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94bamf
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/15/08
Loc: Kansas City,Mo
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Anybody using a Bogen/Manfrotto 128RC Tripod Head
#3004164 - 03/25/09 02:00 PM
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I bought one of the blem wooden tripods at bigbinoculars.com a while back for $75, and have been thinking about using it for binocular viewing now, I noticed they have the Bogen/Manfrotto 128RC Tripod Head on sale for $69 at the same place. Wondering if anybody is using this head, and how well it works? I also have a Celestron Onyx 80ED that I would think about putting on the same setup. The Onyx probably weighs around 8 lbs or so with diagonal and eyepiece in place. Do you think this head would be up to the task, along with working for my Zhumell 20x80 binoculars?
Ken
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Jim7728
Postmaster
Reged: 04/10/05
Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC
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Re: Anybody using a Bogen/Manfrotto 128RC Tripod Head
[Re: 94bamf]
#3004392 - 03/25/09 04:33 PM Attachment (35 downloads)
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I have that head and am satisfied using it with a TV-60. Don't know if it would be suitable for the larger Onyx, maybe if mounted using this homemade accessory...
http://www.homebuiltastronomy.com/stool/EasyAltAzMountModification.htm
As far as the 20x80 Zhumell, Big Binocular rates the 128RC for use with a 20x90. FWIW. I would think the Oberwerk wood tripod would be too short to use for binocular viewing, IMO. 
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Michael Miles
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/11/05
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Re: Anybody using a Bogen/Manfrotto 128RC Tripod Head
[Re: 94bamf]
#3004446 - 03/25/09 05:11 PM
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Hi Ken:
I have one, and it's meant to be a smooth motion video head. I can never quite get it tight enough to keep it from drifting. I've used it with my SV102ED, which is a 10 lb. scope. to make that work, I had to balance it to fall forward, and then bungee the handle to balance it. Works ok, but a little frustrating.
Michael
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Erik Bakker
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/10/06
Loc: The Netherlands, Europe
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Re: Anybody using a Bogen/Manfrotto 128RC Tripod H
[Re: 94bamf]
#3005426 - 03/26/09 09:38 AM Attachment (51 downloads)
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Hi Ken,
I had the 128 and used it for my Orion ST 80. I felt is was on the light side stability wise and only in balance when almost horizontal. When I tried my 70 f/8 fluorite on it I found the 128 fully inadequate.
Here is what works well: the Manfrotto 501 video head. Very stable up to around 120x and superb balance basically anywhere you point it in the sky due to the unique springloaded balance system in altitude. This 501 makes my 70mm fluorite float in space without adding friction to the altitude axis. I use anything from 24 WideField through 16 T5, 9 T6 and 4.8 T1 Naglers with this scope/mount combination and it works absoltely fantastic. It travels with me around the world and ads only little bulk and weight to the 128 but is immeasurably more fun to use. I attached a picture of the combination. The tripod is the great Gitzo 224, a superb match for the scope and videohead.
Clear skies,
Erik
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Erik Bakker
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/10/06
Loc: The Netherlands, Europe
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Re: Anybody using a Bogen/Manfrotto 128RC Tripod H
[Re: Erik Bakker]
#3005434 - 03/26/09 09:44 AM Attachment (39 downloads)
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Another picture:
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94bamf
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/15/08
Loc: Kansas City,Mo
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Re: Anybody using a Bogen/Manfrotto 128RC Tripod H
[Re: Erik Bakker]
#3005486 - 03/26/09 10:32 AM
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Thanks for all the replies guys. I guess I will look for something a little more heavy duty.
Ken
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94bamf
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/15/08
Loc: Kansas City,Mo
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Re: Anybody using a Bogen/Manfrotto 128RC Tripod Head
[Re: Jim7728]
#3005509 - 03/26/09 10:44 AM
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Quote:
I have that head and am satisfied using it with a TV-60. Don't know if it would be suitable for the larger Onyx, maybe if mounted using this homemade accessory...
http://www.homebuiltastronomy.com/stool/EasyAltAzMountModification.htm
As far as the 20x80 Zhumell, Big Binocular rates the 128RC for use with a 20x90. FWIW. I would think the Oberwerk wood tripod would be too short to use for binocular viewing, IMO.
Hey, thanks for the link, while I will probably pass on the 128RC head, I think I might put this adapter to use on a Celestron alt/Az mount that I have. I always thought that was the problem, being it positioned the telescope too high on the mount, and you could never get good balance. I bet this adapter would make that mount useable. What would we do without all the smart people/ideas on the internet?... 
Ken
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