Setup suggestions.

I have some new SLC HD 10x42s and an HD 25-50 wide angle Swaro HD spotter in the 65mm straight. I love them both like children. I have found how much I like to pan with the binos on a tripod. I currently put the binos on a Vortex High Country tripod with the ball head to pan with and it works pretty well. I have a Vanguard Alta tripod for the spotter it's ok too.

I have been looking at the Outdoorsmans stuff and they seem like the way to go. If money were no option, I would get that compact medium with the large pan head and the dual mount for the binos and the spotter. It might be cumbersome, but it seems the dual mount would save a lot of time going back and forth with the two tripods. When it's prime time glassing every second counts. It seems I spend half of it going back and forth from bino to spotter. Sometimes I find a buck with the binos and want to take a closer look so I move the tripod out of the way then grab the other tripod with the spotter. By the time I re-find the animal it seems that sometimes it moves into the trees or whatnot.

Anybody have a better solution? Better system? I'm all ears.......

"That's a special feeling, Lloyd"

If you're using two tripods, move the body, not the tripods.

Are you suggesting getting off the ground and switching places just to look at the same spot on the mountain?


My question is it it better to have both units on the same tripod that way the the spotter is already pointed in the general direction as the binos?



"That's a special feeling, Lloyd"

LAST EDITED ON Jul-12-16 AT 01:55PM (MST)[p]http://sportopticsnorthwest.com/product-category/accessories/tripods/

I really like this set up for the money..

Look in the photography world.

They have TONS of options for this exact thing.

Tripods use the same mounts and mounting systems for cameras and spotting scopes, and video cameras.



You can get a simple plate like that for $15 most places.
You mount it to your tripod head with the 3/8 screw.
Then you have two 1/4 inch threads to screw into your bino and spotter bases.
Quick release the entire thing and pop it in the pack.
Then pull it out, snap it into the tripod head, and you are both spotting and bino ready.

Quick, easy, cheap.

They have all kinds of lengths to spread your gear as close or as far as you want.





Note that these images are just screwed to the tripod post, no head.
You will obviously want to use a head with a quick release.
The one thing you have to consider is the tripod head.
You are going to be unbalanced. Unless your spotter and binos weigh the same.

Fluid heads, fluid like heads, ball heads, and others are going to give you hassles.

You need to use a geared head like the manfrotto 410 junior if you are going to use something like this.
That way it doesn't matter where you point it, how off balance it is, it just goes where you put it and stays there.

Good ideas. Thanks for the info. You obviously have put thought and effort into this based in your post.

Mind if I ask what you use for high country glassing for both optics and accessories?

Thanks again.


"That's a special feeling, Lloyd"

Good ideas. Thanks for the info. You obviously have put thought and effort into this based in your post.

Mind if I ask what you use for high country glassing for both optics and accessories?

Thanks again.


"That's a special feeling, Lloyd"

I use either a Swarovski ATX, Kowa prominar, vortex razor, or weaver spotting scope.
I use either Meopta or Kowa binoculars.
I use Manfrotto, Gitzo, or Really right stuff tripods.
It just depends on what I am doing and where I am going.
Too many tripod heads to list.

Its all a tradeoff. Weight and space for stability and usability.

In the high country, I find that simpler, is better. But its got to be solid and reliable.
Its got to be accessible and functional.

I don't think that I would be happy with one type of set up. Especially in tripod heads.

Things like a tripod apron, or a caldwell shooting bag are essentials that I wouldn't want to live without.
Light and compact when empty, but they add a lot of stability when you toss a couple rocks in them to hold your tripod down in wind. Just hang them from the center post, or clip them to the legs and it can make a big difference.