tripods for spotting scopes
- Thread starter Stan
- Start date
Kevin Root
Very Active Member
Hi Stan,
There are a few threads on tripods here on the forum. The search field has been pretty helpful finding different topics for me at least. Just I thought I'd pass that on. The thread titled "Lightweight Tripod" for me was helpful on the below thread.
http://www.eastmans.com/forum/search.php?searchid=116731
http://www.eastmans.com/forum/showthread.php/614-Lightweight-Tripod?highlight=tripod
There are a few threads on tripods here on the forum. The search field has been pretty helpful finding different topics for me at least. Just I thought I'd pass that on. The thread titled "Lightweight Tripod" for me was helpful on the below thread.
http://www.eastmans.com/forum/search.php?searchid=116731
http://www.eastmans.com/forum/showthread.php/614-Lightweight-Tripod?highlight=tripod
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
What spotting scope? Some spotting scopes have feet that will mount directly to some tripod heads, without the use of a QR plate.
Are you packing the tripod? I like the cheap ones for packing. Super lite and compact cause their cheap and not built very well but get the job done. I also have a liquid head on another that is an expensive, very smooth but way to heavy to pack.
Will use the tripod for some packing and some from ATV, horse, and pickup. I have looked at the Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 which is a carbon fiber and a pistol grip type head. It extends to a good height for standing which I may want to do at times. Both only weigh around 3.8 lbs. but the cost is $450 or so. I did check out the Outdoorsman series on-line which seemed like a good tripod, but it appeared it's cost with the head was nearly what the Manfrotto was. I don't mind paying that much, but without any experience with tripods, wanted to hear from someone with experience in using them.
I have used that similar tripod and it was great. I think for the money you can get good results for less. I don't care for the pistol grip vs the standard style with just the arm. I think anything with a liquid filled head is very smooth and the weight won't matter much for what your doing. The fiberglass are very nice too vs aluminum as well but the cost usually is more. Do you have a sporting goods store close to you that have these that your considering to try out before purchase? I always go to either Spotsmans or Cabelas and try out for myself then look for a better deal on the web if the stores prices are high.
For a back country pack in hunt I use the $30-$40 cheapos, ya their jumpy and and you have to adjust them to get just to were your looking but once your on target it's as still as the high dollar ones are. If you loose it or break it no big deal but if you have $$$ invested it's a big deal to replace. IMO
For a back country pack in hunt I use the $30-$40 cheapos, ya their jumpy and and you have to adjust them to get just to were your looking but once your on target it's as still as the high dollar ones are. If you loose it or break it no big deal but if you have $$$ invested it's a big deal to replace. IMO
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Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
Me too! The Razor is an excellent scope. The Razor foot will fit securely in standard Manfrotto heads without a QR plate. However, it only fits the long way, so some Manfrotto pan heads will not work properly unless you use a QR plate. Manfrotto ball heads will work great without a QR plate. The pistol heads should do OK, but the trigger will be on the side.
OF course any head will work fine with a QR plate.
One of the new light slik carbon tripod legs with a Manfrotto 486RC2 ball head would be an effective, lightweight setup for your Razor.
Kevin Root
Very Active Member
Has anyone out there tried the Bog-Pod switcheroo system? I don't live very close to check one out at the store so I'm hoping one of you has. The Eastman's endorse Bog-Pod it but just wondering if anyone else here has looked at it or any feedback? I'm interested to see how steady it is, lightweight, ease of use, muti purpose and how durable it is. I'm looking at something that will do as much as I can get from it, one stop shop in a pinch to cut down on weight in my pack.
I backpack mostly so I want it to be good for that foremost. Photography Canon EOS 60D and a small light Sony HD Handycam HDR-SR12, stills and video, holding a spotter, Vortex 20-60x85 Razor HD or a Nikon ED 50 and also be able to shoot off it if I'm rifle hunting.
The quick release idea and multi purpose use has me liking it but I'm leery on how it performs for multi purpose. I could get a different mounting head to pan video smoother but I'm kind of concerned how the legs set up and lock to hold weight to be rock solid. Weight looks ok to carry but is it way to flimsy to do all it says on their website?
I backpack mostly so I want it to be good for that foremost. Photography Canon EOS 60D and a small light Sony HD Handycam HDR-SR12, stills and video, holding a spotter, Vortex 20-60x85 Razor HD or a Nikon ED 50 and also be able to shoot off it if I'm rifle hunting.
The quick release idea and multi purpose use has me liking it but I'm leery on how it performs for multi purpose. I could get a different mounting head to pan video smoother but I'm kind of concerned how the legs set up and lock to hold weight to be rock solid. Weight looks ok to carry but is it way to flimsy to do all it says on their website?
Whisky
Member
I switched from a Vanguard Alta 233ao to a Slick Sprint Mini II this year. The head that comes on the Slick Sprint in junk IMO, or at least I couldn't get used to it. I took the head off my Vanguard and put it on the Slick. It's not a high dollar high quality tripod. But for the price, and more importantly the weight and size, it works well for the pack.
I think the Vanguard was around 100 bucks or so. It's not a bad tripod either, just a tad on the heavy and bulky side for packing in.
I think the Vanguard was around 100 bucks or so. It's not a bad tripod either, just a tad on the heavy and bulky side for packing in.
I've been using a vortex ridgeline and have decided to go with something else, if interested let me know.
Treekiller
Montana
Veteran member
I just went to a Slik and i am happy. I use a $1,700 spotter and for some reason a cheap tripod, I know, I know... But It's hard to spend $500 for 2.3lbs tripod when I can spend $100 for a 2.7lbs, I don't remember exact weight but it was something like that... Anyways, I think Slik is a sleeper and it's a good one.
fatrooster
Member
Stan, I am a user of the Outdoorsmans tripod and feel like its a great choice for the kind of hunting you will be doing. It is strong, lightweight but still heavy enough to keep it pretty steady in big wind. I use mine for backpacking, horseback riding and digiscoping (taking pictures and video). I too use to buy the cheap tripods from Walmart and they did pretty good but were too light to keep the scope steady for taking pictures and video. Any breeze and it would shake like crazy. I've read many good things about the sliks but have no experience with them. Outdoorsmans is an expensive tripod but if your gonna buy high dollar optics then they deserve quality tripods that perform at the highest level. fatrooster.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Some very informative posts. I just received a new tripod I ordered from Cabelas. I got the Vangard Alta 233 AO, it was onsale for $104.00 and free shipping. I don't do a lot of backpacking while hunting, so weight was not a big consideration. I set it up with my spotter on my deck and it is quite stable, a lot better than my olf Vivitar. At the range and hunting it will serve me fine.
jay
Active Member
I also purchased the Vangard Alta 233 AO and is a really great tripod for the $. Some may consider it a little on the heavy side being about 3.5 lbs but really isn't bad at all. Very sturdy and well made. I use it for a compact spotter but don't see it handleing the big brothers any differently. This tripod serves me well as i don't use it to pack into the backcountry and when i do, my horse can help with these extra 3 lbs. If there were great glassing opportunities i wouldn't hesitate to lug this thing around for the day. M2C...
I have both the sitting and standing models with all the heads they offer. It works fine for me for looking at something, but they aren't real smooth panning. I have used them with my 13x minox binos to spot with, and then with the spotter to check it out closer. For video I thing you would want something smoother, for my use they are fine. I don't have it here in front of me, but I want to say the total weight of the standing bogpod with both heads was around 56oz. I'm looking at going to a Slikk tripod from S&S archery and my Stoney point rapid pivot bipod instead. We usually take 1 spotter for 2 hunters so that way if one of us is making a stalk they can take the bipod and leave the spotter set-up for the other one to use. The bog-pod would handle the weight you are looking at fine and is durable as long as you use the leg-locks like the directions say and don't over-extend them.