Watch out for cheap star tracker tripods buckling under load

I set up my Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer on a $40 tripod and the whole thing folded like a lawn chair during a 30 second exposure of the Orion Nebula. Took me 4 hours of troubleshooting and re-leveling before I realized the legs just couldn't handle the weight. Has anyone else had a tripod fail mid-shot?

2 comments

2 Comments

hunt.jana7d ago

Wait, wouldn't the tripod legs buckling be more of a balance issue or maybe a loose locking mechanism instead of just the weight? I've had cheap tripods hold way more than a Star Adventurer without folding up lol.

the_cora5d ago

Haven't you ever seen a tripod buckle from a sudden sideways force though, not just raw weight? I mean, cheap locks can slip if theres any wobble, even a light mount can amplify that.