TheSkySearchers

Hey All,

I just purchased a iOptron CEM70 yesterday and was wondering what kind of Tripod would work for under $300 in the US? A pier would be an overkill for me and expensive but looking for something that would be stable. Also would the 2" legs that I listed below be sturdier then the Literoc's 1.75"? I know it should be obvious since it is thicker unless the Literoc was built better?

I know that this would work but it seems hard to get and out of stock. https://www.highpointscientific.com/iop ... KAQAvD_BwE

Now I was searching and also found this https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... csQAvD_BwE Would this work with the CEM70 as well with the 2" Legs?

Thanks all

I have a CEM60, iEQ30 Pro, the iOptron Tri-Pier, and the 2" tripod. My advice would be to go for the iOptron Tri-Pier (but at twice your price). Long-term, you will be extremely glad you did. It is remarkably solid - no vibration or torsional motion. I see from the bottom of your post that you have a C11 and an 8" RC, so if you are going to do astrophotography with these on the CEM70, you will really need a sturdy tripod. From what I have read, the LiteRoc is an improvement over the 2" iOptron tripod, especially if the lower legs are extended. On my iOptron 2" tripod, the mount is pretty wobbly if I extend the lower legs. iOptron addressed this on the LiteRoc, and indeed they show pictures of a CEM70 on this tripod, but if you want to go to the next level of tracking, guiding and stability, go for the Tri-Pier. After that, the 1.75" LiteRoc is probably your best option.

iOptron pier looks like a combination of the Astro-Physics Eagle pier and Avalon T-Pod legs.
Interesting.

Thanks both of you. That helps with the 2" and the littlroc. That is all I probably can afford now as I have to replenish some of the items I sold to get the CEM70 including the RC But gona go with the C-11 for the summer and I have the 6.3 FR and when my Skywatcher comes back I will sell it to fund for a nice used wide field refractor. I had to sell my Refractor to fund as well . But I always intended to sell in sometime.


And my original plan as to mount up in stages so (It seemed like the perfect time when the Skywatcher failed and they offered to redo it, so it would be refurbished for sale) I think the iOptron will be my last upgrade for the mount.

Since my CEM60, I know, is going to be used primarily for imaging, I went with the tripier tripod. It is amazingly stable. I know that's above your budget, just throwing that out there.

Here is the 2-inch version of the 45/60 tripod.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bhphot ... d.html/amp

Cheers,
JT

Thanks Jt ,

I wish I could swing one, if the Literoc is still hard to get I may just get a pier and just work on a way to make it more level since my viewing area in the backyard it is kind of a decent slope. When using a regular tripod I got to extend the lower leg on the bottomabout 3-4 inches to get it level.

But as of now I just found out that my order is on backorder for the mount. They said they had a few left when I got it. But ohwell. I guess now it is a race to see what mount I get back first. But now I do have that thought of the tri pier in my head which is dangerous lol I already sold a lot.


Now this what I am down to, using my All Sky Cam Box I made with a rasberry pi, but sold the 290mm lol But I sill got my main imaging stuff and 385mc.

Save your money and get one of these in the double clamp version.
300lb capacity and weight less than 30lbs.
All you will ever need for stability
https://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=detai ... he=english

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Sat Jun 27, 2020 4:14 am Save your money and get one of these in the double clamp version.
300lb capacity and weight less than 30lbs.
All you will ever need for stability
https://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=detai ... he=english

Thanks Lady Fraktor, do they sell them in the US?

Quite a few places sell them in USA.

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Sat Jun 27, 2020 4:43 am Quite a few places sell them in USA.

Nice I will check them out, also with the tri-pier can that be left outside with a cover on it and not have to worry about rain and such?

Vixen Optics sells the range at their location, you will have to check what adapter you would need to mount your iOptron to it though.
https://www.vixenoptics.com/Berlebach-T ... =30&page=1

TheButcher wrote: ↑Sat Jun 27, 2020 4:50 am

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Sat Jun 27, 2020 4:43 am Quite a few places sell them in USA.

Nice I will check them out, also with the tri-pier can that be left outside with a cover on it and not have to worry about rain and such?

I would assume so with some periodic maintenance to keep it clean.

ok i'm off to bed now and think of some ways to increase my budget to one of those. THx for the help all

Well this morning I thought about it and thinking that the Literoc is all I can swing right now, plus I am sure they will be in demand for sometime so after I get my other mount back or further down the road I can sell it and upgrade to the tri-pier or the Berleback.

So I called up today and ordered it (Backordered) but it is nowhere to be found anyway so just did it and checked on my status of the CEM70 and they said it was in, but just in the warehouse now and didn't get time to register in or something like that. So hopefully I will be up and running again within 2 weeks. That was the estimate for the Literoc to come in stock with the COVID.


Until then I'm just going to play around with my All sky cam. the only problem is that I don't know where to post the time lapse videos.

Thanks again for the help all

I vote for the Video astronomy forum. It does not get a lot of posts and it's kind of lonely in there so new material would be most welcome!

JT

Nice, maybe mention All Sky Cam along with:

Video Astrnomy
"Discuss video astronomy / Electronically assisted imaging"

Or maybe add "Time Lapse video" Or (All Sky - Time Lapse)


So under Video Astronomy:
Video Astrnomy
"Discuss video astronomy / Electronically assisted imaging / All Sky / TIme Lapse Video"

or something like that