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Normal Topic WHAT TRIPOD TO USE WITH MY 100MM SCOPE? (Read 3475 times)
henpeckedmuch
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WHAT TRIPOD TO USE WITH MY 100MM SCOPE?
Jul 11th, 2009 at 10:56pm
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I broke down and bought a Konus 100mm spotting scope but now I find the  tripod I was using very inadequate. This is a big/heavy  scope and will take a stout stand. I shoot offhand or sitting usually and prone once in a while. I've been told that there is a used professional motion picture tripod that comes up for sale on ebay once in a while. Does anyone have any ideas?
  
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Singleshotlover
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Re: WHAT TRIPOD TO USE WITH MY 100MM SCOPE?
Reply #1 - Jul 12th, 2009 at 1:14am
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I have a buddy that used a surveyor's tripod. This was an older model. The legs were wood and had the spotting scope mounted on it. Sometimes you see them used at pawn shops with or without the origional transit optics. The newer laser transits have made the older optical transits less popular. If using a camera tripod get the heaviest one possible as vibration is evident when viewing through the lens. check ebay for prices just to see whats out there. Frank
  
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DonN
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Re: WHAT TRIPOD TO USE WITH MY 100MM SCOPE?
Reply #2 - Jul 12th, 2009 at 8:30am
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I use a Gitzo Stidex photographer tripod left over from my photographer days. The head is a Bogen three way. This outfit is compact easy to store and rock solid. I use it with my Kowa scope. In the past it held a Canon 200m f2.8 lens and a F1 canon the weight of this outfit top out at 20 lb. 
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boats
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Re: WHAT TRIPOD TO USE WITH MY 100MM SCOPE?
Reply #3 - Jul 12th, 2009 at 9:34am
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For name currently produced tripods you won't go wrong with Bodgen/Mannifoto, or Gitzo. I use a Bodgen with the video camera fluid head. Easy scan like when spotting a bank of silhouettes, adjust from standing to sitting very well,  this when spotting another shooter not shooting and self spotting.  Old surveyors tripods are very sturdy at the expense of weight and bulk plus you are going to have to jury rig the attachment somehow.

Problem with shooting from position, Offhand sitting or prone, is the scope has to be close to your body. Very important not to shift position while spotting. This makes almost all tripods difficult.   

Purpose built shooters stands are best.  I like Champions choice  but others are good too. it's the older model, They have one now a bit beefier. Offhand for Schuetzen almost always lash it to the shooting house post to steady things up. Depending on how many rods you set up with can shoot sitting prone or bench.   

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ssdave
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Re: WHAT TRIPOD TO USE WITH MY 100MM SCOPE?
Reply #4 - Jul 12th, 2009 at 10:30am
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Call and talk to Jim about this one that he makes:

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It is made by a shooter for exactly this purpose, which has advantages over using a not quite suited video tripod.  Cost is less than a good video tripod also, and weight is less.  It's a lot more usable and is as stable as it gets, especially when it comes to wind vibration.

His web site shows out of stock at the moment, but I know that he'll have more soon.  He was talking about producing more when I saw him a few weeks ago.

dave
  
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Re: WHAT TRIPOD TO USE WITH MY 100MM SCOPE?
Reply #5 - Jul 12th, 2009 at 1:49pm
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That looks good,  Champion's Choice has one with tripod legs too, Legs are a bit lower and not as wide.Can you stand next to this one and shoot self spotting ?  I can't see it working prone or from cross sticks self spotting. Be good if the pictures showed a shooter in position. It's  more important than how it folds up.

If you can get close it may be the one to have. Now most of us use a single shaft stand offside and bench clamped rifle rest strong hand side.  When no bench is available some sort of tripod rifle rest is best way to go.  You see these on the line with 10M airgun shooters  who shoot with no fixed bench, hang on's for pellet holders on the shaft.

It's very dependent on what discipline someone shoots and the range set up.

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DonN
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Re: WHAT TRIPOD TO USE WITH MY 100MM SCOPE?
Reply #6 - Jul 13th, 2009 at 11:43am
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Just some things about using a photographer tripod for a spotting scope. Try to get one with spike feet. Sinking the legs into the ground adds to the stability and the legs don't have to be extended all the way out, reducing the foot print. If using on concrete make up a wood triangle about 12- 14" on a side drill holes in the corners to hold the spikes. To increase the rigidity hang a weight for the tripod, the heavier the better.
  
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