[Tweeters] Lightweight tripods

[BRAD Liljequist via Tweeters]

Amy, I have a Kowa TSN-884 (amazing scope) and was confronted with a similar situation - heavy old Bogen legs with a 128RC head that combined are both great/stable and heavy (I have been known to lug over shoulders for 5 miles, but not my favorite).

I note the Bogen 290 you mention actually has a listed weight of 5.6 lbs so maybe heavier than you want.  I looks like it comes with the 128RC head which I think is pretty much the ideal birding fluid pan head - durable, compact, and easy to use.

I ended up with a 2nd tripod - the old Bogen 3405 (no longer made so you will be buying 2nd hand).  It is about 4.3 pounds, cheap, tough, and well made - cheap on ebay.  It has an integrated single adjusting arm - but it is not a fluid head so a bit jerky when panning - but not bad for a non-primary tripod.  I do find it works ok with the big Kowa - just - and with your angled eyepiece it would be even more stable.

I have eyed some of the carbon fiber Bogen legs.  I might suggest you go to Glazer's, which has a lot of tripods including many Bogens, and check out you scope with the 128RC and just decide what works best.  Glazer's is an amazing resource here in town.  I suspect you can find something like the 290 in carbon fiber with the 128 head and you will be at a pretty ideal setup weight/stability wise.

Brad Liljequist
Phinney Ridge
Seattle, WA, Earth


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