Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!mailrus!umix!umich!mibte!edsdrd!gss
From: gss@edsdrd.UUCP (Gary Schiltz)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Tripod recommendations wanted
Message-ID: <942@edsdrd.UUCP>
Date: 12 Apr 88 13:08:20 GMT
References: <2950001@hpcndaw.HP.COM>
Organization: EDS Research, Troy, MI  48007-7019
Lines: 58

In article <2950001@hpcndaw.HP.COM>, jbh@hpcndaw.HP.COM (Joel Hurmence) writes:
> I am looking for a tripod for my new spotting scope.  I would like
> to find one that is stable and *quick* to set up [...]
> 
> Does anybody have a scope tripod they could recommend?

My wife and I have been using a Swift tripod or about a year, now.  I can't
remember the model number or name, and I have looked all over the tripod and
can't find one there either.  So, I'll describe it and maye someone on the
net will know which one I'm talking about (they seem to be popular).  In any
case, we really like it.

The legs are two-piece tubular aluminum.  There is one lever at the top of
each leg to lock and unlock the leg for lowering and raising.  There is
also a tubular aluminum center shaft on which the tripod head sits.  This 
shaft is tightened with a single knob at the top of the assembly which
connects the shaft and the legs.  The shaft is lowered and raised by hand 
rather than by a crank as in many photographic tripods.  The tripod head
is very simple to use; there is only one handle to loosen in order to 
adjust the scope in both vertical and horizontal directions.  A separate 
knob is used to adjust the tilt of the head (but this is not normally needed 
for use with a spotting scope, anyway).

The one locking lever per leg and single adjustment for the head makes the
scope VERY fast and easy to set up.  I can go from carrying the scope and
tripod completely folded and resting on my shoulder to completely set up and
focused on a bird in around 15 seconds (ok, maybe 20), all without taking my
eyes off the bird.

The tripod is also very light and compact -- I don't have exact figures,
but it seems to be only a few pounds with a Spacemaster scope mounted on
it.  The price is moderately expensive -- I gave around $70 for mine from
a dealer who sells nothing but binoculars, scopes and tripods.  The normal
retail price might be a little higher, certainly lower from camera stores
in NYC.

There are only a few drawbacks that I've found so far.  For one, I'd like
the tripod to be a little taller.  Fully extended, it is only about 5'4"
tall.  This is fine for most uses where the bird is at or below eye level,
but I've become comfortable enough with my scope with a wide angle lens
that I use it for looking at warblers in the spring.  I really have to 
squat down to look through the scope when it is focused on the top of
a close tall tree.  Also, the tripod is not as stable as I'd like.  It
shakes a little in strong winds, but not all that badly.  However, its
lightness overshadows this minor problem.

As an aside, I have used a tripod made by a company called Star-D (I
believe this is the name) which seems to have had basically the same
adjustments.  The only difference is that the tripod was taller but 
heavier and more bulky to carry.  I don't know about the price.

I hope this helps.  Good luck and have a good spring birding.

Gary Schiltz
-- 

Gary S. Schiltz  - EDS R & D  "Have bird will watch ..."
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