Shoulder pod vs window mount-- sorry to have given the wrong impression about using the ATX 95 on a shoulder pod, totally impractical. I mentioned it just to illustrate that I own, and have used a wide variety of scopes trying to find the perfect combinations. When traveling by car, and walking only short distances I use either the ATX 95 or 65 on a carbon fiber tripod. If birding internationally, and /or doing a lot of hiking all day I use either my angled ED 50 or Opticron 52 with a small compact Slik Tripod and Gitzo ball head.
When I am staying in my vehicle, or anyone else's, I use the straight ED50 on a shoulder pod. As I said before it is quick to deploy, comfortable to use in any position, can look out either window, and can be handed to another person to look at whatever he wants. I use a 16x WA EP, because it works well being hand held, and in my experience when trying to use a higher power there is vibration coming from the window clamp (when I used it) and if anybody else is in the vehicle the motion of the vehicle makes a higher power magnification impractical.
When I was trying to use window clamps, the best combination I found was a Manfrotto that let me use a quick release plate so I could quickly switch between window clamp or tripod. Some of the big trucks and SUVs are better suited to using a window clamp, and if I owned that kind of a vehicle and did most of my birding sitting in a vehicle I'd get a window clamp with a QRP. But since I mainly do quick looks from inside my vehicle, I am totally content with my shoulder pod/Nikon ED50.
When I am staying in my vehicle, or anyone else's, I use the straight ED50 on a shoulder pod. As I said before it is quick to deploy, comfortable to use in any position, can look out either window, and can be handed to another person to look at whatever he wants. I use a 16x WA EP, because it works well being hand held, and in my experience when trying to use a higher power there is vibration coming from the window clamp (when I used it) and if anybody else is in the vehicle the motion of the vehicle makes a higher power magnification impractical.
When I was trying to use window clamps, the best combination I found was a Manfrotto that let me use a quick release plate so I could quickly switch between window clamp or tripod. Some of the big trucks and SUVs are better suited to using a window clamp, and if I owned that kind of a vehicle and did most of my birding sitting in a vehicle I'd get a window clamp with a QRP. But since I mainly do quick looks from inside my vehicle, I am totally content with my shoulder pod/Nikon ED50.