Adapter adds micro-motion altitude and azimuth control to any camera tripod
Attaches via a 1/4"-20 threaded post to any camera tripod
Attach this Orion Precision Slow-Motion Adapter to any camera tripod that has a 1/4"-20 threaded post to add micro-motion altitude and azimuth control. Very useful for tracking celestial objects with binoculars or spotting scopes.
Product Specifications:
Included Items:
3/16/09 11:13 AM
Orion Precision Slow-Motion Adapter
Reviewer: ken Reynolds
Once I figured out the tightening
mechanism for attaching it to the scope,
it was fairly sturdy - this does what
it's supposed to do but it is not a
replacement for a mount with slow-motion
controls. If you are using a small Mak
(or camera) or if you are only using it
for terrestrial applications it works
pretty well. For refractors or heavier
scopes it amplifies any balance issues
as it raises the scope's center of
gravity fairly high about the pan head
of the mount. If you trust the clutch on
your altitude axis it will work but it
proved too scary for me and my ST80 at
zenith.
I experienced none of the backlash
issues that other reviewers had.
8/22/08 12:29 PM
Orion Precision Slow-Motion Adapter
Reviewer: Murray Foster
If you are using a high mag scope or
lens on your camera the Precision Slow-
Motion Adapter takes all of the
frustration out of fine tuning your aim.
4/5/08 5:11 AM
Orion Precision Slow-Motion Adapter
Reviewer: John Stradal
Whoever invented this thing is a genius.
I have my Apex 90 mm Mak-Cass
attached to this and the whole assembly
attached to a TriTech tripod and the
system works fantastic. Even with
adding a couple extra eyepieces I have
a very powerful system for easily under
$500. Great job people !
3/24/08 5:41 PM
Orion Precision Slow-Motion Adapter
Reviewer: Jim Hite
I use the Precision Slow-Motion Adapter
to give vertical and horizontal motion to
light weight binoculars (2 to 4 pounds).
I have an L shaped binocular adapter
mounted to the Slow-Motion adapter.
The Slow-Motion Adapter is well made
and works smoothly. You will find some
slack in the adjustment wheels due to
the design. It is not a problem for light
weight binoculars. There is no load limit
specified with the mount but, from the
design and the type of coupling platform
provided you should assume that there is
one. I think this adapter is unique and it
provides my binocular/tripod
arrangement with a lot of flexibility.
12/25/07 6:09 AM
Orion Precision Slow-Motion Adapter
Reviewer: Matt Wedel
My travel kit includes a compact Mak and
a cheap pan head tripod (dept. store
model, not one of the Orion ones!). I
will replace the tripod with something
decent when I can afford to, but for now
I use one of these slow-motion adapters
between the tripod and the scope. I use
the pan head to get the scope pointed
roughly in the right direction and then
tweak the pointing with the adapter. By
itself, the pan head has too much
backlash for feasible observing, but
this adapter gives enough fine control
that I can get the tube on target in a
couple of minutes, which is an
acceptable compromise for a kit that is
(1) airline portable and (2) workable on
my current, limited budget.
PROS:
- decent amount of travel in both
altitude and azimuth
- smooth motion even in freezing
conditions
- all knobs are easy to locate by feel
and manipulate with light gloves on
- very solidly built. The scope is a
102mm Mak, which weighs about six
pounds
all tricked out. The adapter holds onto
both the scope and the tripod very
securely. I'm more worried about the
tripod failing than this adapter.
CONS:
- the azimuth gear has about one turn of
play, so that the first turn of the knob
does nothing, and the motion only kicks
in after that. There is no slippage
after that first turn, it's just not
immediately responsive. The altitude
gear works immediately.
I will probably keep using this adapter
even after I get a nice solid tripod,
just for the convenience of slow-motion
control on both axes.