Tripod Reviews

First Rate myself as a casual observor, wanted maximum portability, and the ETX90EC certainly does !! First night aligned the finder and used manual control, only using 47X Jupiter was beautiful and moons snapped into view nicely. Over all image(s) look Good to Very Good, nice and compact stars as they should be ! 2nd night (using Autostar) able to align on the 3rd attempt, viewed more in 1 hour, infact lost count ! Was locating many from horizon to horizon, simply amazing feat ! Noisy in operation and dislike the small finder and needs more info on use, otherwise would give 5 stars !! Was Pure Fun, LOVE IT !! questions feel free to inquire wnppmy@yahoo.com

Rate the Optics as exceptional on ETX90EC w/UHTC are near excellent!! Easily see the north star companion (9th magnitude), for the 1st time watched a Jupiter Shadow Eclipse, small in my 97X, but jet black circle, beautiful !! Focusing is abit coarse, but fast ! Have yet to use it in a nice Dark Sky, watched the Jupiter eclipse between two street lights !! Two Dark Bands on Jupiter stand out well, hint of polar markings, the bands are irregular show hints of detail !! Large Red Spot shows easily when in view. Saturn is low in horizon now, tho division not visible large Jet Black area between Planet and Rings ! Have only 97X waiting for my 9 MM eyepiece. Star images are nice and compact, have owned a F/10 6 inch reflector, 6 inch Dynamax Schmidtt Cassegrain, but the ETX blows them away, fantastic, Best WARREN ..<>..

This is my second telescope and I took the opportunity of the Meade special offers. Shipping arrived on time, I was a little bit worried about shipping such an equipment, but packaging was great.
Strongly recommending buying the hard case.
This is a wonderful telescope, very easy to use, and I recommend this for anyone, even beginners. Calibration is easy, just a few clicks on the Autostar, and then you can start the great show. Planets and objects are bright and offer fantastic contrast (buy the optionnal UHTC it's worth).
Prepare not to sleep at all the first few nights, but you'll be amazed at what you can see.

This tripod is a quality piece of equipment. However, given the fact that we're amateur astronomers, I'm not sure that we needed something quite so sophisticated for our Meade 90ETX.

The tripod comes with a device that allows you to tip it at an angle - which seems to serve no purpose when you're finding and tracking night-sky objects (probably something that the more advanced users know how to use).

It is heavy (heavier than the telescope) - which is good because you don't want it to easily move while you're using the scope (or, worse yet, tip over).

You won't be dissatisfied with this, but I think there is a less expensive option which may work just as well for amateurs like us.

I bought this tripod when I purchased my Meade EXT 90 EC telescope. I've read that the most important feture of any telescope is the mount. This has an excellent mount that holds the views rock steady. It comes with a nice carring case type bag. It is a polar type mount which means that you can center the view to the attitude you are at. This feature makes the optional Autostar work at its best. This fine tripod is a high end piece of equipment that will last the life of any telescope. I was very happy with the way it performs. If I could spend any amount of money I would pick this one. You need this tripod if you are serious about high quility equipment and for the price it's the best possible choice. Meade products are the best quility equipment used by professionals. This tripod is a must if you want the best.

This telescope is one of the best I've ever looked into. Even trying out a beatup floor model at the local Discovery Channel Store, it was a dream. It is a great starter for amatures, but still delivers power and great features for the more experienced. The DS-60EC is a nice one too, but it is a bit bulky. The ETX-60AT is a lot smaller, lighter, and easier to move around. Trust me, if you get this one, you won't regret it.

Great for beginners.
Easily transportable.
Lots of add ons if you want them.
Some of the optional items will also work with more expensive models should you decide to upgrade later.

Please beaware that it doesnot have a Bubble level. I initially checked all the features of this product while buying online, and was quite interested in the bubble level. But the actauol product doesnot have a bubble level.

As such it work fine and is quite sturdy, plus compact. The Carry bag is of quite good quality.

This is a great tripod that does pretty much everything you could ask from something that is so reasonably priced. That being said, the tripod may seem deficient when unfairly compared to bulkier and more upscale versions. I'm putting up a list of both pros and cons so that more discerning shoppers can pick and choose from the higher end models. Sure, there are cons, but most of the cons listed are by design; you cannot expect to be all things to all people while still creating a lightweight and compact tripod, although this item gets very close.

Pros:
-Exceptional value for money
-Extremely compact; will fit easily into any small pack or even a larger-sized purse.
-Quality carrying bag (mentioned in a previous review)
-Item arrives fully lubricated (functionally, not excessively), which makes for quick and smooth use of all functions.
-Lockable axes allow for accurate horizontal- and/or vertical-only panning, as well as rotating the camera to shoot at different angles (most likely between portrait and landscape).
-Quick release shoe allows you to mount a small attachment to the bottom of your camera and then mount/dismount from the tripod with the quick flip of a lever.
-When fully extended, I can still comfortably take pictures while standing and bending over slightly (I stand 5'10").

Cons:
-This tripod is not recommended for rough ground or use as a jungle gym. The emphases placed on being lightweight and compact requires the inevitable sacrifice of strength and durability. If you are rough or careless with your equipment, this is not the tripod for you.
-The nature of the legs (similar to the extendable chrome antenna you might find on a boom box, with passive locking mechanism) is such that it's difficult to set mid-range height settings that you might want if, say, you were taking pictures from a sitting or crouching position. The tripod works very well in the fully-extended or fully compacted setting.
-This unit does lack a bubble level. I won't miss the level at all, though, as I never require that my tripod be precisely level.
-The other noticeable sacrifice made for value and reduced weight comes in the tripod head. Unlike the heavier duty, more upscale tripods, the panning motion is slightly more rough and/or uneven. The bearings and materials in more upscale tripods make it much easier to do slow, controlled pans, similar to those seen in movies. However, this should only be a problem for people who would use a video camera with this tripod. Still photographers needn't worry.

Unlike rival tripod DH-20/4 -manufactured by Velbon as well- you won't find a much wanted geared center column; a feature that makes life simpler but not an imperative when looking for a tripod. You can get as high as 6.4 feet with 3-section legs on an EL-3(A), compared to the 56.5 inches (!) with 4-section legs of a DH-20/4. Velbon's 3-way-panhead is surely among the best in the market; the entire head (PH-157) of the tripod gets locked in one, single point -compared with tripods where you have to do two or three operations for the same effect. It also allows for vertical and horizontal composition. As weight and seize are considerable issues for travelers, I have not found much challenge traveling with an EL-3(A)-an enduring, all-purpose tripod with a reasonable prize.

It's small enough to fit in a backpack. So I think it's good for backpacker or traveler.

It is pretty good ball head and it is light. It max loads
up to 6 lbs so it is good for a 35 SLR and medium weight
lens like 70-180mm f4.5, 80-200mm probably ok. 300mm f2.8
probably not good.

This is an absolutely beautiful piece of gear. A great head and a great value. It is small and ultra light. The nice part is that it adds 3.8 inches of height but has only a fraction of the weight of other heads, including the expensive but heavy Gitzo. This is the hands down winner for the money! If you need a light and solid head, this is it!!! Holds 12 lbs max, again more than other famous brands.

OK i'm 2 weeks into discovering this little scope.
i read and read for weeks and decided this was a great deal for a mak-cassegrain with autostar or "go to" feature. this is my first scope, so take that with a grain of salt. i live in the mountains in a new home, hence the eagerness to get a good scope. upon opening it i rushed to local photog store and picked up a barlow 2x and moon filter. another $65 total but suggest you get these at once.

first impressions:
good quality on scope. proud to keep in on display in the great room. guests notice it and can't wait for it to get dark!
finderscope is a bear to align, but with practice should be easier.
tripod is sturdy and no complaints thus far
autostar is NOT user friendly on first test drive...takes time to get comfortable i hope.
it does take 8 AA batteries. buy NiMH rechargeables.
the slow autostar display is enough to make me drink too much red wine waiting for it to finish! thank goodness i figured out the "enter" key or "mode" key lets me bypass the excrutiating slow scrolling text. (fyi mode functions as "back" or "escape")
figuring stuff out takes a lot of time...be patient.
now i am technically versed as i work for software company and this is giving me a bit of a challenge....why? poor autostar documentation.
if the user manual for autostar was more detailed with a quickstart tutorial, it would go quick. reality...i have the mind to call Meade and ask for their technical writer and scream obscenities at them :}

nonetheless, i plan on keeping the scope and am excited to learn more and get to know my way around the night sky. get the book Nightwatch - great for a newbie like myself

would like to post a final review once my neighbor gives me an autostar tutorial with his LX200...just waiting on clear skies in Utah! i do hope to give this scope a 5 star rating once i figure out autostar.

I've had the ETX 105 for over 3 weeks now. I've taken it out 4 times already (weather permitting) and viewed the moon once and Jupiter 3 times. This is my first scope and I think it is great.
I would only recommend it to newbies if they are not intimidated by the electronics. So far, I've just used the AutoStar controller to slew and manually track Jupiter. I haven't even
tried aligning it and using the GoTo functionality. In time, I will figure it out, but I'm keeping my outings as simple as possible. The 105 is definitely better built than the 90. But I'm still very careful with the 105, as it still has a plastic
base, and I'm not sure how durable the electronics/gears are.
Also, I keep the AutoStar plugged in all the time, so you have to
watch the cable and not get it caught on anything.
I think the ETX series will keep anyone happy for many years. Although it is relatively portable (compared to say the LX200GPS series), I still want more portability! My next scope will probably be a small 70-80mm refractor on a tripod. Total
simplicity and durability.

The ETX105EC is definitively much better built than the ETX90 although it is in the limits of portability because is fairly heavy. It is incredible silent while tracking objects and it obviously gathers more light than the ETX90. Want proof? The 105 shows one of Saturn's moons whereas the 90 doesn't (at least my friend's ETX90 didn't).
Another advantage over the ETX90 is the viewfinder. The 105's right angle viewfinder is great when looking for overhead objects.
I really liked the tripod (deluxe field tripod). Solid, not like the junk shipped with the ETX70 or the DS2114.
Finally, if you add Meade's eyepiece package ("a little bit more" for 7 super plossl eyepieces) and the Autostar, I think you get a terrific deal.

The Meade ETX90EC lives up to its billing. It's a high-quality piece of gear that exudes craft and workmanship. The bundled package w/Autostar and Tripod gives you most of what you need. If you have any intent of doing terrestrial viewing, you should consider the 45 degree erecting prism. Also, the package does not come with any power adapters. If you plan to be out for a long evening of star gazing, you will probably want the adapter that lets you plug into a cigarette lighter. I wish Amazon had the UHTC version available, but no luck. Finally, I haven't been able to find the correct T-mount adapter for this scope on Amazon. I do want to use it for photography eventually. The main thing I would say is that this is not a toy, but it is ideal for beginners to intermediate enthusiasts. I've had more fun in just a couple sessions than I've ever had before.

This was my husband's big present for Christmas, something he has always wanted. While unwrapping and unpacking, he heard a rattle in the spotting scope. Upon investigation, he fished out a broken set screw and discovered that it had sheared off the outside of the spotting scope. Another screw was badly damaged. The eyepiece covers had all been left off when shipping. Also, all the settings were loose and had to be reset. Meade does not have an 800 number and you are put on hold interminably when you try to contact them. All in all, he likes the scope BUT was very disappointed in the quality of the manufacturer and lack of customer service. What a disappointment for Christams day!

I've only used my telescope a couple times, but it has been great. It takes a little while to get used to it, and I highly recommend reading the manual. Also, Meade has a deal going on that you will probably want to check out (http://www.meade.com/promo.d/plosslpromo.html). You will definitely want to take them up on this offer.

I have been researching binoculars for long time. The 124RB is a quality binocular. The fully coated lens, the zoom feature and the BAK-4 prisms. I finally found a good price for the Tasco model no. 124RB. It is worth every $262 I paid. If you don't have steady hands make sure you get the tripod.

I've had my Tasco 12-60X/70mm binoculars for quite a while now. They do take a little getting used to, and if you are going to use them at a high power zoom - you HAVE to get a secure tripod or other mount for it. You also must aquaint yourself with how to adjust the eyepieces to allow you to use the binoculars without your glasses. I have a severe pair of glasses and this pair of binoculars has enough latitude to adjust to MY eyes. The Rubicon lenses are stellar. I believe the capabilities, the quality and size of these binoculars is without parallel under $.... The one question to ask is what are you going to use the binoculars for? A nice little non zoom 7X/50 or other will be a better fit for many uses. But if high power, zoom and large lenses for use even when the light is less than optimal are what you are looking for - you would be hard pressed to do better than these binoculars.

The tripod adapter is no egough sturdy to support binos, so you will have problem with vibratios.

I bought this tripod and within one week the center gear for height adjustment stripped out therefore height unusable. The whole casing around crank leaver is made of plastic and gear is made of the cheap white metal. Quality is not worth having. Take some advice spend a little more money and buy you a good one so you don't end up in the same shape I am in.

a great buy indeed. I looked at the customer opinions before buying this one and i wasnt dissapointed. Its got an amazing set of features for the money you put in. The only complaint is that, you have to handle it a bit carefully and not roughly, because the material its made up of, its not too great. That apart its a great value for money.

No, it's not the greatest tripod you can get, and it's not professional/heavy duty quality. But I don't own a professional grade piece of equipment anyway, ...you can't really go wrong if you are an amateur photographer/videographer.

It's perfect for my digital camera and camcorder. It has all the features that I would need... plus, it looks really slick. When looking it over, you can't tell the difference between this and a tripod that's $50 more.

Overall, a great buy, and a must have for photography, home video.