Derbyfella
Well-known member
I have an angled scope, my tripod has a removable centre column (Manfrotto) is it worth getting one of these rather than constantly setting up my tripod?
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Hide clamps - worth it? (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter Derbyfella
- Start date
Harry Stottle
Unknown-Known
Yes. If you visit places with hides often, definitely worth it.
Last edited:
Derbyfella,
Every birder has a different "convenience zone", and will buy, carry, and use an extra piece of kit to stay inside it.
In my experience most birders, most of the time, need a tripod to use their scopes outside the hides, and then find it easy enough to set up their scopes on tripods in a hide, which is probably why I have never seen a hide clamp in use in a hide. I use a monopod now, but when used I a tripod I occasionally had to mess about with standing two tripod legs on the floor and shortening the third to rest it between my legs on the bench I was sitting on, but that's really as hard/inconvenient as it ever got. I never felt that a hide clamp was going to make it quicker/easier enough for me to want to carry it around between hides - which is the acid test for any of my kit.
Have you used your scope on a tripod in a hide ? If so, how did you get on ?
Derbyfella
Well-known member
I generally go in a three with two friends - one uses a monopod which is obviously significantly easier in a hide. To be fair for me it is a bit of a pain,setting up between the bench and the window and realistically after a bit of experimenting I’ve found to remove the centre column is probably equally painful.. however I’m also thinking of my bridging camera which I tend to struggle with for focussing, partly due to shake
Thanks for the response 👍🏽
William Lewis
Wishing birdwatching paid the bills.
I realise this is a slightly left field suggestion but I used to do it often.
If you demount your scope from the tripod and brace it against either the hide window ledge or vertical window frame with your hand you might be surprised how effectively stabilised it is. Obviously this is dependent on the type of hide you visit but works well in the majority.
May be worth a try before opting to carry a clamp around.
If you demount your scope from the tripod and brace it against either the hide window ledge or vertical window frame with your hand you might be surprised how effectively stabilised it is. Obviously this is dependent on the type of hide you visit but works well in the majority.
May be worth a try before opting to carry a clamp around.
Steve Lister
Senior Birder, ex County Recorder, Garden Moths.
Hide clamps normally fasten on to the elbow shelf and arevery susceptible to moving around when people move their elbows. I have one but never use it.
When I used to spend a heck of a lot of time in a particular seawatching hut I got a metalworking friend to make me a simple bracket that fit over the wooden bottom edge of the viewing window. It had a screw so that I could attach my tripod head and scope to it, and this worked really well.
When I used to spend a heck of a lot of time in a particular seawatching hut I got a metalworking friend to make me a simple bracket that fit over the wooden bottom edge of the viewing window. It had a screw so that I could attach my tripod head and scope to it, and this worked really well.
I considered them for a while but they feel more like something to install in a hide as opposed to something that one will carry everywhere....unless you are planning to spend a lot of time in one particular hide for the day.
It is relatively simple to set up a scope in (most of the) hides anyway.
It is relatively simple to set up a scope in (most of the) hides anyway.
Hi,
I think it depends where you are birding..
I visit a place with 3 separate lakes .1 about 3 football pitches in size ,another 2.5 FPs another 2 FPs .
Binoculars are fine most of the time , but I use an opticron GS 52 GA ED with a HDF zoom with a
monopod for small waders or greater detail ..
The scope fits in a Barbour pocket as does the monopod which screws down to a. About 10 inches X 1.5. (a nice little cosh ! Kidding)
I sit down and balance the scope & monopod between my legs, or rest on a bench or wall..
If I visit Slimbridge or Rutland Water, for instance
I get the "big guns" out and use an opticron ES 8O and tripod.
At a small reserve like RSPB Otmoor I think a hide clamp would suffice,.
I think it depends where you are birding..
I visit a place with 3 separate lakes .1 about 3 football pitches in size ,another 2.5 FPs another 2 FPs .
Binoculars are fine most of the time , but I use an opticron GS 52 GA ED with a HDF zoom with a
monopod for small waders or greater detail ..
The scope fits in a Barbour pocket as does the monopod which screws down to a. About 10 inches X 1.5. (a nice little cosh ! Kidding)
I sit down and balance the scope & monopod between my legs, or rest on a bench or wall..
If I visit Slimbridge or Rutland Water, for instance
I get the "big guns" out and use an opticron ES 8O and tripod.
At a small reserve like RSPB Otmoor I think a hide clamp would suffice,.
