The ultimate tripods?

[MortonH]

New from Lunt - the Lander Series tripods...

http://luntengineering.com/lander-series-portable-tripods/


Motorised tripods! Expensive gimmick or really useful?

[issdaol]

Looks reasonable but a bit gimmicky. But i suppose being able to raise everything electronically without dissasembly might come in handy on the rare occasion.

The Takahashi EM400 heavy duty adjustible metal tripod is actually capable of more that double the capacity of those lunt units. It is rated at 1000 pounds load whereas the biggest lunt tripod seems to only be rated for 330 pounds load

[frolinmod]

I was introduced to these at OPT's SCAE event back in July. I was not impressed. They are also much too expensive for what they are. The only tripods that have impressed me in the last few years are the Rob Miller TRI36 (L, M, H) tripod series that are no longer available. Software Bisque followed those up with some very similar and even better tripods. Unfortunately also higher priced. The Astro-Physics 10" portable piers beat them all, but only if you have a very flat surface to put them on.

[Chris85]

What do you guys think about these tripods? http://www.altairastro.com/product.php?productid=16764&cat=303&page=1

[MortonH]

They look very similar to the Lunt models. Is no-one making money from scopes any more so they're trying to sell "high-end" tripods???

[issdaol]

LoL Maximizing consumer spend :-)

Actually a really good tripod is still often forgotten about/overlooked by many scope purchases and users.

I have seen some nice mounts on dodgy tripods !!

[beren]

Those Lunt tripods look interesting, I would just worry about durability over time with wear on moving parts and power requirements. The Tak tripod is a beauty, solid and nice form. The new 10Micron Centuarus 11 looks good {nice review in the astronomy tech onine mag a couple of months ago} but very expensive at 3000 euro :P

[White Rabbit]

I've often wondered why no one has come up with a tripod that has alt/AZ motors for polar alignment. How cool would that be? A tripod that can auto align.

[lazjen]

You and me both! I commented on it in another thread somewhere on this site.

With the right software, you could have your gear assembled, plug in GPS and it does the rest to get PA while you put your feet up and have a drink (or two). :)

[killswitch]

That would be neat.

They need to create something like a alignguider (similar to the standalone synguider) but it will tell you which way to adjust the mount.

[RobF]

Or they could talk to Grady.....

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=119703