birdrousta
Well-known member
Tempting, but I'm spoiled. I picked up two of the Manfrotto 55XPROB aluminum tripods when Amazon closed them out for about a hundred bucks. They're 5 pounds without heads, though.
I like the CF unit here - it'd shave about 2 pounds from the carry weight of the 391RC / 55 combo, but the four section legs...
The 55 uses 3 section legs, and I really like not faffing around with the additional leg. I've carried the 55 and a pair of Pentax 20x60s and found it pretty doable for a few miles. I also have a Vanguard Alta 264, which is not as good as the 55 but is lighter, and has 4 section legs - and it's got me looking for a tall tripod with 3 section legs and no included head.
(thinks more)
the 20x60s and tripod were not joined when I was lugging them around. Given that I'm thinking of this with a small astro scope that I'm using primarily as a spotter and tend to tote around assembled more than I would with binoculars, meaning, resting on a shoulder - the weight savings would definitely be noticeable.
There may be a NIB 55BX coming for sale - I haven't opened up the second of the two, as I'd thought the second might have been a gift but the person in question didn't particularly want it.
I like the CF unit here - it'd shave about 2 pounds from the carry weight of the 391RC / 55 combo, but the four section legs...
The 55 uses 3 section legs, and I really like not faffing around with the additional leg. I've carried the 55 and a pair of Pentax 20x60s and found it pretty doable for a few miles. I also have a Vanguard Alta 264, which is not as good as the 55 but is lighter, and has 4 section legs - and it's got me looking for a tall tripod with 3 section legs and no included head.
(thinks more)
the 20x60s and tripod were not joined when I was lugging them around. Given that I'm thinking of this with a small astro scope that I'm using primarily as a spotter and tend to tote around assembled more than I would with binoculars, meaning, resting on a shoulder - the weight savings would definitely be noticeable.
There may be a NIB 55BX coming for sale - I haven't opened up the second of the two, as I'd thought the second might have been a gift but the person in question didn't particularly want it.