VISIONARY TRIPODS OFFER STABILITY AT VALUE PRICES
Everyone who has held binoculars or small scopes for any period of time will have experienced the aching arms that result.  The longer you hold your optic, the harder it is to hold it steady, too.
Visionary's new range of tripods and adaptors overcome the problem without straining the bank balance or your muscles.  As well as reducing fatigue, the steadier image will aprea much sharper.
Two adaptors are available, the TPA (£5.99)  for standard binoculars and the TPA-S (£7.99) for slimline binos that have limited space between the optical tubes.  Both have a screw to fit into the socket normally hidden under the lower hinge cap, plus a standard socket on the base, allowing them to be fitted to any standard tripod head.
Even the economical, lightweight Visionary VT-30, at around £19.99, provides firm support for fairly compact, wider angle binos, thanks to the cross bracing that locks the legs into position. The larger sized, VT-50 and VT-70 models, at £29.99 and £39.99, are easily adequate for heavier binoculars and compact spotting scopes.
All of the Visionary tripods are equipped with a tough, 3-way pan and tilt head, suitable also for use enough for use with a digital or video camera, and a cranked centre column with a hook from which you can hang a bag to give additional stability.  The binocular adaptor or camera is attached using a small quick release device that can be conveniently left on the equipment when the tripod is not in use.
Whatever the size of a tripod, the aim is to keep the optics as steady as possible, so a locking ring is fitted to fix the cross braces into position and the lever operated leg locks provide firm, but easily operated, adjustment of leg length.  
The legs are manufactured from aluminium which is of closed channel construction, so they are sturdy and easy to keep clean, while the soft feet are mounted on ball fittings, allowing them to sit flat on a floor without scratching the surface.  
The two larger models have a spirit level built in and all the Visionary tripods are fitted with a handle to make carrying easy.  The maximum operating heights are 1530mm for the 
VT-30, 1600mm for the V-50 and 1660mm for the VT-70.
Visionary tripods are imported and distributed in the UK and Eire by Optical Hardware Ltd - for more information and a stockist list, see www.opticalhardware.co.uk.
417 words - June 2008.