Velbon Hide Clamp II Tripod

Using a tripod in a pokey hide can be awkward. This clamp attaches to the edge of the sill at the window. Easy to use and it's effective. You just extract the 'scope on its column clean out of the tripod and drop it into the clamp. Tip 1: open window before installing. Tip 2: make sure you don't leave it behind when you leave the hide! It's not silly to put your mobile number on it.

I visited a hide recently and hand held my heavy camera for a few hours. I bought this clamp to use with a ball head so I have a rigid base and complete flexibility to swivel or raise/lower the camera. I haven’t used it yet but can see from attaching it to a worktop at home that it’s very sturdy. See the pictures I’ve posted.It’s very good quality but a bit on the expensive side. I’d definitely recommend it.I saw some questions as to whether it fits certain tripods so here’s a bit more info …I have a Manfrotto 190 tripod. It fits perfectly using the white 25mm to 26mm collar insert. The column of the tripod has 3 flat and 3 round surfaces enabling the round collar to fit properly.I was concerned that the screw, used to tighten the clamp to the tripod column, would damage the column but it only applies pressure to the collar insert which protects the column completely. It’s very sturdy even under the weight of a canon 5d and a 100-400 lens with an extender.When not in use the column can be placed back in the tripod and the clamp can be attached even with the tripod legs fully closed.I hope this info is useful and have tried to answer all the questions I had or read. If I find any issues when I’m using it I’ll share them in an update.Oct 2022

I bought this to go with my Velbon Sherpa 200R tripod and used it for the first time yesterday. Two of my companions in the hide had scopes mounted on tripods; which took up a lot of space. I found it very quick and easy to clamp the hide mount to a window shelf, remove the centre column from the tripod, then fit it into the clamp, adjust for height, then mount my 80mm spotting scope. Had some great views of Little Grebe, Cormorants and a male Sparrow hawk, which landed on a post over the water. At 60x the view was impressive and the combination held the scope very steadily. Like all well designed and engineered products, it is a pleasure to use, and will stay permanently mounted on the centre column of my tripod, ready to use when visiting a nice on the nature reserve.

The clamp is robust and serviceable. It works well with tripod columns of different sizes.

This Hide Clamp is an essential piece of kit for wildlife photography as many hides are difficult to use tripods in. I have even used it on metal railings in my local park which has a Heronry on an island.

I have been photographing birds, struggling with a Tripod inside various Hides. A fellow photographer recommended this Hide Clamp and so I went ahead and purchased it.It arrived in 24 hours and was well packaged. I was worried that my tripod column wouldn't fit so was pleased to see that the package contained 4 different inner sleeves to cater for various column diameters.i Have a Manfrotto 055 tripod and the centre column fitted in the clamp. I will say that even with the widest sleeve it was a tight fit but I would think that's better than too loose.The manufacture seems very good. Its quite solid and the screw mechanisms move well without sticking.I tried the clamp in 3 different positions in a Hide today and it was absolutely solid on all 3 surfaces. I had a Gimbal head fitted to my Manfrotto column mounted with a Nikon D500 and Nikon 600mm F4 lens - so a lot of weight.There was no unwanted movement or slippage. The clamp worked perfectly and I was happy to move away and take a photo of it in use.The clamp worked perfectly and solved my "tripod" problem and it will now be getting a lot of use.

Used the hide clamp today. It works really well. My scope was very secure with no unwanted movements and no worries of it falling. Also means my backpack is lighter as I only need to carry the centre column from my tripod and not the whole thing if I’m going to the hide. Highly recommend this item.

I've been using this clamp with my spotting scope and it works perfectly. When in a hide it takes less space. The clamp is very secure and fits a variety of tripod centre columns, there are different sleeves for various diameters. Recommended!