Long refractors and deep imaging trains have a habit of finding tripod legs.
You may not notice it when the telescope is first balanced and pointed toward the horizon. Then the mount heads toward the zenith, or performs a meridian flip, and suddenly the focuser, camera, diagonal, or filter wheel is getting much closer to a tripod leg than you would like.
The iOptron #8031 MiniPier is a simple way to buy more room. It sits between the tripod and the mount and raises the mount head by 6", giving the back of the telescope more space to swing as the mount moves around the sky.
At only 1 lb 4 oz, it does that without turning a portable CEM40, GEM45, HAE43, or HEM44 into a heavy system.
Six Inches Can Make a Surprising Difference
The MiniPier is 6" tall and 4.8" (120mm) in diameter, with a die-cast and machined metal construction. Its job is not particularly complicated: move the mount farther away from the tripod legs without making you extend the tripod itself.
That becomes useful whenever the telescope has a lot behind the saddle. A long refractor is the obvious example, but an imaging camera, filter wheel, electronic focuser, off-axis guider, or even a large diagonal can extend far enough behind a shorter telescope to create the same problem.
One Cloudy Nights owner using an HAE43 pointed out that even a compact RedCat 61 could approach the tripod legs in some positions and recommended the MiniPier for that reason. That is a good reminder that clearance has more to do with the complete shape of the rig than the aperture written on the telescope.
The MiniPier does not guarantee that every possible telescope and camera combination will clear every tripod position. Once the complete system is assembled, it is still worth slewing slowly near the zenith and through a simulated meridian flip to see exactly how much room you have.
Made for the CEM40-Class Mounting System
The #8031 is designed for the iOptron CEM40, GEM45, HAE43, and HEM44 families. It also supports the iEQ30/iEQ30 Pro mounting arrangement when the proper alignment peg is used.
On the support side, iOptron lists compatibility with the CEM40/GEM45 tripod, the iEQ30 tripod, the #8061 carbon-fiber tripod, and the Tri-Pier. It can also be fitted to a suitable custom support using the mounting dimensions specified by iOptron.
This is worth checking before ordering because iOptron has made several MiniPier sizes over the years that look similar but do not use the same mounting pattern. The #8031 does not fit the iEQ45/CEM60 tripod or the MiniTower/AZ Mount Pro tripods. Those systems use different pier extensions.
Features
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6" of additional mount height. Adds clearance between the telescope or imaging train and the tripod legs.
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4.8" (120mm) diameter. Sized for the CEM40/GEM45-class mounting system.
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Lightweight construction. Weighs just 1 lb 4 oz (567 g).
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Die-cast and machined metal. A rigid extension without much added transport weight.
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Compatible mounts. CEM40, GEM45, HAE43, and HEM44 families; iEQ30/iEQ30 Pro with the appropriate alignment peg.
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Compatible iOptron supports. CEM40/GEM45 and iEQ30 tripods, #8061 carbon-fiber tripod, and Tri-Pier.
What Owners Say on Cloudy Nights
Pier extensions tend to be one of those accessories people do not think much about until something nearly touches a tripod leg.
Owners using the CEM40-class tripod interface have recommended the #8031 specifically for creating additional clearance, and the need is not limited to unusually large refractors. One HAE43 owner noted that even a RedCat 61 could get close enough to the legs that he preferred using the MiniPier.
That is probably the best way to think about it. You do not buy a MiniPier because the telescope reaches some particular aperture or weight. You buy one because the geometry of your telescope, camera, and tripod leaves less clearance than you are comfortable with.
Observing Tip
After installing the MiniPier, assemble the telescope exactly as you will use it: camera, filter wheel, guider, focuser, diagonal, or anything else that changes the length of the system.
Then slew the mount slowly toward the zenith and through both sides of the meridian while watching the closest point between the payload and the tripod legs. Do this before the first unattended imaging session rather than discovering the limit at two in the morning.
If the extra six inches leaves the telescope higher than you prefer, you may also be able to retract the tripod legs somewhat. That can keep the working height closer to what you were accustomed to while lowering the overall center of gravity. Just maintain enough leg spread and clearance for a secure setup.
What's Included
- 1x iOptron #8031 MiniPier
Mount, tripod, and other accessories are not included.
FAQ
- What does the #8031 MiniPier do?
- It raises the mount head 6" above the tripod, creating additional clearance for long telescopes, cameras, diagonals, and imaging equipment as the mount moves near the zenith and through a meridian flip.
- Which mounts fit the #8031?
- iOptron designed it for the CEM40, GEM45, HAE43, and HEM44 families. The iEQ30/iEQ30 Pro can also use it with the appropriate alignment peg.
- Which tripods and piers fit it?
- It fits the iOptron CEM40/GEM45 tripod, iEQ30 tripod, #8061 carbon-fiber tripod, and Tri-Pier. It can also be adapted to a suitable custom support that matches iOptron's mounting dimensions.
- Does it fit the CEM60 or iEQ45 tripod?
- No. The #8031 does not fit the iEQ45/CEM60 tripod, MiniTower tripod, or AZ Mount Pro tripod. iOptron offers different pier extensions for those mounting systems.
- Do I need a MiniPier?
- Only if you need the clearance. If the back of your telescope or imaging train comfortably clears the tripod throughout the mount's motion, there is little reason to add one. If clearance is close, the extra six inches can make the setup much easier to live with.
- Will adding the MiniPier make the tripod less stable?
- Any extension raises the mount above the tripod and changes the geometry of the system, but the #8031 is a rigid metal extension weighing only 1 lb 4 oz. If the added height is unnecessary for observing comfort, shortening the tripod legs somewhat can help keep the overall setup lower.
Final Thoughts
The #8031 MiniPier solves a very ordinary problem: sometimes the telescope is longer than the tripod gives it room to be.
Six inches of extra height can put useful space between a tripod leg and the focuser, diagonal, camera, or filter wheel without adding much weight to the system. It fits the CEM40, GEM45, HAE43, and HEM44 mounting family and weighs barely more than a pound.
If your telescope already clears the legs comfortably, you do not need it. If you find yourself watching the back of the telescope every time the mount heads for the meridian, this is probably the accessory you were looking for.
