[brummy]

I have just purchased a Swaro ATS HD 80mm telescope which i eventually want to use for discoping. I want to spend approx £250 on tripod with head. I can purchase the Manfrotto 055 MVF + 701 RC2 For this price help please if this combo is adequate for the job

[baillieswells]

Originally Posted by brummy

I have just purchased a Swaro ATS HD 80mm telescope which i eventually want to use for discoping. I want to spend approx £250 on tripod with head. I can purchase the Manfrotto 055 MVF + 701 RC2 For this price help please if this combo is adequate for the job

I recently purchased a Manfrotto 701RC2 head, but with a Velbon carbon fibre Sherpa 630 Pro tripod. The pair came to less than £250. Comparing it with the Manfrotto carbon fibre tripods it seemed to me that the Velbon had the edge. But this is purely personal. If it wasn't so heavy and a lot more expensive I would probably have chosen the larger Manfrotto head, I have
forgotten the number, I think it is either 501 or503.

[black lark]

Originally Posted by brummy

I have just purchased a Swaro ATS HD 80mm telescope which i eventually want to use for discoping. I want to spend approx £250 on tripod with head. I can purchase the Manfrotto 055 MVF + 701 RC2 For this price help please if this combo is adequate for the job

Manfrotto 055 is ok, but for the head take the 501, its mutch better.

[Bish]

Originally Posted by brummy

I have just purchased a Swaro ATS HD 80mm telescope which i eventually want to use for discoping. I want to spend approx £250 on tripod with head. I can purchase the Manfrotto 055 MVF + 701 RC2 For this price help please if this combo is adequate for the job

Warehouse Express.com are doing the Velbon Sherpa Pro CF-631 Carbon tripod & Manfrotto 701 RC2 on special offer for 239.00 or without head for 159.00, Regards Bish.

[postcardcv]

You'll be best served using Manfrotto legs if you're using one of their heads, they attach much more securely than they do on Velbon legs (which are probably slightly lighter). As others have said the 501 is a better head for digiscoping, but it's also a lot more money and weight.

Rather than the 701 I'd recommend the 128 (assuming you don't want to step up to the 501). The 128 is designed to be used with the Swarovksi balance rail, this will give you a lot more movement to balance the set up than the 701 will give.

[Glen Christian]

Originally Posted by baillieswells

I recently purchased a Manfrotto 701RC2 head, but with a Velbon carbon fibre Sherpa 630 Pro tripod. The pair came to less than £250. Comparing it with the Manfrotto carbon fibre tripods it seemed to me that the Velbon had the edge. But this is purely personal. If it wasn't so heavy and a lot more expensive I would probably have chosen the larger Manfrotto head, I have
forgotten the number, I think it is either 501 or503.

What are your reasons for being unhappy with the 701RC2 head? I need to choose between the two, and am tempted to go for the 501 purely because I know it won't let me down. I own a Swarovski ATS80 HD with 20 - 60xS eyepiece, and intend to use it for digiscoping probably in combination with a DSLR. Nowhere have I read that the 701RC2 would be unsuitable, but I have noticed many comments stating that the 501 is the preferred choice.

[baillieswells]

Originally Posted by Glen Christian

What are your reasons for being unhappy with the 701RC2 head? I need to choose between the two, and am tempted to go for the 501 purely because I know it won't let me down. I own a Swarovski ATS80 HD with 20 - 60xS eyepiece, and intend to use it for digiscoping probably in combination with a DSLR. Nowhere have I read that the 701RC2 would be unsuitable, but I have noticed many comments stating that the 501 is the preferred choice.

I am not at all unhappy with the Manfrotto 701RC2 head, it works fine with my Canon 350D camera and my largest lens a Sigma 170-500mm DG. My only complaint is that I wished it had a safety catch . The 501 head is just that much bigger and more solid, but as a result much heavier and considerably more expensice. If ever I aspire to a Canon 600mm then I might need the 501, at the moment I don't. Why have a Sherman tank when a Porsch would do the job!

[Griffon]

I am completely new to this forum. I am looking for help regarding a tripod for Leica televid 77 APO. I will be purchasing the spotting scope soon and I currently own an old Velbon Veb-3 tripod which I use for my Canon EOS 300D. Does anyone know if this tripod will be strong enough for the televid and later on for digiscoping?

thanks in advance for your help

Griffon

[griffin]

Originally Posted by Griffon

I am completely new to this forum. I am looking for help regarding a tripod for Leica televid 77 APO. I will be purchasing the spotting scope soon and I currently own an old Velbon Veb-3 tripod which I use for my Canon EOS 300D. Does anyone know if this tripod will be strong enough for the televid and later on for digiscoping?

thanks in advance for your help

Griffon

Maybe, but it might be better to go with a Manfrotto Nat055. I noticed a huge difference going from a Slik to the Manfrotto, which was much more stable and had less creep.

G:Rif