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Any other mounts besides a parallelogram?

Started by wky46 , Jan 06 2013 11:00 PM
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75 replies to this topic

#26 wky46

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Posted 10 January 2013 - 03:56 PM

Sorry bunny. I edited my post a couple times, I was even confusing myself! Thank you

#27 SMark

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Posted 10 January 2013 - 11:41 PM

If the Magic Arm can hold up to 30 lbs., then there shouldn't be too many binoculars that it can't handle...

#28 guangtou

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 07:26 AM

Is the magic arm this model?

http://www.bhphotovi...3_Magic_Arm_...

It states load capacity is 6.6 lbs

#29 salientbunny

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 09:10 AM

Yes, that is it. Tho I did not purchase the kit. I got the super clamp as one item and the magic arm with the camera platform as another and do not have the backlite base pictured in the kit.

I notice the add mentions 6.6 lbs capacity. The clamp is labeled 15kg and it makes sense the arm itself may be limited to 6.6 lbs tho it is not labeled. Unfortunately, I do not have the documentation for the magic arm itself.

#30 Rich V.

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 10:42 AM

The Manfrotto site shows the Magic Arm rated for 3kg and the Super Clamp at 15kg. The arm should be good for up to a HD 70mm with a bit to spare... Sounds like it could be a good idea for these mid-sized binos!

http://www.manfrotto...rm-with-bracket

http://www.manfrotto...ion-super-clamp

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#31 wky46

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 02:35 PM

Yes, I think the Magic Arm looks like a perfect solution to mid-sized binoculars as you pointed out. Be nice if they had a model for larger binoculars like my 20x80's. Of course, then I really couldn't afford it! Anyway, when time permits I probably will build something along the lines of the monopod design. I have an inexpensive camera tripod and may add a boom to it and I also have a microphone stand with boom (but not sure about the load specs on that). Gonna take a little ingenuity with either but ya'll certainly have provided some great links to follow.

#32 wky46

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 03:02 PM

I see the MagicArm only swivels on the ends so I'm thinking there ought to be a ball-end swivel type camera bracket out there. I could probably forgo that part of the build if that type bracket is available cheaply and could sufficiantly handle a 6lb or so load. Seems all one would have to do is then thread it to a boom and voilà, a completely adjustable platform.... right???

#33 Rich V.

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 04:23 PM

If you intend to use a monopod or some kind of boom on a tripod, a standard vertically mounted ball head would provide all the motions you need for binoculars. You have to consider that weight cantilevered on the end of an extended arm of any kind will be prone to some shake and flexing, though.

I use a common Manfrotto ball head rated for 8.8# with my tall Giottos monopod and it works well with binos up to 5 lbs. I find a tall monopod with a ball head is ideal for minimalist-style stabilizing of 10x-12x binos; you can use it standing or seated. Heavier, higher mag. 16x70 binos are still fine for terrestrial use on my monopod but are on the edge of being a little shaky for astro use, IMO.

Rich

#34 wky46

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 04:43 PM

I knew I came to the right place, thanks Rich. Something to think about. It sounds like from your experience I probably shouldn't even consider it with my 20x80's (5+lbs.) even with a sturdy and robust tripod/boom.

#35 Goodchild

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 04:52 PM

With a tripod/boom system, don't you still have to adjust your chair position periodically? That's the part that seems the most aggravating to me. That's why the "magic arm" and JKoelman's methods are so appealing.

#36 SMark

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 05:28 PM

I just ordered myself the Magic Arm kit, so I'll try it out with my 5 lb. 16x80 and let you know how it works.

#37 wky46

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 05:37 PM

Those have been in the back of my mind ever since you posted that link Goodchild. Just thinking about that heartbeat thing he mentioned though, my heartbeats pretty strong. So much to think about. But in the meantime, and since it looks so simple a design, certainly wouldn't hurt to rig up something similar. Thanks again....Phil

#38 Goodchild

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 11:41 PM

Phil, I think you're going to get a heartbeat using any kind of fixed mount that you rest up next to your eyes, except maybe a monopod or tripod. We don't detect a heartbeat when we handhold binos because we shake too much to notice it, but it's there.

#39 Andresin150

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Posted 13 January 2013 - 05:00 PM

A soft pillow helps minimizing it. I rarely have that problem in the Starchair even at 40x, thanks to the pillow.

#40 faackanders2

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Posted 14 January 2013 - 10:15 PM

The Manfrotto magic arm and my zero gravity chair work pretty well for me.

Posted Image


I already have the anti-gravity chair and binos. What Manfrotto magic parts woulc I need to order to make a system like yours? I have up to 15x63 with horizontal mount, and much heavier 25x100 with vertical mount. Would it be able to handle the latter, or just the smaller stuff?

#41 wky46

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Posted 15 January 2013 - 09:06 AM

Please let us know how they work out for you SMark.

#42 salientbunny

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Posted 15 January 2013 - 03:33 PM

Faackanders2, these...

http://www.bhphotovi...43A_Magic_Ar...

http://www.bhphotovi...clamp&N=0&In...

http://www.bhphotovi...inocular_Tri...

#43 hallelujah

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Posted 15 January 2013 - 04:30 PM

Here's more:

http://www.amazon.co...&field-keywo...

#44 wky46

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Posted 15 January 2013 - 06:02 PM

Ok, ya'll talked me into it, I just ordered a Manfrotto Magic Arm with camera bracket off of Amazon (still need a clamp)! For less than $100 why the heck not. I'm buying it under the assumption they won't handle the 5+ lbs. of the Garretts, so I'm keeping all the great DYI links everyone provided. They should be perfect for my 10x50's though. I hope the saying is true that, 'It's better to ask for forgiveness than for permission' :help:. Now I gotta look for a chair! Thanks all.....Phil

#45 faackanders2

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Posted 16 January 2013 - 10:44 PM

Thank you silent bunny!
:jump:

#46 faackanders2

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Posted 18 January 2013 - 10:54 AM

Just ordered it. Thanks for the info.

#47 wky46

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Posted 18 January 2013 - 03:16 PM

Great faackanders! I just received mine today but waiting for the SuperClamp. Put my 10x50's on them just to see how it's going to operate and seems like it's going to work great for those, as it looks to be quite a solid and sturdy piece of hardware. Alas, my 20x80's have developed some sort of white, dime-sized, moldy looking growth in a couple of places inside one of the objectives. I've been holding off sending them in to get cleaned so I can see how they fare on the MagicArm .... Phil

#48 faackanders2

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Posted 18 January 2013 - 04:30 PM

For my 25x100 binos which got dew inside them, I bought a jar of flower drying pellets and put it is a sealed bag w/ the binos. It took about a month but now binos are dry inside.

#49 wky46

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Posted 18 January 2013 - 04:50 PM

I'll remember that, thanks. Had them near the ocean last year and only recently got them out. Sure hope I didn't wait too long.

#50 SMark

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Posted 19 January 2013 - 01:54 AM

Please let us know how they work out for you SMark.


Well, I have to say I really like it. It does take a bit of getting used to with regard to getting the positioning just right and all, but that's pretty much all it is. Once acclimated to the mechanics of it all it's pretty easy to adjust and position everything correctly the fist time. I first tried it with my 16x80 and it worked great.

I will say this though, that heartbeat thang is a bit annoying. I'll try using more cushion behind me and see if that tames things a bit. It becomes a big deal when viewing Jupiter because the planet will obviously bounce with each heartbeat. But when I moved over to M45 and then M42 it didn't seem to be as noticeable.

Though I did find a way to make it go away entirely... :grin: I attached my Canon IS binoculars to it instead. I tried all three... The 10x42, the 15x50, and the 18x50 (recently acquired) and in each case it was as steady as staring at a painting on the wall from 5 feet away. Yeah, rock-steady. I could get used to that real fast. Nothing like sitting comfortably in a chair with your head and neck supported and looking at rock-steady views of the heavens... :cool:

So I'm really happy with it. It might be fun to build something like a Dobsonian platform of sorts to set the zero gravity chair onto, with a couple handles attached to the base to give a bit of left-to-right movement when needed. Something to think about anyway. Something like that could keep you from ever having to get up and reposition the chair.
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