Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Scopes and Optics => Topic started by: JackOfAllTrades on December 24, 2012, 11:36:10 PM

Title: What tripod?
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on December 24, 2012, 11:36:10 PM: Non extendable legs, or only a short extension, good feet. Light but sturdy. Strong head that will support scope or camera and not break.

What are the ones that have lasted you?

-Steve
Title: Re: What tripod?
Post by: Bean Counter on December 25, 2012, 07:01:07 AM: Well I can't comment on others but I sure like my setup.

I have a Manfrotto 055 aluminum. Wasn't worth the extra $100+ to shed a pound for carbon fiber to me. Its pretty heavy, but very sturdy. I once took a nap while my heavy spotter sat out in the tough wind and the thing didn't flinch an inch.

I also think a good head is important as well. I have a 701rc2 which is more than I need for just my spotter alone but its rated for the extra weight if I ever want to DSLR on the spotter and digiscope on it. Very smooth and fluid for fine panning. Easy to take for granted on a long day of glassing.
Title: Re: What tripod?
Post by: couesbitten on December 25, 2012, 10:52:55 AM: I'm using a Slik Sprint Mini, been very happy with it.
Title: Re: What tripod?
Post by: huntnnw on December 25, 2012, 10:14:41 PM: I have a manfrotto and a 701hdv head..head is important...kinda heavy but worth it..u have to have extended legs..or you will have fits trying to set up on a hill side or uneven ground..The best feature on a tripod is the ability to unlock from standard position and get the legs to move out almost parallel
Title: Re: What tripod?
Post by: jackelope on December 25, 2012, 10:24:52 PM: I think its all relative to what glass you're putting on top of it. If you're running a ed50 or a little minox you don't need the same as if you're running a 80mm Swaro.
I am using the Vortex high country tripod with the head it came with. I agree with Shane, the legs that fold out are important.
Title: Re: What tripod?
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on December 26, 2012, 08:39:35 AM: Wow.. That Manfrotto looks like something to do survey work with. 5 pounds?

The Slick mini comes in at less than 2 pounds and compacts to 14 inches. With a ball head too.

The Vortex high country is also right about 2 pounds too, but doesn't colapse as small. Also has a ball head.

How are the ball heads holding up on those tripods? With the ball head, is there a notched or self centering feature?

-Steve
Title: What tripod?
Post by: jackelope on December 26, 2012, 08:46:02 AM: Vortex has no self centering function. I can almost stand up straight and use it though. You should have no trouble. I realize that is not an important factor to you but you won't always be on the ground using it. Having short legged tripod would be cool at the range but I can't see that being useful in the woods. Just my .03 I guess.
Title: What tripod?
Post by: jackelope on December 26, 2012, 08:50:09 AM: The legs that fold outwards is a must for me from this point on. Something else to consider. If we were closer I'd leg you take it and use it a while. Let me know if you're headed this way.
Title: Re: What tripod?
Post by: Bean Counter on December 26, 2012, 09:48:17 AM: Quote from: JackOfAllTrades on December 26, 2012, 08:39:35 AM
Wow.. That Manfrotto looks like something to do survey work with. 5 pounds?

The Slick mini comes in at less than 2 pounds and compacts to 14 inches. With a ball head too.

The Vortex high country is also right about 2 pounds too, but doesn't colapse as small. Also has a ball head.

How are the ball heads holding up on those tripods? With the ball head, is there a notched or self centering feature?

-Steve

Yep. Or telezoom photography. Or using it as a shooting stick. 8) Weight doesn't bother me if I get what I'm paying (spending the effort) for. Not going to lie: I do sweat carrying that setup, a rifle, and a backpack 1 to 2 miles away from the truck and up a tall mountain. But once up there, I glass all day and feel like I own the area. While having good glass is important, Its nice being able to pan around all day without frustration. I can just nudge the handle with my thumb and move precisely from one tree to the next. If I bump it I'm not afraid its going to fall over. If anybody has an 80+mm spotting scope on top of a 2 pound tripod and head set up and can move it as smoothly and solidly as mine, I'd love to hear about it.

This last deer season I found my buddy and I venturing up four miles away from the trucks with that heavy spotter and tripod in hand. I'm thinking about investing in some 15x56 binos. For a longer hike I'd leave the spotter and 10x binos behind and just bring the heavy binos and rangefinder. I can see an ultralight tripod or being handy in such a situation.
Title: Re: What tripod?
Post by: coachcw on December 29, 2012, 08:31:04 AM: for those long hikes a set of 15x would be nice , I like to cary a trigger stick , they steady the binos and can make a decent walking stick too !
Title: Re: What tripod?
Post by: huntnnw on December 31, 2012, 09:49:35 PM: my manfrotto doesnt look like u could do survey work with it
Title: Re: What tripod?
Post by: jjhunter on January 01, 2013, 03:29:47 PM: I use a medium outdoorsman with the outdoormans pistol grip head. I am going to order another medium tripod with their fluid head this month to accomodate my big spotter. I use my tripod for strictly hunting applications and believe that it is the best hunting tripod available, taking everything into consideration.