Telescope Reviews: Mach1 Over Kill

Great - if ok with you it is ok with me. Lets talk legs. BTW, congratulations on your decision.

I've been thinking a lot about legs for the Mach 1. Here are a few things to think about.

AP/Baader wood tripod: tried and true, good enough for visual and imaging according to Roland and others, probably ideal for scopes like Paul's (Traveler and 130). Advantages include good damping times, relatively light in weight, adjustable to sitting and standing heights and in between. A lot cheaper than Eagle and other quality portable piers. To me, it is a winner for stability and portability.

Eagle: Snazzy looking - looks like it means business. Fully machined and anodized and very steady by all accounts. However, it is heavy and it is wide when folded (more than 12" I think when taking into account legs). It folds up fairly compact lengthwise if the center tube is fully seated at lowest position (only way it fits in its Lightware case - as an aside, you can get this case from B&H for a lot less). If you have any of the brackets attached for accessories, they would need to be removed if you want to seat the tube at lowest position (unless use use it only in seated position). It takes a while to figure it all out but another advantage is the accessories - lots of them. Not as adjustable obviously, as the wood tripod, more limitations in height. Some of the height can come from drawing legs inward (less spread) and therefore, theoretically less stable in this stance. Nice 8" extension available but again another thing to carry. If you are primarily imaging there is a lot to be said for the Eagle. A lot pricier than tripod but obviously well made and probably well worth it. Some love the looks - I like the looks but feel so-so about the big "AP" carved into the legs. But if you got it, flaunt it I guess.

There are several fixed height tripods (including APs) but on uneven ground I think leveling can be a challenge but others can chime in here with their opinions.

I have a PWT Pinnacle on order - PWT makes the Monolith. It is a very nicely engineered and fully machined adjustable pier available in fixed height (with extension) or manual/motorized adjustable versions (actually more pictures and info on Company 7 site than the PWT site). Expensive relative to Eagle and esp. AP wood tripod. It is supposedly rock solid with very impressive weight capacity. Available in 7, 10 and 12" versions and at various heights. Long wait times. One really nice feature is the "full index adapter" at top to which mount is attached. It is rotatable and has built in compass and spirit levels. The Pinnacle is a real looker too - if that is important to you. You won't be fitting it easily into a carrying bag and if you order one of the higher length versions just make sure it will fit in your trunk or back seat when folded! ATS also makes a very well regarded portable pier.

I own a Berlebach UNI24, which I think is probably on the same scale of quality and rigidity as the AP/Baader tripod but I can't easily adapt the 6" mount platform for the ADATRI adapter. So, I've also been looking at the Berlebach Planet, which costs about the same as the AP/Baader but it is has more than a 200 lb capacity !! Berlebach makes beautiful wood tripods. The Planet is pretty heavy though (24lbs I think).

A lot of people using the Mach 1 swear by the Losmandy G11 tripod as the best and most reasonably priced option. This is certainly a good option to consider.

Well - that should get us started. Lots of other options out there but I am a very firm believer that the very last thing to skimp on here is the legs. If you are going to get a Mach 1 it would be silly, IMO, to go for less than at least the G11 or Baader tripods.

But bear in mind - I don't yet have any of my "recommendations" so I probably don't know what I'm talking about. ....but why should I let that stop me, LOL.

Doug