Hi Dave. You're right about trying out as many scopes as you can, in as many different situtions as you can. I have tried a couple of Opticron scopes in the field and they seem ok to me. I still don't think they really compare to the top end scopes, but they seem well made and will do the job (which at the end of the day is what matters). Have you thought about second hand at all Dave? Regarding tripods however, I would always recommend buying the best you can afford everytime. I like Manfrotto or Giotto. Also, weight is a very important consideration. They tend to feel very similar in the shop but even a small amount.of extra weight will notice when you're lugging around a scope, bino's and maybe a digital camera too! I have the Manfrotto Pro 190x and I love it. It's light, easy to use and is very well made. Let us know what you decide buddy! Wizzo
