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. Read more
Purchased for my 20-60x spotting scope. It’s well built and study, quality for joints are very well built and will last for a long time. A little on the heavy side, but perfect for my RANGE uses, I plan on bringing to Angeles Shooting range in So Cal. Needed a solid tripod for stationary shooting. Zero shake and perfect. Saved money, was going to buy a Vortex tripod. No need now….I will buy more ammo. Read more
Should take off a star as no carrying bag for such a heavy tripod(bag is $12 extra, at least !). Mounted a 6 pound camera easily--very heavy duty in appearence. Pretty impossible to tip tripod with something attached. Too heavy for portable use, to carry around with you--so no bag will be just fine. Just arrived today, so not field tested for functions under use. So well constructed, that I do not expect things like seals, gaskets, or parts to go bad. If you're willing to spend near $100 for this, it sure appears to be worth it. It sure is study. Some heavy duty plastic parts are used--not sure about getting replacement parts, if needed. Tripod specs great. IMPRESSIVE. 25-61" tripod makes it versitable-- Sky viewing is easy, be it a reflector or refractor telescope. Wide stance on legs for stability--legs do not bend when fully open. Note; has no leveling bubble. Will support heavier items. Basic instructions in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Portuguese. All black tripod--rubber feet, too. Good friction when extending legs and added top section, so no slippage while setting up. Read more
This is a very sturdy tripod, that extends to sufficient height to comfortably use binoculars for astronomical observation. I am 5'9" and although the tripod itself extends to only 61", the addition of a binocular mount increases that to about 65" inches, putting the binocular eyepieces at eye level or higher. Even when the binoculars are pointed skyward at a 45-60 degree angle, the eyepieces are at a reasonably comfortable height, so I don't have to bend down too much while trying to look upward. The panhead moves smoothly and locks securely, easily holding my Pentax PCF 12x50 binoculars with quick release mount (about 3.5 lbs total) even at extreme angles. I have little doubt that it will readily handle my DLSR, even with the zoom lens fully extended. One small complaint: I wish the panhead handle was about 3 inches longer, but I'll get used to that. The instruction manual that came with the tripod refers to the leg locks as "Quick Release". They are not; they are of the classical wing nut clamp style as stated in the Amazon description. If you expect to be moving around a lot, these type of clamps, although they give a very secure grip on the legs, are definitely not as fast or convenient as true Quick Release clamps. Another user manual discrepancy states that the panhead includes a Quick Release camera mount; it does not. It is a standard 1/4"-20 screw mount. Again, the Amazon description is correct. This may depend on the Bushnell model. The one I received from Amazon is the Bushnell Model #78-4030. All in all, a well constructed, reasonably light, solid tripod, especially for the price. Hopefully, it will hold up well in extended use. Read more
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. Read more
