Okay, let's face it, tripods are not too glamorous. Most of us think in terms of what sits on top of the tripod. That's understandable, but trying to get by cheap when choosing a tripod is a mistake that only a beginner makes. Mount a good digital camera on a cheap tripod and see what happens to your pics. Mount a big, heavy astronomy binocular on a light flimsy tripod and you'll understand in only a matter of seconds. Crank up the magnification on a spotting scope when mounted on a light tripod and try seeing fine detail when the wind blows. I know only too well from past experience what happens with cheap tripods. In short, tripods are more than a necessary evil in the world of optics. Tripods, are, in fact, an essential for so many types of optical instruments.
