| The Takahashi FC-L is a 16.5 pound adjustable height wood tripod with a metal accessory tray. It is designed for use with all versions of Takahashi P2Z, EM-10, and EM-11 German equatorial mounts.
The tripod legs are made of a dark stained Luan mahogany. The legs extend from 36" when collapsed to a maximum extension of 59". This puts the top of the tripod between 32" and 52" above ground level, and the nodal point (the intersection of the right ascension and declination axes) between 41" and 61" above ground level. Its length makes it well suited for use with longer focal length refractors, although observing from a seated position will be necessary with some scopes.
Two hand-tighten levers on each leg lock the legs in place at the desired length. The tripod bolts onto the three mounting posts that are part of the die-cast base of the above-mentioned mounts.
The opened tripod is very solid and stable, easily able to support any of the above mounts and their associated payloads. The tripod’s wood legs have excellent vibration damping characteristics. The result is that your images remain steady and vibration-free, even at high magnifications, making for a more enjoyable observing experience.
The legs are tipped with pointed metal feet, designed to sink into grass or dirt for a solid footing for your scope. A metal peg is molded into the outside of each tripod leg so you can apply pressure with your foot to anchor the scope firmly in the ground. If you set up the mount on a hard surface, such as a deck or driveway, a set of vibration damping pads would be a useful addition.
The aluminum accessory tray helps lock the legs firmly open. A low lip on the tray keeps small items from rolling off the tray in the dark. There is a hook molded into the top of one of the legs to hold your mount’s hand control and keep it close at hand.
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