I have my first GEM being made by John Davis and I need a tripod for it. The mount weighs 30 lbs and has a 40 lbs capacity, counterweights 20 lbs and the current scope for it will be a Burgess 127mm f/8 achromat weighing in at 17 lbs. So, we have 67 lbs of stuff.
I found this:
http://www.mytoolstore.com/berger/tripods2.html
The wooden surveyors tripod.
Also checked out Al's astro and Astronomics offerings.
Also looked at Burlebach's from Germany.
I'd like to keep it under $200. The mount is a tank so I'd like a threesome to go under it that can keep up with the mount. I may end up putting my dob on it some day as well (10" XT10, 35 lbs).
So, here's what I'm thinking. Get a shorter tripod (please recommend one) and put a mini pier on it (recommendations welcome). That will give me a short tripod for the dob and a taller one (with the mini pier) for the refractor. Any recommendations for min and max height?
Thanks,
Tom
I found this:
http://www.mytoolstore.com/berger/tripods2.html
The wooden surveyors tripod.
Also checked out Al's astro and Astronomics offerings.
Also looked at Burlebach's from Germany.
I'd like to keep it under $200. The mount is a tank so I'd like a threesome to go under it that can keep up with the mount. I may end up putting my dob on it some day as well (10" XT10, 35 lbs).
So, here's what I'm thinking. Get a shorter tripod (please recommend one) and put a mini pier on it (recommendations welcome). That will give me a short tripod for the dob and a taller one (with the mini pier) for the refractor. Any recommendations for min and max height?
Thanks,
Tom