Off-Center Bracket

I am currently using a nice spotting scope with a DSLR adapter to take astro photos. The spotting scope (by itself) is balanced, but when I add the additional weight of the 40D on the back of the scope, it makes the back extremely heavy and off-balance, thus making it very difficult for the ballhead to be positioned correctly.

Is there a bracket that will allow me to move the scope forward more, thus better balancing the setup over the ballhead?

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What ballhead & what type of (quick)release?
Arca system has long lens plates for this purpose...

I'm using the 488RC2 head/plate system. I was thinking simply a piece of metal with a 3/8" captive screw on one end, and threaded to take a 3/8" screw from a RC2 plate on the other end would work. Just haven't been able to find anything.

With the scope & 40D mounted as pictured above, I worry that there might be too much torque on the 488 head and that something might break on of these days. I don't really know how much I can trust the 488 rating of 12 pounds, as the scope + camera weight at most 4-5 pounds.

I have made a few such pieces using decorative aluminum strips I got at the hardware store. I use pieces of strip that are 1 1/4 inch wide by 1/8 inch thick, I epoxy two pieces to make a 1/4 inch thick piece and then drill and tap the hole I need. I have made offset right angle brackets as well. Even one thickness likely will not bend but I want the thickness to make a deeper screw hole.

Quad wrote in post #6119948
I have made a few such pieces using decorative aluminum strips I got at the hardware store. I use pieces of strip that are 1 1/4 inch wide by 1/8 inch thick, I epoxy two pieces to make a 1/4 inch thick piece and then drill and tap the hole I need. I have made offset right angle brackets as well. Even one thickness likely will not bend but I want the thickness to make a deeper screw hole.

I'm thinking something like this would work?
http://acratech.net …roductid=18&cat​=20&page=1

With the 6" lens plate (above), I think I would also need an Arca-Swiss compatible clamp (to replace the RC2 on the 488 ballhead).

Would there be any way around not having to replace my current clamp/plate system? (besides making the above-mentioned plate)

John_TX wrote in post #6120071
I'm thinking something like this would work?
http://acratech.net …roductid=18&cat​=20&page=1

With the 6" lens plate (above), I think I would also need an Arca-Swiss compatible clamp (to replace the RC2 on the 488 ballhead).

Would there be any way around not having to replace my current clamp/plate system? (besides making the above-mentioned plate)

That look a lot like what I have made. I put a quick release plate on the bottom front and a quick release assembly on top rear to accept the camera. I like the manfrotto RC2 system so that is what I use as well.

I made my own because with one 8 foot length of aluminum I am able to made several plates as I need them. I have made a flash bracket with it as well and holders for a macro flash set up. But I like to make things and often modify tripod bits I buy to to exactly what I want.

You could simply make a plate...drill and tap a 1/4-20 hole that the QR plate would be mounted in, and an unthreaded hole that takes a 1/4-40 screw that goes into the lens.

I think in your case OP making a new mount plate/rail would be your best bet. Youre pretty limited as far as stuff like that goes with the bogen quick release system. Now if you were arca-swiss compatible, youd be able to find something that would work nicely.

Arca Swiss Compatible

If you converted your Bogen-Manfrotto head to use an Arca Swiss Compatible Q.R. base (Kirk, RRS, etc.) you could use a Arca Swiss Compatible plate for your scope/camera combination. There are plates that are at least 4" long which would allow you to adjust the unit back and forth for several inches, hopefully finding the correct center of gravity.

A Giottos MH-659 QR base and plate should also work and should not be too expensive.
http://www.giottos.com​/MH-3.htm

Another way to work would be to fabricate a plate from aluminum flat stock as wide as your scope mount and as long as you need. Attach the scope/camera to the aluminum bar using screw and attach the bar to the Manfrotto QR plate at the proper point. You won't be able to adjust this while you are using it but, if you have it adjusted for COG, it should work just fine.

Finally, a unit such as this should work just fine also.
http://cgi.ebay.com …ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcm​dZViewItem

Thanks for all the help. I had planned on eventually moving to an arca-type setup eventually. Looks like I'll just do it sooner than later.
I think the 6" Acratech plate for $48 will be long enough. Now I just need to decide on what type of clamp I want. Anyone have any preferences with regards to the actual clamp (e.g. twist knob vs flip lever)? I assume a 2" base on the clamp would provide enough surface area/clamping area to hold my setup?