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Blair
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/07/03
Posts: 1163
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Orion's $29.95 + shipping
Has coarse altitude control knob. The fine altitude control very stiff; hard to turn. Lubrication did not help much. Azimuth control very smooth.
Celestron's Slo-mo Deluxe $59.95 + shipping from Adorama.
Relies on tripod coarse altitude adjustment.
Both controls, azimuth and altitude, very smooth.
Works well with Orion's Tritech Tripod ($59.95) and my Oberwerk 11X70mm binocs. I had to over adjust a bit before tightening coarse altitude knob on the tripod but easy to get use to. Was able to come very close to 80 degrees of altitude viewing with the 2 of them (Oberwerks eye relief very handy here). The slo-mo controls kept the view centered on the Pleiades very easily.
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Erik D
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 2551
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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I have both of them. Purchased the Celestron Deluxe adapter about 15 years ago for under $40. Bought the Orion 3 years ago when I could not find the Celestron adapter. Of course I found the Celestron adapter shortly after. The Celestron deluxe is much better than the Orion. Works fine with my 80mmF5 up to 88X. The Orion adapter has more plastic parts and more backlash.
I don't use either one anymore since I purchase the Bogen 501/3433 fluid head. The Bogen 501 head works like a smooth Dob mount with my 8.5 lb 25X100 binos. I am sure it would be fine for 3-4 lb spotting scope up 60X as well. I much prefer bino vision these days so my small scopes don't get much use.
Erik D
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12566
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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I have the Orion Slo-Mo adapter. I use it with binocs for centering within field boundaries when taking critical measurements across the field of view, or when measuring center to edge sharpness percents. It has a little play in the adjustments. The dials turn very smoothly in warm weather. Like about half of my binoiculars, dials are near impossible to turn in 20° temps. Very little plastic on mine. The only piece I can think of on hand screw on the the 1/4x20 thunb-screw and locknut. Several years old now, still operates just like I bought it. Beginning to get overloaded with 3# to 4# binocs.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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Blair
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/07/03
Posts: 1163
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Hello Erik,
Do you have a picture of your setup? I've been considering buying a pair of 100mm binocs? Haven't decided on which brand of binocs nor on mount for them? It looks like a good mount to handle the binocs cost more than the binocs.
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Erik D
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 2551
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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Hi Blair,
I have not figured out a quick way of merging my digital photos with my posts yet. However, there are some good photos the ProOptics 25X100 mounted on the Bogen 501 head in the Binocular review section right here on cloudynights. Look for the review of the ProOptics 25X100 by Joseph Drapell. The only difference is I use two pan handles with my 501 head. I do NOT use a counter weight, just balance the binos carefully and tighten altutide tension knob just enough to hold the binos.
Borrowed my friend's Oberwrk 22X100 for a few days last year. The 501 head is a perfect match for them also. In fact, the balance point of the 22X100s is about 5 inchs back from the objective end. A foot of the binos are hanging behind the mounting point. I found it just as easy to pan the Oberwerks by grasping the eyepiece end of the binos without using the pan handles at all. For my typical 30 minute observing sessions the 501 fluid head is quicker and easier to move around than a parallelO mount. Also let's me swap different binos easily. Right now the lowest price I have found for a new 501 head is $135. Let me know if you find a lower price. I may get another one if the price is right.
Erik D
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Blair
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/07/03
Posts: 1163
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Thanks Eric.
I checked out the review.
Will probably not be able to buy the Oberwerk 100mm until this winter or later. Or may just buy Oberwerk's 20X80LW because I can still use my present tripod and it will be a step up from my 11X70s and wait until next year for the 100mm.
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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 16399
Loc: Brooker, FL
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I got a small EQ head that goes right onto any of my Samson tripods...line up Polaris roughly, and yer good to go. 
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