Heavy tripod needed - my spotting scope wiggles!

skimmer

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Hey all,

My spotting scope wiggles and it drives me nuts. The tripod it came with is light plastic. I want a solid heavy tripod so that I can use my spotting scope more easily at longer ranges. Any suggestions? Maybe I should just glue lead rods to the plastic legs, but I'm open to ideas.

What do all y'all use?
 
I use a metal camera tripod I bought at Value Village for under $10. Mine wouldn't count as solid/ heavy, but I've seen lots of tripods heavier than mine at Value Village, so if you've got a thrift store around it would be worth checking out imo.
 
I recommend as basic research to introduce you to the topic, searching a high end camera store website or two, for camera and video tripods, and sort on price. Then scroll through them to get an idea of price range and features. The range is huge, and it quickly becomes a question of your budget matching your needs. If budget is not limiting, your best options are well over $1K for the best.

With tripods you get what you pay for.

You can buy complete package, or buy separate components (legs, ball head, Arca clamp).

I recommend Arca mounting system, and you can retain an Arca plate on your spotting scope for quick mount and detach.

Good tripods have a hook on the bottom of the center column, or under the apex in non-center column models, to hang a pack as a stabilizing weight, which will reduce movement of the spotting scope. But if you are looking at a suitable tripod that for some reason does not have a hook, you can make one (e.g. drill a hole in the bottom of the center column, thread some wire to attach a mini biner)

Weight and packable size are major considerations. Heavier is way way better for spotter stability, especially in the wind. But if you have to hike long distance with it, you have to shave weight and size, and that is where the specifications and trade-offs get very interesting.

Most modern tripods are made of aluminum or carbon fiber. There are pros and cons to each.

Good luck in your search. Several of the CGN vendors carry tripods, so please give them a look.
 
Hey all,

My spotting scope wiggles and it drives me nuts. The tripod it came with is light plastic. I want a solid heavy tripod so that I can use my spotting scope more easily at longer ranges. Any suggestions? Maybe I should just glue lead rods to the plastic legs, but I'm open to ideas.

What do all y'all use?

Are you using this at the range or in the field?
 
I use a Field Optics Research tripod. Direct ordered from them 2 years ago. Decent price for a carbon tripod, has the ability to have two legs come of as walking poles. Has the pole ends included, with a carry bag that I got as a complete kit.

What you want is the ability of a tripod to hold lots of weight, so check the weight carrying ratings. That is main point to look for. These usually tend to be the more stable ones.

From there, the sky is the limit on what you want to spend.
 
I vote for Suther's solution - thrift stores. I found a good one locally for about $15 ca. 10 years ago, and have seen a couple just this Winter. I have a 'better' one I use for photos but this thrifty one is OK for the range. It does wiggle on windy days, but I just forget to bring weights - shouldn't really be shooting on a windy day anyway, but fun is fun ;-)
 
The Leofoto CF one with an ARCA ball head from GBT is a good option. I had the same issue as you but since I went to the Leofoto one it's been great. If it still shakes when the wind picks up, I usually suspend a weighted bag from the ball head straight down and that solves most of the movement issues.
 
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