maduk
journeyman
Reged: 10/01/05
Posts: 6
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Can someone recomend a tripod for my Giant 15x70 strathspey Binoculars please?
would these be anygood for looking up high at the stars of course
im 5.9 tall..
http://www.telescopehouse.co.uk/page.aspx?pointerid=2BD66EC0E13C4123990448DC72BE56C5&thelang=001lngdef
thanks .
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 18806
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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I don't think that one is tall enough for you. It's 5'9. You need something about 6'3".
It looks like a copy of the D&S F12 fluid head. That would be OK for a 15x70 weighing 3.5#. It would not hold a 25x100 (10#) as they advertised.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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maduk
journeyman
Reged: 10/01/05
Posts: 6
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Hi EdZ.
what would you recomend then if that one isnt anygood for me.. thanks ..
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KennyJ
The British Flash
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 20139
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Hello maduk ,
Welcome to Cloudy Nights !
I realise that just because this is your first POST to CN does not necessarily mean you are unfamiliar with the site layout , or that you have not already read a lot of information posted here .
But in case you are unaware of this , if you go to the top of this binocular forum page , you will see a section headed BEST OF .
If you click on to this , then scroll down , you will find a lot of VERY useful information about TRIPODS and MOUNTS for binoculars .
I advise you to read carefully it before making a purchase .
Good luck ,
Kenny
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Milton Wilcox R.I.P
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Greetings Maduk and welcome,
I can only recommend Bogen/Manfrotto hardware being that's all I have ever really used. There is a relatively HUGE variety of tripods and heads from which to choose from. I have always been pleased with their quality and durability.
Please browse the "best of" section for TONS of information on this topic as Kenny suggested.
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medinabrit
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 854
Loc: medina ohio USA.
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i agree with nightwatch . i have 3 bogen manfrottos they are exellent tripods & great value
brian
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 18806
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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I'm inclined to recommend the Bogen 3011 with the Bogen 3130 head. It's a little more expensive, but it's much taller. Fully extended, the top of the tripod head is at about 6'1".
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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refractory
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/05/05
Posts: 1337
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I recommend the old Sanford and Davis Model B (and similar) tripods. They not only extend over 7 feet tall (got that Wilt Chamberlain?) but are rated at 40+ lbs.
I think that should be sufficient for most needs, even for mounting refractors you don't need squat observer chairs for when viewing zenith.
Jess Tauber
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"Keep an open mind, but not so open that your brain falls out." - Richard Feynman
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Erik D
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 4066
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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I agree with Edz' recommendation of the 3011. The tripod will reach 71.3 inch with center column fully extended. You'll gain another ~4 in with the 3130 head. The L adapter should add another 2-3 inch. The 3011/3021/3221 tripods are basically the same tripod with different finish/feet. This is the minimum I'd recommend for standing observation.
Bogen tripods are made by Manfrotto in Italy. They are marketed under the Manfrotto name in Europe. Model number system may be different than Bogen. I have the 3221WM Tripod. It's the same as the 3011 except the legs are black anodized finish and have foam grips on the upper legs. Model number is marked 055SSB. KJ has the same tripod.
Manfrotto makes dozens of tripods but you'd interested in two model groups. Rapid center column and geared center column. Rapid column models are usually rated for ~13 lb load. Geared column ~26 lbs. Look for tripods at least 6ft/182 cm tall if you are interested in binocular astronomy.
The 3130 head is rated for 8 lbs but best used with binos under 6 lb. You'll need a differnt head if you decide to get 25X100 binos later.
Erik D
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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5618
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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The Bogen/Manfrotto 475 is plenty tall and has a geared center post that makes things easier for binoviewing. It is nice not having to use a tripod at full extension.
The 475 is a little over $200 USD.
Rich
Edited by Rich N (10/23/05 09:00 PM)
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 18806
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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The Bogen 475 is serious overkill for a 15x70 binocular. This is a tripod capable of carrying an extremely heavy load. Try to keep in mind your user needs and make your selection accordingly. You don't need a 20 ton bulldozer to move a shovel full of dirt.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5618
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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Quote:
The Bogen 475 is serious overkill for a 15x70 binocular. This is a tripod capable of carrying an extremely heavy load. Try to keep in mind your user needs and make your selection accordingly. You don't need a 20 ton bulldozer to move a shovel full of dirt.
edz
But, it would do a nice job holding his binocular. I like beefy mounts. I have the 475. I like it. Someone else may be interested beyond the person asking the question. And... I did mention the price.
Rich
Edited by Rich N (10/24/05 08:06 AM)
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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5618
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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Here are two other tripods I use... sometimes with binoculars.
!. A Bogen 3021. Tall enough for the person asking the question about tripods. However my 3021 has leg locks that catch on everything. It has a sliding center post. I prefer a geared center post.
2. Bogen 441 carbon fiber tripod. Light weight, tall enough, but more vibration than I like. I still use for my spotting scope when going on birding hikes. The down side is this is a pricy tripod.
If the user can afford the 475 it is a nice tripod, even with a relatively light weight binocular. IMHO.
Rich
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I have the 475 tripod with a 501 head and use it with my dexlue II. Is it overkill? Yep. I have said this a thousand times, but if one can afford it, one should buy a tripod that's stronger that what you think you need. It gives you room to grow to a larger bin, should that happen, without having to buy another tripod. That's my tripod philosophy and recommendation.
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 18806
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Quote:
But, it would do a nice job holding his binocular. I like beefy mounts. I have the 475. I like it. Someone else may be interested beyond the person asking the question. And... I did mention the price.
Rich
Then you should reply to the question by explaining that up front to the poster. Give information that is appropriate to the question asked, not recommendations for a piece of equipment that (with head) would cost nearly three times as much as the binoculars he owns and would be an approprite recommendation for a binocular that weighs 3x to 4x as much as what he owns.
The Bogen 475 is a $250 tripod without the head. So even if purchasing an undersized head for that tripod, you'd need to spend close to $300 to use it. A head that is appropriately sized for the 475 is the 501 head. That's another $150. So now your up to $400 for tripod and head. For the needs of this individual that's oversized, overpriced, overkill.
Unless you explain your recommendation, You could just as easily scare off an individual who might think **these guys are nuts! all they suggest is the most expensive stuff on the market. They don't know how to match tools to service. I think I'll go somewhere to some forum that's more in line with reality**. That's a feeling I hope no one ever gets here. By making recommendations that are appropriately in line with the question, we do a much better service to the people who come here looking for answers from those who have more experience.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Point taken and I will explain recommendations with more info and caveats in the future. However...
Quote:
For the needs of this individual that's oversized, overpriced, overkill.
Unless you've had a private IM with Maduk, this is merely your opinion.
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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5618
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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Quote:
Quote:
But, it would do a nice job holding his binocular. I like beefy mounts. I have the 475. I like it. Someone else may be interested beyond the person asking the question. And... I did mention the price.
Rich
Then you should reply to the question by explaining that up front to the poster. Give information that is appropriate to the question asked, not recommendations for a piece of equipment that (with head) would cost nearly three times as much as the binoculars he owns and would be an approprite recommendation for a binocular that weighs 3x to 4x as much as what he owns.
The Bogen 475 is a $250 tripod without the head. So even if purchasing an undersized head for that tripod, you'd need to spend close to $300 to use it. A head that is appropriately sized for the 475 is the 501 head. That's another $150. So now your up to $400 for tripod and head. For the needs of this individual that's oversized, overpriced, overkill.
Unless you explain your recommendation, You could just as easily scare off an individual who might think **these guys are nuts! all they suggest is the most expensive stuff on the market. They don't know how to match tools to service. I think I'll go somewhere to some forum that's more in line with reality**. That's a feeling I hope no one ever gets here. By making recommendations that are appropriately in line with the question, we do a much better service to the people who come here looking for answers from those who have more experience.
edz
Ed, you're really cranky today.
Rich
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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5618
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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Quote:
I have the 475 tripod with a 501 head and use it with my dexlue II. Is it overkill? Yep. I have said this a thousand times, but if one can afford it, one should buy a tripod that's stronger that what you think you need. It gives you room to grow to a larger bin, should that happen, without having to buy another tripod. That's my tripod philosophy and recommendation.
Thank you! My feelings exactly.
Rich
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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5618
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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I bought my Bogen 475 (475L) from Anacortes on Sept 26, '05 for $219 (not including shipping, etc). It looks like Anacortes is still selling them for $219.
I also bought my Kowa High Lander Prominar 32x82 from Anacortes.
Rich
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Rich V.
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 3143
Loc: Lake Tahoe area, Nevada, USA
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An inexpensive tripod which would work well with a 15x70 is the recently discontinued Bushnell (B&L) Tall Master tripod. It can still be found online in the $70-100 range.
Yes, the fluid head is plastic, but it is plenty sturdy for this application. The tripod is about 74" tall and has a geared column which is best for binocular astronomy.
A google search will still show some dealers; most of the major outlets are out of stock already, however.
Just a suggestion as a low cost alternative to a Bogen.
Rich V
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Binoculars:
33/50/71/150x100 Saturn III, 22x70ED, 16x70 FMT-SX, 10x50 PCF-V, 10x43 DCF-SP, 10x35 EII, 7x35 E, 8x30 EII,
7x26 Custom, 8x23CF AS Diplomat, 6.5x21 Papilio
Scopes:
C9.25, TMB130SS, SV80S-LOMO 80/480
IDA member
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