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astrokido
super member
Reged: 06/09/08
Posts: 154
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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Sweet sidereal tracking binocs:
Works like a charm using a Bogen 3-axis clamp such that the binocs can always be positioned (most of the time) into a comfortable viewing position pointed anywhere in the sky. The mount is an EQ-4 with an RA tracking motor.
Pointing at the zenith is almost possible. The aluminum bar is for other things, the bogen clamp goes on the dovetail bar with a small block of wood to give it better grip. The extra leverage introduced by the weight of the off-axis clamp plus binocs requires using extra weights as well as keeping the mount in a more-or-less balanced RA/DEC fix.
Really worth the effort with 20X or more binocs.
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- Gill C. - All opinions subject to a speed limit of 299,792,458 m/s.
Nikon D40 - Bushnell 10x25 - Zhumell 20x80 - Celestron Cometron CO-100
skyatlas.rgbstore.com - cool sky charts, photo overlays, and data tables
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Protheus
Vaguely offended
Reged: 09/01/07
Posts: 3907
Loc: Illinois, US
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Looks cool. Have you considered adding a camera for piggyback photography? 
Chris
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"To tread the sharp edge of a sword;
to run on smooth-frozen ice,
one needs no footsteps to follow..."
"Well, people sometimes ask me 'how did you get involved in astronomy?' I said 'I got born, what's your problem?'" -- John Dobson
"In discussing the large-scale structure of the cosmos, astronomers sometimes say that space is curved, or that the universe is finite but unbounded. Whatever are they talking about?" -- Carl Sagan
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astrokido
super member
Reged: 06/09/08
Posts: 154
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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Quote:
Looks cool. Have you considered adding a camera for piggyback photography?
Chris
I use each independently, but not piggybacked. I sure wouldn't want to bump against the binocs during a long exposure.
The aluminum bar holds a DSLR with most lenses from wide angle to tele. The binocs and DSLR can be quickly exchanged as needed in a minute or two, so I haven't really found a need to piggyback, so far at least.
One of the nicest features of this setup is having slow-motion knobs with the binocs, it's almost like traveling through space! 
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- Gill C. - All opinions subject to a speed limit of 299,792,458 m/s.
Nikon D40 - Bushnell 10x25 - Zhumell 20x80 - Celestron Cometron CO-100
skyatlas.rgbstore.com - cool sky charts, photo overlays, and data tables
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14052
Loc: Houma Louisiana
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Hi Gill,
Interesting solution. How well does it work in practice? (How often is the binocular in an odd position that cannot be comfortably used?)
I tried something similar to this a long time ago, and the post is buried deep in the Binocular forum archive somewhere. I put the binocular on the end of a "boom" which was attached to a GEM. My version was unstable and could not support anything heavier than a 15x70.
Your's is certainly more elegant looking than mine.
Regards and clear skies,
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & Celestial Irons
Gear : Astro-Tech 66ED on custom GEM, assorted binoculars, RKE & UO Ortho eyepieces.
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astrokido
super member
Reged: 06/09/08
Posts: 154
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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Quote:
How well does it work in practice? (How often is the binocular in an odd position that cannot be comfortably used?)
It works fantastic for elevations to roughly 45 degrees above the horizon. Above 45 deg it's still usable for short periods, the mount would have to be raised higher to get a better reach to the binoculars from underneath it.
Viewing the zenith is still possible by positioning the counterweight bar roughly horizontally, then the binocs are pretty far out from the mount and easily accessible. The problem again is getting under the binocs looking straight up. It requires some gymnastics 
For now, I avoid viewing the zenith and wait a few hours till the objects are lower, and also try to catch as many views as possibe before they get too high. It's not so bad, but it can be improved.
Most of the other stuff works wonderfully. Running the RA motor parks the view in place, otherwise the 3-degree FOV of the binocs goes by in about 12 minutes. I can't say enough about using binocs with slow-motion controls, it makes following DE and RA lines on a chart a piece of cake, with or without the RA drive.
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- Gill C. - All opinions subject to a speed limit of 299,792,458 m/s.
Nikon D40 - Bushnell 10x25 - Zhumell 20x80 - Celestron Cometron CO-100
skyatlas.rgbstore.com - cool sky charts, photo overlays, and data tables
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