8" SCT mounting

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ariefm71
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8" SCT mounting

Post by ariefm71 »

Hi, need advice on how to mount an 8" SCT OTA on a standard tripod. Can I use manfrotto 410 head to mount 8" lx200 or c8 OTA? and what tripod should i use. I'm considering to purchase the OTA only, without the fork arm and the electronic bells and whistles...

thanks a lot,
Arief
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blurblock
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Post by blurblock »

wow .... what is the weight rating for your Camera Tripod and Tripod Head?
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kayheem
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Re: 8" SCT mounting

Post by kayheem »

ariefm71 wrote:Hi, need advice on how to mount an 8" SCT OTA on a standard tripod. Can I use manfrotto 410 head to mount 8" lx200 or c8 OTA? and what tripod should i use. I'm considering to purchase the OTA only, without the fork arm and the electronic bells and whistles...

thanks a lot,
Arief
Hi,

The C8 OTA will kill the 410 head! If you are looking at an alt-az mount, try the Giro mount.

I do not think any regular standard tripod can take the C8 OTA.

Kay Heem
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addy
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Post by addy »

Hi Arief

I dont think the 410 can handle the C8 weight.. For alt-az, I cant agree more with kayheem.. Giro 2 can handle upto 30lbsm but the giro 2 weighs 6lbs plus ur counterweights and the OTA wight.. just get a heavy tripid..

cheers
Addy.
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acc
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Post by acc »

During yesterday's observing session at Dempsey, rlow (Richard) had a C8 OTA mounted on a heavy duty video tripod. The whole setup was quite portable. Don't have the detail on exactly what kind/model of tripod is that though.

cheers
Chee Chien
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rlow
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Post by rlow »

Dear Arief

I am posting my reply to your pm in detail here to share with everyone.

The 410's payload is 5 kg, the C8 OTA (without star diagonal, eyepiece or finder) is already 5.5kg, so please don't even think of trying that.

For mounts, I believe that the Giro 2 mount is an excellent choice which is robust, smooth, and with an option to include a future Dobdriver etc. The Unistar mount is another good possible option.

The 'standard' tripods (used for 3" to 5" 'lightweight' OTAs) eg. Manfrotto 190 or 055, are rated for 5 to 6kg only and hence they are not suitable; perhaps you should look for tripods and mounts rated for at least 8kg to 10 kg, or better. The heavy duty tripods used for GEMs are probably also suitable.

The tripod I am currently using is a Velbon WX-851, with a Velbon PH-185 panhead. At the moment, this new setup is rather good and portable but it is still under field testing.

If you are getting the Celestron 8" OTA, try to include the full-length extruded aluminium dovetail bar fixed on the bottom of the OTA. Otherwise, you can also use tube rings as I have done.

regards
rlow
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ariefm71
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Post by ariefm71 »

Hi, i just found an interesting page on various c8 mountings (410, unistar, giro, etc) here: http://oldfield.uhome.net/star/combinations.html

rgds,
arief
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rlow
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Post by rlow »

Hi, Oldfield actually did use the C8 on a 410!!! It may work 'temporarily' as he said, or for a night, but I think it may not be good on the geared head if it is used for the long term.

regards
rlow
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