mikiek
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/10/07
Posts: 1351
Loc: SE Texas
|
|
The Manfrotto 3246 tripod and 501 mount got here a few days ago and I was finally able to try them out. WOW! What a difference! I gotta say this setup was everything I hoped it would be.
The Moon was almost at zenith so I cranked up my binos (Pentax 10x50) and tilted them straight up. I cranked them down a bit - right to my eyes - just like the picture on the the website. I was even able to steady myself with the tripod with no vibration in the view. I just couldn't take my eyes off the Moon - musta just stared for about 5 minutes.
I know some folks say they can use their binos without a mount, but I've had fairly bad results trying to do that even with just the 10x50s. I'm lucky to hold them steady for 15-20 seconds. This mount makes it a whole new world.
Of course I am now thinking about something bigger than the 10x50s - that figures 
--------------------
___________________________________________________________
May there always be starlight on the path - R.Burnham
___________________________________________________________
Celestron CPC 1100
TV NP-101(riding the CPC)
SV-80S
Lunt LS80
|
edwincjones
Close Enough
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 7980
|
|
I cannot see much either with handheld binoculars.
That is an impressive mount for 50mm binoculars-they need something larger-like 80-100mms.
edj
--------------------
|
mikiek
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/10/07
Posts: 1351
Loc: SE Texas
|
|
No doubt it's overkill for 10x50s. But I wanted something I could lean on or brace myself and not mess up my view. This is definately it.
I suspect it would hold up anything I care to put on it.
--------------------
___________________________________________________________
May there always be starlight on the path - R.Burnham
___________________________________________________________
Celestron CPC 1100
TV NP-101(riding the CPC)
SV-80S
Lunt LS80
|
hallelujah
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 3980
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains
|
|
Quote:
I suspect it would hold up anything I care to put on it.
Mikiek,
The Manfrotto 501 head is limited to 13.2 lbs. maximum load capacity, so just keep that in mind. Everything has its limits.
--------------------
Nikon7x35GoldSentinel 9.3*(2)+Pentax8x40PCFWPII+MinoxBD10x44BP+FujinonFMTRSX7x50
Nikon10x50GoldSentinel+Pentax12x50 5.5*Japan+Pentax12x50PCFWPII+Vixen8x56Geoma
Fujinon12x60HB+Pentax16x60PCFWP+Pentax20x60PCFWP+Pentax20x60PCFWPII
Tento20x60USSR+Orion12x63MiniGiant+Spectrum I 20x65+Orion15x70LittleGiant II
Orion20x70LittleGiant II+Orion16x80Giant+Orion30x80MEGAView+Barska30x80X-Trail
BurgessOptical20x90SeriesII
|
DblVision
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/11/06
Posts: 650
Loc: Louisiana
|
|
...as described in EdZ's CN Report "Binocular Mounts, Tripods and Mounting Accessories" which advises that, due to bins being an offcenter, torque-inducing load, the practical load limit for a head is approximately 50% of the stated capacity.
The addition of a counterweight appears to allow a greater load to be carried. I've been running a 128RC (3130) head now for a couple of months with a load that tallies to 5% over the stated capacity. Operation is quite fine.
As to mounting small bins in the first place, count me in the list of folks who routinely mount 7-10x bins!
--------------------
Neal
G.O. Sig 10.5x70
Swift 761 8X42
60mm Spotter
|
edwincjones
Close Enough
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 7980
|
|
I usually mount my 25x150s on a UA Sirius P-Mount on a G11 tripod. When I use my 13# miyauchis on the mount, it is very very solid. Overmounting can be nice.
edj
--------------------
|
Deekay
journeyman
Reged: 10/20/07
Posts: 9
Loc: Dublin, Ireland
|
|
As a newcomer to binocular astronomy I fully agree with you that mounting bins can really improve the observing experience. I only have a 10x50 at the moment, but at my regular observing site, found myself steadying them on top of a gatepost for steadier viewing. This resulted in some very light scratching to the body of the bins, so I invested in a tripod. I received it recently, and so far have only had one observing opportunity due cloudy weather, but it was great!! I am now eyeing up buying Fujinon 16X70 for the mount, and use the 10x50's for sweeping the sky.
Regards
--------------------
Bin Observer
Helios 10X50
Fujinon 16X70
Horizon Heavy-duty tripod
|
mikiek
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/10/07
Posts: 1351
Loc: SE Texas
|
|
Quote:
...as described in EdZ's CN Report "Binocular Mounts, Tripods and Mounting Accessories" which advises that, due to bins being an offcenter, torque-inducing load, the practical load limit for a head is approximately 50% of the stated capacity.
The addition of a counterweight appears to allow a greater load to be carried. I've been running a 128RC (3130) head now for a couple of months with a load that tallies to 5% over the stated capacity. Operation is quite fine.
As to mounting small bins in the first place, count me in the list of folks who routinely mount 7-10x bins!
So what happens if you mount more weight than the specfied limit? Is the view affected? Does it damage the mount?
I ask because I could be buying a small APO refractor and might possibly want to use the same tripod/mount for that.
--------------------
___________________________________________________________
May there always be starlight on the path - R.Burnham
___________________________________________________________
Celestron CPC 1100
TV NP-101(riding the CPC)
SV-80S
Lunt LS80
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: