Spotter heavy duty tripod

[bsekf]

I keep looking for a heavy duty spotting scope tripod, at a price I can justify. I have looked at the contractor tripods at Home Depot.......... but what do I do for a head? Any of you guys fabricated one?

 

[dkhunt14]

I keep looking for a heavy duty spotting scope tripod, at a price I can justify. I have looked at the contractor tripods at Home Depot.......... but what do I do for a head? Any of you guys fabricated one?

I would look on ebay and buy a Bogen 3063 fluid head. good prices and they are solid. You can really pan and control these. Another good one is the 501. Look up bogen tripods. I think 3068 might be the number of a good one. I have a Bogen 3236 and can run my Kowa Highlanders off of. Very solid and the Highlanders are very heavy. Matt

 

[wedgy]

I use the Bogen 128LP fluid head, very solid and steady. Get it used pretty cheap with a tripod;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Manfrotto-B...629488?hash=item58d26f44b0:g:myYAAOSwnH1WaHVV
Get a tripod that the legs open up allowing the head to be closer to the ground, like in the hog saddle picture. I have also mounted a quick detach shoe so I can change from spotting scope to rangefinder to camera, etc. I am working on a version with an ARMS 17 mount upside down so it will attach to a pic rail that I have mounted to the bottom of spotter, RF, etc. so they are side by side.
Going to try one on the gun also, something kind of like that hog saddle.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/323-Quick-R...365872?hash=item1c5af93570:g:ZdQAAOSwhcJWGyLm

 

[memilanuk]

The tripod you want is a Manfrotto 190 or 055. I like their 322RC2 pistol-grip head, but part of that is because it has specific features I need/want.

 

[normmatzen]

By reading the above replies, the bottom line is;

You need a very competent tripod/mount. There are a lot of good ones and each has features you may or may not want/like.
If you use a spotting scope, the mount will still be the less expensive part of the gear, so don't scrimp!

 

[Dos XX]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1128583-REG/manfrotto_mt190goatb_190go_aluminum_tripod.html

Monte mentioned the Manfrotto 190. I think is the latest version of that model. Pretty good deal on it right now. They make a carbon one, too.

 

[Jdne5b]

I picked up a Manfrotto 055XPROB with pistol grip head off Craigslist for about 50% of new. If you aren't in a hurry, I would just watch CL and find a good deal.

 

[wedgy]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151949128846?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[Ringostar]

It never hurts to look for used. One of our club members found a very heavy duty Bogen tripod at goodwill for $10.

 

[whatwind?]

Gearbuggy.com

 

[memilanuk]

Took some pictures of a Manfrotto 055 XPROB along side a 190 Go!, both with a 322RC2 head:

Folder on Dropbox

You can see the difference in size... although I will point out that a good portion of that is due to the 190 having 4 leg sections and the 055 having three sections. The cam locks on the 055 legs seem, at first glance, to be much more solid than the twist/friction locks on the 190. I've had the 055 for 4-5 years, and its held up pretty well considering the abuse its been through. I just got the 190, and haven't had a chance to put it through the wringer.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Quickset hercules is my choice

 

[dkhunt14]

Quickset hercules is my choice

Now that is heavy duty. I have one and set a 50 pound gun on. Matt

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I have some hercules and samsons- but bart has a gibraltar. You could park a truck on there.

 

[memilanuk]

It all depends on what you need it for. Pretty sure you can't use one of those monsters from the prone position - at least not easily

 

[Dusty Stevens]

You can use em from a chair as a spotter or standing. Its pretty nice to have a clear image while the wind is blowing or touching it to focus