For those who are looking for a tripod/head combination for binocular astronomy, or long distance bird watching, I would like to recommend the Manfrotto 501 Pro Video Head and the Manfrotto 3246 Triman Studio Pro Tripod. These two are excellent when using giant binoculars of 70mm and above.
Manfrotto 3246 (black) specifications:
Closed Length 32.2 inches
Minimum Height 30.3 inches
Maximum Height 89.4 inches or 7.45 feet
Overall Weight 9.1 lbs
Maximum Load Capacity 26.5 lbs.
Geared center column w/non-rollback feature
Rubber feet w/retractable spikes
Center column strut design
Twin shank legs
Manfrotto 501 Two-way head with pan handle:
Maximum Load Capacity 13.3 lbs.
Head Height 4.2 inches
Pan 360 degrees
Tilt +90 degrees and -60 degrees
Quick Release Floor Plate
Weight 3.4 lbs.
I use this combination with my Gemini 20x80LW, and X-Trail 30x80 binoculars. I tried the 501 with my Manfrotto 3021BN tripod, but the combo is too short for overhead binocular astronomy.
The things that I like about the 501 head are:
It has a separate tension adjustment knob for panning and also a locking lever;
It has a separate tension adjustment knob for tilt and also a locking lever;
The removable floor plate is quick and easy to remove/change, and it has a release button and locking lever for additional safety; The pan handle can be used either left or right handed, and for extra-heavy bino's you have the option of using two pan handles, one for each hand;
You can reverse the head, and the handles, and use them either forward or backward. This head is very rugged and very sturdy and worth the money.
I tried the smaller 701RC2 mini head and returned it because it did not impress me.
What I like best about the 3246 tripod is the overall height. The geared center column w/non-rollback feature raises and lowers the binoculars with greater safety and control. The twin shank leg design and center column struts make the tripod really solid and stable. Heavier tripods are overkill and an unnecessary expense (unless you are planning on using a parallelogram), and the lighter tripods don't offer the rock solid platform needed for the heaviest giant binoculars.
For me, the Manfrotto 501/3246 combination represents the very best quality, the very best value, and the perfect height for my long distance bird watching and backyard binocular astronomy.
Stan B.
