G11 on Meade Standard Field tripod?

I have a Meade Sn10 mounted on a G11 with the HD tripod. When the scope is pointed to higher altitudes, the eyepiece is about 6'2" above the ground. I'm only 5'9". I'd like to be able to use the scope without a ladder and without turning the scope so the eyepiece is on the bottom. I think I need a shorter tripod.

Looking at a Meade Standard Field tripod that the owner says is only 30 1/2" high. That would bring the scope about 10 or 11 inches lower.

WOULD the Meade Standard Field tripod (with the Losmandy adapter) be adequate to handle the 65 pounds of the mount, plus about 40 pounds of SN10 with Moonlite focuser, ST80 guidescope, QHY-5 guide camera, Nikon D5100, Powermate, dew heaters, 32 pounds of counterweights, etc.?

Thanks for your expertise.

I "think" Losmandy offers a short-legs set for your application. The Meade tripod is sturdy, but for imaging maybe the Giant Meade tripod is better.

Or look at an Astro-Physics pier:
http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/products

Good Luck
John

Steven Gaber said:

I have a Meade Sn10 mounted on a G11 with the HD tripod. When the scope is pointed to higher altitudes, the eyepiece is about 6'2" above the ground. I'm only 5'9". I'd like to be able to use the scope without a ladder and without turning the scope so the eyepiece is on the bottom. I think I need a shorter tripod.

Looking at a Meade Standard Field tripod that the owner says is only 30 1/2" high. That would bring the scope about 10 or 11 inches lower.

WOULD the Meade Standard Field tripod (with the Losmandy adapter) be adequate to handle the 65 pounds of the mount, plus about 40 pounds of SN10 with Moonlite focuser, ST80 guidescope, QHY-5 guide camera, Nikon D5100, Powermate, dew heaters, 32 pounds of counterweights, etc.?

Thanks for your expertise.

I have both a G11 with the HD tripod and a GM-100 (predecessor to G11) on a Meade with the MA adapter. Have used both the G11 and the GM100 on the meade without problem for AP......The meade setup at 30" is without doubt just as sturdy as the standard taller HD....Not true when fully extended though.....