5" Celestron Schmidt-Cass, Mount on Camera Tripod

Is there some accessory for the telescope in Subject that allows one to
mount it to the head of a camera tripod? There's a rail along the bottom
length of the OTA that has two screw holes at either end for a camera
tripod, but that seems a little awkward. A screw hole in the center would
seem better.

On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:10:57 -0700, "W. eWatson"
wrote:

Is there some accessory for the telescope in Subject that allows one to
mount it to the head of a camera tripod? There's a rail along the bottom
length of the OTA that has two screw holes at either end for a camera
tripod, but that seems a little awkward. A screw hole in the center would
seem better.

Drill & tap?
_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

On 11 Jul., 04:41, Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:10:57 -0700, "W. eWatson"

wrote:
Is there some accessory for the telescope in Subject that allows one to
mount it to the head of a camera tripod? There's a rail along the bottom
length of the OTA that has two screw holes at either end for a camera
tripod, but that seems a little awkward. A screw hole in the center would
seem better.

Drill & tap?

Finding the balance point of the complete telescope tube (at focus,
with an eyepiece in place) might be useful.

Unless the tripod is really substantial (preferably a video model) you
will experience a lot of image shake unless you stick to very low
powers.

I've occasionally used my little Vixen 80mm refractor on my heavy
Bogen video tripod, which has a substantial pan and tilt head, but
didn't enjoy it much.

The only reason I bothered was to be able to take the telescope in the
car to a local hill for a dawn eclipse.

Compared with a "proper" astro mounting a photographic tripod is just
too flimsy.

Why not make up a simple but solid wooden tripod? Low cost and stable
enough to be a lot more fun at higher powers.

Put a simple cannon-style Dobsonion counterbalanced, offset fork
mounting on top made of ply with PVC/Teflon /Formica bearings.

Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:10:57 -0700, "W. eWatson"
wrote:

Is there some accessory for the telescope in Subject that allows one to
mount it to the head of a camera tripod? There's a rail along the bottom
length of the OTA that has two screw holes at either end for a camera
tripod, but that seems a little awkward. A screw hole in the center would
seem better.

Drill & tap?
_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com
The rail doesn't lend itself to it. From the end, it looks like a square
with one side (bottom) missing. About 1/3 from each end is a screw hole. Two
bolts pass through the top of the mount attachment to fasten the scope to
the mount. I have a 4" Meade SCT and have no trouble mounting it to a camera
tripod. The G-5 might be handy for terrestrial photography; however, it's
just a curiosity at this point.