[sassan]

Don as you wanted, here are a few images of my set up.

Explanation on last image that are my true practical secrets are in merit order IMHO:
1) Wimberley style gimbel head. The main key to success. When long lens is place right here (At the center of gravity using 3 way adjustments) the set up is virtually weightless. I can use even losely fasten knobs, yet move the point of lens in any direction accurately and with ease. The good thing is where I leave the point of shot, it stays there. If you have worked with the heavy camera/lens, you know how frustrating is when you finally zero in on location you want, and the moment removing you hand off the camera, it sags down with gravity so constantly you need to keep in mind a rough correction factor here, if not using a solid setup (I still have the nightmare of the days or rather nights that I was using my regular tripod).

2) Solid tripod (Make sure recommended carrying weight of tripod is well above the intended weight of you set up. Manufacturers tend to lie well here.

3) Remote shutter release. I use the wired one to exclude the problems specially with IR and battery of wireless ones. Mine is the cheaper one from Hong Kong. Does excellent job.

4) Magnifier for viewfinder. Remember you are not having any focus assistant what so ever. Don't laugh but without this, I definitely bracket my focusing. I have two magnifier. Here is the Nikon DG-2. Seems for once the different manufacturers did not mind to use the same standard of fitting (Unlike their zealously formated other aspects such as bayonet, memory etc). I use the Olympus for when moon is very high in the sky as that one has 90 degree turn and 2 different magnifications (Cons being right to left not corrected and no option to see the viewfinder unmagnified (Checking manual parameters, ISO etc).

5) Mirror lock up that is set from "Custom menu" in Canon.

I don't use any counterbalance weight. My set up as seen is rock steady. The other problem is you need to virtually chase moon with every shot. In about 4 exposure, moon is completely traveled from above to lower frame of my view finder so repeatative repositioning is a must. No if you want to change a parameter, ISO, EV etc, just figure out the efficiency and time. You surely want to have a close communication with higher authorities, as partially cloudy sky means pending disaster and frustrations.

Wish every one especially for resident of Europe a fun picturing total eclipse. We unlucky North Americans especially the west coast residents will have penumbra only from 18:24 or so on March 3rd (Moon rise 17:40) so I'll keep on looking at my cholesterol levels to keep myself un-rusty for the next one to come.