Cullman Pod

[william j clive]

In the wake of 9/11, I bought a Opticron Midget MM2 for travelling, not wanting to put my kit in the hold. Just recently got a Cullman shoulder pod to use with the Opticron. It has transformed the Midget from a nice, but seldom used little ornament into an easy to carry and practical tool.

Visited Dinas RSPB yesterday, and would normally just have taken bins. The Midget and pod together weigh just 2lbs 4oz. and can be carried on a strap all day with no effort. The Midget has a 15-40 zoom, that I use on 15x. It is a good combination for me, others could probably use more mag. A Redstart singing in the canopy, difficult to see well with binoculars, was much nicer in the scope.

The Cullman can also be used as a mini tripod. I would endorse it as a way of always having a scope with you at all times. I got mine from Ace Optics and it cost me £30. Money well spent. Should have got one years ago.

Only works with straight scopes.

Clive Jones

[Blincodave]

I've successfully used one with angled scopes such as the Kowa 611/3

[Jane Turner]

......and I am never without my cullmann shoulder pod and my battered Nikon 20x60 Field scope

[Mike R]

Hi,
I'm new to the forum, so excuse any mistakes.
I recently bought a Cullman shoulder pod ( model 0080 ) via e-bay.
When the pod is collapsed, the bottom of the centre post extends through the hole between the legs. To extend the pod, I presume I just pull the post up.
On the lower end of the post is a silver metal part, with a small raised dot, which seems to fit into a channel in the hub which holds the legs.
My question is, does the post then have to be rotated to lock this raised dot into the hub ?
If not, I suspect that the post would then tend to slide out if any pressure was applied to the tripod head.
Thanks, Mike

[Andrew Rowlands]

Hi Mike,

Welcome to Birdforum on behalf of all the Staff here! Come and introduce yourself in the 'Say Hello' Forum sometime.
When the pod is collapsed, the bottom of the centre post extends through the hole between the legs. To extend the pod, I presume I just pull the post up.
Sounds about right; pull the head whilst holding the 'feet', then rotate the feet to 'lock' them on the base of the post.

Cheers,

Andy.

[Mike R]

Hi Andrew,
Thanks or the warm welcome.
I have tried turning the post to "lock" it into the hub which holds the feet, but I don't know which way to turn to lock.
I am assuming that the channel which the raised bit sits in turns through 90 degrees inside the hub, to act as a lock. However, I don't know which way it goes ( clockwise or anti-clockwise ).

[Andrew Rowlands]

Hi Andrew,
Thanks or the warm welcome.
I have tried turning the post to "lock" it into the hub which holds the feet, but I don't know which way to turn to lock.
I am assuming that the channel which the raised bit sits in turns through 90 degrees inside the hub, to act as a lock. However, I don't know which way it goes ( clockwise or anti-clockwise ).
I don't think it turns into an 'L' shaped cannel; it's the feet locking outwards (I think) that locks it.

Andy.

[Mike R]

I don't think it turns into an 'L' shaped cannel; it's the feet locking outwards (I think) that locks it.

Andy.
Thanks Andrew. You are spot on! One of the legs presses against a pad on the centre hub, which locks against the centre post. I was trying to get the post to lock whilst the legs were already turned outwards. Used the pod at weekend, centre post stays locked in no problem.
Thanks,
Mike