want to go with a fluid head, the Manfrotto 504 is probably the cheapest solution compatible with your weight requirements. Perhaps the 75 mm half bowl could be detached leaving a 3/8" female thread? The specifications quote tilt angles of +90°/-60°. I presume that the +90° means that you could reach the zenith?
An alternative is the Gitzo G1380 with 22 lbs capacity but around twice the price.

John

 

[Nixterdemus]

Thanks John. My apologies for taking so long to respond. I went w/used Manfrotto 516. A bit of overkill on the weight capacity, 10 Kgs, and it weighs in at 2kgs. Interestingly enough a pair of flat discs w/silicon grease does not a fluid head create. I was expecting self contained fluid canisters.

I had to buy a 357Plong quick connect to piggyback on top of the standard QC sliding adapter plate allowing me full range due to the width of the dew shield ends. I could mount the bino from the front w/o extra QC, but when I tried to adjust the center of gravity by sliding the bin farther back I would snag the head w/larger objective ends.

The easiest way to permit full adjustment was to stack another CQ. I used the middle slot to connect the twain w/two phillips head bolts, washers & nuts on one end. After determining that I had enough adjustment I shot a self tapping screw into the other flat/slot-less end.

Now, due to the 190 mm rule marked on the side in ones/fives/10s, I can move about for differing elevations and return to a corresponding number quickly enough.

The 516 does allow enough adjustment to slow the movement so you get smooth pans of flying targets at 40x and this came w/one telescopic handle. The trick is to turn the head around as it's range of motion is -60/+90*. You'll need -90 to pull zenith. As well, coupled w/long QC, you can adjust for elevation combined w/center of gravity preventing locking vertical on the head w/knob now relocated to the right side.

Balance control is a 7.5 Kg spring which works out well w/16 lbs. astro-bin. All in all for the price, $250 used head and 70 clams or so for long plate, it isn't that much heavier than smaller heads, yet it'll support quite a bit more weight.

The 45* chin-bin in 40x seems to work well off the platform. The factory head was garbage, but I'm on the inexpensive factory tripod and it appears to be holding the additional 2 KGs. well. I'd like to fabricate an old Samson center column tripod for the 20 odd lbs. of payload. Old & heavy though a steady platform that absorbs vibration much better than what it's sitting on presently.