Product Description

Full Lenght Adjustable Tripod 34" to 54"; Rigid mounting platform; astrolnomical and terrestrial; suitable foe either standing or seated observation; micrometric controls in both horizontal and polar; elecation angle adjustrable from 20 degrees to 90 degrees; all aluminum construction.

Product Details

• Brand: Meade
• Model: 7021

Features

• Tripod for Meade ETX Astro telescopes
• Adjustable in height from 34 to 54 inches
• Elevation angle can be fixed at any observing latitude between 20 and 90 degrees
• Suitable for either standing or seated observing
• Attaches in seconds

Amazon.com Product Description
The full-length Meade #883 deluxe field tripod accepts any ETX Astro telescope model and provides a rigid mounting platform for virtually any observing application, astronomical or terrestrial. Suitable for either standing or seated observing, the #883 tripod is adjustable in height from 34 to 54 inches.

Micrometric controls in both azimuth (horizontal) and elevation (polar) angle permit precise polar alignment of the telescope's fork mount for astronomical applications. You can fix the elevation angle at any observing latitude between 20 and 90 degrees. The 90-degree (altazimuth) orientation is desirable for terrestrial observations or for astronomical applications of ETX-90EC and ETX-125EC models equipped with the optional Autostar Computer Controller, which lets you accomplish fully automatic sidereal-rate tracking with the telescope in the altazimuth mode.

Each ETX Astro Telescope model attaches to the tripod in seconds with two thumbscrews. The net tripod weight is 11 pounds.

Customer Reviews

It really makes a difference
I bought this tripod with my telescope. I would have been really disapointed if I didn't. Without this tripod you need to set the ETX-90EC on a sturdy support such as a table. The tripod prevents excessive shake when viewing the stars or planets. Without the shake the planets and stars are clear. With the shake the appear blury. The higher the magnification you use, the steadier the tripod needs to be. This tripod has a nice cast iron head. It is really solid. It also support Polar alignment or Alt-Az alignment. I would not purchase the ETX90-EC without it!

Essential accessory for ETX telescope
I played with my ETX 'scope before I got the tripod, but now I can really USE the 'scope. I'm now able to take my telescope around the backyard to see around the trees, take it on camping trips, take it on long-weekend trips, and on picnics. Before - forget it. As another reviewer notes, the stability of the tripod is critical for clear views - the bounce goes away. I could see the bands on Jupiter the other night. I can adjust the tripod high enough for my comfort or low enough so the kids can see, too. The weight of the scope and a 35mm camera is no problem. Highly recommended accessory for land or sky viewing.

The most important ETX accessory!
Due to some shipping problem of late, this tripod arrived about 3 weeks after my Meade ETX 125 and other accessories. The 'scope is useable without the tripod, but it is not comfortable and you are at the mercy of the steadiness and level of whatever you set it on.

This tripod makes polar alignment very easy and there are fine-tuning knobs to dial it in after coarse setting. It is very steady, easily adjustable, clearly labeled and has a bubble level as well. The instructions in the ETX 125 and the tripod says there is no need for precise adjustment and not to let making a precise adjustment take away from the enjoyment of the 'scope. Even though either the stock electronic controller and the AutoStar accessory controller can work satisfactorily with only coarse leveling and north aligning, BOTH CONTROLLERS are closer to the mark if the tripod is precisely aligned.

This tripod has everything to set a quick, stable and precisely aligned base for the ETX scopes. One word of warning... If you have the heavier ETX 125 and are polar aligning in a latitude below 45 degrees (my estimate!), there is a lot of weight on the north leg. I find the north leg can noticeably sink in soft lawns after alignment that may affect the GO TO alignment!