I am about to order my WD-20 from France, being myself in the french part of Switzerland.
What is the best recommendation for an tripod?
Many thanks in advance for your inputs!
Hello, from France, I am using the WD-20 with a Berlebach uni18 I initially bougth for my AM5. The compatibility is immediate bewten WD-20 and Zwo am5 base.I have just attach the berlebach am5 adaptor on the wd-20. As I am using a RC10 (18kg with all camera etc…) I was not confident to use the carbon zwoTC40 tripod that is too ligth.
Many many thanks for coming back this fast, I looked it up and yes it’s a fantastic tripod! I will get one!!
Question…Why wood for an high end tripod?
I am using a Pegasus NYX carbon fibre tripod with the pier extension. I had an adaptor made up to fix to the metal rods which screws into the base of the WD20. The tripod is sturdy, yet light. I particularly like the fact that the legs splay out at a wider angle, making it more stable when using the mount without counterweights. I have put the adaptor plate drawing here:
WD20.pdf (26.2 KB)
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Ouaw, fantastic adaptor drawing, many thanks, food for thought!
For what it’s worth, I have mine on a Berlebach Tripod Planet Small:
Dual clamps, Dark brown stain and I highly recommend the “Ground Protecting Devices” Ground-protecting devices for astronomy tripods PLANET and UNI from Berlebach ® Tripods
Here’ they are side by side:
The left is the Uni-8 and the right (darker) is the “Planet Small”
Both are incredibly stable, solid, and no vibration.
I was using the StarField Pier 1000 but hate it. I have a somewhat sloped back yard, and the starfield didnt give me enough play to fully level it. Also, the metal feet on the starfield sqeeked annoyingly every time you looked at it (well, touched it…)
DEFINITELY get the ZWO Pier Extension (P200).
I’m jealous of your actual observatory. My scope is regulated to sitting on grass until I can convince the wife to let me build something more…permanent.
That’s what gave me the hernia, lugging a Paramount MX on a Berlebach tripod 
From what I have read wood absorb better the vibration than metal.
It is a bit like bike frames, the material is only one consideration. The aluminium Avalon TPod, is pretty darn good, and a lot less bulky than my old Berlebach Planet. The Carbon NYX tripod is extremely good for its weight too.
Berlebach planet really sturdy and really really stable. Wood is the way to go for vibration absorption. Berlebach planet is highly recommended if you can handle the weight and size.
Avalon Tpod really really nice.
The carbon fiber NYX is light, and as mentioned by Buzz, the spread is wide and add to the lateral stability, meaning it will not tip over easily.
Other brand like ZWO, the spread is narrower and can cause tipping over if you have a bigger telescope and no counterweight. I saw this happen with a C8, an AM5 and the TC40. Contrary to what we think, the counterweight is mostly to prevent mount and OTA to fall if there is too much weight on one side, not only to help the mount handle the OTA weight itself.
I use a Supermount made in Korea, a CYG48GRDL
http://www.supermount.kr/?act=shop.goods_view&GS=14&GC=GD010105
that thing is rock solid with spikes, I don’t like rubber feet, they wobble. Mind you a little pricey, but you keep it for a lifetime, Only weighs 9.5 kg and is short, easy to carry. Top notch quality.
Using my Losmandy AZ8 tripod right now with their riser. I have a an adapter that lets me use the riser with the Losmandy HD Tripod for larger scopes. Firm believer in over mounting a scope.:-).
JMD
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