Vixen GPD2 tripod

[adman]

Does anyone know whether the Vixen GPD2 head will fit on my Orion Skyview Pro EQ5 tripod?

Adam

[anj026]

Yes, should be no problem.

[adman]

thanks for that - I thought it should being a clone of the Vixen GP, but you never know. Also it seems from what I read that I can swap my EQ5 SynScan motors/controller etc straight over...?

Adam

[anj026]

I haven't tried the motor swapping but I seem to recall reading somewhere that it is possible. I bought a GPD2 mount without tripod and then made my own tripod using an EQ5 tripod hub.

[adman]

Well you are just the man i need!

A couple of questions if you don't mind?

1. Is the mount for visual use or imaging?
2. If you do use it for imaging, what is it like tracking and guiding?
3. Are there any shortcomings of the mount that you have found...things that could have been done better, or are just plain annoying?

Did you make a timber tripod, or metal one?

Cheers
Adam

[anj026]

The mount is used only for visual with a 102 or 90mm refractor. It tracks well enough for my needs, I use the standard Vixen dual axis drives. I made the tripod from wood (tassie oak). No real shortcomings, this mount design has been around for a long time and is simple and reliable.

The pictures show the tripod with 90mm refractor and also a comparison of the EQ5 hub and a vixen pier adapter.

[adman]

great job!

did you end up painting the EQ5 hub white, and did you also make the scope thats on top of it in the first photo? That wouldn't be a timber scope would it??

Adam

[anj026]

Yes I did paint the hub white. The 90 mm is made from plywood.

Did you see the other thread by Garymck, "GPD2 very happy" in the equipment discussion section?

[adman]

I did - but I have just had a conversation with one retailer who pretty much has turned me off the idea. He said that the current GPD2's are made in China, and have been for the last 12 months or so, and suggested that they are not much better than the clones.

Does anyone else know anything more about this??

[anj026]

I bought mine from MyAstroShop less than two years ago. It is made in Japan. You might want to get in touch with Steve there to see if there is truth in that.

I know some of their telescopes are made in China. A few months ago I bought a Vixen Foresta 7x50 bino from Steve. It is made in China but the quality is very good for the price. I would expect the price of a GPD2 to be reduced considerably if it was made in China.