In astronomy, tripods are more often associated with telescopes and cameras. But, can you use a tripod for binoculars?
The answer is yes!
Binoculars are best utilized with a sturdy tripod to ensure your image remains stable. Of course, you could opt for a fancy pair of image stabilized binoculars, but that’s going to cost you a pretty penny.
A more cost-effect way is to purchase a tripod and mount. A well-made tripod should be able to hold any standard pair of field binoculars firmly in place, perfect for all-night astronomy observation.
Most standard (40mm to 56mm objective) and mid-size binoculars (30mm to 35mm objective) can be mounted on standard tripods.
If the binoculars are fairly lightweight, you might also want to use a monopod for more versatility. However, larger diameter binoculars might need specialized tripods to hold them in place.
In this article we’ll discuss everything you need to know about selecting the best tripod for binoculars so you can make an informed decision.
The best part is, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you and will recommend what we think is the best tripod for binoculars right now.
Without further ado, let us begin.
Top 10 Best Tripods for Binoculars
#10. Gosky Tripod-Travel Portable Tripod
Key Features
- Full-size tripod for your spotting scopes, binoculars, camcorders, or DSLR cameras
- Sturdy anodized aluminum construction tipped with non-slip rubber feet that will create a stable mounting platform on almost any surface. Lightweight but durable.
- Slicing center column with tension control; adjusts from 18.3 to 61 inches
- The three-way pan head makes incredibly smooth horizontal and vertical adjustments with an ergonomic handle.
- Three padded foam leg cushions add comfort and protection in extreme hot or cold conditions.
- Quality carrying case for easier transport
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Great durability, built with high-quality material
- The excellent weight limit can support heavier binoculars
- Has padded legs for more stability
- Compact-sized when folded
- Three-way pan is very versatile and nice to use
Cons:
- Relatively expensive
- Only 61” maximum height
- A little heavy
Our Verdict
This Gosky tripod is made out of anodized aluminum, which is very durable. It can hold binoculars of up to 11 pounds, although it’s also on a relatively heavy side, weighing 5.5 lbs.
Has independently adjustable legs, so you can easily lower or raise the tripod’s height based on your needs. When folded, it’s very compact in size with only 26” in length.
It also includes a carrying case, allowing you to easily and quickly pack it up for easier carry.
A great overall value.
#9. Orion Tritech II Field Tripod with Fluid Pan Head
Key Features:
- Provides sturdy and portable support for instrument loads up to 13.2 lbs.
- Tripod height reaches a generous 68″ when fully extended
- Features 3-section extendable aluminum alloy tripod legs with flip-lock clamps and metal spreader brace for extra stability
- Extra-long slotted 1/4″-20 captive quick-release shoe allows super-secure attachment of cameras, spotting scopes, and L-adapter equipped binoculars with a non-slip grip
- Weighs just 4.8 lbs., and collapses to 27.25″ long for easy portability. Includes zippered carry case
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Can support up to 13.2 lbs of binoculars while being very lightweight and portable (only 4.8 lbs weight)
- Adjustable height of up to 68”
- Secure attachment model
- Non-slip grip design
- Hook for a counterweight, allowing even more stability
- Fairly priced for what it offers
Cons:
- Not 100% perfect in preventing vibration
- Not the studiest material
Our Verdict
The Orion Tritech II Field Tripod offers a very smooth, 2-way fluid pan head with 360-degree azimuth motion, so it’s very versatile.
Only 4.8 lbs, but can hold up to 13.2 lbs of total load, so it can perfectly hold heavier binoculars.
In our opinion, one of the best tripod for binoculars available at the moment due to its fair price while offering an excellent set of features.
Up to 68” maximum height, removable tripod head, and the included carrying case with shoulder strap is also excellent quality.
#8. Celestron Hummingbird Fast Action Pan Tilt Head Tripod
Key Features
- A stable-yet-lightweight, versatile, and easy-to-use tripod perfect for just about any application
- Smoothly pan the horizon or tilt the viewing angle up and down with two-directional adjustments—even flip your optic sideways
- Customize the configuration of your tripod to fit any viewing conditions: four leg sections and three leg angles allow the tripod to work with virtually any user or terrain
- The extendable center column provides even more height when needed, great for supporting binoculars
- Includes a specially designed, protective carrying care for storage and transport
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Lightweight and relatively compact, but still offers good stability
- Versatile, applicable for an extended range of settings and custom configurations according to your exact needs
- Includes a protective carrying case for easier and safer storage/transport
- Provides extra height, perfect for supporting binoculars
Cons:
- Some configurations can be difficult and not very straightforward
Our Verdict
The Celestron Hummingbird tripod is a relatively affordable tripod that is also lightweight but can still provide great stability when observing the night sky with your binoculars.
With its 69 inches maximum height, you’ll be able to use the tripod with your binoculars in a comfortable sitting position without too much problem, and although it’s pretty light, it can withstand up to 11 pounds of weight.
One of the best tripod for binoculars available in the market today.
#7. Orion Paragon-Plus HD-F2 Heavy-Duty Tripod
Key Features
- Versatile, supports giant binoculars, cameras, spotters, and small telescopes
- Adjustable aluminum-tube tripod legs with lever locks and graduated reference marks for quick and easily repeatable setup
- Tripod legs are tri-braced to a center elevator for enhanced stability, fully extended height is 68″
- Two-way fluid pan head with tension adjustment knobs on both axes for smooth, controlled motion
- Includes 1/4″-20 quick-release shoe, cushion/spike feet, and bubble level
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Very sturdy and can hold giant-sized and heavy binoculars
- Extremely stable even in windy conditions
- Durable, made of high-quality material
- Easy adjustments and quick setup
Cons:
- Very heavy, might be difficult to transport
- Not the most compact tripod, need more space for storage
Our Verdict
The Orion Paragon HD-F2 Heavy-Duty professional field tripod is an excellent choice if you have a heavier pair of binoculars and/or if you often use them in very windy conditions.
This field tripod is very stable and sturdy while can move with fluid smoothness.
Constructed from almost 100% aluminum, so it’s a very durable tripod that is also more sturdy at key stress points than plastic tripods.
67” tall when fully extended, so it should be enough when you are going to perform high-altitude observations with your binoculars.
#6. Celestron 82050 TrailSeeker Tripod
Key Features
- Comes with a tripod case and shoulder strap
- Perfect support for a spotting scope, binocular, camera, or small telescope
- Sturdy aluminum tripod adjusts in height from 18.9 inches to 70.5 inches and includes a two-way fluid pan head with quick release plate
- The four-section legs can be set to three different angles and use quick and easy flip lever locks for length adjustment. The area covered by the tripod when all three legs are at full extension ~877 square inches, positioned at the default standing angle
- The center column can be extended when additional height is needed. A retractable hook lets you add weight if extra stability is required.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Very compact and lightweight
- Quick-release plate, so you can remove your binoculars or other optical equipment easily
- The legs extend out in four sections rather than the usual three, allowing more stability while making it more compact when folded
- Maximum 70.5 inches of height
Cons:
- The lightweight frame might not be very sturdy
- Pan and tilting can be wobbly
Our Verdict
This Celestron tripod is definitely one of the best tripods for binoculars, although you can also use it for astronomy and terrestrial viewings.
Can hold binoculars of up to 10 lbs, so you shouldn’t have any problem pairing it with most binoculars.
Aluminum material, allowing this tripod to be very durable and stable, and the four-section legs are lever-controlled, so they can be operated with just one hand. An excellent pick for almost any situation.
#5. Nikon Compact Outdoor Tripod
Key Features
- A packable, ergonomic, and stable platform for your spotting scope, binocular, or camera that weighs just 32.8 ounces.
- This four-section aluminum alloy tripod extends from 15.75″ collapsed length, out to 49.61″ when fully extended. Recommended load capacity for this tripod is 5.5 lbs.
- Fully adjustable 360-degree rotating aluminum ball head features quick release plate that locks optic into position as needed. Features clearly marked rotation indicator graduations.
- Comfortable grip handle makes panning and tilting motions smooth and effortless. Versatile 90-degree tilt functionality. Twin bubble levels on leg base and on tripod head–make leveling simple.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Relatively affordable, especially considering it’s a Nikon tripod
- Very compact and lightweight, only 32.8 ounces, but can hold 5.5 lbs of binoculars
- Decent build quality, durable and stable
- All legs easily extend to a good height, easy to use
Cons:
- Can’t carry heavier binoculars
- Only 49.61″ maximum height
Our Verdict
The Nikon Compact Outdoor Tripod is a great choice for anyone looking for an affordable and compact tripod that is also easy to use. It weighs only 32.8 ounces (around 2.3 lbs) with a traditional tripod ball head design.
Due to its lightweight, however, it can only hold binoculars of up to 5.5 lbs, so it’s not meant to be used with heavy-duty binoculars.
Still, a great pick if you are looking for a lightweight and affordable tripod that is simple to operate.
#4. Celestron Heavy-Duty Altazimuth Tripod
Key Features
- A heavy-duty alt-azimuth mount for use with binoculars, spotting scopes, or telescopes
- Weight capacity of approximately 10 lbs
- Adjustable aluminum legs provide a minimum height of 32” and a maximum height of 45”
- A sliding 1/4”-20 mounting bolt lets you adjust the balance point of your equipment for optimum stability
- Easily make slight adjustments to altitude and azimuth with intuitive slow motion handles
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Very stable, rigid, and durable construction
- Anti-slip feet, one of the best in its class
- Quick and easy adjustment with its alt-azimuth design
- Made of high-quality material, solid and durable
Cons:
- Maximum height only 45”
- Not the most portable
Our Verdict
One of the best tripods for binoculars due to various excellent features, but especially you should consider the alt-azimuth head with flexible knob controls, allowing easy adjustments for fine-tuned movements in two axis.
It also features a very long mounting base, allowing a very versatile adjustment to keep the center of gravity properly balanced.
This is actually very useful for keeping the balance when holding the odd shapes of some binocular models.
#3. Manfrotto 290 Xtra Aluminum 3-Section Tripod Kit
Key Features
- Each leg can be set at 4 angles of spread.
- Adjustable aluminum Leg Locks,15.9 to 67.5″ Height Range
- Robust aluminum construction
- Shoulder bag included
- 4 leg angles
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Super durable, made of premium quality materials
- Excellent weight capacity
- Can be adjusted as high as 66.7 inches
- Quality ball head included
- Excellent support and stability
Cons:
- The included carrying bag isn’t very good
- Tripod head made of plastic
Our Verdict
Manfrotto is one of the most prominent names in the tripod industry, so it’s no surprise that this 290 Xtra Tripod features an excellent build quality with great overall features.
One of the best tripods on this list due to its construction and weight capacity, allowing it to be very stable even when you pair it with bigger and heavier binoculars.
It is also pretty easy to adjust: to change the angle on a leg, close the leg towards the center column slightly and press down the locking button “C” at the top of the leg.
While holding the button down, select the new leg angle and then release button “C” to lock in position. The angle of each leg can be adjusted independently of the other two legs.
#2. Bushnell 784030 Advanced Tripod
Key Features
- Full-size tripod for spotting scopes, binoculars, camcorders, or SLR cameras
- Durable aluminum legs are individually adjustable to different heights/angles
- 3-way pan/tilt head with large mounting platform; universal 1/4″-20 mount
- 3 padded foam leg cushions add comfort in extreme hot or cold conditions
- Slicing center column with tension control; adjusts from 18.3 to 61 inches
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Full-size tripod, offering a stable platform that is also easy to set-up and adjust
- Solid grip with the padded legs
- The aluminum legs are titanium-coated, durable, and water-resistant
- Lifetime warranty
- Maximum height 61 inches
Cons:
- Doesn’t include a carrying bag
- Legs are not quick-release, may take more time to collapse
Our Verdict
A very durable tripod that can support a weight of up to 100 lbs and the pan head is very easy to adjust while maintaining its stability.
Lacking quick-release head and legs, which can be an issue for some, but it does offer some pretty nice features.
For instance, the very solid center column nut that can hold the column tightly, the padded legs, offering extra stability and protection in extreme temperatures while also offering extra grip, and the pan head.
It is also reasonably light, and since the legs are individually adjustable, you can easily adjust the tripod to meet the right height according to your needs.
#1. Manfrotto MT190CXPRO4 Carbon Fiber 4-Section Tripod
Key features
- Solid and easy set-up with the new Quick Power Lock System
- Easy link plug for instant accessory connections
- Built-in rotating bubble level with intuitive leg angle selectors
- Q90 Column for great positioning possibilities
- The maximum working temperature is 60º C and Minimum Working Temperature is minus 30ºC
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Versatile height adjustability
- Great link plug feature so you can easily connect accessories to it
- Built-in rotating bubble level, and the Q90 column is great for positioning
- Fairly compact and lightweight, but durable
Cons:
- The lever is made of plastic
- Relatively expensive
Our Verdict
The Manfrotto tripod is a great pick for both professional and amateur astronomy enthusiasts: it’s easy to set-up and adjust and the legs are made of 100% carbon fiber, lightweight but durable, and great for stability.
Compact, so it is very portable, while the column is very accessible with a quick one-finger control. The center column itself can be flipped horizontally, so it’s also great when you decide to use it for astrophotography.
A unique feature of this tripod is the ‘easy link’ plug, allowing instant and easy connection between the tripod and other accessories.
A very versatile pick: lightweight, portable, durable, and stable, one of the best tripod for binoculars available today.
Why You Should Use a Tripod for Binoculars
Tripods are a very useful accessory for any astronomy binocular.
As we know, the main benefit of using a tripod is to stabilize the binocular, preventing shaky imagery while at the same time giving your arms some rest.
Can you hold your binocular in a stable way with your hands for 15 minutes? Probably.
But can you do it for hours? Most likely not.
Thus, a tripod is very important especially for long-duration use of your astronomy binoculars. In stargazing, you really want to be 100% sure that that there’s no shaking that might distort the image, and a tripod will tremendously help with this.
Choosing a Tripod for Binoculars – Key Factors
Mounting your binoculars
Most of the time, you’ll need to use a binocular tripod adapter or similar accessory to mount your binoculars to the tripod.
For this purpose, your binoculars should have 1/4×20 female threads to use with the tripod adapter.
So, you don’t have to get a specific tripod designed for binoculars, but you can connect any standard photo tripod to this tripod adapter with a 1/4×20 screw, which in turn you can connect to your binocular’s 1/4×20 female thread.
While most tripods and adapter will feature these standard1/4×20 screws, double-check for this.
Height adjustment
In astronomy, the binocular is typically pointed at higher altitudes compared to terrestrial viewing, and it’s important to remember that when the binocular is pointed higher, the height of the eyepieces decreases.
So, to view the binoculars you’d need to tilt your head back which will increase the height of your eyes.
So, you’ll need a tripod with some forms of height adjustment, which typically comes in the form of a raiseable center-post.
As a general rule of thumb, the tripod should be at least 6 inches taller than your eye’s height in your viewing position (i.e. when sitting down), so you wouldn’t need to bend over regularly to get in the right viewing position.
Sturdiness and stability
Obviously, the tripod must be sturdy enough to prevent any shaking at all while allowing itself to be raised high enough to enable high-altitude observation.
Remember that the higher the tripod is raised, the less stable it will be, so you’ll need more sturdiness in your tripod than in standard photography.
Stability is very important especially if your binoculars’ optics have extreme magnification capabilities. Even the most minor shaking can destabilize a magnified image easily.
Weight
As a general rule of thumb, your tripod should be at least two times heavier than the binoculars so it can hold them properly with enough balance.
On the other hand, you might not want a tripod that is too heavy so that it’s difficult to carry around.
Most entry-level binoculars weigh between 1 and 2.5 pounds (so you should at least get a 2-5 pounds tripod).
Also, when choosing between different tripod products, you should also check the tripod’s weight capacity limit (how much weight the tripod can support).
Make sure the weight of your binoculars is equal to or less than the weight capacity rating of your tripod.
Material
Tripods can be made from various different materials, but high-quality tripods are typically made from either aluminum or carbon fiber.
Aluminum tripods are better in the colder environments since they are better at resisting cold.
Carbon fiber will lose its strength when exposed to coldness and will turn brittle, so you may damage a cold carbon fiber tripod when it falls to the ground.
Also, aluminum tripods are typically more affordable.
Carbon fiber, however, does have its perks. Tripods made of carbon fiber are typically lighter while being more sturdy and durable (when not exposed to lower temperatures).
Conclusion
We’d recommend the Manfrotto MT190CXPRO4 as the best tripod for binoculars. The only downside to this tripod is the price tag.
Excellent set of features, very stable and durable. Even with all its great features, this tripod is still lightweight and compact.
You won’t be disappointed with this investment. That’s not saying the others on this list are bad products.
We are confident that based on our tests, these ten tripods for binoculars we have reviewed above are indeed the best available in the market today.
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