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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mtar925" data-source="post: 3468529" data-attributes="member: 131245">I have a non-ED Kowa 60mm and may upgrade someday to something like a 65mm Pentax ED, but larger scopes are not in my plans. My current head is a Bogen 3130 (old version of Manfrotto 128RC). I'm satisfied with the performance but would like to save some weight and bulk.I saw the Manfrotto 700RC2 in a shop and thought it looked trim and plenty sturdy for my scope, and would save me almost a pound. The azimuth motion seemed stiff though, and I read reviews where some owners complain about that. Does the azimuth tend to loosen up after a period of break-in?Any similar alternatives? I've considered the Gitzo 1720 but that gets uneven reviews too, for triple the price. I'm not 100% convinced I need a fluid head; a good smooth pan and tilt without the fluid feature might be adequate with a ~60mm at <40x - especially if the handle locked both axes. But I've never used such a head with a scope and would welcome comments on the need for fluid motion. I'd also prefer a head that allows the scope to be adjusted front-to-back for fine balance.</blockquote>