Hi all,

While I lack a degree in a relevant field such as engineering and have no training or education that would provide any real insight, I'll still chime in on this topic. I don't know why this time should be any different. ;)

I fail to see what advantages the removable plate (I assume we're talking about a quick release mounting plate) would offer over just the mounting foot, since the removable plate is still attached to the foot, right? If you drop the tripod, I suppose the scope might rotate on the removable plate when it hits the ground, potentially dissipating some of the shearing force, though perhaps not, particularly if you're using the extra pin that keeps the scope from rotating around the mounting screw. The anecdotal evidence shows that it can happen whether you use the plate or not.

Another potential problem to consider is that the threading in the scope foot can be stripped when using a removable plate (or mounting it on a tripod that does not have a quick release plate). That happened to a non-Swarovski scope I used to have when a certain guide on a certain island decided to drive like an (bad driver) over rough dirt roads. I left my scope on the tripod in the back of the van to then find that the aforementioned threading in the scope foot was largely destroyed by the end of the day. Since then, I rarely leave the scope on the tripod when driving. I haven't bothered to test if the Swarovski has stronger threading than my previous scope.

My biggest fear about using the mounting foot without the plate was that it would wear excessively and no longer hold firmly, but after two years, I see no evidence of it. Besides, I could always switch to a plate if that were to happen.

John Puschock
Wedgwood, Seattle
g_g_allin at hotmail.com


From: RachelWL at msn.com
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:36:08 -0700
Subject: [Tweeters] Tweeters responses about Swarovski scope mounts






Message



I thought all
of you Swarovski scope owners or potential owners might like to hear what
Tweeters are saying about the mounting foot on Swarovski
scopes. There sure wasn't much
consensus.

Four people
have used the foot alone with no problems. Five others use the
removable plate, some of whom will not even consider using the
foot without it, because the foot seems too flimsy.
Some seem to hate the whole thing, and wish there were a better
design. One person mentioned a six-sided plate made by Swarovski, and
recommended a heavy-duty tripod head. Three people had the foot shear
right off when the scope was dropped, one while using a removable plate, and two
with the foot alone. Swarovski did fix the foot at no charge, except for
shipping, but, in at least one case it took three months. Loaner scopes
are available while the foot is being repaired.

I'm still not sure
what I will do.

Rachel
Lawson
Seattle
rachelwl at msn.com

_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync.
http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=PID23384::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:NF_BR_sync:082009