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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 7445
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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OK, folks, where do I get one, and how much? I bought a Wal-mart "heavy duty" camera tripod, and it's kinda laughable. Sure am glad I kept the receipt. Enlighten me O good and faithful friends.  WW
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Pete
6" Apogee/LXD55 - "The Beast"
Starhopper 6" Dob - "Shiva"
Spaceprobe 130 EQ - "Spacey"
Bushnell Fatboy
The Abomination
Sun Pak Pro 7500 Platinum Edition
10X25 Bushnell Camo Roofies
7X35 Tasco Classic Plastic (good views though)
7X42 Tasco Rare Bird
10X50 Nikon Actions (Type 7)
15X70 Skymasters - "DroolMeisters"
One ratty old IBM 600E LapTop
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Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 29817
Loc: Sunny Oregon
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I find Bogen at any camera outlet....I was checking them out the other day and (I think) Wolf Camera? Go online and check!
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Tom 
Tele Vue 102mm f/8.6 on an EzTouch
Vixen 80mm f/5 A80SSWT on a grab-n-go mount
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12601
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Go to the "Best Of" binocular thread pinned at the top.
Open the thread on tripods and mounts.
There's a link in there that will take you back to the 10+/- pages of discussion already posted on Bogen tripods, weight capacities and links on where to buy them.
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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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 16419
Loc: Brooker, FL
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Bogen (or Quickset or any other tripod) can usually be found very economically on eBay. I paid about $120 each for the last two QuickSet Samsons, with heads (These tripods, although the "lightest" in the line, are real "hosses") and both "needed repair". Yeah, one cost me ten cents for parts, and the other just needed lube and adjustment.
So, anyway, you might want to check out the QuickSets. My favorite among the Bogens is the 3246 with the 3047 head for binocs. Just reverse the head, and it's very convenient. 
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N11GPS Fastar
TOA-130S
MK66 Std
Vintage C5
Megrez II 80mm ED Triplet APO
SolarMax 40
NJP Temma II
Sirius EQ-G
ST8XE/CFW-8(LRGBHa)/AO-7/DF-2/STV Dlx/ST237a/350D (Unmodded)/Mallincam Color Hyper Plus/DSI III Color/DSI II Pro
Two not-spoiled Golden Retrievers - Maggie and Casey
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering. - Arthur C. Clarke
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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 7445
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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I'm glad you mentioned E-Bay, Rusty. Just got off of Focuscamera's site with glazed eyes, and a case of sticker shock!! This can get expensive real quick!!! I don't really need the tripod myself, as I've already figured out how to hold'em fairly steady. My younger brother, and others are psyched out by "15X70" and say "AAAAAAAHHHHHH I need a tripod, I can't hold'em down!" By reversing the head, do you mean instal the "camera base" so the handle on the panhead doesn't poke you in the chest? I did that on the BellSouth "OSN 3000" already. Had to, thought I was back in Basic Training once again. Had a thought though, Binos should be great for those short sucker holes where you don't have time to set up align, and chill the bigger stuff. By the way, love my new Binos. Clear Dark Skies!! WW
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Pete
6" Apogee/LXD55 - "The Beast"
Starhopper 6" Dob - "Shiva"
Spaceprobe 130 EQ - "Spacey"
Bushnell Fatboy
The Abomination
Sun Pak Pro 7500 Platinum Edition
10X25 Bushnell Camo Roofies
7X35 Tasco Classic Plastic (good views though)
7X42 Tasco Rare Bird
10X50 Nikon Actions (Type 7)
15X70 Skymasters - "DroolMeisters"
One ratty old IBM 600E LapTop
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rboe
Numbfinger
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 39767
Loc: Phx, AZ
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Bogen/Manfrotto, if you can, are best viewed in person at a better camera store. Typically you can write off the ones in malls. I was a Guild Camera yesterday (scored on a manfrotto monopod) eye balling the 475. $289.00 without a head. Head seems to be expensive, but I can see the cost in a good tripod.
There are other good brands too, but we're talking commercial stuff - not Wal-Mart.
B&H, KEH and others have lot's of info on line but it can be hard to truely appreciate the hardware unless you can get your paws on it. Set it up. Kick it, push it, compress it, heft it and in general see how it will support your precious scope. Same goes for heads.
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
15X70 Obies
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Erik D
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 2573
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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Ww6977,
As Prof. Edz mentioned Bogen tripods have been covered in detail on an earlier thread. I'll be brief here.
Go to <adorama.com> and type in Bogen 3221WN in the search section. Look for the BG 3221WN501 head combo. It's available for $274 including the very nice 501 fluid(rated for 13 lb) head and a carry bag for $274. This combo is tall enough for anyone up to 6 ft 3. Spend $320 and you can get the same 501 head with 3046 tripod... Tall enough for 7 footers. Get the Bogen 3058 if you are shopping for Yao Ming.
The very minimun I would recommend is the Bogen 3011 tripod with 3130 fluid.(~$170 for both) It's about the same height as the 3221WN501. The difference is the fluid head. The 501 can handle your 12X50, 15X70, as well as 20X80, 22/25X100 or the 13 lb Miyauchii 22X100s. The 3130 head is fine for binos up to the 20X80 LW. Does not work very well with binos over 5 lbs because you have to tighten the altitude knob all the way to hold the binos in place. Makes smooth panning difficult.
Many people upgrad their binos as their observing skills improve. A good tripod is an investment for life. Might as well do it right the first time. I know because I have more than a dozen "heavy duty" Best Buy/Sears/Walmart specials in the house. Picked them up at flea markets. They are my "loaners" and give aways to budding astromers.
Erik D
PS. The Bogen 475 is a very good tripod with geared center column & mid level brace. Leg sections are 35,30 and 25mm dia. Adorama's price is $219. Leg section of the 3011/3221 series are 30, 25 and 20mm. Rated for 13 lb load.
Edited by Erik D (02/13/04 02:09 PM)
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Pat G.
sage
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 355
Loc: Sunny Southern Ontario
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Quote:
A good tripod is an investment for life. Might as well do it right the first time.
Very very very true. Right on Erik.
All my Bogen (Manfrotto) stuff came from eBay
and I am extremely happy with each one.
Pat G.
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Patrick G
Celestron NS11 GPS
Tele Vue 102
Miyauchi 20x77 binos
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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 16419
Loc: Brooker, FL
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Quote:
....By reversing the head, do you mean instal the "camera base" so the handle on the panhead doesn't poke you in the chest? ...
The Bogen head has small shafts with cylinders at the ends. If you mount the binocs conventionally, you'll have about 45* elevation up and nearly 90* down. Put the binocs on backwards, and you got plenty of elevation for stargazing. You will have to tighten the mount and allow for a slight bit of flex in the head, but this combo works OK for my Ober 22x100s. I have a couple of QuickSet Samsons which I actually prefer, but the Bogen setup is the lightest and most versatile for a variety of uses.
--------------------
N11GPS Fastar
TOA-130S
MK66 Std
Vintage C5
Megrez II 80mm ED Triplet APO
SolarMax 40
NJP Temma II
Sirius EQ-G
ST8XE/CFW-8(LRGBHa)/AO-7/DF-2/STV Dlx/ST237a/350D (Unmodded)/Mallincam Color Hyper Plus/DSI III Color/DSI II Pro
Two not-spoiled Golden Retrievers - Maggie and Casey
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering. - Arthur C. Clarke
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