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Help evaluating tripods

Beginner Equipment Tripod
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#1 The_boots

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Posted 10 January 2025 - 11:20 AM

I've been doing my best to not ask questions that I'm sure have already been asked, and I think I've done pretty well, but I've finally have a question that I've struggled to find a good answer to:

How do you pick a tripod?

 

Specifically, I did my due diligence and decided that the cheapest mount that didn't trigger the response, "You shouldn't buy that. Save up for an HEQ-5" was... Well.. an HEQ-5.

Well, I found one on the classifieds here, but the seller didn't want to part with the matching tripod.

So I figured I'd buy a tripod.

While plenty of places sell the HEQ-5 head either alone or bundled with a tripod, NOBODY seems to sell the tripod for the HEQ-5 by itself, (nor for its sister mount, the Orion Sirius) in the United States! On eBay, they run about $300 after shipping, which seems awfully high, considering I can order one from the UK and pay for international shipping for £212 (~$260US). But is that really the best option? 

The HEQ-5 lists its fully-assembled weight (with counterweights) as 30 lbs, and another up to 30lbs for the payload. Am I going to run anything that heavy?

Probably not?? But should I size the tripod for it just in case? Should I get one with some room for even heavier options?

 

I've read people suggesting surveyor mounts, but most of them don't seem to even list a weight capacity, and when they do, it's too low.

 

so tl;dr: How much weight should the tripod support, and how to do you figure out whether the mount is compatible with it? Can anyone suggest anything preferable (lighter, cheaper, sturdier, etc) for an HEQ-5 to importing a heavy steel tripod from the UK?

 

I'd really appreciate some advice with this! Thanks!



#2 MarkMittlesteadt

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Posted 10 January 2025 - 11:48 AM

I've been doing my best to not ask questions that I'm sure have already been asked, and I think I've done pretty well, but I've finally have a question that I've struggled to find a good answer to:

How do you pick a tripod?

 

Specifically, I did my due diligence and decided that the cheapest mount that didn't trigger the response, "You shouldn't buy that. Save up for an HEQ-5" was... Well.. an HEQ-5.

Well, I found one on the classifieds here, but the seller didn't want to part with the matching tripod.

So I figured I'd buy a tripod.

While plenty of places sell the HEQ-5 head either alone or bundled with a tripod, NOBODY seems to sell the tripod for the HEQ-5 by itself, (nor for its sister mount, the Orion Sirius) in the United States! On eBay, they run about $300 after shipping, which seems awfully high, considering I can order one from the UK and pay for international shipping for £212 (~$260US). But is that really the best option? 

The HEQ-5 lists its fully-assembled weight (with counterweights) as 30 lbs, and another up to 30lbs for the payload. Am I going to run anything that heavy?

Probably not?? But should I size the tripod for it just in case? Should I get one with some room for even heavier options?

 

I've read people suggesting surveyor mounts, but most of them don't seem to even list a weight capacity, and when they do, it's too low.

 

so tl;dr: How much weight should the tripod support, and how to do you figure out whether the mount is compatible with it? Can anyone suggest anything preferable (lighter, cheaper, sturdier, etc) for an HEQ-5 to importing a heavy steel tripod from the UK?

 

I'd really appreciate some advice with this! Thanks!

I suggest reading a few articles on this review website, The Center Column

 

With a little bit of modding, you can attach most any mounthead and surveyor tripods have the best rigid/support to weight ratio...

 

new-leg-bracing1.jpg


Edited by MarkMittlesteadt, 10 January 2025 - 11:52 AM.

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#3 DuncanM

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Posted 10 January 2025 - 12:09 PM

I've been doing my best to not ask questions that I'm sure have already been asked, and I think I've done pretty well, but I've finally have a question that I've struggled to find a good answer to:

How do you pick a tripod?

 

Specifically, I did my due diligence and decided that the cheapest mount that didn't trigger the response, "You shouldn't buy that. Save up for an HEQ-5" was... Well.. an HEQ-5.

Well, I found one on the classifieds here, but the seller didn't want to part with the matching tripod.

So I figured I'd buy a tripod.

While plenty of places sell the HEQ-5 head either alone or bundled with a tripod, NOBODY seems to sell the tripod for the HEQ-5 by itself, (nor for its sister mount, the Orion Sirius) in the United States! On eBay, they run about $300 after shipping, which seems awfully high, considering I can order one from the UK and pay for international shipping for £212 (~$260US). But is that really the best option? 

The HEQ-5 lists its fully-assembled weight (with counterweights) as 30 lbs, and another up to 30lbs for the payload. Am I going to run anything that heavy?

Probably not?? But should I size the tripod for it just in case? Should I get one with some room for even heavier options?

 

I've read people suggesting surveyor mounts, but most of them don't seem to even list a weight capacity, and when they do, it's too low.

 

so tl;dr: How much weight should the tripod support, and how to do you figure out whether the mount is compatible with it? Can anyone suggest anything preferable (lighter, cheaper, sturdier, etc) for an HEQ-5 to importing a heavy steel tripod from the UK?

 

I'd really appreciate some advice with this! Thanks!

Do this mod on any 2in leg tripod (in this case an EQ-6 tripod) and it will be rigid enough to hold just about any mount:

 

tripod.JPG

 

I added a plywood tray to the tripod by extending the tripod spreader's centre bolt using ready rod cut to the desired length. There is a washer and nut under the plywood tray which forces the tray upward. The existing spreader is too close to the tripod head to impart the needed rigidity and resistance to twisting forces. Once the plywood tray is added the tripod forms a single, completely rigid structure, with no flex or vibration.


Edited by DuncanM, 10 January 2025 - 12:10 PM.

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#4 unimatrix0

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Posted 10 January 2025 - 12:20 PM

 

So I figured I'd buy a tripod.

While plenty of places sell the HEQ-5 head either alone or bundled with a tripod, NOBODY seems to sell the tripod for the HEQ-5 by itself, (nor for its sister mount, the Orion Sirius) in the United States! On eBay, they run about $300 after shipping, which seems awfully high, considering I can order one from the UK and pay for international shipping for £212 (~$260US). But is that really the best option? 

 

Trust me, I made bookmarks of my searches for tripods, because as you noticed, nobody wants to sell the tripods by themselves without the mount head, or if they do, they want like $300 for it, while buying the entire setup - mount+tripod is like $450. 

Take example of what Celestron or iOptron is offering, both got tripods only, but their prices are ridiculously expensive for 3 steel tubes and some screws holding them together, they are trying to force you to reconsider and buy the whole setup instead, with the mount head too, even if you don't need one! 

 

For example, this doesn't look like a bad tripod, but I don't want the mount head, right? But seeing the other tripods sold by themselves, this is actually a bargain!  I might end up with an extra manual-EQ mount head but I will also have that nice tripod!  See what I'm saying? 

 

Meanwhile ZWO is selling their carbon fiber tripods for $300, but what if I don't want a carbon fiber tripod, but something more heavy duty, right? 

 

I sense scalping going on, they don't think they could make a good profit selling tripods made for telescopes. There are 1000s of camera tripods but 99% of them are either junk or not compatible or just not rigid enough, neither have the speaders or a center bolt. 

 

If you want to buy a spreader, they - again- want an arm and a leg for it, or they are only for specific mounts-  forcing even me to custom make my own. 

 

In a nutshell, telescopes and tripod and related equipment is a scalpers' market if you ask me.

Anyone making specific component want to get rich fast so they sell like a piece of plastic for $90, which I can 3D print myself for less than $3.00.

 

Now you know, why whoever sells the mounts do not want to sell their tripods, beside being somewhat more expensive to ship long boxes, but also because they are not available for cheap.  I swear, if I would want to make a telescope business, I would start manufacturing and selling telescope tripods, because there just aren't many - or the ones out there are way too expensive for what they are! 


Edited by unimatrix0, 10 January 2025 - 12:30 PM.

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#5 Oldfracguy

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Posted 10 January 2025 - 12:47 PM

I've been doing my best to not ask questions that I'm sure have already been asked, and I think I've done pretty well, but I've finally have a question that I've struggled to find a good answer to:

How do you pick a tripod?

 

Specifically, I did my due diligence and decided that the cheapest mount that didn't trigger the response, "You shouldn't buy that. Save up for an HEQ-5" was... Well.. an HEQ-5.

Well, I found one on the classifieds here, but the seller didn't want to part with the matching tripod.

So I figured I'd buy a tripod.

While plenty of places sell the HEQ-5 head either alone or bundled with a tripod, NOBODY seems to sell the tripod for the HEQ-5 by itself, (nor for its sister mount, the Orion Sirius) in the United States! 

Sky-Watcher is the house brand of Synta, who also makes Celestron mounts and scopes, as well as many of the older Orion, Vixen and Meade scopes and tripods.  You can use a tripod from a Celstron CG-4, CG-5 or AVX mount with your HEQ5 mount head.  In fact, I use the Sky-Watcher 20 cm (8") and 40 cm (16") Pier Extension Columns designed for use with the SW EQ5. HEQ5 and other mounts with a CG-4 tripod and a CG-4 mount head:

 

101_2885.JPG

 

 

or with the CG-5 / AVX tripod:

 

101_3418.JPG

 

 

Just make sure that the tripod you choose has an M10x1.25 threaded bolt to attach the HEQ5 mount head.


Edited by Oldfracguy, 10 January 2025 - 12:48 PM.

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#6 The_boots

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Posted 10 January 2025 - 01:09 PM

I suggest reading a few articles on this review website, The Center Column

 

That article is amazing and very sensible... But all it does is raise more questions! If weight capacity isn't a valid metric for suitability, how are you supposed to choose a tripod? I'm not being snarky, I actually want to know how people size a tripod for this purpose!

 

 

Do this mod on any 2in leg tripod (in this case an EQ-6 tripod) and it will be rigid enough to hold just about any mount:

 

Just out of curiosity, how much does it weigh? While I'm sure that your tripod will hold up, will my back? I take your point though, and I know I didn't cite portability as a concern, but as a beginner, I honestly don't know if this is what would be considered a reasonable solution, or complete overkill.

 

 

 

How much effort would it take to put the HEQ on the LX200 tripod?

 

Trust me, I made bookmarks of my searches for tripods, because as you noticed, nobody wants to sell the tripods by themselves without the mount head, or if they do, they want like $300 for it, while buying the entire setup - mount+tripod is like $450. 

Take example of what Celestron or iOptron is offering, both got tripods only, but their prices are ridiculously expensive for 3 steel tubes and some screws holding them together, they are trying to force you to reconsider and buy the whole setup instead, with the mount head too, even if you don't need one! 

 

For example, this doesn't look like a bad tripod, but I don't want the mount head, right? But seeing the other tripods sold by themselves, this is actually a bargain!  I might end up with an extra manual-EQ mount head but I will also have that nice tripod!  See what I'm saying? 

 

Meanwhile ZWO is selling their carbon fiber tripods for $300, but what if I don't want a carbon fiber tripod, but something more heavy duty, right? 

You're echoing my frustration over the last few days. Well, at least it's not just me.

 

 

I do have an 8" LX200GPS SCT that has its own rather beefy tripod, but it isn't exactly mine. I'm learning astronomy for the school I teach at since we got a whole bunch of new (and incredibly expensive) stuff. So they let me hold on to one of the old ones that had been gathering dust. However, they could in theory ask for it back, so I'm leery about treating it like it's really mine.



#7 TOMDEY

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Posted 10 January 2025 - 01:12 PM

"How do you pick a tripod?"

 

Executive Summary: Research what's comfortably adequate... and then go one size up. Same comment regrading the gimbals. If you do that, you will thank yourself for years to come. Some of us even go more than ~one size up~.    Tom


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#8 Oldfracguy

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Posted 10 January 2025 - 01:35 PM

"How do you pick a tripod?"

 

Executive Summary: Research what's comfortably adequate... and then go one size up. Same comment regrading the gimbals. If you do that, you will thank yourself for years to come. Some of us even go more than ~one size up~.    Tom

That is useful in most cases, but it can be overkill in certain situations, as this setup intended for casual observing by NBA players:

 

101_1817.JPG




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