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- Tripod for Meade ETX Astro telescopes
- Adjustable in height from 34 to 54 inches
- Elevation angle can be fixed at any observing latitude between 20 and 90 degrees
- Suitable for either standing or seated observing
- Attaches in seconds
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List
Price: $300.00 |
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| Amazon.com Product Description |
| The full-length Meade #883 deluxe field tripod accepts any ETX Astro telescope model and provides a rigid mounting platform for virtually any observing application, astronomical or terrestrial. Suitable for either standing or seated observing, the #883 tripod is adjustable in height from 34 to 54 inches. Micrometric controls in both azimuth (horizontal) and elevation (polar) angle permit precise polar alignment of the telescope's fork mount for astronomical applications. You can fix the elevation angle at any observing latitude between 20 and 90 degrees. The 90-degree (altazimuth) orientation is desirable for terrestrial observations or for astronomical applications of ETX-90EC and ETX-125EC models equipped with the optional Autostar Computer Controller, which lets you accomplish fully automatic sidereal-rate tracking with the telescope in the altazimuth mode. Each ETX Astro Telescope model attaches to the tripod in seconds with two thumbscrews. The net tripod weight is 11 pounds. |
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| Optics Reviews Writed by Customer
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Adequate
2002-05-24
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| I've used the Meade 07021 Deluxe Field Tripod #883 with my ETX-90EC for over a year now and generally it has performed okay. The tripod itself is made of a light aluminium material for the legs, so while this reduces weight for portability it seems a little light on solidity. The locking screws which hold the extendable legs in place also seem a little flimsly. Having said that however, I took notice of reviews prior to purchasing the tripod and never overtighten them and accordingly they have worked okay. Suprisingly, it doesn't take much tightening of the screws to secure the legs. I often expect the legs to slip down but they stay in place during extended viewing sessions. The actual mounting plate and associated adjustment knobs all work fine and are manufactured to an acceptable standard. The tripod has a three prong metal bracket which sits in the middle of the legs when the tripod is in position and which folds up with the tripod when stored. This bracket is quite flimsy but has not failed yet. There is a centre tray which is screwed to the centre of the bracket to give the tripod more stability and holds eyepieces etc. This is manufactured okay. Overall, I think the tripod could have been made sturdier and from better materials in some areas. However, I have taken extra care with it, so I really can't complain as mine is still in good condition. I also think the tripod is somewhat overpriced, so look out for specials on it. In summary it's an okay tripod if you look after it and get it at the right price. |
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The most important ETX accessory!
2001-09-28
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| Due to some shipping problem of late, this tripod arrived about 3 weeks after my Meade ETX 125 and other accessories. The 'scope is useable without the tripod, but it is not comfortable and you are at the mercy of the steadiness and level of whatever you set it on. This tripod makes polar alignment very easy and there are fine-tuning knobs to dial it in after coarse setting. It is very steady, easily adjustable, clearly labeled and has a bubble level as well. The instructions in the ETX 125 and the tripod says there is no need for precise adjustment and not to let making a precise adjustment take away from the enjoyment of the 'scope. Even though either the stock electronic controller and the AutoStar accessory controller can work satisfactorily with only coarse leveling and north aligning, BOTH CONTROLLERS are closer to the mark if the tripod is precisely aligned. This tripod has everything to set a quick, stable and precisely aligned base for the ETX scopes. One word of warning... If you have the heavier ETX 125 and are polar aligning in a latitude below 45 degrees (my estimate!), there is a lot of weight on the north leg. I find the north leg can noticeably sink in soft lawns after alignment that may affect the GO TO alignment! |
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An adiquate tripod for great telescopes
2001-08-30
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The Meade ETX telescopes specialize in their portability. When you add a tripod to the set, it becomes harder to take the telescope to more remote areas. I have recently taken my ETX 125EC with this tripod to Lake Lila in the Adirondacks. We were camping in a tent in a place that had to be canoed to, so we set out on a Wednesday with all of our tents and food and gear for a week but we were unable to fit the telescope and tripod, so we left those at the car. We had to make a special trip a few days later to pick them up. It would have been really nice to be able to take the telescope with us on the first trip. We ended up missing two beautiful nights that would have provided for excellent observing because of the bulkiness of the tripod. There is another instance when I was winter camping in the Adirondacks near Little Tupper Lake, and again we had to leave the telescope and tripod at the car because of the bulkiness. We were traveling to a lean-to on skis and there was no way that we could have taken the tripod and telescope along with our luggage. We ended up not using the telescope all together on that trip because of the inaccessibility. There is no carrying case for it and so the only way to transport it safely is in its outrageously oversized shipping box, filled with a Styrofoam shell. Also, There have been many car trips in which this box has taken up way too much space in the trunk.
The tripod itself is a necessity though. It would be impossible to get any good observations without it. It has a handy balancing bubble to make sure that it is level, and an �N� on one of the legs to remind you which way is north (as an amateur astronomer, finding this out through the stars should not be too difficult though), and it is sturdy. The legs are easy to extract, contract and adjust. It is the most sensible tripod to buy with any ETX telescope because the other options are way too heavy and even more bulky, not mention more expensive. There is the table tripod, which is much, much smaller and lighter, but it is way too ineffective. It is unable to be adjusted so the telescope must be placed on a desk or a steady surface. The only beneficial use of that tripod would be if the telescope were a decoration in an office or something and it needed to be tilted a bit.
A tripod is needed in order to get any serious use out of any ETX telescope and this tripod is the best one that Meade offers, be forewarned that it limits the portability of the telescope though. |
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Essential accessory for ETX telescope
2000-12-17
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| I played with my ETX 'scope before I got the tripod, but now I can really USE the 'scope. I'm now able to take my telescope around the backyard to see around the trees, take it on camping trips, take it on long-weekend trips, and on picnics. Before - forget it. As another reviewer notes, the stability of the tripod is critical for clear views - the bounce goes away. I could see the bands on Jupiter the other night. I can adjust the tripod high enough for my comfort or low enough so the kids can see, too. The weight of the scope and a 35mm camera is no problem. Highly recommended accessory for land or sky viewing. |
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It really makes a difference
1999-12-24
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| I bought this tripod with my telescope. I would have been really disapointed if I didn't. Without this tripod you need to set the ETX-90EC on a sturdy support such as a table. The tripod prevents excessive shake when viewing the stars or planets. Without the shake the planets and stars are clear. With the shake the appear blury. The higher the magnification you use, the steadier the tripod needs to be. This tripod has a nice cast iron head. It is really solid. It also support Polar alignment or Alt-Az alignment. I would not purchase the ETX90-EC without it! |
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