tripod help

[sandsavage]

I'm in need of a new tripod for my spotter.I have a Leica telivid 77 and its too heavy for my current tripod. I have been looking at Manfrottos but there are so many models I'm not sure which one i want. I also want to get a pistol grip for it too. Any advise?? I only want to buy it once. Thanks

 

[BGbasbhat]

Price range? Height requirements?

Outdoorsman's sells some top notch stuff. Though their tripods are ridiculously expensive, I hear they are "awesome"...though i'm not sure how a tripod could be awesome....

For the price, I don't think you could go wrong with a Bogen/Monfrotto 190xb. It may weight a bit more than some others; but it's well made and solid.

I'm sure other guys on here can give you some advice as well.


"...I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six..."

 

[sandsavage]

I'd like to stay under $300. And it needs to go close to 5' tall w/o the pistol grip.
I was looking at the 190xb and the 055xdb but I'm not sure which of these would suit my purpose best. I was also looking at the brunton tripod here locally.It seemed to be well made too.

 

[hookup]

LAST EDITED ON Oct-12-09 AT 03:34PM (MST)[p]check out the vortex tripod, I looked at one at sportsmans the other da and for $129 I dont think it can be beat. It was aluminum but within onces of the carbon.

Speaking of carbon nikon makes a great carbon tripod for about $200. That with a manfrotto pistol grid head is great. There is another company out there that makes a pistil grip head from OR, not sure there name but it is lighter and more user friendly than the frotto, thats what I would get.

 

[BGbasbhat]

Here's a Nikon for $287 with a height of 57 inches
[http://www.opticsplanet.net/nikon-bogen-manfrotto-pro-tripod-pistol-grip-849.html]

I've heard bad things about the Vortex High Country; but I think the other ones are decent.





"...I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six..."

 

[cpugsie]

Look at the Slik Carbon Fiber 713 Pro. Much lighter than the aluminum Manfrotos and just as sturdy. About $230 from B&H photo. I've had mine for years and have had many friends buy one after checking mine out. Personaly I do not like the pistol grip heads AT ALL. I had the Outdoorsman pistol grip and sold it after 3 days in the field. It just doesn't pan well and hurts your hand after a few hours of use. Look for a Bogen 3160 on ebay for around $50.00 They don't make this model new any more but it's a great head. Good luck!