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Mounting a Small Telescope on Manfrotto 701HDV (1 Viewer)

venkatp

New member
Can Manfrotto 701HDV Handle a Small Telescope?

Hi. I am looking at using a small telescope with Manfrotto 701HDV for astronomy and birding. Need your advice whether the head can handle the telescope.

Dimensions and weight of the telescope are as follows:
Weight: 2.5kg / 5.5lb; Length: 500mm / 20 inches; Diameter: 102mm / 4 inches

I own a bridge camera, and have never used a camera tripod. I am unable to completely understand the specs of the head. I would like you to help me with the following:

1. Can the head hold the balance if the telescope is tilted 80 degrees up?

2. Will the head allow me to pan and tilt the telescope diagonally by a fraction with ease (even at 80 degrees)? I do not mind unlocking and locking between the adjustments.

Thank you so much for your help. If 701HDV is not up to it, would you recommend 501HDV? I would prefer 701HDV as it is lighter and cheaper.

Thanks,
Venkat
 
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Venkat,

I have no personal experience with astronomical scopes but doubt that the 701HDV would be suitable for your intended use, as it lacks a counterbalance spring.
At high inclinations the scope is going to put a high moment on the scope head because its centre of gravity is so far away from the pivot axis of the head.
The 501HDV would be a better compromise as it has a counterbalance spring rated for 2,5 kg and I know of one BF member who uses one with a 100 mm astronomical scope. I have PMd him.
Even better would be a small alt-azimuth mount, which enables you to put the centre of gravity of the scope near the pivot axis of the mount.
Have a look at these: http://www.desertskyastro.com/DSV-M.html

John
 
Hi Venkat, Welcome to Birdforum. I have an Orion 100ED refractor I use with an older Manfrotto 501 HD head, the newer model would be the 501 HDV with counterbalance spring, I don't think mine has this spring. I have used this set to take some pictures of the night sky. It worked. The Orion scope is longer than what you posted about , it is about 34 inches, not sure of the weight.
http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=291192&d=1288573985

I took this photo of the Moon with this setup.
http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=313617&d=1300541378

John has a very good idea about the alt-azimuth mount, that might be better than the other option. My tripod is Manfrotto 475B type. I do have a heavy alt-azimuth mount as well.

http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=291193&d=1288574021
 
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I have the Universal Astronomics UniStar Basic mount on a surveyors tripod. It is a lot more stable than the 501/475B set up for night sky use. Heavier of course. If you notice my picture of the 100 ED mounted on the head, I use rings to slide the scope back and forth to help balance.
 
Hi John and Steve, thanks very much for your responses. I had already seen your set-up while digging the forum :) I would love to have one of those alt-az mounts, but unfortunately they are not available in our region.

701hdv seems to have counterbalance spring for 1.5kg; it may still not be sufficient. I have come across MVH500AH in the last few days with 5kg capacity and a counterbalance spring for 2.4kg; weighs only 930g. Wondering if this works for me. I think I will go for either MVH500AH or 501HDV.

Regards,
Venkat
 
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