New mount, new solutions for peripherals

[LewisM]

Recently upgraded to a Takahashi EM-200 mount, with its VERY tall solid wood tripod. Made my usual chair and table solution for the laptop a bit inconvenient.

Was in The Green Shed today - whenever I go past, I always drop in because you NEVER know what you'll find for peanuts - I've picked up some RARE military paraphernalia and collectables there for near nix). I was looking for some old wooden pencil cases, but stumbled upon this instead.

It's I believe a portable lectern - the head swivels so that A4 or foolscap would be vertical. Extending tripod. Was not locking into height, but I could see the issue. Absolutely covered in dust, so it had been sitting unused for years.

Asked the price - he said $5. I said it's not locking height, so falls down. he said $2. I paid.

Rummaged my nuts and bolts drawer for a washer and wingnut 1/4 x 20...fixed the height issue

So, the idea is fully extended, horizontal tray, laptop on top. That way I can stand during mount alignment and focus etc and leave it (or use a barstool to sit if I want). Will likely hang a counterweight off it to stop it potentially blowing over, but I don't image in wind anyway Folds up very compactly (unlike my usual table etc) and weighs nothing.

Here it is after a hose down to get years of dust off...

[Wavytone]

Trouble with things like that in the dark is that people like me trip over them, and whatever was on top goes flying.

For this reason I only carry an iPhone and even that is armoured, and it (and most other things) have velcro to hold them on the mount.

[Startrek (Martin)]

Looks great , a very simple workable solution for you compared to my sophisticated outdoor workstation
I got the idea from Canadian Trevor Jones from Astrobackyard
My table is an adjustable laptop table ( $20 ) advertised as a laptop table for when your sick in bed

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by Wavytone

Trouble with things like that in the dark is that people like me trip over them, and whatever was on top goes flying.

For this reason I only carry an iPhone and even that is armoured, and it (and most other things) have velcro to hold them on the mount.

I only ever image solo, so this is NOT an issue, EVER.

As to visual, I have a cradle I made that is attached to my tripod legs, and it even has a slot for the old 30pin cable of the iPhone 4, also in a military case...