Micro Grab-n-Go: TV-60
For an ultra-portable scope, I have settled on a Tele Vue TV-60 (which is used as a finder when it is not traveling).
This tiny doublet apo gives stunning wide-field views. It’s not much aperture, of course, but grab-n-go is about convenience and portability, and this little scope has allowed me to observe from locations where the choice was a tiny scope or none.
For extreme portability, I use the TV-60’s small soft case and a small camera tripod whose legs collapse very short. This package can easily be carried one-handed, fits under an airline seat, and fits inside standard roll-on luggage.
Inside the soft case can fit
- The OTA, with its sliding dew shield
- Camera tripod dovetail bar
- Diagonal
- Red Dot Finder
- Small red flashlight
- Compass
- 3 Eyepieces, or 2 and a barlow.
The whole kit assembled.
This tripod is lightweight and not very stable, but this configuration is primarily about portability.
When a little less portability is needed, a Manfrotto/Bogen fluid head on an Induro A-413 tripod fits in a fairly small shoulder sling, and is very stable. (I haven’t taken a picture of this setup yet.)