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Just realized I wasted $80 on a cheap phone mount for my telescope that kept slipping and ruining my shots.
I should have just saved for a proper bracket, so has anyone found a decent budget option that actually holds steady?
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willow2445mo ago
Oh man, that "kept slipping" part is the worst. I went through two of those wobbly mounts before I gave up. What finally worked for me was a used Vixen-style dovetail bracket from a camera shop's used gear bin, cost me maybe forty bucks. It's solid metal and clamps down tight, no more ruined shots from a drooping phone.
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ivan_cooper5mo ago
My buddy had the same exact problem with his phone mount sliding around during a timelapse. He lost a whole night of shooting the stars because his phone tilted down halfway through. He ended up getting a metal clamp from an old tripod head at a flea market and rigging it to his setup. It looks kind of janky but it hasn't moved a millimeter since he put it on.
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amyr574mo ago
You know, I used to think those plastic phone mounts were fine, that the slipping was just bad luck or user error. But after reading how you found a Vixen-style dovetail bracket and it actually works, it totally changed my mind. I had the same problem with a cheap mount ruining a sunset timelapse, and I just assumed I needed to tighten it more or try a different angle. Now I'm thinking the real fix is just getting something solid right from the start instead of hoping the plastic holds. Did you ever try any of the rubber grip add-ons before switching to the metal bracket?
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