How to mount an Orion 80 ED on a camera tripod?

This question probably applies to anyone with a small refractor on a regular tripod - It looks like I'll be ordering my 80 ED sometime soon, and I'm curious if anyone has experience mounting them to a camera tripod?

It'll be for visual observing only, so I'm trying to 'keep on the cheap' with a decent-quality camera tripod.

I've been looking at the tube rings Orion offers, for about $18, and if there's any good way to mount a pair of these onto a tripod head screw? Or would one be enough to support the scope?

Suggestions?

Victor,

The ED-80 comes with a photo tripod block attached. Just screw it into the tripod.

I've used mine with a Bogen 3001 tripod and fluid head.

However, if you plan on high-power views of the planets, I'd humbly suggest a CG-4, astroview, or AZ-3 mount.

The photo tripod is great for low power sweeps, but you'll get frustrated quick at higher powers.

Cheers,
Steve

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>>This question probably applies to anyone with a small refractor on a regular tripod - It looks like I'll be ordering my 80 ED sometime soon, and I'm curious if anyone has experience mounting them to a camera tripod?

It'll be for visual observing only, so I'm trying to 'keep on the cheap' with a decent-quality camera tripod.
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My guess is that if you want to "keep on the cheap" you would be better off with astro tripod than a Camera tripod. A camera tripod and head that can do justice to the ED80 will be more expensive than something like the Astroview.

Photo tripods are designed for cameras, are rated for camera loads but have problems with a long object like a telescope. A camera tripod rated for 26.5 lbs will probably handle a heavy duty camera, but a camera is a compact load, the length of the scope makes it prone to vibration...

As Steven said, a camera tripod and head are become more and more difficult to use as you move away from the horizon. This is because the weight of the scope moves back and makes the scope want to flip on back. This makes the small motions necessary for tracking tedious and difficult.

I have used a variety of smaller scopes on some rather robust Bogen tripods (read $300 new for head and tripod) and mount them "side saddle." This essentially turns the mount into a single sided fork mount where the scope balances itself like a DOB. Works quite well, I use my Pronto this way all the time.

Heres a link to a photo of an ST-80 mounted "sidesaddle."

http://www.astromart.com/messages.asp?message_id=149798&page=

But I think the ED80 is too large for this setup, 24 inch OTA will not be stable so you are looking at even more money.

In my experience, a good setup starts with a good mount. A nice OTA that is undermounted is frustrating to use and prevents the scope from achieving it potential.

I see used Astroviews and EQ-3 for $150 or so, that is what I would suggest for the ED-80.

jon