tripod and head help please

[Bill Came]

I have just started digiscoping, and have a leica 77 televid and cp 4500, which as you know is quite heavy. is there a tipod which will stay on the subject without dropping back

[postcardcv]

I would recommend going to your local optics dealer and trying a Manfrotto tripod. They are very solid and should be able to hold steady on your subject. If you are happy with this it may be worth looking at the Swarovski tripods, they appear to simply be re-badged Manfrotto's but ate a bit cheaper....

[Bill Came]

many thanks for the reply, once I've found my nearest dealer, I shall look into it........
regards
Bill......

[dylan]

Bill, check out www.kayoptical.co.uk/ in Morden (by the tube station), I've found them to be very helpful.
Dylan.

[eric s]

It all depends on how much you are willing to spend and how much weight you are willing to carry (or more to the point, not carry.)

Manfrotto (Bogen to US people) make very good tripods. So does Gitzo (which I learned it also owned by Manfrotto.) If you have the money and need to carry less weight, the carbon fiber tripods are very nice. They are lighter than the alternative, but in some cases not by a lot. I don't know if the carbon fiber pods are more stable or able to absorb shock waves better (from shutters, for example.)

Of course, since you are going to take pictures through that scope you will need it to be very steady. That means a higher quality tripod that would normally be needed for scope use.

Personally, I have a Bogen Carbon One (Bogen 440, I believe) and I am happy in every way but one. I also use it with my camera and its a bit low for that. I have to hunch slightly. It works well with my angled scope, but not with the camera (a Canon 10D.) Just thought I'd mention it.

Eric