Bushnell Advanced Tripod for Binoculars, Spotting Scopes, and Cameras - Durable Aluminum Construction with Adjustable Legs and Center Column for Stability,Black

The five star rating rating is based on the value of a tripod in this price range. Not as compared to other pricier professional tripods.I have a 14 year old Slik tripod that is nearly identical to this one in all aspects but one. So I suspect Slik makes this one too. That is why I bought it. My 14 year old Slik tripod is still going strong even though I have stored it outdoors in the bed of a truck for the past 6 years (gets cleaned and rebuilt every couple of years).This tripod is not for back packing of high country high activities that are only accessible on foot (unless you are in superior physical condition). I will take it on day hikes and truck trips. It does not compact very small and is not light weight. But that is what its intended purpose requires.It is very stable and solid. When using a Bushnell Elite 20 to 60 by 80 spotting scope, it is rock solid as long as you do not touch it, or only use it in a light breeze or calm conditions. If you touch it at 60 power there will be a wobble. The wobble is small and diminishes quickly when you stop touching it. That is actually very good for tripod of this weight and price range! Lower power settings are perfect. I have a $750 tripod that is more stable, but it doesn't go anywhere that I can't park a vehicle nearby because of its size and weight.The controls are smooth and stay locked where you put it. I haven't tried it for video panning. The legs are stiff when locked. It has the look and feel of quality.I can see why Bushnell put their name on this one. GOOD VALUE, VERY STABLE, NOT FOR BACK PACKING.

Tried other cheaper, lighter, and well-reviewed tripods with a spotting scope, but they just weren't stable with the heavier and unbalanced load (even though supposedly rated for it). This is a much more solid and heavy-duty mount and works well with a spotting scope.

This is a heavy duty tripod which is great for someone who wants to set up their scope and leave it set up and in place. And that is exactly how I am going to use it. It is a bit bulky and I wish Bushnell would have thought to add the lever locked legs instead of screw loose locked legs. I would never use this tripod in the field. It would be sturdy in windy conditions but it would be too heavy for me to carry around and it would take too long to set up because of the leg adjustments. By then, the bird is long gone.

I own two of these tripods. My first one turned up missing, which I purchased on Amazon in January of 2014. Without hesitation I bought a replacement, and later found the first one. Now that I have used this tripod for 3 1/3 years, I can say that for the money, it would be very difficult to find a more stable tripod for the money. Others have mentioned that quick release would be nice, especially for some applications. My previous tripod was a Manfrotto 4 section aluminum tripod that was substantially more expensive, but the quick release clamps broke in several places, so I was looking to avoid that. This tripod is listed as weighing 5.5lbs. To me it feels heavier, but I have not put mine on the scale. I can say for certain that for hiking, elk hunting, or other field applications where every ounce counts, I would purchase a lighter weight tripod. Having said that, to save 2-3 pounds and achieve similar or better stability, one would be looking at a Gitzo or other high end tripod that could end up costing nearly 10 times as much. I use this tripod for 35mm photography. I also mount an 85mm Meopta spotting scope with a rangefinder and camera simultaneously using a device called an RF Cam Cradle made by defensive edge. This setup altogether is quite heavy, but I've had no problems with head movement. Lastly, I have used this tripod with a HOG Saddle and an 18 lb rifle/scope combo successfully as well. My impression is that if you're in the market for a relatively affordable tripod and do not have extreme weight concerns, or the need for quickly deployable legs, that this is an excellent choice.

I tried a less expensive tripod that had a 11 lb. maximum load capacity, but it could not provide a stable platform like this Bushnell Advanced Tripod. I am using this tripod for wildlife watching from my home/property, so it is/was not intended to be a travel or mobile tripod for my use. My first priority was stability, and a fluid pan head, easy to adjust settings. So far, this tripod has met my expectations in that it IS stable for my 5 lb. spotting scope plus DSLR camera. The pictures I have attached show the adjustment knobs and the leg adjustments. The leg adjustments although not quick release suit my needs as I do not move it very far as I am watching wildlife. The center column nut is impressive and holds the column tightly. The pan adjustment works well without much wobble. The head mount is not quick release but again this is acceptable for my more stable needs. I also like the padded legs as that gives it additional "feel" and solid grip. Overall, I believe that this tripod is a good value and can be used for the heavier scopes and cameras.