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Tripod for Paramount MX

Started by remuscj , Jun 11 2011 04:42 AM
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34 replies to this topic

#1 remuscj

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Posted 11 June 2011 - 04:42 AM

Hi!

Just a curious question: for those who ordered the MX, did u choose the stock tripod option? any other alternatives?

#2 jmiele

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Posted 11 June 2011 - 11:47 AM

I have several of Rob Millers tripods. I can't say enough about what a pleasure he is to work with. The product is top notch and he uses the same anodizing vendor as Bisque. His tripods are the lightest of even picked up. They are as stable and rated as high in capacity as anything else out there. I have a couple of the Tri36H (h= heavy) here but I think the MX goes on the M version. The L version weights 8 pounds! I think the M is in the low teens.

http://www.catamount....com/contact-us

Shoot him an email and he will get back to you. PM if you want pics, however, I think someone here posted some in a thread also.

Did you get a ship date for your MX?

Joe

#3 frolinmod

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Posted 11 June 2011 - 03:45 PM

Some alternatives:

1. Rob Miller TRI36M tripod made specifically for the MX.

2. Astro-physics portable pier (8-inch or 10-inch diameter) with locally fabricated aluminum top plate adapter.

3. Software Bisque's MX tripod which is more than twice as expensive as the above two alternatives.

Here's a picture of Rob Miller's TRI36L, TRI36M and TRI36H tripods:

Attached Thumbnails

  • 4634279-Finished tripods 002 Compressed.jpg

#4 PascalN

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Posted 12 June 2011 - 09:43 PM

I chose the TRI36M red anodized tripod from Rob Miller. A beautiful, amazingly stable, and very light tripod. Now - for the MX to arrive.

Pascal

#5 jmiele

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Posted 12 June 2011 - 10:47 PM

Did you order the levelers? Also a very handy option for fine adjustment in leveling the tripod. Gives you a 3" round footpad with an additional 1" of adjustment.

#6 Alph

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Posted 13 June 2011 - 12:40 AM

I chose the TRI36M red anodized tripod from Rob Miller. A beautiful, amazingly stable, and very light tripod. Now - for the MX to arrive.

Pascal

Does the base rotate 360 degrees?

#7 jmiele

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Posted 13 June 2011 - 12:41 AM

The base plate in dovetailed on with 6 set screws. It's greased and yes does rotate 360.. Joe

#8 frolinmod

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Posted 13 June 2011 - 08:58 AM

When I asked Rob if it was possible to have those six hex head set screws for the rotating base be "knobs" instead, he said no. :bawling:

#9 jmiele

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Posted 13 June 2011 - 10:03 AM

Yeah the ME plate hangs over 4 of them on the E and W sides and I don't think there is much clearance in there. The MX plate/mount base are the came so I'm thinking it will be the same as on the H tripod.

See now if you replaced the 4 that are underneath with teflon tipped ends (like those holding a finder scope), they could be snugged up and still allow movement on the greased bearing. The two that protrude on the N and S could be knobs to lock it down after you had it set. :)

Joe

#10 remuscj

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Posted 13 June 2011 - 10:59 AM

thanks for the input guys! no, i have not ordered my MX yet, but it would be a member in a list of mount upgrades from my current decade-old G11. The RM tripods certainly look good, and with the rotatable base, i will assume the head can be positioned in such a way that the weight shaft can be between any of the two tripod legs when used at 0 degree latitude? Thanks!

#11 jmiele

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Posted 13 June 2011 - 12:57 PM

Remus,

"i will assume the head can be positioned in such a way that the weight shaft can be between any of the two tripod legs when used at 0 degree latitude?"

That is correct. Joe

#12 Alph

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Posted 13 June 2011 - 01:07 PM

The base plate in dovetailed on with 6 set screws. It's greased and yes does rotate 360.. Joe

Can it be rotated while doing the polar alignment?

#13 frolinmod

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Posted 13 June 2011 - 02:14 PM

Can it be rotated while doing the polar alignment?

It can be rotated at any time by first loosening six Allen head set screws. You loosen the screws with an Allen wrench, rotate the plate, then tighten them back up. The top plate rotates smoothly and easily. The screws are distributed around the circumference. Some can be reached with the short side of the wrench and some require the long side of the wrench. Therefore some can be torqued more than others. Probably not a good idea to loosen the set screws with an unbalanced mount sitting on top of the tripod. So I'd say at least balance the mount first.

#14 Alph

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Posted 13 June 2011 - 05:14 PM

It can be rotated at any time by first loosening six Allen head set screws. You loosen the screws with an Allen wrench, rotate the plate, then tighten them back up. The top plate rotates smoothly and easily. The screws are distributed around the circumference. Some can be reached with the short side of the wrench and some require the long side of the wrench. Therefore some can be torqued more than others. Probably not a good idea to loosen the set screws with an unbalanced mount sitting on top of the tripod. So I'd say at least balance the mount first.

Is the SB tripod any better in this regard?

#15 jmiele

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Posted 13 June 2011 - 05:40 PM

Looks like the top plate is similar. The only differences I see from the CG image on the SB site is the built in levelers. They appear to be long threaded rods. They may produce more adjustment not sure.

Joe

#16 PascalN

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Posted 13 June 2011 - 07:35 PM

No. I did not get the levelers. They were not yet available when I ordered mine. Rob was still working out the details. I may get them in the future.

#17 jmiele

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Posted 13 June 2011 - 08:09 PM

You still have adjustment in the legs anyway. That's where you get the most adjustment. Up to 4" I believe. The levelers give you 1" of fine adjustment.

Thing that most impressed me was the first time I picked it up. These things weigh next to nothing.. Joe

#18 M13 Observer

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Posted 14 June 2011 - 12:06 AM

No. I did not get the levelers. They were not yet available when I ordered mine. Rob was still working out the details. I may get them in the future.


They are $200 a set of three and worth every penny. Gorgeous works of art which work.

Attached Thumbnails

  • 4637950-TRI36L 033s.jpg

#19 PascalN

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Posted 14 June 2011 - 07:38 AM

Oh boy! Now I have to get those levelers.

Thanks for posting the picture and comment.

Pascal

#20 Nick Black

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Posted 14 June 2011 - 01:36 PM

Joe,
Which tripod are you referring to? I picked up a Tri36M from Rob, which is what he recommends for the MX, and the length of the legs is not adjustable.
Nick

#21 M13 Observer

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Posted 14 June 2011 - 01:56 PM

Joe,
Which tripod are you referring to? I picked up a Tri36M from Rob, which is what he recommends for the MX, and the length of the legs is not adjustable.
Nick

Yes, you are correct, the legs are not variable length but they can be ordered at almost any length one might want.

The spread of the legs allows the height to be adjusted by over four inches on the 36 inch leg length model. The variable spread of the legs allows the tripod to be leveled over about a 5 inch change in slope. The leg levelers pictured allow a further one inch of adjustment per leg.

Attached Thumbnails

  • 4638813-TRI36L 054s.jpg

#22 Nick Black

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Posted 14 June 2011 - 02:20 PM

Joe,
Which tripod are you referring to? I picked up a Tri36M from Rob, which is what he recommends for the MX, and the length of the legs is not adjustable.
Nick

Yes, you are correct, the legs are not variable length but they can be ordered at almost any length one might want.

The spread of the legs allows the height to be adjusted by over four inches on the 36 inch leg length model. The variable spread of the legs allows the tripod to be leveled over about a 5 inch change in slope. The leg levelers pictured allow a further one inch of adjustment per leg.


Ah, now I understand. Thanks for the clarification.
Nick

#23 jmiele

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Posted 14 June 2011 - 04:35 PM

You can move the legs in and out by loosening the screw and pulling up on the gold knob. I'm referring to the black spreaders between the tray and the legs. Moving a leg out in essence raises it. Joe

Edit: Sorry I didn't see 13's response before a wrote that :)

#24 PascalN

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Posted 14 June 2011 - 05:31 PM

Levelers ordered from Rob Miller. Should get them by beginning of July.

Pascal

#25 Nick Black

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Posted 14 June 2011 - 05:39 PM

You can move the legs in and out by loosening the screw and pulling up on the gold knob. I'm referring to the black spreaders between the tray and the legs. Moving a leg out in essence raises it. Joe

Edit: Sorry I didn't see 13's response before a wrote that :)


Thanks Joe. I was aware you could adjust the stance, but never really considered using that functionality to adjust for slope. I will now! ;)
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