Help me pick a tripod

[AZ RANGER]

I am in the market for new tripod. My previous tripod was a cheapy. I would like to spend around $150 for a new tripod and head. It will be under my Minox 15x58 which weigh approx 3.5 lbs.

This will serve as my hiking tripod so light weight is a must. I would like to be under 4 lbs for the tripod and head. Let me know what you think of these options. If I have to add a head I would like to go with a manfrotto 700rc2 head which weighs approx 1 lbs.

 

Slik Sprint Mini. 1.6 lbs I would like this one but not sure it will handle the weight very well. About $60.oo plus $85 for head

 

Slik pro 340 EZ. About a 1lb heavier than the mini, but surdy. About $110 with a decent head already attached

 

Slik sprint pro. Liteweight but I could maybe stand behind. About $105 with a decent head alreaddy attached

 

Slik Sprint pro II. Same as above. about $85 plus another $85 for head.

 

Velbon sherpa 600rf Almost twice as heavy as the mini, but would handle the minox well, and I could stand. About $110 plus $85 for head

 

I am open to other suggestions if you have them.

Thanks

[youngbuck]

700RC2s are great inexpensive heads. I own two of them. There are lighter ones but youll pay for em. If you wanna lighten it up a few oz's you can cut the handles down. I would really like to have the oputdoorsmans pan head, but its not quite in the cards right now (or wallet either). I dont know any suggestions for legs in your price range. Im guessing if your looking for light weight your not looking for something tall enough to stand up and use. Might get a deal here in the classifieds. One guy was selling a set of 301bn i believe. Great legs, Ive had a pair for probably 5+ years. They are heavy but sturdy and tough. Tall enough to stand if you move the legs in a bit for me at 5'10"

[lousyhunter]

I use the velbon Sherpa and I love it. I prefer to stand though and don't mind it in the pack.

[AZ RANGER]

In my case having a liteweight tripod is much more a priority than being able to stand behind. I am 6-03 so I will have to slouch to stand behind most anyway.

Thanks

[Redman]

I am in the market for new tripod. My previous tripod was a cheapy. I would like to spend around $150 for a new tripod and head. It will be under my Minox 15x58 which weigh approx 3.5 lbs.

This will serve as my hiking tripod so light weight is a must. I would like to be under 4 lbs for the tripod and head. Let me know what you think of these options. If I have to add a head I would like to go with a manfrotto 700rc2 head which weighs approx 1 lbs.

 

Slik Sprint Mini. 1.6 lbs I would like this one but not sure it will handle the weight very well. About $60.oo plus $85 for head

 

Slik pro 340 EZ. About a 1lb heavier than the mini, but surdy. About $110 with a decent head already attached

 

Slik sprint pro. Liteweight but I could maybe stand behind. About $105 with a decent head alreaddy attached

 

Slik Sprint pro II. Same as above. about $85 plus another $85 for head.

 

Velbon sherpa 600rf Almost twice as heavy as the mini, but would handle the minox well, and I could stand. About $110 plus $85 for head

 

I am open to other suggestions if you have them.

Thanks

 

 

I like the Slik sprit pro....anybody know a place in Phoneix that sells them?

 

Redman

[GameHauler]

My lite weight pack in set up is a Slik Sprint Mini

with the Slik SBH-100 head and Jim White pan head.

I love this set up but would try to stay with my Swaro 10X42"

This set up weighs in at just under 2#.

 

My next step up if I wanted to carry my Swaro 15"s

I go with my Slik Pro 340EZ and Slik head

it Weighs in at 3.5 pounds and does well with the 15's.

Will be adding a Jim White pan attachment in the futher

 

If I felt the need for my Swaro spotting scope to go

I have to step up to my 4-3/4 pound Jim White head

and a Amvona AT-L102 tripod which is a great pod for the money.

 

If I will be glassing from my truck and want to have all my optics

set up which is really nice to be able to do I drag out My 8-3/4 #

Amvona AT-6703 pod with a Amvona pistol grip head.

This thing is rock solid for the scope and for me I have learned

to dislike pistol grips for my binos with all the moving you do

and I fatique but is real nice for the scope.

 

You can get most of these products from Amandas store.

http://www.coueswhitetail.com/bookstore/tr...ripod_heads.htm

and do a goole search for Amvona (Dynatran)

 

Sorry I went beyond the pack set up

 

[AZ RANGER]

My lite weight pack in set up is a Slik Sprint Mini

with the Slik SBH-100 head and Jim White pan head.

I love this set up but would try to stay with my Swaro 10X42"

This set up weighs in at just under 2#.

 

GameHauler Have you tried your 15's on the mini, if so are they too shakey?

[AzBuckCHaser1]

If weight the issue, dont get the velbon, but it is hands down one of the best tripods out there for the price.. my buddy uses the outdoorsmans tripod that cost him 650.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and does nothing but rants about my velbon that i got for 120.00 even Duwane adams and several of his top guides use them and im sure you know his success.. your more then wecome to try mine out. if your around the tucson area.

[GameHauler]

For me they are but you may be fine with it.

I will be out of service for a bit unless I go help someone just to glass.

If you want to give the setup a try shoot me a PM and if I can,

you can borrow them.

I will be helping my Daughter the last week of Oct into the first week of Nov.

and have high hopes of being apart of my Coues tag I donated to a youngster

with special needs.

More I think about it I would not be using this set up unless I borrowed the head

for one of the other setups.

 

 

[catclaw]

The cheapy, light tripods are OK if you are sitting AND the wind isn't blowing, add either of these and you need more tripod to be effective. What is the point of carrying one if it is not doing the job. Not everyone needs and can afford a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod. I used a Bogen aluminun tripod for years and still do but my main tripod is now a Velbon El Carmagne 640. It is carbon fiber, magnesium and has nylon locknuts as opposed to the $700 Gitzo alloy locknuts.

 

I use a small Manfrotto ball head and love it. For use with the Claw, I am switching to the 710 HDV head which is a fantastic head. The Velbon comes with a head for about $300 but I don't like it for binocular use- it is fine for cameras and spotting scopes however. A 5'10" guy can easilly stand and use the 640.

 

If your budget is tight, you are going to have to go heavier to get cheaper.

 

sorry!

[AZ RANGER]

For me they are but you may be fine with it.

I will be out of service for a bit unless I go help someone just to glass.

If you want to give the setup a try shoot me a PM and if I can,

you can borrow them.

I will be helping my Daughter the last week of Oct into the first week of Nov.

and have high hopes of being apart of my Coues tag I donated to a youngster

with special needs.

More I think about it I would not be using this set up unless I borrowed the head

for one of the other setups.

 

Thanks GH I would def. take you up on that offer if you were closer.

 

Does anybody else have experience using 15's with the sprint mini.

 

[arizonaelitefreak]

dude you should really look at the thread I have on the brunton tripod I jsut bought I love it!

[Coach]

Hey Scott. I use a Slik Sprint Pro with my 15's and it works really well. I didn't even buy a head for it because it comes with a ball head that does the job. I might look into that 700rc2 head though - a little smoother head would be nice.

 

Using the Jim White universal tripod adapter I don't think you'll find a lighter tripod setup. PM me with any questions.

 

 

[DesertBull]

I would much rather carry the extra weight of a good tripod than save a pound on something that is less effective. Either way, you are walking to the top of the mountain, might as well have something that works in the wind when you get there.

 

I took a Bogen 190 tripod and cut about 4" off each leg section and about 3" off the center column. Then I got a 700RC head and cut off about 1/2 of the arm.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bogen-Manfrotto-3205-1...id=p3286.c0.m14

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Manfrotto-Bogen-700RC2...id=p3286.c0.m14

[Coues Sniper]

I would much rather carry the extra weight of a good tripod than save a pound on something that is less effective. Either way, you are walking to the top of the mountain, might as well have something that works in the wind when you get there.

+1, Absolutely.