Omegon Fork Mount for Large Binoculars: the affordable fork for 15x70 to 25x100
For 239 euros, this fork mount does what a photo tripod head cannot: it allows a large binoculars to move freely from the horizon to the zenith, with the weight held within the fork rather than on a tilting head. Load capacity 12 kg, so it can handle even the heaviest binoculars.
It is simpler than the Pro Neptune: no Teflon bearings and no sandwich dovetail, but lever clamps on both axes, a scale on the rotation axis, and a Vixen profile on the bottom so that it also fits on a telescope mount or the Pro Pier.
Construction
Aluminum, 3.9 kg, inner width 255 mm. The binocular viewer is attached with a 1/4-inch screw; the fork is mounted with 3/8-inch on the tripod or via the Vixen profile in a saddle. The lever clamps lock both axes without tools.
Compared to the Pro Neptune
The Neptune moves more smoothly and remains more stable with heavy binoculars. For a Nightstar 20×80, an Argus 25×100 or a Brightsky 22×85, this fork mount is more than adequate. For the Brightsky 30×100 at 30x, we recommend the Neptune.
Tripod
A sturdy tripod with a 3/8-inch connection: Omegon Titania 800, the stainless steel tripod, or the Pro Pillar for a permanent location.
Included
- Fork mount
- 1/4 inch mount for binoculars
- 3/8 inch tripod mount
Featured accessories
Omegon Titania 800 tripod, Omegon Pro Pier for mounts and binoculars.
For whom yes and for whom no
- Nightstar 20×80, Argus 16×70 and 25×100, Brightsky 22×85, Nightstar 16×70 with 45-degree viewing angle
- ✓ Who wants a fork without the price of the Neptune
- ✗ Brightsky 30×100 en ED-APO: kies de Neptune
- ✗ Small binoculars: overkill
Specifications
| Carrying capacity | 12 kg |
| Inside width | 255 mm |
| Viewer connection | 1/4 inch |
| Tripod mount | 3/8 inch in Vixen dovetail profile |
| Hugging | Toggle clamps, both axes |
| Scaling | Axis of rotation |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Dimensions | 200 x 300 x 220 mm |
| Weight | 3.91 kg |
You can find all binoculars, mounts, and accessories for this merk on the Omegon merk Page.
Martijn (verified owner) -
This Omegon fork mount was purchased for use primarily with a Fujinon 16×70 binocular for astronomical use and occasional use on terrestrial subjects. In the future, the mount is intended to carry a binocular with an angled eyepiece, larger than the 16×70. Even a small Miyauchi 15×60, which easily fits on a small or light tripod, will go on this mount for some situations.
The mount stands solidly on a heavy Benro Mach 3 photo tripod, even with the center column raised (to get clearance behind and/or under the binoculars).
The 16×70 binoculars fit perfectly in this mount with a separately purchased 12cm Vixen dovetail and a sturdy binocular adapter that I already had with the binoculars.
Everything feels very solid and robust.
When mounted in the fork, this binocular suddenly doesn't look so big anymore. The binocular is very stable and is easy and precise to rotate in azimuth with the hands on the widely spaced fork arms. Small adjustments in azimuth are thus very easy and stable to make.
Also the corner-height adjustment can be carried out very precisely and smoothly by moving the cradle. Both axes can be neatly tightened, but this fork mount can stay in any position with this telescope without locking, great.
The fork mount prevents accidental tipping of this spotting scope (as can happen on unspringed tripod heads, even if they do have friction control).
When searching for or keeping bright stars (or slightly less bright stars, or in less transparent air) in view in daylight, it is very nice if the image is not blurred by shaking movements during azimuth or altitude adjustments, which can make the star invisible and thus cause it to disappear from view or fail to appear in view when searching. This fork mount keeps the image stable during these adjustments, which is particularly pleasant.
The fork mount features sufficient horizontally flat space to place a dual-axis bubble level for plumbing the mount, which is important when searching for stars in daylight.
Nighttime observations are yet to come, but there, too, the ease and safety of aiming the viewer will undoubtedly be addressed.