spotting scope tripod

[porthos]

i have a KOWA spotting scope and i am looking for a good tripod. since i spent the rent on the scope i'm not concerned with the price (within reason) for a tripod. what i want is solid and ease of moving the scope. any suggestions?

[M-Tecs]

For a bench or from the ground? To be used when shooting prone?

[metricmonkeywrench]

Found 2 a while back, a small bench top and a very overkill studio quality portable tripod as a local swap meet.

There out there if you patient

[BamaNapper]

If it's for bench use, there are tons of tabletop tripods out there. Personally, I'd avoid the ones with the ball and socket type mechanism and go with a standard pan head. A video pan head with the fluid damping might make things easier to set up.

A Manfrotto 209 Table Top Tripod with one of the Manfrotto video pan heads? A very simple setup.

I like using the Manfrotto (Bogen) tripods with a camera. Some get stupid expensive, but their lesser models are still great quality in my opinion. I have a 40-yr old Bogen at the house that I rebuilt a couple years ago. I'd never replace it.

[Gtek]

The spotter here is treated like eggs, the tripod is a used pawn shop special and don't even know who made it. It gets stuck in the sand, scooted around on concrete on line next to me on bench. It is not intentionally abused and has been working for coming up on twenty or so I think with me. Buddy has one of those pistol grip adjust ball things, not for me.

[farmbif]

spent the $$ on a top notch scope theres no reason not to get a gitzo tripod, they have many models from light and portable to heavy and not so portable but all are first quality and solid

[tazman]

If it's for bench use, there are tons of tabletop tripods out there. Personally, I'd avoid the ones with the ball and socket type mechanism and go with a standard pan head. A video pan head with the fluid damping might make things easier to set up.

A Manfrotto 209 Table Top Tripod with one of the Manfrotto video pan heads? A very simple setup.

I like using the Manfrotto (Bogen) tripods with a camera. Some get stupid expensive, but their lesser models are still great quality in my opinion. I have a 40-yr old Bogen at the house that I rebuilt a couple years ago. I'd never replace it.

You have the right idea. I picked up a video pan head tripod for one of the old large tape cameras at a yard sale for a few bucks. It is very stable with my spotting scope on it.

[country gent]

If you want a really solid stable tripod look at surveyors tripods not cheap but very solid and well built I habe used several different stands over the years freelands bi pods with a wind spike added, jim owens stand and made a few. I also have a true tripod for my 25 x 100 binoculars made by a spotting scope maker it has fine adjustment radial and vertical.
for ease of transport and moving the freelands are great and will get you from prone to standing but not as stable as others
the Jim Owens is a true tripod base better stability adjustable from prone to standing but folded up is a bigger dia than the freelands and harder to get a hold of
The tripod is stable and solid sets up quick collapsed is the longest. and the heaviest, but in the wind with the big binoculars on it it very stable.

[Minerat]

Go on the labradar site and look at the tabletop one they have. I have one and use it for my spotting scope at $44 it's not too bad.

https://buymylabradar.com/products/universal-labradar-mount

[LynC2]

Go on ebay and pick up a Manfrotto (Bogen) tripod or one of the high end ones for a fraction of the new cost. Yea, I know it's Ebay.:-?

[Maven]

Another thumbs up for what LynC2 said! Manfrotto/Bogen tripods are excellent + other types of heads (to suit) are available.

[porthos]

i don't know much about high end tripods. mine is cheap and wobbly. so, i have a few questions about the better tripods. are they all threaded the same? (will they accept a KOWA spotting scope). do they all have a "quick release" to remove the scope? read something about "fluid something or other" what is that?. the GITZO is a little more than i want to spend. but, the MANFROTTO prices are ok with me. not to put anyone on the spot; but is there a modle that someone would recommend. i am overwelmed with the different models

[BamaNapper]

Most tripods seem to be pretty standard, with the cost differences mostly due to stability and weight carrying capabilities. Some of the higher end tripods you will see are designed for video use. Imagine a 20 lb video camera being swung around on a tripod. That sucker needs to be solid or the result is going to be wobbly, bouncing video. On the other end of the spectrum is your basic $40 tripod. It's made to hold up a 2 lb camera and take still shots. That $40 tripod works great if the wind isn't blowing super hard and you're not in a hurry to frame your shot. Now, if you have a camera with a 2000mm lens that weights 6-8 lbs and is really nose heavy, maybe that $40 tripod isn't going to cut it. You really need to fit the tripod to your use. A spotting scope benefits from a stable tripod because you're usually 20 to 60 magnification and wobble is really noticeable. A little wobble at the range might be tolerable, but if you're scoping hillsides and ridges while hunting it's another story. Fit it to your use.

The threads on a tripod are usually pretty standard. Usually. Assume a tripod that does not have a pan head on it. Most have a 3/8" stud on top of the tripod for the pan head to screw onto. Then there's typically a 1/4" stud for the camera or scope on the pan head. Most people match pan head quality to the tripod. Put a $10 head on a $1000 tripod and it will perform as well as any $40 tripod out there. As for the fluid heads, think of the cheaper tripod we all have sitting around. It has an adjustable friction hinge that you can loosen and move the scope, then tighten down to lock it. I'm sure you know how it jerks from one point to another as you're trying to aim the scope. And without enough friction it just flops around like a flounder. Wouldn't it be nice if you could unlock the head and have it move nice and smooth? That's what the fluid head does. Viscous dampening. No more jerking and flopping around trying to get it pointed in the right direction. These heads are typically used for video cameras so you can pan and tilt smoothly. Stop by a camera shop and ask if they have a fluid head for a video camera. They will be happy to let you mess with one. I'm betting you immediately realize the benefits. I believe the pan head is the biggest factor.

Lastly, if your scope is nose heavy (mine is), consider adding a counter weight to the handle on the pan head to balance it. Lead weights and heat shrink maybe? That way, adjusting it vertically becomes much easier. A well balanced load on a fluid head will make you smile, even if you didn't spend hundreds on the tripod under it. At least that's my experience.

[Kraschenbirn]

For the bench or prone, I've got a small 'Vanguard' tripod that I picked up off Amazon for about $30. No fluid head but it supports my Meade 20x-60x (80mm objective) quite nicely and (with a little practice) pans smoothly. For shooting standing (or spotting for someone else), I use one of my regular camera tripods.

Bill

[porthos]

thanks guys especially Bama Napper. so far i know that i will get something with a fluid head. the rest is still up in the air. will spend some time looking for used. i may contact you (bama ) later with more questions.

[porthos]

thanks guys especially Bama Napper. so far i know that i will get something with a fluid head. the rest is still up in the air. will spend some time looking for used. i may contact you (bama ) later with more questions.

[Baltimoreed]

265495265496
I built this one. Used my HF mini mill on the aluminum parts. Can’t find a shot of the head, I’ll take one tomorrow.

[porthos]

i don't intend to shoot prone (too hard to get back up). so i'll be getting a tripod because it is more stable than the single tube type.

[phonejack]

265563I bought one of these from Champions Choice over 25 years ago. Very rugged and stable.

[Deadeye Bly]

Ebay is your best bet for a good price on a quality used tripod. Look for a Bogen Manfrotto heavy duty such as a 3033, 3036, 3050 or 3051. The ones with the leg supports from the center to each leg will be the most stable. Mine is a 3051 with a 3047 head. It is heavy and very stable in windy conditions. The 3047 head is a good head and the combo is generally rated for cameras up to 20 lbs or so. You can get a good deal for less than $200 if you are patient and look them over before deciding on your purchase.

[porthos]

searach is over ; i bought on e-bay a used manfrotto #3051 with a bogen #501 fluid top. $170.00 shipped. did have to pay nevada(i think) sales tax all that is missing is the quick release for the top. that i think can be had for less than $20.00. i will search one out next week. life is good

[W.R.Buchanan]

Here is the Cadillac of Spotting Scope Tripods. Adjustable for height, from the ground to 5'+ high. Very high quality machined parts and it breaks down into a Canvas Bag. Excellent Design and Execution!

https://www.creedmoorsports.com/product/creedmoor-tripod-scope-stand/Scope-and-Stand-Accessories

Randy

[M-Tecs]

The Highpower type scope stands are great if you need to use the scope while standing, sitting, prone fire or scoring while sitting. They work very well for that propose. The down side is they are harder to get on target than the camera type heads found on most tripods. When I shoot Highpower I use that type of stand. For most other applications use a camera conventional type tripod.

[Norske]

I'm another Bogen/Manfrotto tripod user. I also have a Manfrotto ball head which works very well for photography. However for really steady spotting scope use, I have an old Vivitar tripod with a gimble mount. That tripod, my 80mm Pentax scope and I just came in from looking at Jupiter and its 4 largest moons and Saturn and its ring from my backyard. Both are visible in the southern sky .

[woodbutcher]

[smilie=s: If you want to try a neat project,try building your own scope mount.Many years ago a friend needed a quality mount for his spotting scope.His Father built one for him.
His Father was a master machinest.Instead of a plain pan head mount and tripod he went all out on the build.Rack and pinion for leg adjustment and for right/left and up and down
he did travers and elevation just like an MG mount.
He is still using that setup to this day.40 some years later.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[monadnock#5]

265563I bought one of these from Champions Choice over 25 years ago. Very rugged and stable.

I bought this same unit 20 years ago and is an excellent choice for whatever you want it for. It does require tweeking, adjusting and dubbing with to make it work. However, there is no situation where I couldn't make it work for me. From prone, to sitting and standing. Rain, wind and bright sunlight it always worked. Never got sanctioned at a match for gumming up the event.

[Uncle Grinch]

OP... you mentioned wanting a quick release for your spotting scope. This is what I use for my scope and my various cameras and lens. It’s solid and works great. Most all tripods, especially Bogen/Manfrotto use a standard screw mount.

https://i.postimg.cc/rwPVwbqZ/588-C4775-63-D9-4-C9-D-9445-E1-CDB7-E25-C9-D.png (https://postimg.cc/pmKb0shK)

[BolysVnss]

To be honest, if you don't care about it, you can by the cheapest tripod on ebay or amazon and that's all. Otherwise, I can tell you that the tripods market is super various and it will be very hard to chose the perfect one. Even pros written special articles about this stuff and I would say it is really helpful. You can check here https://ballachy.com/best-spotting-scope-tripod (https://ballachy.com/best-spotting-scope-tripod). I bought my first one, Vortex Optics High Country Tripod , a really good one and the price is decent. It perfectly fits all the scopes and it also stands strong on all the surfaces. Everything is up to you, hope you'll take the right decision!

[fgd135]

265563I bought one of these from Champions Choice over 25 years ago. Very rugged and stable.

That is exactly the setup I use with my Kowa, although I have a 5# counterwt attached to the low end of the shaft; ground is too hard here for a spike. CC sells both.

[hawkenhunter50]

Nothing to add, posting so I can easily follow along. Interested in a good tripod myself.

[high standard 40]

I was a professional videographer for the15 years prior to my retirement. I had 3 Bogan/Manfrotto tripods with fluid heads. These were rated for a 25 pound camera. I use one now for my spotting scope. After demanding a rock solid yet smooth to adjust tripod for my work I couldn't settle for less with my spotting scope. Everyone who has tried mine has said "Wow". I sold one of mine be to a friend and I'm keeping another for a spare.

[wildwilly501]

To the OP.Glad to see you got a good tripod.It’s amazing how much better your spotting scope is with a good tripod.

[porthos]

the only issue with my tripod is that it weights 15 pounds

[Electrod47]

Look at the BOG DEATHGRIP its designed to mount a rifle on. But, the clamping cradle can also easily hold cameras, Binoculars, or I would imagine a spotting scope with a Deathgrip. Got mine for 120ish