Optics4Birding.com: Bogen Reviews

The following comments are the opinions of the writers. We're publishing them here with the permission of their authors, with minor edits for clarity or brevity. If you would like to submit a comment, send me an email.

I have expressed to ABA Sales that I think they should carry an alternative to Bogen...[for the following reasons:]

1. Noisy. When you release the leg catch, the leg sections slide out by gravity. With no rubber stop, and no sound insulation, the hollow metal tube creates a resounding THUNK - six times. When a whole field trip of Bogens gets out of its car caravan beside a flat, it is guaranteed to clear out the shorebirds. I tried to address this in mine by stuffing paper towels in the tube and by inserting some kind of rubber bumper, but was defeated by the design.

I have friends who like their Bogens, and I *almost* have them trained to open them VERY SLOWLY and hold on to the sections so they won't THUNK. However, they often forget, in the excitement of the moment.

2. Not rust-proof. Heavy iron joints hold the twisty leg catches to the legs, and hold the leg sections in proper orientation. Both the iron joints and the little springs in the catches get rusty and need replacement if not scrupulously maintained. This increases chance of surprise failure.

3. Many moving parts. These work loose and some need special metric socket tools to be tightened. Again, increases the chance of surprise failure.

4. Many projecting parts. These get caught in straps, pockets, buttonholes and hair, if you wear it long.

5. Instability. Mine was always wobbling and I couldn't find the cause, but it was somewhere in the center column/head assembly.

6. Poor overall balance. The head is much heavier than the legs; top heavy in the wind, and uncomfortable to carry.

7. Over-hyped. It's hard to find anything else - or even info about alternatives - whether you shop the photographic or birdwatching market.

Laurie Larson, 15 Sep 1995

The Bogen 3001 tripod is smaller and lighter (by about 2 pounds) than the 3021. Yet it is extremely sturdy even in the strongest winds. It is ideal for use with angled eyepiece scopes as you don't need as much height as you get with the 3021. I use it with a Nikon Fieldscope II with 45-degree eyepiece. A friend uses one with a Celestron C-90 scope and the friend who recommended it uses it with his Questar. (You can be sure that the tripod is sturdy otherwise he wouldn't use it with a Questar.) The only drawback as far as I am concerned is the wing-nut leg locks. They aren't as fast to open and close as the lever locks on the 3021.

I find the 3001 ideal for use with people/kids of various heights. I set it up with only one of its leg sections extended and then raise or lower the center column. You can buy it with a longer center column (model 3001LC) or buy a longer center column for it. (The longer column adds 6 inches and makes it the same length (I believe) as the one with the 3021.) I also get around the fast setup this way. I usually carry the tripod in the car with one leg section extended and so, if I'm in a hurry, all I have to do is raise the center column.

Michael Moffatt, 24 Apr 1996