I use the following set up and I feel it works great for me.
Manfrotto 190X PRO4 Tripod legs
Benro GH2 Gimbal Head
It is heaving with i have the Canon 7D Mark ii & Sigma 150-600 OS HSM (S) Sport on it but it has let me get images when without it I would just not been able too.
Pros & cons with what they're made from - carbon fibre is very strong, light & bends very little, but makes the whole assembly top-heavy. You can hang a heavy bag from the hook below the head in some cases. It's also expensive
One feature that can be useful is if the legs have a 90 degree setting - if they're set at 90 degrees, the assembly cannot vibrate very much even in strong winds (but the scope will be only 3 foot off the ground). Useful for distance viewing & photography
Another plug for manfrotto. I used to use an Aluminium Manfrotto - a 144B Birder if I remember correctly, with a 128RC head. Steady as anything but weighed a ton. I still have the legs but I swapped the head onto a set of carbon manfrotto legs. The head is fantastic and still giving me good service after nearly 20years, and I still have the legs just in case!
However, as Simon points out, carbon legs are a bit more prone to blowing over - nearly had a nasty accident early on with mine. Its worse if you use a scope carrier as they can act as a sail if not unfastened.
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I agree with Richard; I also have a metal Manfrotto tripod, it works well although it has a few fiddly parts and this means more things to break or get loose, compared to a simpler one.
Additionally to his points, my main thing was I wanted something somewhat heavy so that it was nice and steady in windy conditions, as I like sea-watching. I feel better that I can step away from the scope for a minute and trust the thing to stay upright. This is a common scenario if you're static for a while at one spot.
Against that is the weight if you're pretty mobile, but the lighter ones will be less secure in certain conditions. I think it is worth thinking about the way you will use the tripod in that sense.
Another thing is the tripod head. I preferred the Manfrotto head for the way you pan and tilt and adjust the set-up. A lot of people have Velbon tripods but I have never got on with the twisting lever thing on them, so I got a different one. But the choice of head will impact the choice of tripod.
I'm no expert but I'll pass on my own experience and knowledge I've picked up over the years...
Larger tripods are better for larger scopes, this is to make the setup more sturdy and less prone to vibration shake. This obviously comes with extra weight. In order to cut down on weight a carbon fibre or simular tripod needs to be considered. Obviously if your going for second hand, care needs to be taken on the quality and personally, I would avoid most cheep models as many tend not to give a smooth movement whilst scanning.
Personally, I have a smaller setup, and my tripod is a manfrotto, a brand I trust. Though the frame is alloy, it serves my need and budget and gives a smooth movement. The best method really is to try before you buy. But, in light of this pandemic, this may be more difficult depending on general circumstances.
I'm sure others will be able to give much more information than this... but, its a start
Thanks.
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Thursday 15th of October 2020 09:46:44 AM
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