Glassing Tripod/Head

[Jay Christopherson]

I'm looking for a solid, lightweight tripod and head combination for glassing with a spotting scope. I've got two scopes, one lightweight and one pretty heavy. The combination should be able to support a 65oz. scope pretty easily.

Folded, it should be no more than 2' in length, but needs to have a fully extended height of at least 5.5'. Ideally, since I am packing this, it should be not be more than 2.5lbs or so.

I know about the Outdoorsman's hunting tripods, but they are a tough pill to swallow. The one I would want is nearly $600. I get that you get what you pay for, but for a couple of aluminum tubes that slide in and out, it seems pretty steep. I've even owned the medium tripod before and while it's nice, it's certainly not any better than some of the other $200 tripods I've seen out there.

I really like the Velbon Sherpa+ 630, but I can't find it listed for sale in the US.

The head I am looking at is the Jim White head. Maybe the panning attachment to go with it. I've always used a pistol grip style head, but with the heavier scope, the pistol heads I've used are *barely* able to keep it upright.

So, any suggestions out there? I'm looking for quality here, not necessarily low cost leader, so if it's a $200 - $250 Bogen or something, that's fine. I just don't see paying $600 on an Outdoorsman's though.

 

[Forum Boss]

Jay,

I really like my Manfrotto 410 geared head. You can move horizontally without getting any vertical bobble at all. Likewise, the fine control allows you to move just inches of target when spotting at 600 yards. There is a very solid quick-release plate that attaches to your scope. It works with my HUGE Pentax 100mm spotter so it can handle anything you throw at it. The photo below is about 80% scale. This is beefy. Note this same unit used to be called 'Manfrotto 3275'.

See: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=124665&Q=&is=REG&A=details

The base is set up for Bogen/Manfrotto tripods. If you have another brand you'd have to fabricate an adapter.

I've got an extra sitting Manfrotto 410 geared head sitting in my safe. We mount it to an all-metal Tilt-All (Star D) with a milled adapter plate made by my friend Mark L. You can pick up the Star-Ds on ebay for under $50 (or less). The Tilt-all is identical design in black, and they typically fetch $80-$100.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tiltall-tripod-black-finish-extremely-nice-/390372182015?pt=US_Tripods&hash=item5ae3fec7ff

 

[spclark]

Look into Manfrotto's 055CXPRO4 carbon-fiber model.

22" folded (without head), 3.7 pounds, 67" max height & will support 17.6 pounds nicely. On-line prices vary from $285 - $469.

Add that 410 geared head for $200 - $379 (shop around!!) you can get in under $500.

Consider too there are other less costly models for both items that might well suite your needs.

I've been using Manfrotto's products for photography for almost 20 years & find them an incredibly good value.

 

[Forum Boss]

Jay,

Sad to say but the geared head weighs 2.7 lbs (by itself) on my old postal scale. That's probably going to make your complete package too heavy.


Take a look at this compact tilt-pan head, that holds 8.8 lbs max:

http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-Release-Replacement-Connect-Adapter/dp/B004K3KY3Q/ref=sr_1_48?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1330456218&sr=1-48

 

[coues52]

I,m a Big-time glasser and have 5 tri-pods (manf,SLIK,velbon fluid heads for my outdoorsman sxs mount (spot scope w/swaro,Jim white tri-pod head etc), for dual use/packing etc ( Lt wt stable " don,t forget the crown royal bag for dispossible wt) not alot of $ the SLIK tri-pod base with the #157Q head whole pkg under $150. with extra plates.. also check out Velbon..check out :Coueswhitetail.com they live & die by their glass...when you buy check Amazon.com thru this site..~Danny

 

[dig]

Jim White head with pan attatch is excellent worth every cent. Search Ebay for a used Bogen/Manfrotto or knock off in carbon fiber to save weight. Wont go wrong. I use a tall 75 in model to glass standing from the truck and a 42 inch more compact for packing.