Orion 5379 Paragon-Plus Binocular Mount and Tripod Combo for Astronomy Stargazing Review (2026)

What a parallelogram mount does differently

Unlike a simple photo tripod head, the Paragon-Plus uses a parallelogram linkage that keeps binoculars pointed at the same spot in the sky as you raise or lower the arm, rather than swinging the aim off target the way a fixed tripod head would. That pinch-free design lets one observer adjust height smoothly while tracking a star cluster or planet, and it also lets several people of different heights share the same view of a fixed target without re-aiming between turns, useful for star parties or families observing together. A sliding counterweight balances the arm once a pair of binoculars is attached, keeping the whole assembly steady rather than tipping forward under the weight of large objective lenses.

Capacity and height range

Orion rates the mount for binoculars as large as 80mm in objective aperture, covering everything from mid-size 10x50 pairs up to genuine giant binoculars at the upper end of what is commonly available. Mounted height adjusts from about 2 feet 7 inches at its lowest to 7 feet 7 inches at its highest, a wide enough range to accommodate observers sitting in a chair as well as those standing to view targets near the zenith. That flexibility is part of why this mount suits shared or family observing sessions where different people need the eyepiece at different heights without breaking down and resetting the whole tripod.

The included Paragon XHD tripod

Rather than buying a mount head and separately sourcing a tripod strong enough to support it, this combo bundles Orion's own Paragon XHD tripod, built with leg locks and graduated marks on the legs for returning to a repeatable height setting session after session. The aluminum tripod construction keeps the whole assembly reasonably manageable to carry despite its size, and the matched pairing avoids the common problem of an undersized photography tripod flexing or vibrating under the load of large binoculars. Fully assembled, the complete mount and tripod combo weighs about 19.8 pounds, arriving already put together rather than requiring assembly out of the box.

Where this setup makes the most sense

Because of its size and weight, this combo is best suited to a backyard or a car-accessible dark site rather than a hike-in observing spot, since carrying nearly 20 pounds of mount and tripod any real distance is impractical compared with a simple handheld binocular. It is a strong match for anyone who has settled on a specific pair of giant binoculars, up to 80mm, and wants a permanent, dedicated support rather than repeatedly hunting for the right photo tripod and adapter combination. Observers who need to travel light, or who only occasionally use giant binoculars, may be better served by a lighter tripod adapter instead of this full parallelogram combo.

How it compares to other binocular tripods

In the site's Best Binocular Tripods guide this combo ranks first of eight, just ahead of Orion's own U-Mount and Paragon Plus XHD altazimuth package, the standalone Paragon-Plus XHD tripod sold without a mount head, and a pair of Orion binocular-and-tripod bundles sold with 20x80 and 15x70 binoculars included. Its top spot reflects the parallelogram mount's smooth tracking behavior and the matched, purpose-built tripod, which together avoid the balance and vibration issues that come with mismatched mount and tripod combinations. Buyers who want an altazimuth-style mount instead of a parallelogram design should compare it against the U-Mount package ranked just behind it.

Frequently asked questions