Anyone using RRS or Feisol mini tripod?

[mrtoyz]

Looking at the RRS or Feisol mini tripods for prone straight eye piece spotter or LabRadar.
Worried about either being to low for a spotter and not stable enough for a LabRadar.
Love any input if you have one or have experience with one.

 

[Kalthoff]

I have the Feisol TT-15 Mark 2 Carbon fiber tabletop tripod
It is fitted with the Feisol CB-30D ballhead.
Combined weight of ballhead+tripod is 490 gram/17.2 ounces

I mostly use it with an angled Vortex Razor HD 11-33x50 spotting scope (708 gram/25 ounces).

This combination works fine both at the rifle range and in the field for bird watching and scoping in general.

At the rifle range the height is just right. I can transition between the rifle and the spotting scope easily on my elbows without getting up at all.

Out in the field on foot or bicycle I really like how lightweight and tiny this combination is. I now carry the spotting scope+tripod as well as a pair of binoculars to places I would previously only bring a pair of binoculars to.

BTW I am not totally satisfied with the Feisol products. They come with some stiff foam on top of the tripod and some cork stuff on the plate for the scope. This introduces a bit of wobblyness that is wholly unwanted in a tripod+head arrangement. Ditch the Feisol plate and get proper all-metal plates from Kirk or RRS, and replace the rubber on top of the tripod with a suitable metal disc, then screw the head and tripod together real tight with Loctite to hold them together forever.

 

[mrtoyz]

Good stuff thanks.

Interesting, I just looked at the Minox 10-30 spotter today. Looks to be about the same size as your Vortex.

Have you you tried using any larger heavier spotter with your Feisol? Wondering if it'll support much more size and weight escpacially with ball head at 90degress so it could be used prone.

 

[Kalthoff]

Good stuff thanks.

Interesting, I just looked at the Minox 10-30 spotter today. Looks to be about the same size as your Vortex.

Have you you tried using any larger heavier spotter with your Feisol? Wondering if it'll support much more size and weight escpacially with ball head at 90degress so it could be used prone.

I have not tried anything significantly more heavy on the Feisol tripod yet.

The Minox I have only seen online, so no first-hand impression of its quality, but Minox had a very good reputation for high quality optics.

 

[markdjr]

I use the RRS for LabRadar. The aluminum not the carbon.

 

[mrtoyz]

Mark, couple questions:
Which model? Not sure what the difference between basic and ultra is...
Assuming for prone shooting?
Which leg position do you use it in?
How stable is it?
Do you is an RRS ball head?

 

[markdjr]

Mark, couple questions:
Which model? Not sure what the difference between basic and ultra is...
Assuming for prone shooting?
Which leg position do you use it in?
How stable is it?
Do you is an RRS ball head?

I use the original pocket pod, replaced by this guy.

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/Pocket-Pod-Packages

I am using an RRS head, the BC-18 in the package selector.
I am using for prone shooting and just push the legs all the way out, plenty stable for labradar and should work for a spotter as well.

I chose this solution because I wanted something low profile that I could dedicate to the labradar to avoid forgetting tripod all together. This one fits in the pocket of the labradar protective case.

 

[mrtoyz]

Appreciate the info.