The Manfrotto 357PLONG/357long is nice if you have a Manfrotto head that it fits. Pricey yes, but the adjustment is quick, easy and repeatable. I highly recommend a long sliding/QR plate for whatever head. If you're changing from a level terrestrial view to 45* or higher vertical the center of balance changes.
This is more noticable w/heavier scopes. The old 516 Manfrotto fluid head weighs five lbs, rated for 22lbs load, and an old Barska 20/40X100 bin weighs 15 lbs. I'm looking to buy another for me Celestron Regal 100mm ED. The bar shown in Pete's pic is what ships w/Celestron 80/100mm scopes.
It works fine, have it on mine currently, in positioning a scope to prevent being too front heavy, but it isn't designed to work in conjunction w/QR head that also employs a cam lever locking in fore and aft adjustments. The 516 does this w/standard QR plate though that plate doesn't have a lot of adjustment.
Also, because the Regal accepts 1 1/4" eyepieces the center of gravity can change quite a bit w/heavier WA/UWA/MWA eyepieces anywhere from half a lb to over a lb. The long ER combined w/wide & wider fov adds up to a portly eyepiece. Naturally the 2" eyepieces are huge, yet even the 1 1/4" tip the scales nicely.
I've a Meade 607016 Eyepiece, 100 Degree, MWA 10MM eyepiece on order and I understand it weighs in at one lb. That comes to 54X and the Luminos 82* 15mm/36X is around 3/4 lb. But, then I might change to a Vixen SLV 50* 4mm/135X that's dwarfed in comparison to the longer focal length wide angle eyepieces.
Here is a link for a flat Manfrotto head that supports 15lbs and scroll below it for the long QR plate for another 25 simoleons. A tad over two bills.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876,92051677682,&A=details&Q=
As an example as I have a couple of Manfrotto heads though I'm sure other brands offer the same. I prefer 1.5X to double the weight of a scope to compare to the load rating of a fluid head.
Were I hiking a summit I might prefer slightly lighter equipment. But even the heavier rated old 516 tension changes w/temperature. The "fluid"/grease warms up w/use or climbing temps allowing for more/easier movement and perhaps a quick adjustment on the tension knob.
I'll use a smaller tripod before using a smaller head though currently I have the scope on a Manfrotto MHXPRO-2W. Load cap 8.8 lbs and this one came w/two extra QR plates. It does not have a sliding plate ability as that is generally reserved for more expensive/heavier load rated models.
It handles the 100mm scope very well though in astronomical use it is a mite dicey. Yet, for < 125 bucks THD I cannot complain. In time it will be relegated to bins and/or smaller scope. I would have a concern w/longevity w/load I have on it though for now it merely peers out the glass door to the feeder for the most part.
I paid around $45 for the 357plong a few yrs ago and if not mistaken all the heads it fits are discontinued. Which has me questioning the wisdom in dropping 88 clams on another.
The $64 dif in long plates places the 502HD w/long QR plate at 150 and if I deduct the entire 88 bucks off the combo I'm only looking at an additional 126 clams dif.
I'd be better off buying the combo and allowing them to choke on the overpriced 357plong for discontinued heads. I could always cannibalize the one I have though I prefer not to stroll down that lane.
I prefer a flat base instead of a half ball. I'd rather use the tripod to adjust for horizon and I consider the flat base more durable and one less adjustment on the head.
Good luck.
