This page gives an overview of a few larger tripods which are a popular choice for astrophotographers. We take a look on:

• Innorel RT90C
• Artcise AS90C
• Evumo XT9S
• Weyllan LX9

An addtional motivation for this article was also to see how the Photastro leg spreader fits this tripods and if the Photastro adapter for ZWO mounts for the Innorel RT90C can also be use with them.

There is another article about Comparing the Innorel RT90C and the ZWO TC40 tripods. Here, we focus on general features compared with Innorel RT90C. All tripods have several features in common and seem to even share a few parts. Potentially the all are coming from the same factory are just sold under different brands. They all are listed to have 40kg payload capacity, have 40mm carbon legs and use 80mm mounting plate.

The all come with a bag and can be ordered with different additional parts like central extension, a bowl head and various tripod heads. For astrophotography, only a bowl head brings some sensible use. More about this later.  

Artcise AS90C

The package of the Artcise AS90C looks similar to others, but has a space for additional box for accessories.

The tripod was also additionally wrapped inside the bag. Like with tripods, a short user guide is included

A unique add-on with the Artcise AS90C tripod is the inclusion of a led pouch. Some people use it for weights, but I use it for different things you need to stow away. 

In my order, a half-bowl head (or is it “half-ball”?) was included. Later more about it.

Evumo XT9S

Evumo XT9S came with a similar packaging.

Notably, the mounting plate is made differently, even though it has the same 80mm mounting size.

Compared to others, the bag of Evumo XT9S can be opened so that you can stow the tripod from the top of the bag. All Accessories were placed in compartments of the bag. Interestingly, only the half-bowl base was included though not listed on the product page, but the head was still not.

Weyllan LX9

Weyllan LX9 came a bit later than others. It was ordered with half-bowl head. The packaging and the bag were very comparable with Artcise AS90C. The site of Weyllan says they also make products under Evumo brand.

Despite the legs of the same diameter and the 80mm mounting plate, the Weyllan LX9 looks different to the Innorel RT90C in details.

For some reasons, Weyllan engineers decided to be creative and use 5 spacer holes in the plates, instead of symmetrical 6 as on most other tripos. Due to this it is not possible to make a mounting adapter for ZWO mounts, since where is not enough distance for the M6 screw heads.

The ZWO mounting plate also has 80mm mounting size and fits into all tripods mentioned here, and into Weyllan LX9 as well.

The outstanding feature of the Weyllan LX9 is the massive and very well done half-bowl head. In can be mounted with the 3/8″ spindle to the mount (here the ZWO AM3) and then assembled with the help-bowl with the adjustment knob. The whole construction can stay mounted and placed into the tripod. The half-bowl head looks very stable. It seems to be fully sufficient for light astrophotography setups and would simplify the leveling a lot.

Leg tips from all three tripods are based on 3/8″ screws which makes them compatible with with the Photastro levelers for spikes. Spikes are included with all tripods mentioned here.

Fitting Top Mounting Plates and Using the Photastro Leg Spreader

All mounting plates fit in all other tripods.

Not optimal, and on some combinations you cannot use the secure locking system which they all have, but still all plates can be very well tightened buy the tightening screw on the side.

The below picture shows mounting plates from Innorel RT90C (in the left, with the Photastro adapter for ZWO mounts for the Innorel RT90C installed), from Artcise AS90C (in the middle), and from Evumo XT9S (on the right). The mounting plate from Artcise AS90C seems to be identical with the mounting plate from Innorel RT90C.

The mounting plate from Weyllan LX9 has a similar mounting profile, despite the spacers arranged in different setting.

UseeAll mounting plates have 80mm mounting diameter which is also used a a few other tripods in the same category.

In order to use the Photastro leg spreader the central 3/8″ should be removed.

You should not do it by force, since all plate have a security screw which locks the 3/8″ screw. This screw should be loosened.

After this, the screw supplied with the Photastro leg spreader the can be pushed through the whole in the mounting plate.

The pier extensions can can also be used.

A pier extension can be mounted without the mounting plate if you need it another setup to want to use it on the top of the pier.

For this, cn be ordered with an additional 3/8″ nut which holds the pier on the tripod

Conclusion

 All tripod deliver top quality and can be used for astrophotography the same way or even better than tripods supplied by mount manufacturer. All tripods cost roughly the same, 200-300 Euro, depending on special offerings always ongoing special sales. I currently use Innorel RT90C with the ZWO AM3 mount and the original ZWO TC40 tripod. If you also do some daylight photography, you should not buy specialized carbon tripods for astrophotography, since you cannot use them well for daylight photography.