Where can I get a heavy-duty tripod without the mount?

[johngwheeler]

I'm considering buying a mount from overseas without a tripod. Can anyone recommend any Australian dealers who sell astronomical tripods (with the standard 3/8" screw attachment) as stand-alone items (without the mount head)?

I would think something like an EQ6 (2") tripod would be sufficient.

Thanks!

John.

[Kunama]

I doubt anyone stocks the tripod separately. I tried to find a used one here but without luck. I have just bought another Berlebach Planet for my T-Rex.
Which mount have you decided on?

[troypiggo]

I bought an EQ6 tripod only from Bintel to sit my Tak EM200 on. From memory it was only $70-100 at the time. If it's not available as an option on their website, call them and order over the phone. Definitely possible.

[johngwheeler]

I'm still making my final decisions - the choice is between the T-Rex and the DSV-3.

The T-Rex, including the slow-motion cables, carry bag and DSC holder tray will come to about $2750 with GST and shipping included.

The DSV-3 would be about $2200 allowing $250 for a tripod sourced locally. This excludes the extras I would get with the T-Rex - worth about $400, so realistically the difference is only about $150 - not much in the scheme of things. I'm not sure why the DSC holder is so expensive though - it looks like a thin metal plate on a pole!

I am tending towards the T-Rex though. I was very impressed by Barry Gooley's customer service, and they can deliver more quickly than Desert Sky Astro.

Have you ever compared your T-Rex mounts to other high-end AZ mount, especially the DSV-3?

I did see some video by a guy in California who has loads of high-end AZ mounts and Takahashi scopes (lucky fellow :-) ), and he showed video recordings of the slow-motion movement of various mounts. The T-Rex looked rock steady and very smooth, with hardly any vibration.

I have some other questions that you may be able to help me with:
1) When you ordered the slow-motion cables, do they still include the fixed slow motion handles? (i.e. you get both sets)
2) Can the extension rod that supports the DSC tray be used to hold a counterweight if one had a very heavy scope? I have seen a photo on CN of someone doing this, but it was a custom extension, so maybe made of something much stronger than the DSC tray holder.

Thanks for your feedback!

John.

[casstony]

Since the prices are similar it's a no-brainer - get the T-Rex; you'll be impressed with it's very high quality of manufacture.

[johngwheeler]

Thanks for the comment. The T-Rex does seem to be better value for us here is Oz. I think they is a vendor in the US selling a similar package to what I would get (but including a DSC costing about US$300) for about US$2500, which is about US$1000 more than the US price for the DSV-3 with a similar DSC.

So I could view the T-Rex as "more mount for my money".

I've pretty much decided for the T-Rex - just making sure that I've done all my homework.

[Kunama]

Yes, the short aluminium handles are supplied if you order the flexi ones.
No, I would not be attaching a counterweight to the DSC tray support rod.

I think you would only need a counterweight if fitting a TOA150 to the T-Rex (or a similar weight scope)

[netwolf]

What about this mount
http://www.tech2000astronomy.com/giro_G3_mounts/

As to tripod another option is a surveyor tripod. And buy an adapter to mount vixen/eq6 style heads. I got my adapter from Universal astronomics.

[johngwheeler]

I hadn't seen this particular mount, but did consider one of a similar design ("Giro"), called the Giro Ercole (successor to Giro III). With dual saddles & a handle it came to about 500 Euros, so maybe $800 with shipping, and can allegedly support 15-18kg on each side.

The only problem is that it doesn't have slow motion controls or any obvious way to include encoders (although I have read that this was possible with earlier models).

I would certainly consider this a "light-weight" mount option and have seen pictures of people hanging big scopes off these (10" Newt).

It look like good value, but I have my heart set on a DSC push-to system, so really want a built-in encoder option like the T-Rex.

[johngwheeler]

I pulled the trigger on the T-Rex - there wasn't enough price difference between it and the DSV-3 once exchange rates & import duties were taken into account, and the T-Rex is probably a step up in load capacity and stability.

[casstony]

I'm sure you'll enjoy the mount John and if you ever want to sell it'll be easy to move; for a start Matt has more than two telescopes yet he only has two T-Rex's :)

[ariefm71]

Didn't mean to hijack the thread, but I think the easiest to use, most cost effective, heavy-duty alt-az mount I have ever used, with GOTO and very smooth tracking, is a modified CPC1100 mount "invented" by Tony :)
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=140610

It costs me less than $1k to come up with my version. Only works if tube length is less than 860mm though.

Arief

[Kunama]

"You can never have too much of a good thing........."

That is my excuse for the FS102 that should be here tomorrow :D:D