GearExpert

Versatile Photographers Need a Versatile Tripod

Jan 7 • News • 4623

I can’t claim to be the world’s best photographer, but I can tell you one of the more frustrating things when I’m taking a photo is getting my tripod to actually line up the shot at the angle and height I want. I know photographers who’ve put together all sorts of crazy contraptions to get the perfect shot, and while they do sometimes get what they’re looking for, often times their camera is placed in a precarious position as a result. I’ve even seen costly accidents due to an innovative but ill-advised setup.

One of the more interesting and versatile solutions I’ve seen for this problem is the Vanguard Alta+ 263AT Tripod with Pistol Grip Ball Head. The tripod itself is very tough, and the weight is a nice balance. Too light and your tripod might fall over from wind. Too heavy and you won’t want to carry it to those far off locales where the best shots can be found. This Vanguard Tripod weighs 2.156kg. That’s just right. It’s made of aluminum, so it’s more than capable of supporting your expensive equipment.

But that’s a fundamental of any good tripod. The Vanguard Alta separates itself with the fantastic Pistol Grip Ball Head. Check it out:

The Pistol Grip Tripod Head really separates the Alta Plus Tripod.

Vanguard clearly put a lot of time and effort into this Tripod Head. It uses a friction lock to keep the head in place, but you can adjust it to give you just the amount of give you need, and the pistol grip lets you move the head at a moment’s notice. And it’s not just the speed or convenience of the head, it’s also the versatility. You can turn, angle, pan and more at a moment’s notice. Need a super low angle shot? Not a problem. At the same time, you might want to turn your camera on its side to get a sweet side view. Again, not a problem. Want to pan with your video camera? That’s a breeze, and as soon as the action stops you can lock the head in place smoothly for a nice steady shot.

The Pistol Grip Ball Head gives you the chance to take shots from a ton of angles!

I was just looking at the user reviews for the Vanguard Alta+, and while we don’t have a ton of reviews (only four as of my writing), they’re all perfect scores! 5 out of 5 across the board! But the reviewers also focused on what I figured they would, which is a combination of the tough tripod that one reviewer said he felt comfortable trusting more than $5000 worth of camera equipment to, and he liked the ball head for its ease of use.

But this tripod isn’t just for photography (though I’d say that’s the primary intended use), it also works really well with spotting scopes and larger binoculars when hunting or birding! One reviewer mentioned how easy the Alta+ makes glassing the field from a hunting blind. That’s important. You don’t just look at one particular place when waiting for game. You need to pan back and forth a bit to make sure you see everything. While you may not be taking pictures (although if you’re birding/hunting and want to digiscope a few shots of your targets it’ll give you that chance too), it’s still important to have a nice, smooth pan for a clear image. You don’t want any deer or birds to go unnoticed because your spotting scope is jostling all over the place and ruining your image.

You invested a lot of money in your spotting scope or camera. Don’t risk it falling from a substandard tripod, and don’t waste your glass’s potential because of shaking. If you have a Vanguard Alta+ Tripod you’ll get a great shot from the angle you want, find game easier and just have an overall better experience the next time you need your camera or spotting scope mounted on a tripod.

OpticsPlanet • 4 Comments on Versatile Photographers Need a Versatile Tripod
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Never Miss an Opportunity to Take the Shot with Zeiss!

Jan 4 • News • 3831

When you’re out hunting a wide variety of equipment can be used to make sure you find game and can hit it with your rifle. Sure, you can go out without binoculars, but you’re going to miss that 10 point buck that’s been in your dreams for years. You could take a shot without first determining the distance to the target, but if your estimation is off you’ll shoot high or low. Hunting gear has evolved over the years. Once upon a time a vast majority of hunters stomped through the woods with nothing but a rifle, a scope and maybe a pair of binoculars. You don’t have to be so limited. And if you’re going to equip yourself, why not do it with one of the world’s most respected and trusted brands like Zeiss?

The Zeiss Victory Spotting Scope helps you find game from a stationary position!

First, you’re going to need to spot game. The two most common and best ways to do this is with a spotting scope or binocular. Spotting Scopes, such as the Zeiss Victory FL DiaScope, are better when you’re in a stationary position. You’ll generally want to use a tripod with a spotting scope to stabilize the view because of the greater magnification. If you look at the Victory FL DiaScope, it magnifies the image anywhere from 20-75 times! Even a little shaking from your hands as you hold it could distort the image. If you’re holed up in a hunting blind, a good spotting scope ensures you can see far off game clearly.

These Zeiss Conquest HD Binoculars give you a spectacular view on the go!

On the other hand, you might be moving around quite a bit on your hunt, and you’ll want a more mobile option. A binocular is the right optic in these instances. You’ll generally want a bino with magnification in the 8x to 12x magnification range, such as the brand new Zeiss Conquest HD 10×32 Binocular. They’re tough, have the great glass Zeiss is known for, and have advanced lens coatings for superior light transmission and accurate color reproduction. When you’re traveling over miles of terrain, these binoculars are the optic to use.

The Zeiss Victory Rangefinder uses advanced technology for outstanding results!

Now let’s say you’ve found your target. It’s a beautiful ten point buck, but it’s a fair ways off. You don’t want to spook it so you can’t get much closer. At your current range you’ll definitely need to compensate for bullet drop, but you’re not certain of your distance. Do you hold over one foot? Two? I never want to wound an animal, so I want to be absolutely spot on. For perfect accuracy, you need an exact distance to target. A laser rangefinder is the way to go. The Zeiss Victory 8×26 PRF Rangefinder is a fantastic choice. Not only do you get your distance, but it will also give you accurate holdover information so there’s no guesswork involved at all. This is a very advanced piece of technology, but it also has fantastic glass, which is important when you’re range finding in low light conditions. With the Victory you’ll still get a great image, enabling you to get an accurate reading regardless of the time of day.

The Zeiss Conquest Rifle Scope has amazing reviews!

Now that you have your target and know your distance, you need to take a shot, and that means you’ll need an outstanding rifle scope. There are a lot of options from Zeiss, but I’m going to recommend checking out Conquest 3-9×40 MC Waterproof Scope. It’s actually the best-rated Zeiss Rifle Scope on OpticsPlanet right now, with 38 reviews and a near perfect average score. People love the clear optics, generous eye relief and precise windage and elevation adjustments. People buy Zeiss expecting quality, so when you see one reviewer after another praising the Conquest, and in many cases saying it has performed better than expected, you know it’s quite amazing. You’re going to have a much easier time hitting your target if your rifle has a Zeiss Conquest Mounted on top of it.

How much time do you spend preparing for your hunting trips? How many nights do you dream about finally finding that perfect buck? Don’t miss your opportunity because you were under-prepared. Use Zeiss and your next hunting trip will be a great success!

OpticsPlanet • 4 Comments on Never Miss an Opportunity to Take the Shot with Zeiss!
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Sight in those Christmas Presents with a SightMark Bore Sight!

Jan 3 • News • 5413

I’m betting a lot of you received either a new scope or firearm, and you need to do some sighting in. Whether you have a new laser sight for a Springfield XD or a Red Dot Sight for your rifle, sighting in is both necessary and important to get right. While you can do it the old fashioned way and spend a fair bit of money on extra ammunition, using a laser bore sight is really the way to go. You’ll still need to take a few shots, but at least you can get on paper before spending some brass.

Since saving money is key, and I know many of you own more than one firearm, a universal laser bore sight is a fantastic way to go. Unlike a traditional bore sight that only fits a particular caliber gun, a universal bore sight like the SightMark Triple Duty can be used on a wide variety of guns to get you on target. You can see it in action in the video above.

The SightMark Triple Duty Laser Bore Sight helps you get on target quickly and without using a ton of ammo!

The Triple Duty is magnetic, and attaches to the end of the barrel quickly and easily. You simply snap it on, line up the holes with your barrel and turn it on. After that you can adjust your new scope or sight so you’re very close to on target.

The SightMark Bore Sight attaches easily and quickly to help you get on target!

One thing that’s very cool if you’re considering the Triple Duty is that it comes in either a red or green laser. If you want to get on paper a little further away or you’re in brighter conditions (maybe an outdoor shooting range) the green laser will show up better and be easier to see.

NOTE: A laser bore sight won’t actually sight your gun in all the way. You still need to take a few shots. It will get you on paper, and it might even get you pretty close, but you’ll still need to shoot a few times to have your new rifle scope perfectly sighted in.

For maximum efficiency and effectiveness you’ll want a nice stable platform while you sight in, such as a gun vice, shooting rest or bipod. A vice is often the best, as it will really keep your firearm steady, but bipods are usually effective as well. For a bit more on bore sights, check out our How to Choose a Laser Bore Sight page on OpticsPlanet.com. It has a ton of great info on the types of things to look for and expect from a laser bore sight. You can be certain the SightMark Triple Duty will give you the kind of performance you need.

OpticsPlanet • 4 Comments on Sight in those Christmas Presents with a SightMark Bore Sight!
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Forget the OLD Way of Holding a Flashlight!

Jan 2 • News • 8479

Have you ever tried to hold a flashlight while armed with a handgun? Perhaps it was when you were on duty, during your time in the military, or maybe just one night when a sudden sound made you check your home for intruders. Regardless, if you’ve gone through any training in using a flashlight and handgun at the same time you’ve likely heard of the Harries Flashlight Technique. It’s a very common and popular method. The technique was developed by Michael Harries, a pioneer in the combat shooting field. You can see it in action in the video above, but it looks like this:

The Harries Flashlight Technique enables you to stabilize your firearm while still having the flashlight pointed in the right direction.

This is a great way to keep your firearm stable while still having your flashlight pointed in the right direction. There are quite a few law enforcement and military organizations who teach this technique, but there are issues for some who employ it. The first is that, if done quickly or improperly, you may cross your arm in front of the barrel of your gun. If you’re careful and practice diligently this shouldn’t happen, but there’s still some risk, especially in tense situations where you’re more focused on other factors than on your flashlight technique.

The second issue is that this is a somewhat unnatural shooting position. Again, you can practice until it feels like second nature, but few people walk around shooting with their firearm in the crook of their other arm.

SureFire saw these issues and went to work on a new flashlight design. Thus was born the AZ2 Flashlight. First, I’ll run through a few of the features:
- There are two output modes: a low power of 35 lumens and a high power of 150 lumens. There’s more to these outputs than the power though, as on low power the light has a wider flood. It give plenty of light if you’re looking in a bag or checking a map, but it won’t ruin your night vision. The high 150 lumens is focused a bit tighter, providing greater distance and a better light for tactical situations.
- The SureFire AZ2 weighs only 5.1 oz. with the batteries. It uses Lithium 123A batteries, which will last about 2 hours on high output and up to 6 hours on low output.
- The lightbulbs are LEDs, so they’re very durable and will last a long time.
- The tail cap button can be momentarily pressed lightly for low power and more firmly for high power. Constant on is achieved by twisting the rear switch.
The SureFire AZ2 Flashlight was designed to allow you to comfortably and securely hold it between your fingers like a syringe.

While these are great features that you should look for in any quality tactical flashlight, it’s the physical design of the AZ2 that makes it stand out. SureFire calls it the CombatGrip, and it lets you use the SureFire Flashlight Technique. The CombatGrip lets you hold the flashlight like a syringe. The mid-section of the flashlight is narrower than the rest of the body, and it has a rubber grip ring. This lets you get a nice, firm grip on the light and press the tail cap with your thumb. It’s a very nice feature that lets you hold your handgun and flashlight like this:

Don’t cross your arm in front of the barrel of your firearm! Use the SureFire Flashlight Technique!

SureFire clearly put a lot of time and effort into designing the AZ2 flashlight, and it has gained a lot of popularity because of this. The other features make it suitable for other applications, such as a camping trip one of our Video Producers took to Washington over the summer. You can use this flashlight for tactical purposes or just sitting by a campfire. It has all the features you need for almost any situation!

OpticsPlanet • 4 Comments on Forget the OLD Way of Holding a Flashlight!
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Target Acquisition Like the Pros

Jan 2 • News • 4515

It’s a fairly well-known fact that Trijicon can get you on target fast. Their ACOGs are legendary for their insane target acquisition speed and durability. The Bindon Aiming Concept gives shooters the chance to shoot with both eyes open and the fixed power magnification (usually around 4x, but Trijicon offers a few options dependent on your preference) makes them incredibly easy to use. Soldiers and police officers all around the world have chosen to use an ACOG for missions, but there are times when you might want another sight.

When you’re in close quarters, even a little magnification can be too much. And these are often the situations where target acquisition speed is absolutely life saving. One of the most popular styles of sights in recent years is the red dot sight, which do not magnify an image at all, and they allow shooters to keep both eyes open. Trijicon pays a lot of attention to what military and law enforcement professionals need. That’s why they developed the SRS (Sealed Reflex Sight).

The Trijicon SRS Sealed Reflex Sight has a very compact design and tough materials.

I first got to look at the SRS at SHOT Show almost a year ago, and it’s still impressing. I remember the Trijicon representative touting the SRS as the “ACOG of red dot sights.” That’s pretty big talk, but if anyone can make such a claim, it’s Trijicon. They’ve already proven the quality of their sights on battlefields across the globe. The SRS has a ton of great features that make it tough and capable.

First, it employs a military grade aluminum-alloy housing. This makes it tough. Really tough. You can really bang this sight around and hardly see a scratch. But banging it around won’t be much of a problem. The shape and size of the SRS is ‘snag free,’ so you don’t have to worry about it catching on a door, wall or anything hanging objects. It’s tough enough to handle whatever punishment you throw at it, and compact enough to avoid most bumps and bruises.

This compact size serves the SRS in more ways than just preventing breaks. The size allows you to mount more gear on your firearm (this is always welcome!), and from a purely performance aspect, the shorter housing prevents the ‘tubing’ effect that some reflex sights have. The Trijicon SRS is very open and gives you an outstanding field of view. You don’t have to worry about any image distortion or other issues. You may not have experienced the ‘tubing’ effect before, but you’ll still benefit greatly from the clarity you get from the SRS. You need to be on target fast, and a clear, consistent view is a big part of that.

As a red dot sight, the SRS also has an illuminated reticle, and to ensure a great deal of versatility and customization, Trijicon added in 10 different brightness settings. It’s easy to adjust the brightness on the fly, allowing you to adjust for particular conditions, and the combination of a solar panel and AA battery make the power source very consistent and reliable. AA batteries are easy to find, and the power you’ll get from just one battery will be greatly prolonged due to the addition of solar power. In fact, the addition of the solar panel will give you up to 3 years of power from a single battery! That’s a long time to not have to change batteries!

That’s a lot of features for a single red dot sight. The Trijicon SRS has quickly gained popularity among the professionals, and it’s a fantastic alternative to the ACOG if you want even faster target acquisition but still need the incredible toughness and reliability of the ACOG. Trijicon makes it easy to get incredible target acquisition speed. Check out their Sealed Reflex Sight the next time you want to shoot like the pros.

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