Shoulder Pod - easier with angled or straight? (2 Viewers)

[Blincodave]

I'm thinking about getting a Nikon ED 50 to use with a Nikon 20X eyepiece (with the ED50) I already have. I plan to use a Culmann Shoulder Pod and a Manfrotto Monopod with it. Can anybody who uses either of these devices (with the Nikon or any other scope) say whether they work better with an angled or straight scope?

 

[Edward woodwood]

used a straight / shoulder pod combo with a Kowa 613 for years. Soon changing to the ED50 when i can scrape the cash together. Can't see an angled being better than a straight. You just point and shoot so to speak. Brilliant.

 

[Blincodave]

used a straight / shoulder pod combo with a Kowa 613 for years. Soon changing to the ED50 when i can scrape the cash together. Can't see an angled being better than a straight. You just point and shoot so to speak. Brilliant.

Hi Tim,

Isn't a Kowa 613 angled?

Dave

 

[Sc0tty]

I'm thinking about getting a Nikon ED 50 to use with a Nikon 20X eyepiece (with the ED50) I already have. I plan to use a Culmann Shoulder Pod and a Manfrotto Monopod with it. Can anybody who uses either of these devices (with the Nikon or any other scope) say whether they work better with an angled or straight scope?

I've used straight and angled scopes on the cullmann shoulder pod and an angled scope on a manfrotto monopod. I don't find any problems using angled scopes on these, but its down to personal preference. A friend has used his angled nikon EDII, angled Mighty Midget and now an angled ED50 on a shoulder pod.

Try before you buy!

 

[Edward woodwood]

Hi Tim,

Isn't a Kowa 613 angled?

Dave

sorry 614

been getting it wrong for years

Tim

 

[Neil]

The straight would get my vote.Neil.

 

[quango27]

I use the Manfrotto shoulder brace (with a straight MM2) when wandering about.

For me, it has the advantage that the monopod can be fitted without removing the brace, once I decide to stop in one place for a bit longer - I chose the lightest possible pod and it works fine.

Not too steep at £15 either (the brace - I infer you have the pod already).

I do have a Cullman from way back, but much prefer the above configuration.

Rik

 

[Blincodave]

I use the Manfrotto shoulder brace (with a straight MM2) when wandering about.

For me, it has the advantage that the monopod can be fitted without removing the brace, once I decide to stop in one place for a bit longer - I chose the lightest possible pod and it works fine.

Not too steep at £15 either (the brace - I infer you have the pod already).

I do have a Cullman from way back, but much prefer the above configuration.

Rik

Can you provide me with a link to the Manfrotto Shoulder brace as I have not come across this product.

 

[quango27]

Link to item on Manfrotto's site

You can't lock either of the pivot points (unlike the Cullman), but I don't really find that an issue.

If you're prepared to chance it without trying (don't know where would be a good source near Cambridge) I got mine here:

Morris Photo

... where I've always had great service.

 

[Blincodave]

Link to item on Manfrotto's site

You can't lock either of the pivot points (unlike the Cullman), but I don't really find that an issue.

If you're prepared to chance it without trying (don't know where would be a good source near Cambridge) I got mine here:

Morris Photo

... where I've always had great service.

Thanks - looks very interesting. Anybody else using one of these?

 

[quango27]

You're welcome, hope it helps.

Like you, my starting point was the monopod. I wanted a light set-up I could chuck in a rucksack when we go for a "proper walk", and pull out at lunchtime and tea breaks.

That done, I thought I might as well give the brace a try, just as a wee bonus if you like - on that kind of walk I wouldn't want the extra weight of any kind of shoulder brace, nor bother swapping mounts over. On my Cullman at least the mount fixes to the scope and doesn't have its own tripod bush.

I'm pleased. As it is, I now find myself taking woodland walks and having the MM2 and brace round my neck all the time, complementing the bins -when my heavier scope is a little too much hassle - more than I really hoped for.

 

[Swissboy]

I'm thinking about getting a Nikon ED 50 to use with a Nikon 20X eyepiece (with the ED50) I already have. I plan to use a Culmann Shoulder Pod and a Manfrotto Monopod with it. Can anybody who uses either of these devices (with the Nikon or any other scope) say whether they work better with an angled or straight scope?

I have yet to gain more experience with my ED50-Culmann shoulder pod combination. I have the straight one, and I find it difficult to imagine that an angled scope would allow a similarly convenient "point and shoot" handling.

 

[Sancho]

Yeah, I agree, I have the ED50 straight and the Cullmann Shoulder Pod, it´s pretty much point and shoot and works great, I leave my big scope at home a lot these days. My Cullmann has a threaded receiver in the bottom for a screw, so that I carry sometimes a Slik Monopod and can simply insert this into the bottom of the Cullmann if necesarry, without unfixing the Cullmann. I´m not sure if this is what people were referring to earlier in the thread, but it makes a great combination, and the Slik cost me buttons (mind you, probably about twice as many buttons in Ireland as you´ll pay in the UK, but don´t get me started, I´ll never buy anything from a store in Dublin again, the online retailers from the UK and Northern Ireland are the way to go, just in case anyone from the Republic is reading this and considering buying optics, bicycles, audio equipment, etc. etc. ). Best of Luck with your choice.