9 replies to this topic

[jacobfw]

I get the feeling the answer to this is going to be a heck no, but I figured I might as well ask.

I've noticed while looking over reviews for many of the medium duty mounts that their tripods all tend to have alignment pegs (ex. sky watcher eq5 & eq6-r, celestron avx)

Is there any chance this is a general standard and these mounts and tripods can be interchanged, or is it specific to each brand/model?

 

[bignerdguy]

I get the feeling the answer to this is going to be a heck no, but I figured I might as well ask.

I've noticed while looking over reviews for many of the medium duty mounts that their tripods all tend to have alignment pegs (ex. sky watcher eq5 & eq6-r, celestron avx)

Is there any chance this is a general standard and these mounts and tripods can be interchanged, or is it specific to each brand/model?

When you say alignment pegs are you talking about the protrusion on the top of the mount?  If so that's for the polar alignment feature.  That's a standard feature of most removable scope EQ mounts.  some have the peg integrated some its an add on (Like the Meade LX-90/200 series for example).

[luxo II]

Is there any chance this is a general standard and these mounts and tripods can be interchanged, or is it specific to each brand/model?

Unfortunately no, there is no standard. If anything there is a dis-incentive; by making each mount base unique it forces most of us to buy their matching tripod, unless you want to opt for something considerably more expensive (eg Berlebach and others).

 

Other variations include:

 

- the radius of the azimuth peg from the centre of the top plate differs, as well as its height;

 

- whether the base of the mount (and tripod head) are flat (CQ350), or whether there is a central hub under the base of the mount that mates with a matching indent in the tripod head (eg EQ6 series) or whether its flat;

 

- whether the central bolt extends above the plate of the tripod head or not (some do, some do not);

 

- whether there are bolts on either side of the mount that screw into the tripod to provide additional stiffness east-west.

 

One aspect of Berlebach is that they sell the heads for UNI or Planet separately, so you can convert a UNI or Planet tripod to suit another mount if the need arises.

Depending on the size of the scope on top the UNI tripod may be fine, OTOH if it’s a 8-10” cassegrain or larger the Planet is a better choice.

Edited by luxo II, 22 March 2025 - 09:11 PM.

[Vince_VdB]

I am in the market for a good tripod, one that can hold one of the following 3 mounts:

Sky-Watcher EQ6R Pro

Sky-Watcher Wave 150i

Pegasus Astro NYX-101

 

Now, I have the pier for the NYX that is at the bottom compatible with the EQ6 and the very same for the Wave 150i. So, I have boiled down my shortlist to a mount that can hold an EQ6 R pro what allows me to use any of these 3 mounts without much trouble.

Most likely candidates:

* Berlebach Planet tripod

* A tripod that comes in different colours but is in fact an OEM product sold by TS-Optics, Omegon, ... 

* And a iOptron tripod is on 3rd place

[Celerondon]

The Berlebach Planet is very configurable, with numerous top plates and adapters available at the time of ordering. Picking one of their top plates to match your requirements should be easy with your different paths to satisfaction. I vote for a double-clamp Planet in the nutwood brown color. 
 

Don

[Don W]

Got a hacksaw?

[Oldfracguy]

I get the feeling the answer to this is going to be a heck no, but I figured I might as well ask.

I've noticed while looking over reviews for many of the medium duty mounts that their tripods all tend to have alignment pegs (ex. sky watcher eq5 & eq6-r, celestron avx)

Is there any chance this is a general standard and these mounts and tripods can be interchanged, or is it specific to each brand/model?

Tripods that hold GEMs (German Equatorial Mounts) all have those polar alignment pegs that function as stops that the two large East-West polar alignment screws butt up against underjneath the mount head.  In the case of the Synta-made mounts (Sky-Watcher, Celestron, Orion and some older Vixen models) the tripods are interchangeable.  For example, the SW EQ5 and HEQ5 tripods fit the Celestron Omni CG-4 mount perfectly.  The old Celestron CG-5 tripod will actually carry a SW EQ5, HEQ5, CG-4, Orion SkyView Pro and Vixen Great Polaris mount with no trouble.  Here is an Orion SkyView Pro GEM on top of a Sky-Watcher 20cm Pier Extension column on tpo of a Celstron CG-5 tripod:

 

 

 

Some tripods sold with Alt-Az mounts do not have that GEM alignment pin, but other than that they are exactly the same basic tripod supplied with GEM mount heads.  As a case in point, the "Heavy Duty" tripod sold with the Sky-Watcher AZ5 Alt-Az mount:

 

 

 

is the very same tripod supplied with the Celestron Omni CG-4 mount:

 

 

 

except it has a flat top with no alignment pin, and the threaded rod that attaches the mount head to the tripod has 3/8"-16 threads instead of the M10x1.5 threads used on the Omni CG-4 and old CG-5 GEM tripods.

 

Note that even though the old Celestron CG-5 and current Advanced VX (AVX) mounts use the same tripod, the GEM alignment pin on the AVX is way out at the edge of the flat upper surfacce of the tripod top, rather than only 1.5 inches from the center bolt as shown (yellow arrow) on a CG-5 tripod below:

 

 

 

So, an AVX mount will not fit on an old CG-5 tripod.

 

I have actually hacksawed off the GEM alignment pin on an Omni CG-4 GEM tripod after converting the CG-4 mount to Alt-Az comfiguration.  That way I could attach the CG-4 mount head at a different rotational angle as viewed from the top in order to get the scope in a better position relative to the extended tripod legs when viewing at high upward angles.

Edited by Oldfracguy, 24 March 2025 - 05:34 PM.

[mich_al]

Sadly there is no standard for the tripod to mount interface.  In fact, MANY make a point of changing it up from one family to the next inside the same manufacturer  NOT to improve or optimize the connection but to force sales (a true dis-service to the end user).

[luxo II]

.... As a case in point, the "Heavy Duty" tripod sold with the Sky-Watcher AZ5 Alt-Az mount:... is the very same tripod supplied with the Celestron Omni CG-4 mount:...except it has a flat top with no alignment pin, and the threaded rod that attaches the mount head to the tripod has 3/8"-16 threads instead of the M10x1.5 threads used on the Omni CG-4 and old CG-5 GEM tripods.

Well surprise surprise, Marketing 101 at work, I'd say.

 

Skywatcher and Celestron are just brands owned by Synta. And they figured out how to force you to buy two instead of one. Admittedly they aren't exactly expensive though I agree it really is annoying when one could do both mounts. The counter to this is to be more discriminating in what you buy.

 

But the longer-term challenge is to persuade Synta to be environmentally responsible - minimizing their usage of materials, energy and waste products. If they aspire to be here for the long-haul, short-term profits don't prevail if they're polluting the planet with garbage in the process.

 

OTOH there are plenty of examples of companies that pile in to get-rich-quick then bail out, having made the owners rich.

Edited by luxo II, 25 March 2025 - 01:43 AM.

[PIEJr]

You will find a lot of things will have to be figured out along the way in this sport.

I would not call any of the mounts you listed as "Medium Duty Mounts".

And indeed most, if not all. come from Synta Corporation.

 

If I remember correctly, that indexing post on my AVX was held on with a screw from below, or it unscrewed from the head. CRS

Worst case scenario, as Don, and OldFracGuy eluded too, a hacksaw can modify the mount. Or an abrasive cut-off wheel.

But do not hit it with a hammer. The head is pot metal and can break if struck.

 

For me, I just got a great heavy-duty tripod with my replacement mount when my AVX crapped out after 3.5 short and troublesome years.

And never an Asian mount will cross my threshold again.

(Likely no mount will. I have my forever mount now.)

 

Good luck with your searches.