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islandsteve11
super member
Reged: 01/08/07
Posts: 142
Loc: Lake Ontario Northern NY
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Has anyone used a Cullman Titan Pro CT 100 Tripod Legs with Air Dampened Column? It's got a factory weight rating of 154 lbs, weighs 8.6-12 lbs (depending on the source) and has a pneumatic center column designed to prevent the head from slamming into the tripod when lowering. Price is around $250 at online photo shops although I've seen as low as $200 at closeout/no returns.
http://www.adorama.com/CUT100Z.html
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Fledgling SRF
looking for ~4" ED triplet
Astro Tech 80ED & Orion EON 72ED
SV M1 & CG5-ASGT mounts
Astro Tech 1.25" & 2" dielectric diagonals
Sony Alpha 100 DSLR (+ 2 film SLRs)
WO 8X42 APO & cheap 7x35(10th b'day present)binoculars
"Complaints are an opportunity to identify issues and make improvements."(MBA Program)
Edited by islandsteve11 (09/03/08 09:31 AM)
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Bradley B
sage
Reged: 05/14/07
Posts: 344
Loc: Sacramento, California
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I recently sold one to a fellow CN'r during a bout of consolidation and cash raising. I never loaded mine more than a 90mm refractor so cannot speak to load capacity, but the tripod is VERY easy to use: raise the center post with one hand, then drop with one hand on the pneumatic release which controls how fast the load drops. Adjusting leg height is also a snap.
It seemed, however, that it took a while to settle down after a jiggle. I came away with the impression that MORE weight on the mount would help steady it, since it was probably over-robust for the load I was subjecting it to. YMMV.
It is also quite light ( at less than 12 lbs), belying its substantial load capacity.
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Vixen NA140SSf
Pentax 105SD
Meade 12" LightBridge
Takahashi 7X50IL "Astronomer" Binoculars
* * * * * * * * *
It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry. -Thomas Paine
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islandsteve11
super member
Reged: 01/08/07
Posts: 142
Loc: Lake Ontario Northern NY
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Brad,
Thanx for the quick reply. Always value 1st hand knowledge. Also, it's good to have independent varification of it's weight since various sites have listed it as high as 12 lbs and I suspected this is with a tripod head. Adorama and B&H Photo provide the exact same specs and list the weight as 8.6 lbs.
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Fledgling SRF
looking for ~4" ED triplet
Astro Tech 80ED & Orion EON 72ED
SV M1 & CG5-ASGT mounts
Astro Tech 1.25" & 2" dielectric diagonals
Sony Alpha 100 DSLR (+ 2 film SLRs)
WO 8X42 APO & cheap 7x35(10th b'day present)binoculars
"Complaints are an opportunity to identify issues and make improvements."(MBA Program)
Edited by islandsteve11 (09/03/08 10:30 AM)
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Dennis_Oz
sage
Reged: 08/20/06
Posts: 224
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
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I would try to verify the 154 lbs rating if you are going to be loading it at anywhere near this capacity. When comparing this to similar photo tripods, I wonder if there is a decimal point missing? 15.4 lbs seems more likely than 154 lbs.
Cheers
Dennis
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Bradley B
sage
Reged: 05/14/07
Posts: 344
Loc: Sacramento, California
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This is a seriously robust piece of steel; amazing design and I have absolutely no doubt that it could support it's advertised capacity. Listed on another vendor (B&H, where I purchased mine) website here at 70 kg or 154 lb capacity. Unfortunately, I never have been able to find it on Cullman's (German) website, and it is listed on other sites as perhaps being discontinued, though Adorama and B&H still show it as in stock.
The only doubt I do have is as to the pneumatic brake's capability to handle the full 154 lb: it seemed a little "iffy" at times, even with a light load--but it may have been my technique with the release buttom  .
EDIT: I pm'd the current owner of the CT100 and asked him to weigh in on this discussion--maybe he has some better info than I can remember.
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Vixen NA140SSf
Pentax 105SD
Meade 12" LightBridge
Takahashi 7X50IL "Astronomer" Binoculars
* * * * * * * * *
It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry. -Thomas Paine
Edited by Bradley B (09/03/08 06:11 PM)
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islandsteve11
super member
Reged: 01/08/07
Posts: 142
Loc: Lake Ontario Northern NY
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Brad,
You're the man  . Thanks for making the extra effort to provide first hand knowledge and input. I too have been unable to find it on the German Cullman site although a couple days ago, the company site's "About" section mentioned how this specialty tripod had won a design award at its release in the 1990s. Some other photo sites (I Googled "Cullman Titan CT 100") do list it as discontinued (with closeout prices), however, the same sites (seen this morning)list higher model numbers, like the Titan CT 200 as in production. I didn't bother to look at details since the prices were higher and figured anything in the NEIGHBORHOOD of a 70 kg capacity sub 12lb PHOTO tripod would suffice for most intended purposes.
My intent was never to suggest anyone actually mount an expensive 100+ lb telescope payload  on a $250 tripod  (how many of us have one anywho? ), but simply provide one more alternative for a typical amateur hobbyist for a lightweight tripod in the same class as the Quicksets.
I was just looking for a lighter alternative to my 15lb heavy surveyors tripod when I stumbled onto to this  .
Clear Skies Everyone
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Fledgling SRF
looking for ~4" ED triplet
Astro Tech 80ED & Orion EON 72ED
SV M1 & CG5-ASGT mounts
Astro Tech 1.25" & 2" dielectric diagonals
Sony Alpha 100 DSLR (+ 2 film SLRs)
WO 8X42 APO & cheap 7x35(10th b'day present)binoculars
"Complaints are an opportunity to identify issues and make improvements."(MBA Program)
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Dennis_Oz
sage
Reged: 08/20/06
Posts: 224
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
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Wow, thanks for that, the Titan certainly has an impressive payload! I have also been looking at tripods recently, although limited to the Manfrotto, Gitzo, Velbon and Giottos ranges. Their top end models which I looked at were specified in the range 12-20 kgs, hence my query.
I have a Cullman hide clamp which is exceptionally well designed and built, so I guess I shouldn’t have been so cautious!
Cheers
Dennis
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GUNER
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/19/04
Posts: 1305
Loc: Bedminster,NJ USA
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Hi All,
I'm the one who bought Brad's Cullman. Thanks Brad your the man!
I actually haven't had a chance to use it but am heading to BFSP in about 4 hrs.
I'm not going to be loading a lot on to it. I'm going to use it with my Uni-Mount & 11x70 Oberwerks so I guess it will only have about 20 lbs on it.
I'll let you know what I think about it when I get back on Tues.
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Thomas
12" SuperCharged LX-200 GPS!!!
TAK SKY 90 on a Vixen Skypod
Stacked GOLD!PST/EXT-70AT/DSX-125
Infinity 2-1 CCD Camera with Lucam Recorder
Custom Scientific 1.25" LRGB filters
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islandsteve11
super member
Reged: 01/08/07
Posts: 142
Loc: Lake Ontario Northern NY
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Gunner - I hope you're having a blast at the BFSP (registration was full by the time I could commit) and bring back valuable 1st-hand impressions of your beast of a light-weight 'pod.
Dennis - I've decided to fork over the $$$$ for a carbon fiber G-n-G and (air)travel friendly tripod after I get a bigger refractor. If I'd stop earmarking $$ for astro toys , I could afford my dream vacation  to the Land Down Under, do all the Yank tourist stuff  + put eyeball to EP   on the Southern Wonders. Until then, drink a few of them there quart oil can beers for me  .
I'm interested in the Cullman Titan tripods for future reference, once I get into astrophotography. The Quickset tripods also seem interesting, lightweight and very sturdy (see Quickset post from 2 days ago). Unfortunately, unlike the Cullmans, the Quiksets need tinkering to adapt for astro use and must be found used to be reasonably affordable.
Edited by islandsteve11 (09/04/08 02:50 PM)
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