[James Day]

Being short of height (5' 5" on a good day) I was wondering if I could take advantage of a light weight tripod that doesn't need to be extended too high (more stable) or a junior tripod. I would also find carrying such a tall item difficult, so perhaps ease of folding is another issue. Are there any fellow shorties out there to pass on recommedations?
My Telescope is a lighwieght Optircron imagic 65, with angled eyepiece. I currently carry a hide clamp which is excellent for birding from hides and the occasional outdoor balancing act.

[postcardcv]

Try the Manfrotto digitripod 728 (I think it has replaced the 390 Junoir tripod) - it retails for about £80 has four leg sections so folds down small and is very lightweight. The only two drawback with this one is that the head cannot (easily) be changed and the legs do not open to extreme angles.

If you want a tripod that is more versatile try the Manfrotto 190 legs, they are fairly small and light but very stable, if weights a big issue look at the magfibre version. However the 190 is more expensive than the 728 - the standard version with head is about £130-150, while the magfibre ones are £220-250.

[James Day]

Thanks for that, is the ease of changing the head on the digi tripod 728 much of an issue? Say, if I still wanted to use a hide clamp? I'm a bit out of my depth here with the practicalities.

[postcardcv]

Originally Posted by James Day

Thanks for that, is the ease of changing the head on the digi tripod 728 much of an issue? Say, if I still wanted to use a hide clamp? I'm a bit out of my depth here with the practicalities.

Hi James

with most Manfrotto tripods changing the head is just a matter of unscrewing one and attaching another. However the 728 comes with a fixed head (the 390), removing it would involve some cutting. The 390 is an ok head and will hold a scope without any problems, just not as nice as some of the others.

I am not sure as to whether you can remove the central column of the 728, but will have a look when at work tomorrow and let you know.

[marco]

Originally Posted by James Day

Thanks for that, is the ease of changing the head on the digi tripod 728 much of an issue? Say, if I still wanted to use a hide clamp? I'm a bit out of my depth here with the practicalities.

Hi James
You wouldn't need to cut the head off a 728 for it to fit in a hide clamp, you would just remove the complete head and centre column assembly from the tripod legs (requires unclipping a rubber bung on the bottom of the centre column) and drop it into the clamp - it fits straight into the Manfrotto 349 Column clamp.
Marco

[James Day]

Originally Posted by marco

Hi James
You wouldn't need to cut the head off a 728 for it to fit in a hide clamp, you would just remove the complete head and centre column assembly from the tripod legs (requires unclipping a rubber bung on the bottom of the centre column) and drop it into the clamp - it fits straight into the Manfrotto 349 Column clamp.
Marco

That sounds just like my kind of kit! Many thanks.

[Humboldt Jim]

Originally Posted by James Day

Being short of height (5' 5" on a good day) I was wondering if I could take advantage of a light weight tripod that doesn't need to be extended too high (more stable) or a junior tripod. I would also find carrying such a tall item difficult, so perhaps ease of folding is another issue. Are there any fellow shorties out there to pass on recommedations?
My Telescope is a lighwieght Optircron imagic 65, with angled eyepiece. I currently carry a hide clamp which is excellent for birding from hides and the occasional outdoor balancing act.

Hi James,

I find that I can compensate for my own lack of hieght by not fully extending the legs of the tripod. Also consider that a somewhat "full sized" tripod can be usefull when observing from a slope. The two fully extended legs should be down slope and the partialy exended one is up slope.

I am spoiled by my old Flip-Lock that allows me to spred 'em, release 'em and lock them where they fall while holding the head where I want it. It has the disadvantage of the Neo-tech of not being very collapsable (2-sections) but is solid as a rock when locked.

Actually, we shorties have it best when it comes to tripods, not to mention a myriad of other advantages!

Happy birding,

Jim Clark

[James Day]

Thanks for that Jim, good point about the long legs on a slope! Do you think that the flip and lock design is preferable to the neotech? Despite it being "the latest thing"?

[Humboldt Jim]

Originally Posted by James Day

Thanks for that Jim, good point about the long legs on a slope! Do you think that the flip and lock design is preferable to the neotech? Despite it being "the latest thing"?

Hi James,

I don't know how the NeoTech legs work so I can't make a comparison.

Also, I think that I got one of the last FlipLocks in about 1984. They were the "hot" tripod then. I know of several folks that have had problems with their FlipLocks and have taken them apart, washed, cleaned and removed any corrosion and put them back together to work like new. he are built like trucks but surprisingly light. My FlipLock is also a pain to travel with because they don't collapse to a convenient length for easy packing. I think for my nest trip I will be getting 3-section BM (short enough). I won't be able to decide on MagFiber or aluminum until I make more comparisons regading vibrations. The differencein weight of about 1/2 pound is not worth $150 to me.

Good luck trying to find a FlipLock. Met a lady on a Mendocino Birding trip who would not part with her Flip Lock.

Jim