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Message: <blockquote data-quote="SteveClifton" data-source="post: 1557471" data-attributes="member: 48420">Looks quite interesting Paul. However I remain sceptical about the head until I've seen it for myself. The last time a small lightweight head promised to be the new answer to all of our birding needs, it came in the form of the Velbon FHD-51Q which, as we now know, didn't deliver and was in fact rather fragile. This new head from Giottos appears to share some features with that head.A spoke to the dealer who sold me mine a couple of weeks ago and they reported that quite a few units of the Velbon had to be sent back because they weren't up to the job of supporting a medium/large scope on a regular basis without breaking. Needless to say, they don't stock them any more.Personally I like the Arca-compatible sliding plate adapter as it means I, like many birders who now also carry a DSLR camera, can use the head for shooting butterflies/dragonflies etc at closer range (and therefore with camera tilted forwards at an angle). It makes sense therefore to use the same QR plates for both scope and camera.This new head from Giottos  will need to be able to support a scope (or camera of similar weight) in a locked,tilted position for extended periods without slipping, and it will also need to lock securely for carrying from point to point with a scope attached, for birders who don't use a camera but do leave their gear attached all the time. Obviously, its movements will also need to be smooth and with adjustable tension that doesn't slip out of adjustment in use for extended periods-such as when seawatching.If it can pass these tests then perhaps Giottos are onto something. Manfrotto has already achieved most of this in the 128 head (except for lack of a balancing/sliding plate), but as we all know, it's a little heavier than most of us would prefer to carry most of the time. Note that this relatively heavy duty head is still available for less than 60 quid.Am I asking too much?Steveps. is the head available separately or only as part of a kit?</blockquote>

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