Compact but stable travel scope tripod? (1 Viewer)

[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.

That's right, there's no locking system.

Do you notice any loosening of the head from the tripod, when carrying it around with the scope on it?

Not really. I make sure I screw the head on tight, that's 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.)

Well, I always habitually check if everything is OK when I carry the scope on my tripod. Becomes sort of second nature. Never had any "accidents" in well over 40 years of birding.

Hermann

 

[Tringa45]

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?

Marc,
Berlebach and FLM have cork surfaces on the tripod and Gitzo, I think, some sort of elastomer. If your tripod head has a secure panorama locking function, it should be possible to apply sufficient torque that nothing will ever come undone.
There was even a suggestion (on "The Center Column"?) that grub screws could impair damping, but I think the effects here would be very minimal.

John

 

[Peregrine Took]

I recently bought an Opticron 60mm MM4 and paired it with a Manfrotto Befree tripod. Didn't feel sturdy enough (nothing is, compared to my Manfrotto 055), so I swapped it for the BeFree GT, which I'm happy with. The biggest difference is that the leg sections are beefed-up on the GT, but it's also taller with the centre column down.

I sold the ball head and swapped it for a Manfrotto fluid head. The scope attachment is like an enlarged Arca Swiss (I'm sure there's a name for it), but with a fail-safe mechanism that prevents dislocation of the scope if things are not tightened up properly.

I used the 055 professionally with my DSLRs, but now I have a mirrorless system the BeFree GT will probably tick all my photographic and bird watching boxes. Although I don't think I'll sell the 055 just yet.
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[mbb]

I recently bought an Opticron 60mm MM4 and paired it with a Manfrotto Befree tripod. Didn't feel sturdy enough (nothing is, compared to my Manfrotto 055), so I swapped it for the BeFree GT, which I'm happy with. The biggest difference is that the leg sections are beefed-up on the GT, but it's also taller with the centre column down.

I sold the ball head and swapped it for a Manfrotto fluid head. The scope attachment is like an enlarged Arca Swiss (I'm sure there's a name for it), but with a fail-safe mechanism that prevents dislocation of the scope if things are not tightened up properly.

I used the 055 professionally with my DSLRs, but now I have a mirrorless system the BeFree GT will probably tick all my photographic and bird watching boxes. Although I don't think I'll sell the 055 just yet.
.

I wish I had read your post earlier. I hadn't heard of this GT version of the BeFree before. Its specs look quite comparable to the GT1545T, and Manfrotto is a good brand (I don't complain about the 055 I got second hand with my scope).
I agree with Hermann that the gt1545t is very good for its size: I got to compare it recently in a shop to some Leofoto and Sirui of similar,and there was a noticeable difference. Though also a significant price difference normally. But this BeFree GT might be a good alternative.

Could you share your experience with the supplied ballhead (before you sold it)? Which video head do you use and doed it somehow fot between the tripod's legs when folded back?

I got the chance to find a GT1545T (without the Gitzo ballhead)for a (relatively speaking...) low price. I don't know how the shop was able to offer it for much less than all other shops,but the item was suddenly sold-out(maybe a weird marketing thing...). I actually quite like the fold-back option for being more compact. (Sometimes all space saved is welcome.) It would be fun if a small 50mm scope could just be left attached to it when folded back, either stickibg out at the end/proloungement of the legs,or at the end at its side (the scope's foot or quick-plate between two legs).

 

[Peregrine Took]

Could you share your experience with the supplied ballhead (before you sold it)? Which video head do you use and doed it somehow fot between the tripod's legs when folded back?

I didn't use the ball head, but was probably too quick to sell it, as I'd prefer it - being smaller for my Fuji camera than the bigger one I already have with my Manfrotto 055. If you like a ball head, you'll have no complaints.

I got the smallest / cheapest Manfrotto pan head - can't remember the reference number, but you'll find it on the Manfrotto website, where everything shows retail price. Wouldn't use it with a camera, but I like it a lot with my scope and I think it would be fine if I were to go to a bigger scope - from memory, it has about 2.5kg load capacity.

I leave my scope ready, on the tripod, during transit and while at home, but while the legs do fold back up, I'm not sure it'll fit in the case like that. You do have to realign the handle on the pan head, if you want to fold things up neatly, but it's a simple operation.
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[WRL]

I didn't use the ball head, but was probably too quick to sell it, as I'd prefer it - being smaller for my Fuji camera than the bigger one I already have with my Manfrotto 055. If you like a ball head, you'll have no complaints.

I got the smallest / cheapest Manfrotto pan head - can't remember the reference number, but you'll find it on the Manfrotto website, where everything shows retail price. Wouldn't use it with a camera, but I like it a lot with my scope and I think it would be fine if I were to go to a bigger scope - from memory, it has about 2.5kg load capacity.

I leave my scope ready, on the tripod, during transit and while at home, but while the legs do fold back up, I'm not sure it'll fit in the case like that. You do have to realign the handle on the pan head, if you want to fold things up neatly, but it's a simple operation.
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The smallest and lightest "video head" (pan/tilt) I could find is the "SmallRig Selection" https://amzn.eu/d/fS93TOK. It weighs less than 300 g (279 g, as advertised) and is only 7 cm tall. Price is about 50 €. It has some motion restistance in both axes. But that is ok in my opinion and prevents the scope (Kowa TSN-554 on a PeakDesign Tripod in my case) from unintended quick movements when the axes are not locked.

 

[Peregrine Took]

Personal thing, but I wouldn't buy anything on Amazon, and from being in photography for 40 years, I just like Manfrotto and I'm not overly concerned about weight (anything is lighter than an 055 set-up). That said, Sirui stuff is pretty good.
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[WRL]

Personal thing, but I wouldn't buy anything on Amazon, and from being in photography for 40 years, I just like Manfrotto and I'm not overly concerned about weight (anything is lighter than an 055 set-up). That said, Sirui stuff is pretty good.
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No need to buy on Amazon. There are other sellers around (same/similar prices). Even SmallRig itself: SmallRig Selection Kompakter Fluid- Head CH10 3259.
BTW, this thread is about compact and stable mounting solutions for small scopes. IMO, the above product fits this requirements.

 

[Peregrine Took]

BTW, this thread is about compact and stable mounting solutions for small scopes. IMO, the above product fits this requirements.

It was originally about tripods (see title). I was then asked about heads.
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[mbb]

One thing I forgot to say that I really liked about the gt1545t: in addition to its great build quality and stability (for its size...), it also extends high enough for me without the center column (also higher compared to the previous model gt1544t): quicker and more stable.

I also read quite some positive feedback on the forum about the Velbon Ultra line. It seems interesting, especially their quick (un)locking system and their very compact folding size. It seems quite hard to find a good source or overview of the specs of the different models: Ultra i , Rexi, with L or D behind... :-s Did anyone compare these to the Gitzo, hands-on?

 

[biowizard]

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

As recently posted elsewhere on this forum, I travel with a Manfrotto BeFree Aluminium tripod. Carbon Fibre would be lighter, but already having two other full-size Manfrotto tripods at home (one a heavy Alu model that I bought with and for my scope (a Kowa TSN-3 Prominar), the other a lovely but large Carbon Fibre model for my cameras), I decided to save a few bucks and go Alu for the travel model.

Overall, the BeFree is gorgeous: folds down very cleverly by inverting the legs around the central column, so that the ball head is enclosed between the tripod's feet; quick and easy to deploy with three-position lockable leg angles, three levels of extension with quick and secure twist locks that don't require adjusting with a hex key from time to time, and very good friction control both on the central column, panning control and ball head.

The only issue is that when fully extended, it is slightly wobbly for a scope, unless you pre-point and focus, then let go and watch through the eyepiece without touching the scope or tripod. If only half-extended (or less), and placed on something like a concrete table or rock, then it is perfectly solid.