Berlebach Planet mounts in Australia?

[bluesilver]

Hi, I currently have a Skywatcher AZ/EQ6 mount and looking to either make it a bit more sturdier or just upgrade the tripod part of the mount.

I am planning to install a Skywatcher Esprit 150 on the mount.

I have been doing a bit of a search around and asking many questions which a lot of people are saying go for a Berlebach Planet mount

Dose anyone know who in Australia sells these mounts as from what i have rad, they appear to be one or the best sturdiest mounts and good vibration damping as well due to be wooden.

This was option 1

The other options were:
2. Geoptik Triangle for Tripods, basically a spreader bar down near the feet of the tripod legs
https://www.testar.com.au/collections/telescope-mount-upgrade/products/triangle-tripod
with what they call a Saddle upgrade by Geoptik
https://www.testar.com.au/collections/telescope-mount-upgrade/products/geoptik-saddle-upgrade-for-az-eq6-neq6

3. The AVALON T-POD 90 TRIPOD
https://www.testar.com.au/collections/t-pod/products/t-pod-90-red

Any advise either way would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Peter.

[toc]

I was told there are no local sellers, so you will need to import.

[anj026]

You can order from Berlebach direct or Telescope Express in Germany. I ordered one today from First Light Optics in the UK. They have them with double clamps as a standard fitting. It came to just over $1200 AUD including DHL freight charge. I expect I may have to pay another 10% for GST before I receive it.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/berlebach-tripods/berlebach-planet-with-double-clamps-for-eq6-r-az-eq6-neq6-heq5-others.html

[bluesilver]

Looks like you got the last one, all out of stock.
I will be very interested to see how it goes in regards to GST as it indeed comes in at $1200 AUD

It is cheaper to get through First Light Optics, actually more costly through Berlebach direct and about the same through Telescope Express in Germany

[anj026]

Sometimes I have got away without paying GST but only when the items are under a 1000 dollars. First Light Optics hopefully will have more in stock soon. They seem very helpful and efficient.

[toc]

I can highly recommend FLO - Took them three days to send me a TeleGizmo 365...

[anj026]

The tripod arrived this morning. There were two packages. The smaller one which is just the tray, actually came two days ago. It has been just 8 days since I placed the order on line. Pretty good I reckon.

No extra charges have been made so I think it is luck of the draw. It may be that sometimes it costs the authorities more to recover the GST than they actually receive?

The tripod is really solid and I look forward to using it soon.

[bluesilver]

Thanks for the update, Looks to be a very nice setup.
Arriving in two separate deliveries might of also made the difference.
Usually freight companies hold onto packages until all boxes are in for that particular order.
Like it would normally say box 1 of 2 or something similar.
Was that how yours was labeled just out of interest?
1 box was labeled 1 of 2 and the other 2 of 2?
I think i will be going this option as well when they come back in stock.

[Sitt]

If total price excluding shipping is under $1,000 no import duties are charged. Keep in mind that FLO deduct VAT from the price as its being shipped overseas. Always get excellentservice from FLO and faster deliveries that ordering from Eastern States most of the time

[Outcast]

I bought a uni 28 from FLO with ioptron cem25 mount adapter. Small delay getting it in stock but, less than a week from when shipped.

FLO were great to deal with

[AnakChan]

Actually with Aust strict quarantine laws, I wonder if there's any explicit declaration needed with Berlebach wooden tripods. Or is it just implicitly assumed it's treated and would get through as smoothly as Avalon T-Pods.

[bluesilver]

Might have just been lucky on both counts there then as total cost including postage and with VAT deducted is just sky of $1200 Australian dollars and not charged import duties and also being wood.
Have to say well done there