WTB: Astrotrac...

[redzuan]

Nak bertanya jika ada antara members kat sini nak menjual kepala Astrotrac sebiji... Saya ingin membeli jika harganya berpatutan...

Sekian terima kasih.

[redzuan]

Nampaknya sesiapa yang memiliki Astrotrac tidak akan menjualnya kembali.  The epitome of mobile astrophotography, I think.

I guess this thread can be closed...

[haldafluke]

Sebelum thread ditutop, nak tumpang tanya.

1. If one already have this Manfrotto 055xProB, what else is needed apart from the Gunting itself for the system to be called complete?
2. Polar Scope Astrotrac itu perlu kah for us who lives here around 3 degrees?

TQ.

[redzuan]

Saya sendiri baru completekan. So ikut pendapat saya yang baru ni.

1. The tripod legs - Manfrotto 055xProB (DONE)
2. Geared head - Manfrotto 400/405/410  - used in polar alignment (get the best you can, highest load)   
3. AstroTrac - Tracking unit (The gem of the setup )
4. A ballhead - for ease of framing

I ditched the polar scope coz the one I got with my previous GP2 is still sitting in its box. I dont see any use for it locally. You can save about RM400 just for that scope for a ballhead or the 410/405.

Any more than this, I dont think it will be THE BEST PORTABLE setup as it is intended to be.

p/s: 405/400 head takes 2 months to pre-order. Or you can get the 410 from YL camera at Jaya 33.
load capacity
400 - 10kg
405 - 7.5kg
410 - 5 kg
don't neglect the old mule (EQ6), but if you do, there's always room in my place...

[haldafluke]

Heh, thanks for the reply bro.

That's handy with the leadtime info & whats readily available in town.

I stand corrected, I thought I have this 055xProB when I only own a 190xProB. This again leads to a different question though. If for instance I am going to push this for a really light setup with the Gunting, say the config from top to bottom utilizing gears I already have in place will be as per below. Items 1,2 & 5 are existing.

1. 60D + Lens = 0.755kg + X kg

2. Manfrotto 322RC2 Ballhead which reads to load capacity of 5kg and weighs = 0.7kg



3. Gunting that weighs = 1.0kg



4. Manfrotto Geared Head 410 with 5kg load capacity and weighs = 1.22kg



5. 190XproB with load capacity of only 5kg.





These reads to an approximately of 3.675 kg + X kg (of the lens weight) to push onto 5kg load limit of 190xProB. Considering of just using a 50mm lens of a barely 0.13kg weighs, I was thinking this should be a stable setup. In fact I might still be able to go for heavier lens of less than 0.825kg should I marginalized the setup to 90% of the load capacity.

Is this worth a try or it is just too radical of a thought?    What do U Gunting owners reckon? 

don't neglect the old mule (EQ6), but if you do, there's always room in my place...

The old mule is the pillar of my setup, won't be able to let this one go unless the sliding durians are heading my way with a hint of anodized red structure.   

[redzuan]

My response is as below, also as of my equipment that has still to be tested in the real world.

1. 60D + Lens = 0.755kg + X kg

2. Manfrotto 322RC2 Ballhead which reads to load capacity of 5kg and weighs = 0.7kg
I would recommend a normal ballhead coz I think the handle will get in the way since it will hit the gunting's arm. Plus, you might ruin the polar alignment with that bear grip everytime you might want to change your framing.

3. Gunting that weighs = 1.0kg

4. Manfrotto Geared Head 410 with 5kg load capacity and weighs = 1.22kg
This is the key component in my opinion, since this will determine how much weight can be supported. It will need to support the gunting, the ballhead and also the camera setup. I would advise you to order either 405 or 400 now and make it a worthwhile investment, rather than spending twice for something that you know you will be upgrading again, not long after you get the 410. Patience is worth it in this case. You still have your mule while waiting you know... . Don't leave it parked just yet.

However, I know someone who has put something similar to this setup on an old 410 and seems to get good results already. But he's using a dream machine just like in those fairy tales where there's a kid that never grows old. You know what i mean.


5. 190XproB with load capacity of only 5kg.
I don't think this is a problem at all locally. There are many sellers out there selling all variety of tripods and surely there are plenty to support a 10-15kg load. You can take your sweet time to choose while waiting for that gear head to arrive too.

These reads to an approximately of 3.675 kg + X kg (of the lens weight) to push onto 5kg load limit of 190xProB. Considering of just using a 50mm lens of a barely 0.13kg weighs, I was thinking this should be a stable setup. In fact I might still be able to go for heavier lens of less than 0.825kg should I marginalized the setup to 90% of the load capacity.

I am not sure if the tripod is the weakest link in this point, especially if you're not planning to fully extend all legs. I have a feeling the rigidity will increase as you fold some of those extensions in. But that's just my gut intuition. I think you should be able to start taking good photos already with the above setup. Just that it wont be able to support much more than a camera and small lens setup. I guess you can get away with primes in this case (ditch those zooms). Let's start collecting.

don't neglect the old mule (EQ6), but if you do, there's always room in my place...

The old mule is the pillar of my setup, won't be able to let this one go unless the sliding durians are heading my way with a hint of anodized red structure.   

Well, here comes another wait for the skies to clear again...

[haldafluke]

Ish, mebbe not now kot considering i am still lacking quite a few from the minimum specs.
If for some reasons the cloudy nites filled up the calendar plus rain and all, i have the tendency to guess them cloud may originate from the area like Damansara / Klang ..... etc...