Post by: 7mmfan on December 20, 2016, 08:53:57 AM
I have no experience with tripods or heads or the benefits of a ball head vs. pan head.
I want to be able to use it standing up and sitting down, but I want it to be as light weight and compact as possible for putting in my pack. I started the research yesterday and realized immediately that I needed some input.
I know this is a can of worms being opened, so let me have it!
Post by: tjthebest on December 20, 2016, 08:58:49 AM
Post by: whacker1 on December 20, 2016, 08:59:35 AM
Post by: Magnum_Willys on December 20, 2016, 09:19:23 AM
I got a Slik that is lightweight, inexpensive and works fine. Put a manfrotto head on it that works fine but its a big heavy hunk of metal. Gotta be something in plastic or aluminum out there that works as well. The head must weigh as much as the tripod.
I would look for a sitting tripod only for packing.
Post by: 2MANY on December 20, 2016, 09:50:37 AM
Adjust the tension and it pans and holds any size glass in any direction.
Spend the extra coin and get a full size tripod made out of light weight carbon/composite.
They are light enough you can still pack them hiking and go full height.
Post by: BULLBLASTER on December 20, 2016, 10:15:47 AM
Post by: huntnfmly on December 20, 2016, 10:18:26 AM
Post by: huntnphool on December 20, 2016, 10:28:24 AM
For my spotter I love my Manfrotto trigger head. It is heavier than most but is very fast to adjust with only one hand and is rock solid when sitting up on windy ridges. If you go too light, the wind will have it moving too much to even bother trying to use.
My Bogen/Manfotto tripod is getting dated and being aluminum transfers the cold right through my gloves, but it's been hard to replace. I'm looking for the right carbon fiber tripod to replace it but havnt made the choice yet.
Post by: 2MANY on December 20, 2016, 10:36:21 AM
Buy the Swaro.
Post by: whacker1 on December 20, 2016, 10:52:44 AM
I could have gone lighter with the carbon, but the folks I talked to that had them side by side, said that the carbon options, while lighter aren't as stable, and specifically in wind.
To be fair this is really the most expensive set up I could have gone with. I wanted to do this once and only once.
Post by: jackelope on December 20, 2016, 10:54:54 AM
what is your budget?
Most important question.
Post by: 2MANY on December 20, 2016, 10:57:59 AM
what is your wife's Christmas gift budget?
Most important question.
Post by: huntnfmly on December 20, 2016, 11:03:29 AM
Post by: Eric M on December 20, 2016, 11:07:21 AM
Post by: 7mmfan on December 20, 2016, 11:18:59 AM
I know me well enough to know that I absolutely will not head into the hills with something that is going to slow me down, either by weight or size. So a full size tripod that I have to carry in hand is out of the question. However, I have been in situations where I know I would need a tripod that can reach at least almost full height in order to use it effectively due to terrain/brush, etc... I know there are more expensive versions that can collapse down small enough to sit and use and expand out for standing use. I just don't know which ones are worth the money they want for them.
Keep the thoughts and suggestions coming, I'm logging names into the memory bank.
Post by: JDHasty on December 20, 2016, 11:25:23 AM
I haven't established a budget for this yet, as I literally know nothing about them. I know I can spend about as much as I want to, but there has to be a happy medium somewhere.
I know me well enough to know that I absolutely will not head into the hills with something that is going to slow me down, either by weight or size. So a full size tripod that I have to carry in hand is out of the question. However, I have been in situations where I know I would need a tripod that can reach at least almost full height in order to use it effectively due to terrain/brush, etc... I know there are more expensive versions that can collapse down small enough to sit and use and expand out for standing use. I just don't know which ones are worth the money they want for them.
Keep the thoughts and suggestions coming, I'm logging names into the memory bank.
Outdoorsman products are what it impresses me that you are looking for. I don't own them personally, but friends have gone through an assortment getting to where they needed to be and I have been the beneficiary of a lot of dithering about trying to save a few bucks and not getting what they should have in the first place.
Post by: huntnphool on December 20, 2016, 11:31:10 AM
I haven't established a budget for this yet, as I literally know nothing about them. I know I can spend about as much as I want to, but there has to be a happy medium somewhere.
I know me well enough to know that I absolutely will not head into the hills with something that is going to slow me down, either by weight or size. So a full size tripod that I have to carry in hand is out of the question. However, I have been in situations where I know I would need a tripod that can reach at least almost full height in order to use it effectively due to terrain/brush, etc... I know there are more expensive versions that can collapse down small enough to sit and use and expand out for standing use. I just don't know which ones are worth the money they want for them.
Keep the thoughts and suggestions coming, I'm logging names into the memory bank.
I choose to carry mine that way in the pic because it makes it quick to get on critters. It does fit into the small pack on my back if I take the head off of it and pack them both.
Post by: huntnfmly on December 20, 2016, 11:37:06 AM
Post by: 7mmfan on December 20, 2016, 11:44:48 AM
I haven't established a budget for this yet, as I literally know nothing about them. I know I can spend about as much as I want to, but there has to be a happy medium somewhere.
I know me well enough to know that I absolutely will not head into the hills with something that is going to slow me down, either by weight or size. So a full size tripod that I have to carry in hand is out of the question. However, I have been in situations where I know I would need a tripod that can reach at least almost full height in order to use it effectively due to terrain/brush, etc... I know there are more expensive versions that can collapse down small enough to sit and use and expand out for standing use. I just don't know which ones are worth the money they want for them.
Keep the thoughts and suggestions coming, I'm logging names into the memory bank.
I choose to carry mine that way in the pic because it makes it quick to get on critters. It does fit into the small pack on my back if I take the head off of it and pack them both.
I suppose if I was in a spot where I knew I was only glassing and the chance of running into an animal was low, I would probably do the same. I've just had enough missed opportunities where if I had not been carrying something I'd have gotten a shot.
Post by: 7mmfan on December 20, 2016, 11:45:33 AM
Here's a pic of my tripod fits in side pocket of backpack and extends up to standing. I'm 6ft
I'm a shorty, at 5' 9" so that would work fine. What is the normal going rate for a tripod/head like yours?
Post by: huntnfmly on December 20, 2016, 11:51:07 AM
Post by: huntnfmly on December 20, 2016, 11:59:03 AM
Do some searching and you can find some pretty good deals on what you're looking for
Post by: huntnfmly on December 20, 2016, 12:01:34 PM
Post by: b23 on December 20, 2016, 12:25:56 PM
Post by: Will B on December 20, 2016, 12:58:06 PM
One was a manfrotto mtpro4 with the RC128 pan head - weighs almost 7 pounds. Super stable, even in 35 mile an hour winds, and effortless panning. Painless to set up and take down quickly.
The other was a vortex summit carbon with a vortex pan head - weighs about half that, a little over 3 pounds. Less stable in wind, slower to take up and take down, noticeably less smooth panning.
Both are inexpensive, both worked reasonably well. If I was pre-season scouting, or walking a mile or so to glass, and planning to glass for a long time, I'd prefer the manfrotto. Big hike, long distance, I'd want the vortex or another lightweight tripod.
Post by: Magnum_Willys on December 20, 2016, 01:44:12 PM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on December 20, 2016, 06:10:05 PM
Post by: Mossyoak on December 30, 2016, 09:28:28 AM