>I will require
>a monster tripod to go with it however. Anybody got any recommendations - 72
>inches is required, preferably not fully extended as this makes the scope
>more stable in wind.

The key isn't so much reaching that height without being fully extended,
but with little or no use of the centerpost. I'm 6 ft tall and use a Bogen
3021. This is sort of a standard photographer's tripod, much more
stable than the typical lightweight scope tripods or less rugged
tripods sold for photographic purposes by the likes of Slik (yecch).

I just bought my second one for $115 at Camera World here in town
(without head, I've got several already).

In the photo world, this is more or less the standard for those of
us who don't want to pay $300-$400 for a set of Gitzo legs, which
are more stable for the weight but which have other, rather kinky
shortcomings of their own. After all, they're French:

Bogen makes a lighter tripod you may want to look at, the 3010
series, as well as even heavier ones which are really designed
for professional cine cameras.

Bogen makes a wide variety of heads (actually, Bogen is the US
distributor, they're actually made by Manfrotto in Italy - I only
mention this because sometimes the Italian name shows up and
confuses people). Talk to me if you want info, they're
overkill for spotting scope use, but will last a lifetime.

They make a couple that would be good perhaps for scope use:
one which has a nicely damped movement controlled by one handle,
another which has a squeeze-trigger to loosen a ballhead. I've
used them both on other folks scopes, but use a big ballhead
myself as my primary tripod use is for photography.

Unfortunately, most tripods are crap.

I personally dislike tripods which have center braces running from
the legs to the center post. I've been "bit" by those too often
when using other folks' 'pods and scopes. And a good-sized tripod
extends far enough so that you need little or no center-post
extension, so the extra stability isn't really necessary (the
Bogen is very stable with moderate center-post extension even
without the center braces).

The 3021 also allows you to spread the legs and get close to
the ground. I often like to sit and watch stuff (or photograph
stuff) for a lengthy time, so this feature is very nice. It's
also the best way to beat the wind - NO 'pod will eliminate
windshake entirely.

Shoot, wish you'd mentioned this at the picnic, I had my
old one in the trunk of the car! If you're wondering why
I have two, the ten-year old one has been crunched/hand-repaired
a couple of times and I've broken most of the leg flip-locks and
have to use a wrench. I bought a new one and kept the old for
those occasions when I want to be able to use flash way off-camera.

They don't break easily, it's seen very, very heavy use and I'm
a very creative abuser of equipment.

You should go to a good camera store and try some out. Sorry,
I'm unfamiliar with photo stores in the Seattle area.

>Thanks for listening...

Did we have any choice? :)

- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>