Compact but stable travel scope tripod? (2 Viewers)

[wllmspd]

Looking for lightweight suggestions for “leave the heavy tripod at home” days when I have the small 60mm Opticron scope. Max height 150cm, packed <50cm (so it fits in the backpack) and 1.5kg or thereabouts. Seems most compact tripods come with ballheads which I have no experience with using for a spotting scope.

There seem to be a few options from Benro, Siriu, the manfrotto Befree live, possibly a 3-legged-thing.I’d like reasonable stability, concerned that many light tripods are rather spindly and maybe little improvement on the monopod that I currently use for light travels.

Peter

 

[Richard D]

I picked up the Befree from Manfotto in their sale Befree Advanced Camo Wild Green Travel Tripod - New Edition If you're happy with camo green it's a good buy. Not the very lightest, but solidly built and very compact when folded. I find a ballhead works fine for scopes and binoculars - maybe not as intuitive or quite as fast as a video head, but very useable.

 

[BKoh]

I use a Sirui ET-2004. 4 section legs, folds down to fit in my backpack alongside a 80mm Svbony SV406P scope. If you want less weight the ET-2204 is the same but made from carbon fibre. I put a Sirui VA-5 video head on it, the tripod legs fold over it fine. With 3 sections extended and the centre column half-raised, 60x is stable.

 

[Swissboy]

Looking for lightweight suggestions for “leave the heavy tripod at home” days when I have the small 60mm Opticron scope. Max height 150cm, packed <50cm (so it fits in the backpack) and 1.5kg or thereabouts. Seems most compact tripods come with ballheads which I have no experience with using for a spotting scope.

There seem to be a few options from Benro, Siriu, the manfrotto Befree live, possibly a 3-legged-thing.I’d like reasonable stability, concerned that many light tripods are rather spindly and maybe little improvement on the monopod that I currently use for light travels.

Peter

I have similar needs and ended up with a HAMA Traveller PD 146-B. It has a ballhead. Think that's not optimal but best compromise to keep the weight down.

 

[WRL]

Looking for lightweight suggestions for “leave the heavy tripod at home” days when I have the small 60mm Opticron scope. Max height 150cm, packed <50cm (so it fits in the backpack) and 1.5kg or thereabouts. Seems most compact tripods come with ballheads which I have no experience with using for a spotting scope.

There seem to be a few options from Benro, Siriu, the manfrotto Befree live, possibly a 3-legged-thing.I’d like reasonable stability, concerned that many light tripods are rather spindly and maybe little improvement on the monopod that I currently use for light travels.

Peter

Peter:
"Compact" and "stable" are obviously on different sides of the balance beam. It is much up to your personal preferences (or will to suffer) which side you are giving priority. I for myself voted for "compact" when carrying my smaller scope. Therefore I have a Peak Design Travel Tripod (aluminium version, because of price, but it is not actually light). However, it is really compact and has some sort of intrinsic ball head. Not perfect, but workable. We have a proverb in German (roughly translated): One kind of death you'll have to die.

 

[wllmspd]

Compact…. Fitting in the bag with other stuff would be nice. Light… so my back doesn’t get too tired and thus save having to separately hand carry another object (current tripod is 3.5kg). Discovered my bird guide is 700g… I have an app that does a good job, so saved a bit of weight. Getting something that’s not too flimsy or heavy is the aim, seems like too much choice is the main issue.

Thanks
Peter

 

[wllmspd]

Compact, stable and cheap…. Pick two!
Peter

 

[Tringa45]

Compact, stable and cheap…. Pick two!
Peter

And that's being optimistic.

John

 

[Mkevenson]

IMHO, carbon fiber legs of good quality are both light and stable. Ditch the center column, for max stability. If it won’t fit in a pack , Tie it on, or add a shoulder strap .

 

[Hermann]

Gitzo GT1545T + a decent video head.

Anything lighter ... and you're better off with a decent monopod.

Hermann

 

[Steve Babbs]

This looks an interesting travel tripod for a 50mm or one of the smaller 60mm scopes, when saving weight is crucial.
K&F Concept KF-BA225 - Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod Review

Anyone tried it? A slightly larger one here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09PBK27LW/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExUjdSWDBQOVhYTk9aJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODY4MjM4M0xLQTlZTFgxQUw5NiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODkwNjk3MTBTTUdUTDhaNUk2MSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2hxcF9zaGFyZWQmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl&th=1

 

[mbb]

Gitzo GT1545T + a decent video head.

Anything lighter ... and you're better off with a decent monopod.

Hermann

I have been wondering about this model of Gitzo (or any GT154*, thus size 1,carbon,4section) if it would be worth it and for which size of scopes (50/60/65mm?, 80mm probably too large?).
Do you use this model and could you give share your experience with it? Any other models you compared it with?

 

[Hermann]

I have been wondering about this model of Gitzo (or any GT154*, thus size 1,carbon,4section) if it would be worth it and for which size of scopes (50/60/65mm?, 80mm probably too large?).
Do you use this model and could you give share your experience with it? Any other models you compared it with?

The Gitzo GT1545T is my travel tripod. I also use it quite a lot when hiking in "difficult" terrain like the Alps of the Norwegian fjells. I need a fairly tall tripod, and the Gitzo fits the bill nicely. Not as stable as my bigger Gitzos, especially on windy days, but it works pretty well with medium-sized scopes up to 60-65mm. I wouldn't want to use it with a big scope like my ED82. But then I won't want to carry a big and heavy scope in the mountains anyway ...

Comparisons to other tripods - I've been using Gitzos for more than 30 years. They seem to hold up better than anything else I've seen, and they are more stable in the wind. I actually tried a few lightweight tripods before getting the Gitzo, including a lightweight tripod from a well-renowned Chinese brand, and they didn't all cut it.

Hermann

 

[mbb]

The Gitzo GT1545T is my travel tripod. I also use it quite a lot when hiking in "difficult" terrain like the Alps of the Norwegian fjells. I need a fairly tall tripod, and the Gitzo fits the bill nicely. Not as stable as my bigger Gitzos, especially on windy days, but it works pretty well with medium-sized scopes up to 60-65mm. I wouldn't want to use it with a big scope like my ED82. But then I won't want to carry a big and heavy scope in the mountains anyway ...

Comparisons to other tripods - I've been using Gitzos for more than 30 years. They seem to hold up better than anything else I've seen, and they are more stable in the wind. I actually tried a few lightweight tripods before getting the Gitzo, including a lightweight tripod from a well-renowned Chinese brand, and they didn't all cut it.

Hermann

Thank you for the info! That is very interesting to read.
It sounds like it would be a great fit for a 50-55mm scope (being thinking about getting one, if a good second hand deal pops up), but it sounds as if it might be suboptimal for e.g. my ATX65. (I use it currently on a Manfrotto 055cxpro4 tripod, that I got second hand together with the scope. It is quite good, but of course quite heavier than the GT154x tripods... Maybe a GT254x or GT253x would be a better match, but for a more limited weight saving, maybe not worth the expense.)

When carrying the tripod, do you fold it to its most compact shape, with the legs turned back over/180°C?

This should makes the tripod even more compact for carrying in e.g. luggage, a bike's rear carrier, backpack etc., which would be the more valuable for such tripods focussing on light weight and compactness. But I am not sure with which heads that would work. Probably with some ball heads, which might maybe work for compact 50mm and might help reduce the total weight. But that might not work as well for 65mm scopes I guess.
I'm not sure if this 'back folding' of the legs would work with some compact, lightweight fluid heads like the GH1720QR (maybe without the hand bar...) which I quite like.

 

[Hermann]

When carrying the tripod, do you fold it to its most compact shape, with the legs turned back over/180°C?

No, I don't. Folding the tripod over only works with smallish heads, mainly ballheads, and I usually prefer using a video head. Doesn't work with any decent video head I know. In fact, I think this folding over business is more of an advertising gimmick than anything else.

I'm not sure if this 'back folding' of the legs would work with some compact, lightweight fluid heads like the GH1720QR (maybe without the hand bar...) which I quite like.

I often use the smallish (older) Gitzo 2180 - and it doesn't work with that one.

Hermann

 

[mbb]

I can imagine that the folding over would be mainly relevant if you plan on storing it inside a bag (backpack/cycle bag/small travel suitcase…) where slace is scarce, rather than attached to e.g. a backpack. I have never tried ballhead and wouldnt consider it for a larger scope, but am wondering about it for a 50mm scope.
I think the Gitzo 2180 is more similar in size to the new GHF2W, which is considerably larger than the GH1720QR. Maybe I should try to find the time to go to a store that has such a GT154*, with my GH1720QR, and try it out, probably without the handle bar. If that would work,it would be awesome.

 

[Hermann]

I can imagine that the folding over would be mainly relevant if you plan on storing it inside a bag (backpack/cycle bag/small travel suitcase…) where slace is scarce, rather than attached to e.g. a backpack. I have never tried ballhead and wouldnt consider it for a larger scope, but am wondering about it for a 50mm scope.

If I need to keep the weight down as much as I can I sometimes use the tiny RRS BH-25 for my ED50. But only if I don't expect to use the scope for scanning e.g. a lake. For that sort of thing I always use a video head.

I think the Gitzo 2180 is more similar in size to the new GHF2W, which is considerably larger than the GH1720QR. Maybe I should try to find the time to go to a store that has such a GT154*, with my GH1720QR, and try it out, probably without the handle bar. If that would work,it would be awesome.

I use all my video heads without the handle bars. They add weight and tend to get in the way anyway. I also don't think the 2180 is actually larger than your GH1720, the 2180 is pretty small. Try it out, but I don't think you'll be lucky. Just get a slightly bigger backpack ....

Hermann

 

[Felixtheelix]

What about the Benro TMA27C (3 sections) or TMA28C (4 sections)? I do need a tripod for my Opticron 60mm and both Benro tripods are my number one choice right now. A little bit heavier than the 1545T but cheaper and i bet the quality is fine. It comes with a short column and should be stable enough. I‘m still debating if I should buy the 3 or 4 sections. The 3 section is only 10cm larger but should be much more stable than the 4 section.

 

[b-lilja]

Count me a big fan of the old Bogen 3405 Junior. Just above your size and weight thresholds (55cm and 1.8 kg), but I find this to be a field grade, tough unit that has been great. Just enough stability I can make it work with my Kowa 883 (not preferred, but it works). Not a video damping head, but has vertical and horizontal axis turning with a locking handle. Available on the bay cheap. Takes standard Bogen plate.

I love Bogen stuff - my old 3201 legs turn 30 years next year.

 

[mbb]

If I need to keep the weight down as much as I can I sometimes use the tiny RRS BH-25 for my ED50. But only if I don't expect to use the scope for scanning e.g. a lake. For that sort of thing I always use a video head.

I use all my video heads without the handle bars. They add weight and tend to get in the way anyway. I also don't think the 2180 is actually larger than your GH1720, the 2180 is pretty small. Try it out, but I don't think you'll be lucky. Just get a slightly bigger backpack ....

Hermann

Hi Hermann,
I have read somewhere that the Gitzo GT1545T does not have any real locking system/screw to prevent the head from turning/unscrewing from the tripod. Do you notice any loosening of the head from the tripod, when carrying it around with the scope on it?
(I would probably be walking, cycling etc with the scope on the tripod and woukdn't want to have to worry about that or to have to check it when on the go.)