Today I finally completed my new spotting scope set-up. As I had mentioned in a post just prior to this, I had decided to return the tripod/head combination that I originally bought because of weight, and went with a new set-up. I purchased the Manfrotto Befree GT Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod, and the Befree Live Video Head. Total weight for both the scope, and the tripod combo is 8.2 lbs., a manageable weight in the field.

There definitely is a heft difference between my first purchase and this tripod/head combination. I think that there’s a bit more plastic employed in the Befree combination than the 055 tripod, which frankly is built like a tank for big video cameras. I’ve always had the unfortunate habit of over-buying in tripods, and this one certainly is different. It is very lightweight, and the head does suffer from some design flaws, notably if you are right-handed; I expect it easier for lefties, as the plate-locking mechanism and the tilt knob are both on the left side. And you can only mount the handle on the right side. My initial feeling is that the video head is a tad flimsy, but it is rated to hold 8.8 lbs. and my scope weights in a 3 lbs. less, so things should be fine. I will soon be doing reviews of both when I am able to get them out into the field.