· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Mounts Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 NHRob Post Laureate Reged: 08/27/04 Loc: New Hampshire tripod/pier philosophical question ...       #3017809 - 04/01/09 12:03 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   My TEC-140 is coming and I'm planning my mount. At first I will make a homemade alt-az but, I want a very stable tripod or pier. My upgrade path would be to, down the road, swap out the alt-az for a GEM mount head .... Atlas, GM11, or so. I was thinking of the following possibilities: G11 tripod -- solid but unwieldy to move around AP wood tripod -- looks great, collapsible, but not as stable as fixed tripod/pier AP Portable pier -- solid but .. heavy? more work to break down? Berlebach tripod -- solid as AP wood tripod? Stellarvue TSL6 -- intruiging semi-pier Some high-end Possibilities: * AP Eagle pier (drool!) * G11 collapsible tripod -- expensive * Piertech Tri-pier (drool!) I sometimes think of sinking serious bucks into the pier/tripod component and going altaz for awhile. A philosophical question I guess. A quality pier/tripod would definitely make viewing more enjoyable. What do you guys think? Any other good possibilities? Anyone else thinking of this direction? Rob Edited by NHRob (04/01/09 12:05 PM) Post Extras:       mnaf scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 01/03/06 Loc: Bay Area, CA Re: tripod/pier philosophical question ... [Re: NHRob]       #3017898 - 04/01/09 12:41 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I went with the G11 tripod for my upcoming gem mount. Very solid and stable and the legs are adjustable. Might be a bit more unwieldy but a *lot* cheaper especially if you find one used. BTW - There's one in the Shop and Swap now. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 25 registered and 39 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  Bowmoreman, bilgebay, iceblaze  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 335 Jump to *Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Celestial Events*General Astronomy* -----   Beginners Forum   General Observing and Astronomy   Outreach   Light Pollution*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy*Astrophotography and Sketching* -----   Beginning and Intermediate Imaging   Film Astrophotography   DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing   CCD Imaging & Processing   Solar System Imaging & Processing   Sketching   Astro Imaging/Sketching Contest *Observing* -----   NEO   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy*Telescope Specific Forums* -----   Celestron NexStar    NexStar GPS / CPC Telescopes   Questar Forum   Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS    Meade ETX*Speciality Forums* -----   Arizona Science and Astronomy Expo   NEAF (Northeast Astronomy Forum) and NEAIC (Northeast Astro Imaging Conference)   AstroArt   Astronomy Clubs and Star Parties   Astronomy Software & Computers   AstroWebsites   Science! Astronomy & Space Exploration, and Others   Space Rocks   Stellar Media*Swap and Shop* -----   Shop and Swap Audio Components*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements*International Year of Astronomy 2009 - Forums are now closed.* -----   IYA Archive Info CN Forums Home

Cloudy Nights LLC Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics