Tripod for 15x Binos

[69ChrisCraft]

What tripod are you guys using for 15x binos? I'm using the Summit SS-P for my 10x42s and love it but will it shake too much for a pair of 15x (don't have them yet)? I know everyone loves the Outdoorsmans but if I don't exceed 15x I'm not sure the ultra stability is required like it would be for a spotter.

I'm headed to AZ in a few weeks for Coues and couldn't be more excited.

Thanks!

 

[Travis Bertrand]

Good luck on your hunt. I had ( just got stolen) a manfrotto 290 carbon fiber tripod. It was rock steady and you could stand behind it. I find with 15s, I like to stand for the first half hour of glassing time to cover as much area as possible.

 

[daddie63]

Watching this thread cause I'm looking too. A lot of choices out there but some are expensive as hell.

 

[69ChrisCraft]

Good luck on your hunt. I had ( just got stolen) a manfrotto 290 carbon fiber tripod. It was rock steady and you could stand behind it. I find with 15s, I like to stand for the first half hour of glassing time to cover as much area as possible.

What did you use for a head?

 

[Travis Bertrand]

What did you use for a head?

Manfrotto 700rc2. Not bad for the money. Smooth with the 15s.

 

[Shrek]

Check out Kramer Designs snipepod page for truly ultralight with multi purpose utility. I have the Manfrotto 700 RC2 head on my Oben tripod for my spotter and like it a lot. The snipepod with the tripod adapter leg and the bino/small spotter adapter all up weigh 9.2 oz on my scale. It will hold my binoculars , rifle , and camera. It's not perfect but it does a lot of things for very little weight.

 

[69ChrisCraft]

That snipepod looks pretty neat, seems they've been around quite a while....wonder why they don't have more reviews.

 

[dotman]

I wonder though if the snipepod can handle the weight of 15's. 15's are getting close to a 65mm spotter in weight. I bet this would work well with a 50mm spotter.

I'm still running my old carbon rocketfish I got at best buy on clearance for $40 a few years ago and it is still going strong. Updated the head to a ph-111 and it works great but it still weighs over 2lbs but is solid as a rock.

 

[Shrek]

I stopped at his shop on the way because I had waited too long to order one. Glad I did because I ended up with kind of a prototype binocular quick attachment. It worked great and weighs little. I know it will hlod a 50mm Vortex spotter and I think it should handle the 15x's but I'd call and see what he has to say. It's not perfectly smooth like a fluid head but it does work well enough and can't be beat for its multi functionality and weight. When I saw him he was going to make a bunch of the binocular fittings but was still working out the exact dimensions so it would work after the surface treatment. First couple prototypes were too tight after treating. Mine is untreated and the only one he had last October. I still haven't gotten my binoculars back to set it up for a picture.

 

[69ChrisCraft]

I ended up sticking a Manfrotto 700 RC2 on top of my Vortex Summit SS. Love the Manfrotto but will likely upgrade the tripod to a Slik 624.

 

[Shrek]

I think the slik 624 has been "upgraded" and gained weight. It's not the original super light tipod it was.

I checked and it now weighs 2.2 lbs legs alone . The Oben CT 2431 is much closer to the old 624-634 at 1.7 lbs. I have the oben ct 2331 which is marginally lighter with only three sections but it folds down a little long. If I had it to do again I'd get the 2431 with four leg sections that folds shorter but I really like the 2331 and it is way more tripod than my summit ss ever thought of being.

 

[69ChrisCraft]

I think the slik 624 has been "upgraded" and gained weight. It's not the original super light tipod it was.

I checked and it now weighs 2.2 lbs legs alone . The Oben CT 2431 is much closer to the old 624-634 at 1.7 lbs. I have the oben ct 2331 which is marginally lighter with only three sections but it folds down a little long. If I had it to do again I'd get the 2431 with four leg sections that folds shorter but I really like the 2331 and it is way more tripod than my summit ss ever thought of being.

Now that you mention it I remember that a few months ago. S&S sold out ASAP. Thanks for the reminder