My Best Tripod for Binoculars & Spotting Scopes: Astronomy & Terrestrial Surveillance

In this guide, I will take you through all of my personal favorite tripod setups (tripods, tripod heads & tripod adapters) that I use for my astronomy binoculars, spotting scopes as well as for long-range daytime binocular surveillance on land, out to sea and up towards the sky for uses like observing eagles and plane […]


Review: Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT Tripod

I recently had the opportunity to test the Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT tripod that came included with the Vanguard SBH-30 Ball Head, which at first glance looks like the ideal tripod for all-optical equipment not only binoculars. But because of its adjustable central column, I was very interested in it as it just may be […]


Best Tripod for Large Spotting Scopes

I recently received a question from someone looking to pair their large 82mm spotting scope with a tripod: Question: Best Tripod for Large Spotting Scopes I purchased the Vanguard Endeavor HD 82A spotting scope because of your review. I live in the mountains of the Ozarks here in Arkansas and the scope will mainly be […]


Current Offers, Rebates & Discounts on Vanguard Binoculars – USA

$100 Mail-In Rebate on select VANGUARD Binoculars Over the years, I have tested and reviewed quite a few pairs of Vanguard binoculars and one thing that always stands out for me is that they always seem to offer incredibly good value for money, delivering far higher specification optics than what their price tag suggests. It […]


Current Offers on Vanguard Endeavor Spotting Scopes

Current Offers – $50 Main-In Rebate on Vanguard Endeavor Spotting Scopes To celebrate the recent introduction of the new Endeavor HD and Endeavor XF spotting scopes, Vanguard are currently offering a very generous $50 mail in rebate on all models in these two series. In my recent review of the 82mm angled version of the […]


New: Vanguard Spirit XF Binoculars

Vanguard Spirit XF Binoculars Based on Vanguard’s top of the range Endeavor ED Binoculars, the Spirit XF binoculars have a number of the Endeavor’s features and a few of their components and coatings, but all at a budget-friendly price. The Body What is instantly noticeable about the Spirit XF is their distinctive open-bridge design, which […]


Review: Vanguard Pistol Grip Ball Heads

Using a Vanguard Pistol Grip Ball Head with a Spotting Scope I have been using the Vanguard GH-100 Pistol Grip Ball Head for over a year now for normal photography with a camera, digiscoping and observation with a spotting scope and I have to say that it is one of my favourite pieces of kit. […]


Vanguard 8x42 Spirit ED Binoculars on Safari

I recently wrote about me taking a pair of Luna Optics Night vision binoculars with me on safari that worked incredibly well. But as well as these, I also obviously took a pair of “standard day-time” binoculars with on that trip as well. My usual choice and my general advice for a good pair of […]


Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT Tripod Review

As well as one of their fantastic car window mounts, I also recently had the enjoyment of testing the Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT tripod that came included with the Vanguard SBH-30 Ball Head. Vanguard Alta Pro Tripods The Alta Pro Series of tripods are available in lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum alloy models and are […]