Great spotting scope tripod - Manfrotto Bogen View Carbon Fiber Kit 055MFV

Even though this is a combo kit it came fully assembled and ready for use right out of the box. As expected, the carbon fiber material makes it lightweight yet it is still very sturdy. I placed a Leica spotting scope on top for stargazing and nature observation. The tripod head makes movement of the scope very easy. I have also mounted my Sony HD camcorder on the tripod and was very pleased with the smooth tracking motion possible with the tripod head. Legs telescope in and out smoothly with easy-to-use lock/release levers. It's very expensive for a tripod but if you invest in quality optics and cameras and camcorders then it seems to make sense to mount them on a safe and sturdy platform.
Pros: Lightweight yet strong, easy to use
Cons: Expensive

This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.