Tripod height short or tall?

[Montana Craig]

I just got a razor 65 spotting scope and I'm looking for a good tripod for it and my binoculars.

I'm 5'-11" and I do most of my hunting in Western Montana but doing a week long trip this year in the Missouri River Breaks.

It seems like most people here are a big fan of the Promaster xc525c tripod.

My question is when using your spotter how often are you all standing? Do I need one that goes that tall to stand behind or do most people use them sitting down?

I do see in the breaks of possibly wanting a tripod to stand behind to see over the brush and to rest the rifle on to take a standing shot.

Any ideas are appreciated, thanks!

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[Camera Land]

If you are using an angled spotter you will be fine with the Promaster, which is now on special for $199.99, also using a binocular mount adds a few inches making this tripod perfect sitting or standing

 

[Brian Fahs]

I prefer a taller tripod. I run the slik 634. Even when seated I use a lot of length on the downhill leg in steep country. I never once thought "man I wish my tripod was shorter". For the extra height I will carry another few ounces of tripod. I try to avoid using the center column for added height as it is a lot more stable in the lower position.

 

[willfrye027]

I got a promaster XC 522 for a great deal from cameraland. I unscrewed the lower leg sections and put a cap on the ends, and bought a $25 ballhead that is light weight, all for the purpose of getting a sitting height only backpacking tripod. It’s under 2lbs now and was $120 or so total. If you got the bigger promaster I bet you could do the same thing and be able to play around with it to see what works better and if the lighter weight is worth it. And then you could always reattach the legs and go back to standing height. Probably would not get under 2lbs with the 525 but maybe close.

 

[Montana Craig]

I prefer a taller tripod. I run the slik 634. Even when seated I use a lot of length on the downhill leg in steep country. I never once thought "man I wish my tripod was shorter". For the extra height I will carry another few ounces of tripod. I try to avoid using the center column for added height as it is a lot more stable in the lower position.

Thanks! Have you compared yours to other tripods? What head do you run on it?

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[Montana Craig]

I got a promaster XC 522 for a great deal from cameraland. I unscrewed the lower leg sections and put a cap on the ends, and bought a $25 ballhead that is light weight, all for the purpose of getting a sitting height only backpacking tripod. It’s under 2lbs now and was $120 or so total. If you got the bigger promaster I bet you could do the same thing and be able to play around with it to see what works better and if the lighter weight is worth it. And then you could always reattach the legs and go back to standing height. Probably would not get under 2lbs with the 525 but maybe close.

Alright cool how hard is it to remove the legs and put back together?

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[Camera Land]

Unscrews like a lightbulb. Goes back the same way, just screw it in

 

[willfrye027]

Alright cool how hard is it to remove the legs and put back together?

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Super easy. Takes two seconds.

 

[Camera Land]

Feel free to give me a call with any other questions

 

[Charon]

Your choice in tripod will be a compromise between price, weight and height. The taller it gets the more expensive and heavier it gets. To get as light a tripod for a given size as possible you'll spend quite a bit (carbon fiber). You need to figure out what your needs are. Are you going be carrying it around for long distances? You'll want something you can comfortably carry. Do you plan on taking long exposure shots with it? You'll need something very stable. And most importantly, what's your budget?
And as far as extending the center column is concerned, I think your a little too worried about it. Sure, all the way down is more stable, but so is having the legs collapsed. The center column is there for a reason, because it works. I use mine fully extended quite a bit and have found it just requires a little more care in not creating any vibrations.

 

[Brian Fahs]

Thanks! Have you compared yours to other tripods? What head do you run on it?

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I have owned manfrotto gitzo outdoorsmans and slik tripods.
Settled on the slik carbon fiber tripods. They are just what I liked best.

Tripod heads I run are outdoorsmans