WTB: Manfrotto 501 Fluid Head

[ariefm71]

For mounting a 80mm Megrez II EDT. Pls leave me a PM if you have one for sale or got a lobang.

thanks,

[MooEy]

go disturb samuel, i have seen one in his cupboard.

~MooEy~

[lowrobin]

For mounting a 80mm Megrez II EDT. Pls leave me a PM if you have one for sale or got a lobang.

thanks,

Hi Arief,

Cathay photo has carried a few pcs of 501 and 503 (a more superior model), you can get it from them, not too expensive, (less than $200)

A practical and good gear head, I just bought one from them and it is good for scanning the sky up to 60x, but not for planetary work(100x>),
also you need a good tripod like the 508 to support the head.

Good Day,

Robin

[denebman]

I have the 501 video head, it is not good for telescope. Viewing low altitude targets is ok, but for high altitude celestial objects, it is a nightmare with 501 video head. you need to lock the friction control knob extremely tight to keep the telescope from slipping. A better alternative is to buy two control sticks, install them opposite to each other, use one with a small counterweight just for balancing, use the other for controlling.

[MooEy]

i tried the 128lp before, same problem as stated. there's a nice article in this month's sky and telescope.

~MooEy~

[lowrobin]

I have the 501 video head, it is not good for telescope. Viewing low altitude targets is ok, but for high altitude celestial objects, it is a nightmare with 501 video head. you need to lock the friction control knob extremely tight to keep the telescope from slipping. A better alternative is to buy two control sticks, install them opposite to each other, use one with a small counterweight just for balancing, use the other for controlling.

Hi Denebman,

I do not have any problem with the 501, you just have to balance the
telescope at the centre of the gravity, you seldom observe star at the zenith.

Sometime, you just have to compromise on the products which were not make specially for astronomy, the main advantage it is handy and do not need a counter weight, and is easy to set up.

Good Day

Robin

[MooEy]

the problems will come eventually, since there's no way to balance the scope properly without doing the sky and telescope mod(go pick one up). no matter how hard one turns the locking knob, the head will still creep.

~MooEy~

[denebman]

Hi Denebman,

I do not have any problem with the 501, you just have to balance the
telescope at the centre of the gravity, you seldom observe star at the zenith.
Robin

Just wonder how to observe elevated objects even 45 degrees high with 501 videohead without any balancing and tracking problem(if the scope is installed according to 501 head's instruction, the highest elevation angle is only 60 degree). Without counter weight, my experience is that no matter how hard you tighten its friction knob, the scope just slips. What I am doing now is to use one control stick with a counterweight installed reversely on the video head, use another one for controlling, in this way, 501 video head works smoothly with a not-too-heavy scope.

[lowrobin]

Just wonder how to observe elevated objects even 45 degrees high with 501 videohead without any balancing and tracking problem(if the scope is installed according to 501 head's instruction, the highest elevation angle is only 60 degree). Without counter weight, my experience is that no matter how hard you tighten its friction knob, the scope just slips. What I am doing now is to use one control stick with a counterweight installed reversely on the video head, use another one for controlling, in this way, 501 video head works smoothly with a not-too-heavy scope.

Hi, Denebman,

If that is the way to balance the scope, you might as well go for a proper equatorial mount and forget all the balancing problem, a small equatorial mount can hold up to at least 5kg which is the capacity of the 501 head, accept you have to pay at least 1K.

Good Day,

Robin

[lowrobin]

the problems will come eventually, since there's no way to balance the scope properly without doing the sky and telescope mod(go pick one up). no matter how hard one turns the locking knob, the head will still creep.

~MooEy~

Hi MooEy,

Long time no see, I still try to appreciate the problem you have mentioned (what is S & T mod???) too deep for me, , but I don't encounter the problem you have mentioned, may be when we get together at star party, you can explain it to me.

Good Day & Good Night,

Robin