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Pan only tripod head

Spad
Posted 10/12/2022 - 20:18 Link
Does anyone know if there is a pan only head for a tripod??

Thanks
The Legendary Terry Pratchett once said:
At the beginning there was nothing... which exploded
cbrog
Posted 10/12/2022 - 21:11 - Helpful Comment Link
Neewer (neewer.com) do 3 of what they call Fluid Drag Pan Heads which can be either pan or tilt. I have one of them, it's OK but I find that unless you tighten up the tilt very firmly it can slowly sag a little - especially if you have a heavy lens such as the 60-250 mounted.




Roger
Spad
Posted 10/12/2022 - 21:45 Link
cbrog wrote:
Neewer (neewer.com) do 3 of what they call Fluid Drag Pan Heads which can be either pan or tilt. I have one of them, it's OK but I find that unless you tighten up the tilt very firmly it can slowly sag a little - especially if you have a heavy lens such as the 60-250 mounted.

I want it for a Star Tracker (Sky Watcher Star Adventurer) so I only want Pan... I'll be doing 2 or 3 hour runs with exposures from anywhere for 2 to 10 minutes... so any sag or creep would be a nightmare!
The Legendary Terry Pratchett once said:
At the beginning there was nothing... which exploded
pentaxian450
Posted 10/12/2022 - 22:03 Link
I use a Manfrotto 468MGQ6 ball head. It has a pan base under the ball head. This head has an incredible (and effortless) locking mechanism. I regularly mount a Gigapan Epic Pro on it with a K3 and 150-450 lens, and the thing never sags or move. Take my word when I say it's a very heavy combination. The pan feature has some drag to make pan shot "smoother". It also sports an Arca-Swiss mount, but it is also available with different mounting plates. Best ball head I've ever used.
Yves (another one of those crazy Canucks)
Edited by pentaxian450: 10/12/2022 - 22:04
Spad
Posted 10/12/2022 - 22:38 Link
That will not be steady enough... possibly nor could it even deal with the weight.

This is what will be mounted on it:

Comment Image


Plus with a body and up to a Sigma 150 500 or an 80mm Refractor Telescope mounted on it...
The Legendary Terry Pratchett once said:
At the beginning there was nothing... which exploded
Edited by Spad: 10/12/2022 - 22:44
Lubbyman
Posted 10/12/2022 - 22:58 - Helpful Comment Link
A geared head will be rock solid, no creep or sag. It will have 3 axes of rotation but you can use pan and ignore the others. I've got a Manfrotto 410, good for 5Kg, it's what I use for macro at 1:1 and beyond. Their 405 carries 7.5Kg, 400 takes 10Kg. Other brands and models are available . How much are you willing to pay? Look and drool...

Steve
Spad
Posted 10/12/2022 - 23:20 Link
Lubbyman wrote:
A geared head will be rock solid, no creep or sag. It will have 3 axes of rotation but you can use pan and ignore the others. I've got a Manfrotto 410, good for 5Kg, it's what I use for macro at 1:1 and beyond. Their 405 carries 7.5Kg, 400 takes 10Kg. Other brands and models are available . How much are you willing to pay? Look and drool...

Steve

Err.......... ERR......... ERR..................

To get one of those, I might have to do a bank job!!
The Legendary Terry Pratchett once said:
At the beginning there was nothing... which exploded
pentaxian450
Posted 10/12/2022 - 23:43 - Helpful Comment Link
Spad wrote:
That will not be steady enough... possibly nor could it even deal with the weight.

This is what will be mounted on it:

Comment Image


Plus with a body and up to a Sigma 150 500 or an 80mm Refractor Telescope mounted on it...

I wouldn't be suprised if it was sturdy enough to hold that weight. It uses a hydrostatic mechanism to lock a rather large ball in place. When it's locked, it becomes rock solid. My set-up with the Gigapan/K3/150-450 is about eleven pounds. Unfortunately, the only way to know would be to try it.
Yves (another one of those crazy Canucks)
Spad
Posted 11/12/2022 - 00:40 Link
I've just read about it... it can hold loads up to 16kg!

How big is the platform?? The base of the Star Adventurer's Eq mount base is about 3in in diameter.

I have just weighed all the kit and fully loaded it will be between 7.5kg and 10kg depending which Telescope or big lens i use.
The Legendary Terry Pratchett once said:
At the beginning there was nothing... which exploded
Edited by Spad: 11/12/2022 - 00:57
Lubbyman
Posted 11/12/2022 - 09:42 Link
How about something like this link that's made for astronomy? It might also be worth contacting the business that's selling it as they are specialist astro suppliers and should have a good idea of what's on the market that will meet your astro needs.

Steve
Spad
Posted 11/12/2022 - 12:28 Link
All of these are great ideas but they're probably overcomplicating what I wanna do. I missed the next part out in my original post!!

The reason I want a pan only is becuase... As it stands at the minute I have to physically move the tripod with the star tracker mounted on it to point north. This so I can polar align it. So I went looking for a pan only head. So I can adjust it without having to move the entire set up!
The Legendary Terry Pratchett once said:
At the beginning there was nothing... which exploded
Edited by Spad: 11/12/2022 - 12:30
Lubbyman
Posted 11/12/2022 - 13:47 - Helpful Comment Link
Novoflex do panning heads link although the bigger ones have an integrated quick release unit which may rule them out for you. Their stuff is very, very good (from personal experience of their macro gear). I'd be surprised if the weight of your gear is a problem as the head will always be horizontal. Buy in the UK via Speedgraphic.co.uk if you don't fancy buying direct from Germany.

Steve
Spad
Posted 11/12/2022 - 14:50 Link
Lubbyman wrote:
Novoflex do panning heads link although the bigger ones have an integrated quick release unit which may rule them out for you. Their stuff is very, very good (from personal experience of their macro gear). I'd be surprised if the weight of your gear is a problem as the head will always be horizontal. Buy in the UK via Speedgraphic.co.uk if you don't fancy buying direct from Germany.

Steve

Thanks for that Steve!

I am going to consider one of the Novoflex heads but I am also seriously considering this link
The Legendary Terry Pratchett once said:
At the beginning there was nothing... which exploded
pentaxian450
Posted 11/12/2022 - 17:53 - Helpful Comment Link
[quote:3496ace15f="Spad"] How big is the platform?? The base of the Star Adventurer's Eq mount base is about 3in in diameter. [quote]

The base on mine is an Arca-Swiss compatible plate measuring about two inches and three quarters, buit they have different top plate like the RC4 which has a Manfrotto proprietary plate which is about 2 3/4" X 3 1/2"with a different quick release with a safety catch. I have this plate on my vedeo equipment and it works flawlessly.

I kind of like your set-up, but I'm not in astro photography. Hopefully, we'll see some of your pictures on this site,
Yves (another one of those crazy Canucks)
Edited by pentaxian450: 11/12/2022 - 17:57
Spad
Posted 11/12/2022 - 18:46 Link
I have just got one of these off fleabay for 30 quid!!

So that's me a happy camoer!

Comment Image
The Legendary Terry Pratchett once said:
At the beginning there was nothing... which exploded
Edited by Spad: 11/12/2022 - 18:46

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