You might have this cheap refractor you bought or were given as an intro to astronomy. These types are fun for looking at the moon and planets. But you’ll find the tripod is not up to scratch and it makes sense to consider upgrading. Here’s how to fix a flimsy tripod and what to know…
For starters…
- Most introductory telescope tripods tend to be flimsy and don’t meet ‘full height’.
- Their spindly form hinders your view of objects in the sky and it’s hard to focus as alignment shifts with the slightest of movements.
- As well, the shortness of the tripod means you’re hunching over and this creates unnecessary discomfort.
To spend less money than you would with buying a new telescope set, try the latter options.
1. Upgrade
Get a better telescope, complete with new tripod
This is a good option if you don’t mind spending the money. Get to know your options in tripods to make sure you get what you want.
2. Improve support – add weight
Some users simply place a large mass (e.g. sandbags or weights) in the tray (if there’s one) or strapped to the legs. (You could experiment with this.)
3. Use a Camera tripod instead
If your telescope has a standard 1/4″ threaded attachment, then you can mount it straight onto a sturdier camera tripod. You might need a dovetail bar for some as explained in my article on this topic. Or…
Snapzoom Universal Binocular Tripod Mount
Available at Amazon (affiliate link)
4. Replace it with a Surveyor’s tripod
A surveyor’s tripod is sturdy and not that expensive. You’ll need to source fittings to suit your telescope to allow it to move as it should for more serious stargazing.
About tripods
Basically, a tripod is a three-legged support. You can get full- or partial-height tripods.
The main purpose of a tripod is to hold the optical equipment steady—to limit movement and vibration that interfere with clear images.
Not all telescopes have tripods. A Dobsonian is a telescope that has a mount but no tripod.
What do you want in a tripod for astronomy
- Easy to carry and set-up
- Strength
- Stability
- Resilient to wind and vibration
When choosing your upgrade consider the following features and designs in tripods …
Tripod legs
Materials include aluminum, basalt, steel, carbon fiber, and wood legs. Legs are usually either tubular or non-tubular. The carbon fiber type is typically tubular. Here are the pros and cons of the most common materials used in tripods.
| Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Wood | ▪ Vibration absorption ▪ Non-conducting ▪ Temperature tolerant ▪ Durable ▪ Corrosion resistant | ▪ Weight ▪ Clumsy ▪ Does not fold to compact size |
| Aluminum | ▪ Good strength-to-weight ratio ▪ Durable ▪ Value | ▪ Cold to touch when cold outside ▪ Hot to touch in hot conditions ▪ Can corrode |
| Stainless Steel | ▪ Strong ▪ Stable | ▪ Weight |
| Carbon Fiber | ▪ Good vibration dampening ▪ Excellent strength-to-weight ratio ▪ Temperature tolerant ▪ No corrosion | ▪ Expensive ▪ Vulnerable to impact |
Tripod legs collapse for transport. The three or five sections of a tripod leg are secured in place with locks that are undone to collapse the tripod to pack it away. Tip: The less number of leg sections the better the stability of the tripod.
Leg locks
In carbon fiber tripods, a twist-lock usually secures the legs into position for the desired height. Whereas, most metal tripods have a flip-lock.
The different mechanisms to lock legs in place each have advantages and disadvantages:
| Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Flip Lock | ▪ Quick ▪ Easy | ▪ Not weather sealed ▪ Can be jammed by debris ▪ Can stick with corrosion ▪ Can loosen over time (most can be re-tightened) |
| Twist Lock | ▪ Better sealing ▪ Fewer parts | ▪ More difficult to use for some |
| Screw lock | ▪ Cheaper | ▪ Tricky with very cold or stiff fingers ▪ Screws can loosen and become lost |
Feet
The bottoms of the legs have a rubber stopper or a spike (or both) for added stability. The short spikes at the end of the legs ‘grab’ the natural substrate, reducing the likelihood of slippage and giving the user confidence in using the tripod.
Mounts
The purpose of a telescope mount is to not only hold your equipment in place but also to allow you to move the telescope so you can point it at your target object in the night sky.
For different types of mounts see my article: mounts explained.
Mount head
Typically made of metal, the mount head allows the movement of the equipment when in place.
controls
The controls comprise metal rods and knobs to fine-tune the positioning of the equipment to view the night sky target.
Some have electric motors controlled by the buttons on a handset.
The purpose of the controls is to provide smooth, regulated motion for fine adjustments for better observations.
Telescope tripods and mounts work together. They are often sold together but, they’re also bought separately. To be exact, a telescope mount is a separate item to a tripod. But they aren’t always distinguished as individual units and this can be confusing for a newbie. You can upgrade your tripod to suit your telescope and mount.