Tripods

I just bought my Oly E-20 and life has never been better. While shooting Saturday evening I realized how much I need a tripod. I want to buy the best I can and have decided on either the Bogen or Gitzo. What I find confusing are the multitude of legs and head combinations. What combinations do you use and have found to work? Since I only have the E-20 that will be the only camera I will use on the tripod. Thanks for your suggestions.

Phil Smallwood said:

I just bought my Oly E-20 and life has never been better. While
shooting Saturday evening I realized how much I need a tripod. I
want to buy the best I can and have decided on either the Bogen or
Gitzo. What I find confusing are the multitude of legs and head
combinations. What combinations do you use and have found to work?
Since I only have the E-20 that will be the only camera I will use
on the tripod. Thanks for your suggestions.

Click to expand...

You know, I suppose that some tripods offer more than what I have in mine, and maybe I will upgrade someday, but I'm quite happy with my $50 tripod. I think I got it from circuit city. It doesn't feel flimsy, but it is definately not a pro tripod. It has a level, allows 90 degree camera turn, it has good enough knobs, and most importantly to me it is taller than I am. I hate bending over to take a shot. I want to stand up straight and shoot comfortably. That was my big thing.

I guess it would be nice to be able to almost lay the thing down for some "from the ground" perspective shots, but I'm still young enough to lay in the dirt or on the rocks and hand hold it. Not the most comfortable thing to do, but it's also something I do see a regular need to do either.

I think I'd rather save my money for lenses. That said, I'll read what others say with avid interest as I am not afraid to be proven wrong.

--
If a picture paints a 1,000 words, how come mine only make 3?

Phil Smallwood said:

I just bought my Oly E-20 and life has never been better. While
shooting Saturday evening I realized how much I need a tripod. I
want to buy the best I can and have decided on either the Bogen or
Gitzo. What I find confusing are the multitude of legs and head
combinations. What combinations do you use and have found to work?
Since I only have the E-20 that will be the only camera I will use
on the tripod. Thanks for your suggestions.

Click to expand...

Phil,

As you have found out there is a huge range available and there are probably many combinations that will be fine for your needs. Remember that while you may buy the tripod for the camera you have now, it will outlast many cameras. I still have a 25 year old tripod that is big, solid and heavy, ok for studio use but not the sort of thing you go hiking with (although I seem to remember doing this once ??).

I think the first thing to decide is your needs. Is it just something to mount the camera on for long exposures, or for studio use ? Does it need to be compact and light ? Do you need it for macro shooting ? Once you know the use, then that will narrow down the selection.

Personally, I have a Manfrotto (Bogen) 055PROB which I use with either a 141RC or 352RC head. I like the 055 because of its removable column which can be reversed or placed horizontally and is useful for macro shooting.
Good luck with your choice. )
--
John W
No equipment worth talking about....!!!

With a tripod and E10 \ 20 you will find that you have less of the shakey photo syndome... At least for those of us who do not have rock steady hands. However, I personally enjoy my monopod (Slik E-Z pod) do to its nice price, light weight, compact size and portablitiy. Don't get me wrong the Tripod has a place for formals and for pictures when I am in front of rather than behind the lens. I am fairly active and find that when hiking, biking or for other purposes the monopod fits my needs better.

You can always get both but unless you are independantly wealthy you don't need to spend a fortune on a Tripod.

Phil Smallwood said:

I just bought my Oly E-20 and life has never been better. While
shooting Saturday evening I realized how much I need a tripod. I
want to buy the best I can and have decided on either the Bogen or
Gitzo. What I find confusing are the multitude of legs and head
combinations. What combinations do you use and have found to work?
Since I only have the E-20 that will be the only camera I will use
on the tripod. Thanks for your suggestions.

Click to expand...

--
Jeremy J. Haines

Phil Smallwood said:

I just bought my Oly E-20 and life has never been better. While
shooting Saturday evening I realized how much I need a tripod. I
want to buy the best I can and have decided on either the Bogen or
Gitzo. What I find confusing are the multitude of legs and head
combinations. What combinations do you use and have found to work?
Since I only have the E-20 that will be the only camera I will use
on the tripod. Thanks for your suggestions.

Click to expand...

--I've worked with a couple of Bogen's, my favorite.....they are built like tanks and you can get parts and toys for them =}{ )
Carlton

It's like everything else you get what you pay for. Buy the best you can reasonably afford. Keeping in mind your shooting style and how much you will be lugging it around. I personaly have Bogen 3221 tripod and a head I highly recommend the 3265 grip action head.

Hiya Phil,

I think you'll be getting as many varied response's to this as one would when asking about printers, bags, or even camera's. )

That being said. I still have, and use an old light weight tripod from my high school days. I also keep in my truck a slick 880 (i think) along with an old monopod (name unknown and long forgotten) just incase.

Although just recently I decided to spend a couple dollars and picked up a Bogen (manfrotto now) 1011 (i think that's the number) tripod, and the 3030n head. Both peice's set me back about $170.00 at Wolf Camera, but man o man is that thing steady!

Anyway. Good luck in your search.

--
Vance.

http://users.ev1.net/~txcowboy
http://pub57.ezboard.com/bthedigitaldinguscommunity

I just ordered Bogen 3021 legs with the 3055 ball head, after using a friend's same setup with an Olympus OM-1 on a 30 minute night sky exposure. And I was even changing focus every two minutes during the exposure for a special effect star trail shot. This setup was rock solid, especially with the legs spread out to their widest angle. Ordered my setup from Adorama, and can't wait until it arrives.

macnmotion

IMO they are in a class of their own - the Slik Master Classic is an amazing piece of engineering and at a very good price for a tough Pro-Job.. I have the Pro version with the Viking heavy duty pan-head and I'm sure it will take the weight of my BROTHER let alone anything as light as an E20 + TCON300 ;-)

Manfrotto / Bogen IMO aren't in the same class at all but the question is do you really need anything like this? - if not a Manfrotto 190C should do the trick nicely and offer a good price performance

--
Olympus C2100UZI +B300, Canon D60.

My Ugly mug and submitted Photos at -------->
http://www.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=27855

Your E-20 will really perform atop a sturdy, heavy-duty pro tripod. Especially if you start hanging stuff all over your camera -- lipo grip, extra lenses, external flash, etc.

I recommend used from Ebay.

I just received my ebay Bogen 3036 tripod with 3047 head. I love its heft! Total spent: $204.22

John B.

Right! i got myself Manfrotto 190BC in set with 141RC. When closed it's small and it can fit in normal sized backpack but when is fully opened the eyepeace is strait on my eye just perfect!!

It's 'on the road' thing pretty lightweight but sturdy enough and not really expencive.
I wouldn't go for shaky things as E-10 is not that light.

Best,
Sunny

Adam-T said:

Manfrotto / Bogen IMO aren't in the same class at all but the
question is do you really need anything like this? - if not a
Manfrotto 190C should do the trick nicely and offer a good price
performance

--
Olympus C2100UZI +B300, Canon D60.

My Ugly mug and submitted Photos at -------->
http://www.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=27855

Click to expand...

--
E-10 for now.........Gladly!!!

I have a Bogen 3011 w/ 3029 head.

The 3011 is a great set of sticks, but I would prefer a set with quick release legs.

The 3029 is a basic 3-way pan tilt with no quick release plate. I would prefer a ball head at this point.

There have been a number of posts regardig the quick release plates on many Bogen and other hjeads being "loose" or something like that. I dont like these QR plates anyway because they are HUGE. I dont want that attached to my camera. I really like what I have. It's a Novoflex MiniConnect and it is tiny.



The part that attaches to the camera is literally about the size of a dime. The plate hold nicely. There is almost no added mass/size/bulk/etc to the camera.I also plan to get a plate for my Stroboframe so going from tripod to bracket is quick and easy.

It can be found at B&H and other stores. Here's a link to their US marketer.
http://www.hpmarketingcorp.com/novoflex.html

Another good alternative is the Q Top distributed by Adorama.



Here is a link to an info page.

http://www.adoramaphoto.com/catalog.tpl?op=details&sid=10191851788891005&sku=TPQT

The grey part on top (that connects to the camera) is about the size of a 50 cent piece.

I kinda like this better overall than the Novoflex, but I like the tiny size of the MiniConnect's connector so I chose it.

Copare to the size of a Bogen plate.



Just not as small and neat.

GageFX

Phil Smallwood said:

I just bought my Oly E-20 and life has never been better. While
shooting Saturday evening I realized how much I need a tripod. I
want to buy the best I can and have decided on either the Bogen or
Gitzo. What I find confusing are the multitude of legs and head
combinations. What combinations do you use and have found to work?
Since I only have the E-20 that will be the only camera I will use
on the tripod. Thanks for your suggestions.

Click to expand...

Hmm... you do have a good point there. I plan on getting the TCON, and I wouldn't want to step away from my current tripod with that front heavy thing on my $50 tripod. I'll take a look at the Bogen line and find out what all the fuss is about.

John Branson said:

Your E-20 will really perform atop a sturdy, heavy-duty pro tripod.
Especially if you start hanging stuff all over your camera -- lipo
grip, extra lenses, external flash, etc.

I recommend used from Ebay.

I just received my ebay Bogen 3036 tripod with 3047 head. I love
its heft! Total spent: $204.22

John B.

Click to expand...

--
If a picture paints a 1,000 words, how come mine only make 3?

I can't match Gage's detail and pix, but I can add that the Slik ball mount ($90) is a great match for the Exx camera. I gives you a lot of easy pointability, combined with a pan bed for those stitched panoramas, plus a good quick release system. It's been my standard tripod head now for a year or more.
Forester

Hello Phil,

I just upgraded my tripod several months ago. I bought a bogen 3036 with a 3039 head. Its a very good setup but it is very heavy. I do a lot of nature work and toting that rig around in the woods is quite a chore. I'm glad I kept my old set. keep this in mind when you are deciding what is right for you.

--
Seven