Tripod Head Question
Has anyone experimented with using a grip ball head like this one on their scope tripod instead of the standard tripod heads out there? I'll admit, I don't even know if it would fit on my tripod and I don't know much about tripods. It looks like it would make finding and locking on a bird easier, but may make scanning more difficult.
5 comments:
I don't have a scope so I can't comment on the actual compatibility as far as mounting goes, but I use that exact grip with 400 and 500mm lenses and I absolutely love it. It's very useful for panning, very intuitive, and I don't foresee ever going back to a regular tripod head after having this grip.
You might send an email to Mike McDowell--he would know. It seems to me that if it's a Bogen/Manfrotto, you're gonna get quality, though.
That is the one I just bought and will use with my camera and long lens. I will follow up with a report after trying it out this weekend!
It does look good for bird photography but I doubt it is suitable for watching birds with a scope as "scanning" will be made more difficult.
So the question seems to be: how often would you use your tripod for your camera as compared to your scope and how important is "scanning" to you (I suppose you do a lot of it living close to the coast?).
I definitely do a lot of scanning. I think I'll visit the local camera store one day and see if they have one I can play with.
I also recall a trip leader I was with once who had a head with the traditional "handle" for turning the scope. I swear he could turn the handle (like a screwdriver) to pan the head in any direction and then turn it again to lock it. He was insanely fast at getting on birds.
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