Malcolm Stewart
Well-known member
I'm largely satisfied with my tripods now, but some years ago I was in "search mode", and soon spotted that many tripods didn't survive being "demo'd" at an exhibition or in a camera shop. I wasn't checking out Gitzo price tripods but more at the Manfrotto end of the spectrum. I frequently found clamps that no longer worked, and worse still, no one on the exhibitor's stand had a clue as to how they could be fixed. In the end, after I found a really lightweight carbon fibre Manfrotto tripod, (i.e. 732CY tripod & MH293A3-RC1 head, new in packaging), and I bought that and was impressed by how well it did what I wanted. Being lightweight I limit its use to a 20x telescope. In my usage, it's been reliable over several years, and encouraged me to buy a used 190CXPRO3, and that has also served me well (apart from the head becoming stuck, as reported here a few days ago). I mainly use that for video or to support a much larger birding telescope.
I also have and use a Benbo One with a gimbal and Canon big white, when portability isn't important, but sheer ruggedness is. The weight of the Benbo One necessitates use of a trolley.
For flexible positioning, I have a UniLoc System tripod, and that can get places others can't.
I also have and use a Benbo One with a gimbal and Canon big white, when portability isn't important, but sheer ruggedness is. The weight of the Benbo One necessitates use of a trolley.
For flexible positioning, I have a UniLoc System tripod, and that can get places others can't.