At the moment, I have four 1x prismatics here.  Three have been around for a while and I have been waiting for the last one, GLx 1x to show up so that I can do the comparison.

In other words, GLx is new, but I have a lot of mileage with the other three, so this should not take long.

Primary Arms GLx 1x https://alnk.to/flwOi6h
Primary Arms SLx 1x https://alnk.to/aAOlO50
Gideon Optics Advocate 1x  https://alnk.to/9T9jSP9
Swampfox Raider 1x https://alnk.to/c08pECu

I have been moving these aroudn to see where I like them the most and haf far away from my eye they can comfortably function. 

The SLx 1x has been here for a while and found home on my TNW ASR 10mm PCC.  Normally, there is a 3x PA magnifier behind it (https://alnk.to/3nhhAMU), but I removed it for this comparison.

The Gideon Advocate is on a Scorpion 9mm PCC.

Swampfox Raider has been moving around, but at the moment I am testing it on an odd duck of a rifle: CETME L.  It is a curiosity piece, but I keep on thinking there is an optic for it out there that can jive with CETME's odd ergonomics.  I do not think it was made for human hands.

PA's GLX, for now ended up on PSA's AK-74 https://alnk.to/6bVphTz and is a surprisingly nice match for the rifle.  Next step will be to move it forward (it has amazingly forgiving eye relief) and pop a magnifier behind it.  This is fairly capable rifle, so I want to see if I can shoehorn something like the 6x Micro magnifier https://alnk.to/aeYPQD7 from Vortex behind it.  I may need to raise the stock a bit or add a cheekpiece.  I am knda mixing experiemnts here because I also want to see if FAB Arms PDC will still stay solid after I load it up with an extra optic https://alnk.to/ge6BcqZ

Looking at different mounts is sort of an ongoing thing for me.

There is no perfection in this world, but some get close.  I have been pretty open that I am quite impressed with the Area 419 mounts, for example, and I now have two of them, one 34mm and one 36mm that my Tangent 7-35x56 lives in.  Over time, I expect to have more of them.  They work well and seem to ahve the fewest compromises of all of the single piece mounts I have tried to date.

That having been said, I do not plan to stop my continuous overview of different mount designs.  One that keeps on popping up is the M-Brace mount by American Rifle Company.  I have one and in my use it has worked rather nicely.  However, I live in what qualifies as a fair weather state.

Also, I was looking into LRF mounts and the LRF bridge on the M-Brace is very nicely done.

Last time I talked about these mounts, I mentioned that I am not a fan of hinges.  To me, it is a solution looking for a problem.  Also, I heard of several people having issues with the mounts cracking around the hinges when it got really cold.  That sorta made sense to me and re-inforced my suspicions about hinges, especially since the single screw in the ARC design is tightened to a fairly signifiant torque setting.  The reason people like these mounts is that it is a single screw design.  However, there is no free lunch.  Something somewhere is going to be stressed.

Up until recently, I have only heard of ARC mounts/rings cracking in the cold second hand.  I had it on my list to do some experimentation, but now it looks like I do not have to.  A friend of mine lives in a colder state than I do and he sent me a few pictures where two of his M-Brace mounts developed cracks around the hinges.  He is an avid competitor and he spent quite a lot of time in horrid winter blizzards trying to shoot a match or two last winter.  He looked at two of the M-Brace mounts he has and sent me these pictures.  Now, this is not hearsay.  This is directly from someone I know who is a serious shooter and has good attention to detail.  I have high confidence that he did not screw anything up when mounting the scopes.

Now, does that mean that M-Brace mounts are a no go and all that?  Absolutely not. 

These are very good mounts, but if you spend a significant amount of time in temperature extremes, this is something to consider.  Also, there is a LOT of these out there and I have only been able to dig up a few occasions when this happened with only two being from someone I actually know.  This is clearly very uncommon.  By comparison, I have seen FAR more issues with Spuhr mounts.  So many more that I lost count.  We are talking an order of magnitude or two.  With the M-Brace, it is likely a combination of extreme weather conditions and a tolerance stack up where the mounts were on the tighter side of things and then went through multiple extreme temperature sycles. 

While I dislike the hinges, what I really like about the M-Brace mount is the accessory mounting method.  That serrated itnerface is robust.  The way the LRF bridge mounts is likely among the sturdiest in the industry and has the least likelihood of transferrign any shock to the scope body.  If I were looking to set up a weapon mounted LRF on something with serious kick, the M-Brace would definitely be in the running.

What I do not like is that I can not remove the scope from the mount without removing the bridge.  Then again, that's mostly a problem for people like me who mount and re-mount optics all the time.

Once the LRF bridge is on there, two of the accessory mounting points are occupied.  There are two on the bridge itself, but they are less useful for me since they are a little higher up.  I would normally want a level on there, but I can't see it because of the side focus turret. 

Beyond that, my only real complaint with the M-Brace mount is that it is relatively heavy.  Then again, once you are dealing with a three pound precision scope and a pound-plus LRF, four extra ounces of aluminum in the mount is not really a major issue.

Ultimately, we choose gear based on the application and accept compromises where appropriate.  Everything has some sort of a compromise to it.  WIth the M-Brace, it appears to be the same thing that makes it stand out from other mount designs out there: the hinge.

Background:  I have a lot of tripods and not a lot of time.  Back in 2023 I needed a small lightweight tripod to use for photography during SHOT, so I picked up SunwaFoto's TT2650.  It worked beautifully.  Equally importantly, it folded up into a pretty tiny space for travel.  It is too small of a tripod to use for heavy weapon support, but, on the other hand, if I were out hunting and needed to take a sitting shot, I bet it would be much better than handholdign the rifle.  Still, it was of most interest to me as a tripod for photography and observation, so outsourced the important task of beating it up to my brother.  He does a good bit more photography off of the tripod than I do.

Here are his impressions.  Other than correcting a few spelling mistakes, I did not editorialize anything in there.   If you see something italicised, that's my commentary.

The tripod runs about $170.  You can get 5% off with code DLO.  

https://sunwayfoto-store.com/products/tt2650ce-5-sections-carbon-fiber-travel-tripod-for-ipad-phone-dslr-camera-small-and-flexible-with-25mm-ball-head?ref=DLO

SUNWAYFOTO TT-2650CE Tripod with XB-25P ballhead included

The carbon fiber tripod is a great option for photographers, travelers, and media professionals who need a lightweight and sturdy support for their cameras and other equipment. One such example of a small carbon fiber tripod is the SUNWAYFOTO TT-2650CE Tripod. It’s designed to support small cameras, such as mirrorless cameras or ‘mini DSLRs’. I am very impressed by the outstanding build quality.

The SUNWAYFOTO TT-2650CE is made of high-quality carbon fiber, which makes it lightweight and durable. The aluminum parts of the base are CNC machined with hard anodized finish. At just 1lbs 12.7oz (891gm), it is easy to carry around and pack in a suitcase or a backpack. The carbon fiber wall of the legs is only 1mm thick, helping to keep the weight down.  The largest tube is only 26mm in diameter.  The SUNWAYFOTO TT-2650CE has 5 section legs that can be extended to a maximum height of 60.2 (153cm) inches without the ballhead. The provided ball head (XB-25P) adds 2 more inches to the maximum height. The ballhead connects to the central column by a standard 3/8” mounting screw.

The legs do not have an interchangeable foot system, but soft and round rubber feet seemed to have good grip on any surface I encountered so far, including carpet, table surfaces, marble floors, gravel, and regular ground.  Without extending the legs the tripod looks and works perfectly as a table tripod.

The legs have a twist lock mechanism for each leg, and it is simply amazing in my opinion.  I had some experience with this mechanism in an old aluminum Velbon tripod that I bought about 11 years ago.  Sunwayfoto’s version takes it to the next level (or two!).  It feels crisp and precise. It is by far the fastest way to extend and collapse the legs.  In my hands with minimal practice, it takes under 10 seconds from pulling the tripod out of the backpack’s side pocket to the working configuration with three legs and central column fully extended. This is far less time than any other leg locking mechanism I ever tried. 

The central column has an aluminum part 1.75” (4.5cm) that connects to the ball head and a removable carbon fiber portion of the center column where the counterweight hook is attached.  Removing the central column allows for low angle shots. The counterweight hook can also be removed from carbon fiber part of the column and attached directly to the short aluminum portion, although this feature was not useful in my experience.  The only time I needed to remove the central column was to shoot from low angle, so there was no way to hang anything under the tripod.  The QR plate of the ball head sits at just 5” (12.5cm) in the lowest possible configuration. The angle lock allows for three working angles (23°/55°/85°) and complete inversion to minimize the length for packing as described next.  The tension of the angle mechanisms is adjustable and can be tightened and loosened depending on one’s need.

One of the standout features of the SUNWAYFOTO TT-2650CE is its compact size when folded up. To make the tripod most compact the legs can fold up around the extended central column bringing dimensions of the folded tripod to 13.8” (350mm) long and 3.9” (99mm) in diameter.  In my experience this was beneficial for packing it in a suitcase.  While walking around I found that keeping legs collapsed without inverting them worked perfectly well.  In this configuration the height was 15.5” and the tripod stayed secure in the side pocket of my PD backpack.  Fully extended legs bring the height to 4’ 2”. In this configuration it felt as steady as most of the larger tripods I have.  To bring the height to the max 5.02’ (153cm) the central column needs to be extended.  The tripod can hold up to 6.6 pounds (3kg), which is plenty for modern mirrorless cameras or small SLRs. In real life use, the tripod did not seem to have any issues with supporting Nikon D7200 with Sigma 150-500mm telephoto lens AND Peak Design backpack hanging on Counterweight Hook underneath the central column.

The SUNWAYFOTO TT-2650CE also has two additional ¼” sockets at sides of the base plate where any attachment for a light, phone, or any other accessory can be attached.   DP-26R OR Plate is tiny.  It fit perfectly to my smallish Nikon Z-50 and lives there permanently now.  The tripod also comes with a carrying pouch, which is a nice touch.

Here is the complete list of everything that comes in the package:

·       TT2650CE Tripod

·       XB-25P Ballhead

·       DP-26R OR Plate

·       Camera Screw

·       TN-1 Bushing

·       4mm Wrench

·       2.5mm Wrench

·       2mm Wrench

·       Cleaning Cloth

·       Protective Bag

·       User Manual

In conclusion, the SUNWAYFOTO TT-2650CE is a great option for photographers, travelers, and media professionals who need a lightweight and sturdy support for their cameras and other equipment. Its compact size, high-quality carbon fiber construction, ultra-fast leg extension and versatile features make it a great choice for anyone in need of a reliable and portable tripod.

Summary for TT2650CE An ultra-light and slim stand, perfect for smaller DSLR cameras and mirrorless cameras

·       Net Weight - 891g/2lb

·       Main Material - Carbon Fiber

·       Folded Length - 35cm/13.8in

·       Folded Diameter - 99mm/3.9in

·       Load Capacity - 3kg/6.6lb

·       Max Height - 153cm/60.2in

·       Min Heigh - 13cm/5.1in

·       Platform Diameter - 36mm/1.4in

·       Tube Diameters - 26/23/19/16/12mm

·       Leg Angles - 23°/55°/85°

·       Mounting Screw - 3/8"

·       Feet Material - Rubber

Pros:

·       Ultra-fast Twist-Lock leg extension mechanism

·       Made of carbon with compact, but sturdy ball head

·       Small pack size

·       An extendable and removable central column

Cons:

·       No integrated monopod

·       No interchangeable feet

·       Slightly shorter than would be optimal for people over 5’7” or so.

The little Sunway 2650 remained in use after those initial impressions.  Then, in 2024, it ended up going to another trip or two where the photography requriements changed.  That requried a different camera setup.  With a larger telephoto lens, we went and swapped out the head to the tiny FPH-105 panhead from FIeld Optics Research.  The biggest difference is that with telephoto lenses you often need to make very small angular changes and those are often hard with a ballhead.  This same consideration applies to spotting scopes and high magnification binoculars.   Personally, since I always have recoil in mind, I am very partial to Field Optics' ULP head https://www.fieldopticsresearch.com/shop/Heads--QR-Plates/p/Ultra-Low-Profile-Pan-Head---ULP-G2-x51054447.htm
However, the tiny FPH-105 does have a little more range of motion ond worked beautifully for my brother. Frankly, for $65 it costs, this is an amazing little panhead.
https://www.fieldopticsresearch.com/shop/Heads--QR-Plates/p/MicroPAN-Head-x68301366.htm

Here are his thoughts after swapping out the tripod head and a couple more trips.

2024 Update

I got to test SUNWAYFOTO TT-2650CE in real travel environment last year when we went for a two weeks family road trip around Iceland.  It stayed with me on pretty much every hike we did until I pulled my hamstring and spent the last few days… not hiking…

In 2024 we went a short trip to the Oregon coast.  We went on a few hikes along the beaches and small towns.   This time I had with me my longest lens set up: Fujifilm XT-5 + 2X teleconverter + FUJINON  XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR.  I got used to taking PeakDesign Everyday Messenger, and carry this relatively heavy combination on short hikes. The maximal focal length with this set up is 400 x1.5 x2 is 1200mm!  Amazingly hand holding this with XT-5’s IBIS is possible, but not practical… And very tiring.  You just naturally want to lean on something…  Even if you don’t have arthritis in your wrists…  yet…. So, lightweight TT2650CE was a no brainer addition to stick into the Everyday Messenger.  This past winter I also got an amazing ultracompact video head (FPH-105) from Field Optics.  My brother is kind enough to let me try out his gear, and this combination seemed just about perfect.

I am 6’ 1”, and the ONLY Con I see is that it’s just a bit shorter than I’d like.  Maybe 5-7” taller would be perfect… I did not really see any other cons.  The Field Optics FPH-105 video head is naturally not capable of tilting sideways and it allows mounting XF-100-400 lens immediately above the center column. Of Arca Swiss 38mm QR plate It makes having a heavy gimbal head or (what I used extensively with longer focal length lenses - Induro GHBA Gimbal that could work with any ballhead that is sturdy enough to keep it from slipping).  In the beginning of my experiments with telephoto I would simply turn the ball head’s stem 90 degrees to the side and rotate the collar on the lens 90 degrees, but it just did not seem stable, especially with light tripods.  Call me paranoid but suspending $2500 like this kept me from enjoying the experience.  This time the FPH-105 video head provided nice stability at a fraction of weight (9.0 oz) and it’s 7 lb load capacity was just enough to support my setup.  2.5" height above the top of the central column was about the same as the XB-25P ballhead.  I must admit that I always hanged my bag on the hook at the bottom of the central column for stability, and it seemed very stable.  I would not do this in Iceland where the winds on the coast were insane!  I think some common sense will keep your gear safe: if the wind is blowing you off your feet, leaving your gear on tripod is not good idea.  In Oregon, ocean breeze did not concern me, and the rig worked perfectly!

I think this combo would be a great option for photographers, travelers, and media professionals who need a lightweight and sturdy support for their cameras and other equipment. Its compact size, high-quality carbon fiber construction, ultra-fast leg extension and versatile features make it a great choice for anyone in need of a reliable and portable tripod.  If you feel that you absolutely must have a ballhead on your tripod for the challenging leveling situations, such as macro photography, I still had tiny Sunwayfoto’s XB-25P ballhead in my pocket!  It’s also very light, but I did not have to switch it out even once. 

In conclusion, this Ultra compact, lightweight combo turned out highly portable and functional with telephoto lenses. I confidently added this tiny video head to my travel bag.  I would get a set of legs for stationary shooting, such as birding at Socorro Festival of Cranes, for example, but for the hiking this combo punches way above it’s cost…