Uggh... you guys had revive this thread.
I keep thinking about the 553. Now I am also considering the 663. I have the 883. Absolutely blown away by that thing. But I keep wondering if I could cut some serious weight with a good compact, a lighter tripod and head. Or just suck it up and lug the 883 around. My setup is a solid 7.5 pounds right now. For summer scouting I would definitely carry the 883 with me since there is no gun on my back, but come hunting, something lighter would sure be nice. I almost feel compelled with the $300 rebate for the 553, but I'm really not sure. I really need to stay away from Rokslide.