Group Idiot
Veteran Member
Talk about a change in thinking. I always viewed tripods as just a three-legged thing you stuck your camera on top of--nothing more. Well, it's amazing what an education can do for you, so I thought I'd share a snippet of my "journey" to [a little] tripod understanding in hopes that the majority of those out there who are just like me can avoid many of the mistakes.
If you're a new D100 owner, just as putting junk glass in front of your new $2,000 camera will compromise your images, so will slapping it on top of a cheap $200 tripod. And YES, I said $200 and CHEAP in the same sentence!
Originally, that's about what I "budgeted" (in my mind) for a "good" tripod. Well, let's just say that I couldn't be more wrong, and why it will be a HUGE mistake to get something of that caliber versus sacrificing, biting your lip, living with your "Velcro" or whatever cheap Piece-O'-Junk you're using now for a few more months while you save up for something that'll really work. A tripod will be with you for YEARS, perhaps DECADES, while the D100 may last you months or a couple of years at best before you feel the urge to upgrade to whatever amazing technology the future holds.
Here's the genesis of my tripod selection process. I should state that I'm a poor schmuck amateur like most D100 owners who is FAR from a pro photog and doesn't make a dime from my shots. This is a "fun" hobby for me and the wife.
After reading Thom Hogan's new, semi-comprehensive article on camera support systems (tripods) here:
http://www.bythom.com/support.htm
I began to question my thinking about what constitutes a quality tripod. I still was not convinced that the ROI (Return On Images) would be reflected in a $1,000 tripod setup versus a $200 one. Thom convinced me that I needed to go a little higher, so I moved into the $500 neighborhood of thinking. Thom's BEST ADVICE in that entire column was, surprisingly, to order the Really Right Stuff printed catalog:
http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/business_info/free_catalog/index.html
It contains an veritable treasure trove of information that isn't available on their site (yet). I just got it today (my address was hand-written on the large envelope--I love that!) and opened it immediately. I decided to take it with me on my ascent to the Porcelain Throne and there absorbed its contents over the course of more than an hour. Feeling enlighted, I dethroned, numb legs and all, and felt that there was little choice but to ante up and do it right. If I have to postpone a lens or accessory purchase for a few months, so be it. $1,000 is the price of admission into The Club of No Regrets--at least in this case. I've settled on the Gitzo G1325 CF legs ($500), the Gitzo G1321 leveling base ($160--a must, absolutely), the Kirk BH1 panning ball head with Quick Release ($350), and QR plates for the 70-200/2.8 HSM, AF-S 300/4, and D100/MB ($150)--for a grand total of about $1,200!
OUCH! That's a nice AF-S zoom! Are you INSANE?! Are you a PRO?!
Nope, but quality images aren't the exclusive domain of professional photogs. There are so many reasons to pony up--as much as it hurts--and follow this advice (I'm just a puppet here, this is not MY "wisdom"). One poster has said that he'd rather have just a FEW items of QUALITY over a bunch of cheap items--and this is the one area that will get you more quality shots than just about anything else. It allows you to move to any point in the blink of an eye under the most demanding situations and eliminates mirror slap and every other factor that will affect the quality of your images. The tripod is just another extension in the mechanics of the entire (d)SLR chain, and a cheap one will compromise the entire package as the weakest link in that chain despite the fact that you may have $5,000+ in the best camera and optics sitting atop.
I feel "enlightened" now, which is also "empowering" (I hate New Age buzzwords, and this is the first time I've ever used it, but it's true). I don't have that reluctance to spend the money any more, now that I can see the future in this particular instance. I guess I feel like I just "get it" and it's one of the VERY few times in my life that I have learned from the experiences of others without having to duplicate their mistakes the hard way.
I guess I'm just excited about the prospects. I may have to save pennies for a month or two and live with my POS $100 fluid head "video" tripod that I've had for 10 years, but as least I won't make the mistake of getting what I can afford at the moment only to dump it next year and spend the money again.
I know most here already know this, so I apologize for cluttering up the forum by stating what, to many, may be the obvious, but I feel it may be of benefit to many in my position who just don't know what we don't know.
Brendan
--
Newbie requests inspection and critique of new photos at: http://www.pbase.com/bgetchel/root
If you're a new D100 owner, just as putting junk glass in front of your new $2,000 camera will compromise your images, so will slapping it on top of a cheap $200 tripod. And YES, I said $200 and CHEAP in the same sentence!
Originally, that's about what I "budgeted" (in my mind) for a "good" tripod. Well, let's just say that I couldn't be more wrong, and why it will be a HUGE mistake to get something of that caliber versus sacrificing, biting your lip, living with your "Velcro" or whatever cheap Piece-O'-Junk you're using now for a few more months while you save up for something that'll really work. A tripod will be with you for YEARS, perhaps DECADES, while the D100 may last you months or a couple of years at best before you feel the urge to upgrade to whatever amazing technology the future holds.
Here's the genesis of my tripod selection process. I should state that I'm a poor schmuck amateur like most D100 owners who is FAR from a pro photog and doesn't make a dime from my shots. This is a "fun" hobby for me and the wife.
After reading Thom Hogan's new, semi-comprehensive article on camera support systems (tripods) here:
http://www.bythom.com/support.htm
I began to question my thinking about what constitutes a quality tripod. I still was not convinced that the ROI (Return On Images) would be reflected in a $1,000 tripod setup versus a $200 one. Thom convinced me that I needed to go a little higher, so I moved into the $500 neighborhood of thinking. Thom's BEST ADVICE in that entire column was, surprisingly, to order the Really Right Stuff printed catalog:
http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/business_info/free_catalog/index.html
It contains an veritable treasure trove of information that isn't available on their site (yet). I just got it today (my address was hand-written on the large envelope--I love that!) and opened it immediately. I decided to take it with me on my ascent to the Porcelain Throne and there absorbed its contents over the course of more than an hour. Feeling enlighted, I dethroned, numb legs and all, and felt that there was little choice but to ante up and do it right. If I have to postpone a lens or accessory purchase for a few months, so be it. $1,000 is the price of admission into The Club of No Regrets--at least in this case. I've settled on the Gitzo G1325 CF legs ($500), the Gitzo G1321 leveling base ($160--a must, absolutely), the Kirk BH1 panning ball head with Quick Release ($350), and QR plates for the 70-200/2.8 HSM, AF-S 300/4, and D100/MB ($150)--for a grand total of about $1,200!
OUCH! That's a nice AF-S zoom! Are you INSANE?! Are you a PRO?!
Nope, but quality images aren't the exclusive domain of professional photogs. There are so many reasons to pony up--as much as it hurts--and follow this advice (I'm just a puppet here, this is not MY "wisdom"). One poster has said that he'd rather have just a FEW items of QUALITY over a bunch of cheap items--and this is the one area that will get you more quality shots than just about anything else. It allows you to move to any point in the blink of an eye under the most demanding situations and eliminates mirror slap and every other factor that will affect the quality of your images. The tripod is just another extension in the mechanics of the entire (d)SLR chain, and a cheap one will compromise the entire package as the weakest link in that chain despite the fact that you may have $5,000+ in the best camera and optics sitting atop.
I feel "enlightened" now, which is also "empowering" (I hate New Age buzzwords, and this is the first time I've ever used it, but it's true). I don't have that reluctance to spend the money any more, now that I can see the future in this particular instance. I guess I feel like I just "get it" and it's one of the VERY few times in my life that I have learned from the experiences of others without having to duplicate their mistakes the hard way.
I guess I'm just excited about the prospects. I may have to save pennies for a month or two and live with my POS $100 fluid head "video" tripod that I've had for 10 years, but as least I won't make the mistake of getting what I can afford at the moment only to dump it next year and spend the money again.
I know most here already know this, so I apologize for cluttering up the forum by stating what, to many, may be the obvious, but I feel it may be of benefit to many in my position who just don't know what we don't know.
Brendan
--
Newbie requests inspection and critique of new photos at: http://www.pbase.com/bgetchel/root
