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
jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan
Reged: 02/28/06
Loc: Petaluma, CA
|
Anyone uisng Meade Field Tripod on G-11?
#3084360 - 05/04/09 10:17 AM
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
In the teeter-totter between the CGE and G-11 Gemini, one point that I keep coming back to is the G-11's tripod. Even when I observe on concrete, it's never quite level. I think I will need a more adjustable tripod even if I go with the G-11. I saw Losmandy's new folding tripod for the G-11, but think it's too expensive. I also saw a Losmandy adpater that lets the G-11 ride on a Meade Standard Field Tripod. Does anyone have experience with this set-up (G-11 on Meade tripod)?
Thanks!
- Jim
|
k5apl
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/19/06
Loc: Arkansas
|
Re: Anyone uisng Meade Field Tripod on G-11?
[Re: jrbarnett]
#3094532 - 05/09/09 01:43 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Jim
Here is some info....
I have used the A-P adapter on the Meade Field Tripod OK.
Mounts are AP400 and AP600 (similar in size/weight to a
G11. Used 130mm and 160mm refractors; the 160mm was a little shaky at 1/2 leg extension. The 130mm was solid at
1/2 leg extension.
I now use the 160mm and AP600 on Meade Giant Field Tripod,
and AP400 and 130mm on Meade Field Tripod.
Hope this helps,
Wes
|
Luigi
Postmaster
Reged: 07/03/07
Loc: MA
|
Re: Anyone uisng Meade Field Tripod on G-11?
[Re: k5apl]
#3094601 - 05/09/09 02:27 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
The three legs of the G11 tripod are adjustable in length like most any tripod, so lack of a level observing site shouldn't be an issue. I used one for 10+ years and never had a situation where I couldn't level it.
|
rsbfoto
sage
Reged: 06/10/06
|
Re: Anyone uisng Meade Field Tripod on G-11?
[Re: jrbarnett]
#3094621 - 05/09/09 02:37 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
In the teeter-totter between the CGE and G-11 Gemini, one point that I keep coming back to is the G-11's tripod. Even when I observe on concrete, it's never quite level. I think I will need a more adjustable tripod even if I go with the G-11. I saw Losmandy's new folding tripod for the G-11, but think it's too expensive. I also saw a Losmandy adpater that lets the G-11 ride on a Meade Standard Field Tripod. Does anyone have experience with this set-up (G-11 on Meade tripod)?
Thanks!
- Jim
Hi Jim,
You can level a G11 tripod as good as any other tripod. Look at the following images
Image 1
Image 2
And here a G11 on its tripod leveled nicely on not level ground. Look at the North leg and East leg(left one).
Image 3
and the adjustable height is from 84cm ~ 33" to 122cm ~ 48" Plenty of height. Just add the height of the G11 head onto it.
Edited by rsbfoto (05/09/09 02:50 PM)
|
Charlie Hein
Postmaster
Reged: 11/02/03
Loc: 26.06.08N, +80.23.08W
|
Re: Anyone uisng Meade Field Tripod on G-11?
[Re: rsbfoto]
#3095056 - 05/09/09 08:10 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
IMO the main "concern" with the Losmandy tripod is that it takes more room to store than the typical tripod you see these days. The payback for the bulk is serious stability. I've been able to level mine on very seriously tilted ground. To match the stability factor (again IMO) you would need to go from the Meade Standard field tripod to the Giant field tripod. When you do that the bulk factor is no longer a factor. The Giant tripod is heavy and bulky too.
|
jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan
Reged: 02/28/06
Loc: Petaluma, CA
|
Re: Anyone uisng Meade Field Tripod on G-11?
[Re: Charlie Hein]
#3095092 - 05/09/09 08:35 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
All good information. Thanks you everyone. That makes my decision-making easier.
Regards,
Jim
|
Luigi
Postmaster
Reged: 07/03/07
Loc: MA
|
Re: Anyone uisng Meade Field Tripod on G-11?
[Re: jrbarnett]
#3095983 - 05/10/09 11:15 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
The G11 tripod is dead stable. Storage wise, you have three legs and the center tower. The tower part is a bit bulky, but that's it. If I still had mine I'd measure and post the dissasembled dimensions and weights.
|
Charlie Hein
Postmaster
Reged: 11/02/03
Loc: 26.06.08N, +80.23.08W
|
Re: Anyone uisng Meade Field Tripod on G-11?
[Re: Luigi]
#3096333 - 05/10/09 02:34 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Unless someone already has that info I will do that next time I get a chance.
Edited by Charlie Hein (05/10/09 02:35 PM)
|
Tamiji Homma
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/24/07
Loc: California, USA
|
Re: Anyone uisng Meade Field Tripod on G-11?
[Re: jrbarnett]
#3096433 - 05/10/09 03:29 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Hi Jim,
I have both G11 HD and FHD tripod. I use FHD tripod for field trip. FHD is beefier than HD. Both tripod's leg length is adjustable. I often use it in my frontyard slightly sloped toward street. I selected FHD, mounting Losmandy Titan in the future.
I use FHD with DM-6 setup for drag-n-go 5 minute setup/take-down in backyard. It is 32Kg for FHD+DM-6. The photo below is the shortest setting, 33 inch to FHD tripod top, 8 inch pier extension, DM-6, 46.5 inch to center of DM-6 saddle, carrying 20Kg 6 inch refractor setup. It is rock solid with DM-6 and G11 mount. Specially tripod top is made of 19mm thick solid aluminum plate.
When you fully extend tripod legs, tripod top is 48 inch high, 61.5 inch to center of saddle with DM-6/8 inch extension, which is high enough for most application for me.
You can see a few more photos in higher resolution here.
http://www.pbase.com/tammyhomma/binoculars&page=9
By the way if I start over tripod selection from the scratch, I would consider Astro Physics 6" Eagle Adjustable Folding Pier, EAGLE6 even though it costs more.
Tammy
|
|
11 registered and 49 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: 1364
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
