Travel Tripod: suggestions for low down bum. (1 Viewer)

johnlw said:

My current light tripod has died. It was a cheapish aluminium camera type one. I have a proper Manfrotto 055 and head but they are out of the question for use with my bike although I have used them there. This is for travelling by bike and by air only.

My scope is an 80mm, so it's heavy but I am not looking for perfection, and I don't want to replace it. It is angled, which helps on the height.

I can compromise on height by sitting on the ground.
I can compromise on stability by never leaving it unattended with the scope mounted.
I can even compromise on a decent head.
I'm not afraid of spending money but carbon fibre is a bit OTT.

With the above in mind I'm looking for a new tripod which will be short enough to fit in bike panniers or rucsac and I can use sitting on the ground for an hour or so.
I dont need 4 sections or even three since the smallest one is liable to be too spindly to be any use with a heavy scope on top. I would be happy with an extended height of around a metre. I have tried a monopod but with limited success.

My current situation is I have a reasonable scope but don't have anything at all to mount it on (I'm away from home so can't use my "proper" one.)

Santa has offered to get me a Manfrotto 714SHB, which would fit the bill (remembering all the compromises I'm prepared to make) but I dont really need the lower legs.

Any suggestions please.

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Otto McDiesel said:

For about 3 years i had a 80mm scope (big Optolyth), but no money for a real tripod. I used a "cheapish aluminum" camera tripod. This tripod was light and small enough for a backpack (no car either, but that did not stop me from birding on 3 continents during years) - and it was stable enough for using while sitting or kneeling. I used a piece of foam camping mattress to sit, even in winter, and the tripod head was good and fluid (nice paning). I would find a log, or sit on my foam mattress or my backpack, and i had a great time. The cheapish tripod was excellent up to about 1 m height.
It is much more comfortable to sit down while looking at birds on a lake. The only problem was when there was tall vegetation.
If you are handy, you can also remove a leg section from a Manfrotto.

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johnlw said:

Yes that describes what I do, I just need to replace my cheapish aluminum job.

I see Manfrotto have 718SHB and 714SHB which would probably work, they are £60/50 at warehouse express. both go to 1.2m and can take a max load of 2.5Kg, The 718SHB has some kind of pan/tilt head.
I will go for one of these unless I get a better suggestion.

Click to expand...

johnlw said:

Yes that describes what I do, I just need to replace my cheapish aluminum job.

I see Manfrotto have 718SHB and 714SHB which would probably work, they are £60/50 at warehouse express. both go to 1.2m and can take a max load of 2.5Kg, The 718SHB has some kind of pan/tilt head.
I will go for one of these unless I get a better suggestion.

Click to expand...