One-Year Limited Warranty
This Orion Paragon HD-F2 or Paragon-Plus XHD Tripod is warranted against defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one
year from the date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. During this warranty period Orion
Telescopes & Binoculars will repair or replace, at Orion’s option, any warranted instrument that proves to be defective, provided it is
returned postage paid to: Orion Warranty Repair, 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076. If the product is not registered, proof of
purchase (such as a copy of the original invoice) is required.
This warranty does not apply if, in Orion’s judgment, the instrument has been abused, mishandled, or modified, nor does it apply to
normal wear and tear. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights, which vary from state to state.
For further warranty service information, contact: Customer Service Department, Orion Telescopes & Binoculars, 89 Hangar Way,
Watsonville, CA 95076; (800) 676-1343.
Approximate leveling of the tripod should suffice for use with
binoculars or spotting scopes. For photographic use, the
built-in bubble level aids in achieving more precise leveling.
Using the Fluid Pan Head
The Paragons feature a precision fluid-type pan head, which
has a range of motion of 180° on the vertical axis and 360°
on the horizontal axis. Both axes are equipped with a large
tension-adjustment knob and a lock knob. The tension-
adjustment knobs allow you to set the desired ease of motion
for each axis.
Panning is easy using the pan head handle. Its angle rela-
tive to the mount head is adjustable. Loosen the handle lock
knob, then remove the handle from its sleeve completely.
Reinsert the handle into the sleeve at the desired position
and thread the lock knob back in until tight.
The removable mounting shoe allows quick attachment and
removal of your instrument. The shoe has a 1/4"-20 threaded
post and a ribbed mat, and is retained by a spring-loaded,
quick-release lock lever. When mounting an optical instru-
ment, you must first remove the shoe from the head by
releasing the lock lever. Attach the shoe to the instrument,
then replace the shoe on the head. Make certain the shoe is
locked securely in place before releasing the instrument from
your grip. It is recommended that the instrument be removed
from the tripod for transportation.
It is possible to point an instrument at the zenith (straight up).
This is especially useful when using the tripod for astronomi-
cal observation. Instead of pushing the handle down to tilt
the pan head up, tilt the pan head so that the handle points
upward. This way the handle will not contact the tripod itself
and hinder the tilt. You will have to rotate the instrument 180°
on the pan head from its normal position to point it upward in
this “reversed” way.
Raising and Lowering the Pan Head
To raise or lower the pan head, first loosen the elevator lock
knob. Then use the hinged hand crank to move the aluminum
rack-and-pinion elevator shaft up or down. Retighten the ele-
vator lock knob to secure the instrument at the new height.
The elevator friction will need to be adjusted depending
on the weight of the instrument on the tripod. To adjust the
elevator friction, rotate the elevator shaft housing with your
hands. Rotating it clockwise will increase friction, and makes
the elevator hand crank harder to turn. Rotating the elevator
shaft housing counterclockwise reduces friction. The elevator
friction should be adjusted so that the pan head maintains its
position and the hand crank is easy to turn.
General Care and Cleaning
When using the tripod in direct sunlight, be aware that its
black anodized surface can become hot. If the tripod is used
in wet conditions, dry it completely with a soft cloth after use.
Clean the tripod with mild detergent and a soft cloth.
Specifications:
Paragon HD-F2 Paragon XHD
Height fully extended: 69-1/2" 66"
Height folded: 31-1/2" 34-3/4"
Elevator travel: 13-1/2" 10-3/4"
Rotation axes: two two
Weight: 7.5 lbs. 9 lbs.
Suggested Accessories
Orion Precision Slow-Motion Adapter
Attach this adapter to the tripod pan head to add micro-
motion altitude and azimuth control. Very useful for fine
terrestrial panning or for manually tracking celestial objects
with binoculars or spotting scopes. Built-in 1/4"-20 threaded
socket for attachment to tripod; has 1/4"-20 threaded post for
attachment of instrument.
#7033
Soft Case for Paragon HD-F2 Tripod
Highly recommended for protection, storage, and convenient
transport of the Paragon Tripod. Made of heavy polyester
stock and fully padded, this case has strap handles and an
adjustable-length shoulder strap. Full zipper access. Navy
with black trim. Does not fit Paragon-Plus XHD.
#15167
