· 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 Announcements and News >> Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 Charlie Hein Postmaster Reged: 11/02/03 Loc: 26.06.08N, +80.23.08W A New Kind of Grab-and-Go Mount       #5252169 - 06/02/12 02:43 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A New Kind of Grab-and-Go Mount -- The Mini Hitch By William Petty Post Extras:       Scott in NC Mad Hatter Reged: 03/05/05 Loc: NC Re: A New Kind of Grab-and-Go Mount [Re: Charlie Hein]       #5252501 - 06/02/12 07:38 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Very nice review, William. One thing that has put me off about these mounts in the past was reading that I'd need to use a hex wrench to make adjustments--something that I'd prefer not to do in the field. But after reading your explanation of this process, it seems like it may not be as big a deal as I thought. If it eliminates time spent fiddling with correcting balance issues later in the night, the extra time spent during set-up may well be worth it. I may just have to check one of these mounts out sometime. Once again, kudos on the great work you put into this review! Post Extras:       saleratus member Reged: 05/06/09 Loc: Dorset (UK) & Utah Re: A New Kind of Grab-and-Go Mount [Re: Scott in NC]       #5252916 - 06/03/12 05:17 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks for the thumbs-up, Scott. You're right about that time spent fiddling with balance issues later in the night--it does add up. Once you get this mount adjusted, using your scope is serious fun. I hope you have a chance to try one sometime. Will Post Extras:       wpappas53 member Reged: 06/13/10 Loc: The Villages, Fl Re: A New Kind of Grab-and-Go Mount [Re: Scott in NC]       #5253097 - 06/03/12 09:43 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Scott, I have a Mini, I think Will's review was spot on! Regards, Bill Post Extras:       ALCHEMIST1 member Reged: 05/18/06 Loc: Home of the Aggies Re: A New Kind of Grab-and-Go Mount [Re: wpappas53]       #5253157 - 06/03/12 10:24 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Any issues viewing near zenith? Post Extras:       atroder member Reged: 05/31/07 Re: A New Kind of Grab-and-Go Mount [Re: Charlie Hein]       #5253226 - 06/03/12 11:06 AM Attachment (331 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Will, many thanks for a thorough and thoughtful review. I recently acquired a Mini to further my interest in binocular viewing. Starting out with a pair of 8x40s last summer, I enjoyed the wide angle views, the spontaneity, and the mobility of the binocular experience, but missed the comfort of traditional telescope viewing with a good mount and tripod. To me, the Mini provides a seamless connection between highly portable binocular viewing and the way I view with less portable refractors. The photo shows a 15x70 binocular mounted to a light carbon fiber tripod. Total weight: 14lb., while my TV102 refractor + binoviewer weighs in at 35lb. Not only is this arrangement grab 'n go, but it's now easy to move around the yard to find the best spot. I totally support your comments on the engineering and build quality of the Mini. I think it sports a fine tech appearance, and is quite intuitive to use. It's a personal thing, but I really like the slo-mo controls, too. Post Extras:       saleratus member Reged: 05/06/09 Loc: Dorset (UK) & Utah Re: A New Kind of Grab-and-Go Mount [Re: ALCHEMIST1]       #5253453 - 06/03/12 02:08 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi ALCHEMIST1, I probably should have mentioned in my review that this mount--like a lot of them--has a "blind spot" near the zenith. This wasn't a big issue for me, as I've always found that practically speaking, even if a mount will let you point straight up at the zenith, you're practically on your hands and knees trying to look into the scope at that point, and so it's not a pleasant experience. I think when Charles of Half Hitch designed this mount, he was looking for a perfect balance between features, stability, and grab-and-go lightness. The mount doesn't do everything, but I'm impressed with the balance that he found, as the mount seems to do most things much better than any mount of this size and weight that I've ever come across. Will Post Extras:       saleratus member Reged: 05/06/09 Loc: Dorset (UK) & Utah Re: A New Kind of Grab-and-Go Mount [Re: atroder]       #5253462 - 06/03/12 02:13 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi ATRODER, That's a nice looking setup! Yeah, I may have been a little hard on the slo-mo controls; I know it's a personal thing. Maybe I've just spent too much time with Dobsonians.... Will Post Extras:       Ed Holland Pooh-Bah Reged: 06/16/10 Loc: San Jose, CA and Oxford, UK Re: A New Kind of Grab-and-Go Mount [Re: saleratus]       #5258406 - 06/06/12 01:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   One thing missing from this well written review was pricing information. There's also nothing on the Half Hitch website to help the potential buyer. Even a rough figure would be useful, Thanks, Ed Post Extras:       saleratus member Reged: 05/06/09 Loc: Dorset (UK) & Utah Re: A New Kind of Grab-and-Go Mount [Re: Ed Holland]       #5258673 - 06/06/12 04:52 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Ed, My understanding is that the current price of the Mini Hitch is $695. Will Post Extras:       Ed Holland Pooh-Bah Reged: 06/16/10 Loc: San Jose, CA and Oxford, UK Re: A New Kind of Grab-and-Go Mount [Re: saleratus]       #5258957 - 06/06/12 08:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Will Ed Post Extras:       Littlegreenman Carpal Tunnel Reged: 05/09/05 Loc: Southern California Re: A New Kind of Grab-and-Go Mount [Re: Ed Holland]       #5259024 - 06/06/12 08:48 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Here is the pricing, with several add-ons such as encoders: Mini half hitch order form Littlegreenman Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 1 registered and 2 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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