Which tripod?

Dear all,

I have to work with a K5 with the 60-250 mm lens. I have to take pictures of a defined area under a defined angle. I have to work outdoor. Weight is no problem as I have to transport it to the place I take the photos by car. It has to be stable. I think I will use the self timer for releasing.

I need a good tripod but I do not know what is important, which brands are good, which have a good price-performance ratio etc.

I know Manfrotto is good - but do you have to pay for the good name - will I get more of a tripod for the same price if I buy Bilora or Cullmann?

I think I will buy a ball-head. Which one is good and can be fixed easily and really firm?

Best regards
Holger

Manfrotto is certainly good. I have a Manfrotto monopod and its great. But I have a Somita (chineese) tripod and it's working solidly as well. The guys at Manfrotto say the quality shows itself by time and the leg locking mechanism is the weakest point of no brand tripods. If you're going to use your tripod for heavy lenses, go for a gimbal head instead of a ball head. Manfrotto offers a gimbal like head (no. 393 in europe) with a very resonable price. Good luck with your selection.
Soheil
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It's the singer not the song.

First advice is buy the best you can afford (you'll only end up buying it the second time around otherwise). My current set up for the DA*300 is a Gitzo 2540LLVL (Carbon Fibre) and a Really Right Stuff Ballhead BH-40 & Quick Release Plate. And this works great for me as I tend to have to hike for some distances with it.

If you're not carrying your set up far, you should probably look at a 3 section & an heavier / larger cross section leg. The Ballhead has proved worth importing from the states (at a time when the dollar was much stronger) and the clamp system is also compatible with Arca Swiss plates etc.
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With such a long and heavy lens you will need a very good head, which does not sag after fixing the position. Since the weight is no object you could consider this: many photographers nowdays sell perfectly good alu tripods and buy lighter carbon fiber ones. You can buy a used alu tripod and spare the money for the head (good ones tend to be expensive) .

Thank you for your advice. So I think it will be Manfrotto. It's not for me but for the company I work for. Hope I can convince them of bying a little bit more expensive material. It has to be assembled and put together for transport quite often - so a robust design will be favourable.

What's the advantage of carbon as material for the legs? Is it just not so heavy and easily to transport? Will other material be more durable? May a heavy tripod be more stable in the field?

I know - many questions, but it is hard to decide if you do not have much experience with tripods and if it's not your money you have to spend for it.

Best regards
Holger

I know Gitzo would be perfect - but that will be too expensive. I have heard of the Real Right Stuff Ballhead. Have to find a dealer in Germany. Just saw it on a British page. I'll need it soon and so I have to look for a dealer who can deliver it quickly.

I saw on the Amazon pages good reviewed Manfrotto ballheads (a few told that their ballhead was not stable and they had to readjust the camera).
http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B002N56F2M/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&s=photo&psc=1

or this for a little bit more heavy material:
http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/handle-buy-box/ref=dp_start-bbf_1_glance

(Question: Will it be a good idea to buy a ballhead which is designed for much more heavy equipment (I think the K5 with the 60-250 will be less than 3 kg)?)

I also saw an interesting Cullmann Ballhead.

http://www.amazon.de/Cullmann-Magnesit-MB6-1-Aluminium-Kugelkopf/dp/B003J231F2/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2CLDIKXUMBSOP&colid=7BV36ZWTBP8E

What about this one:

http://www.amazon.de/Novoflex-MB-MINI-Magic-Ball-Mini/dp/B0002SA672/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1304794434&sr=8-22

I know Nvoflex as an old Company with good and often simple ideas - I own an old 400 mm Novoflex lens which looks like a dangerous weapon but is a simple system to hold this tele-lens in as table condition and to adjust focus very quickly - which was only of interest in pre-autofocus times and when there was no Image Stabilisation of modern Pentax cameras.

Best regards
Holger

Hallo Holger,

I just bought the Cullmann Magnesit 528. You could combine it with either the Cullmann MB6.3, the Novoflex Magic Ball or the FLM Ballheads (CB-32FB?). Any of these components is rock solid with a superb finish. If you prefer something really extraordinary, go for a Berlebach Report, made of wood. you can check prices at amazon.

Oder auf deutsch: guck Dir diese Sachen bei Amazon mal an. Sie sind in Qualität und Preis echte Alternativen. Die Berlebach-Stative sind aus Birkenholz: leicht, echte Show und außergewöhnliches Dämpfungsverhalten. Und die Kugelköpfe musst Du einfach mal in der Hand gehalten haben

Regards / Schönes Wochenende
Albert

Vanguard Alta 264 and vanguard magnesium ballhead, i tihink is on discount in fotoernhhart .

I got it with two quick relase plates and can load up to 7 kg i think, very solid and durable.

May I suggest walimex pro Tripod 5603 Multiflex + 2 Ball Heads

It compares to other brands of tripod in a price range 2-3 times it's price.

Niklas

Carbon Fibre tripods are lighter and more robust than aluminium ones but much more expensive as well. To stabilize your tripod you can hang your camera bag from the tripod, but if you're using heavy lenses, the weight of your system is usually enough.
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It's the singer not the song.

I'd advise the OP to look seriously at the Feisol CF tripods.

Aluminium tripods have an annoying habit of ringing, which destroys sharpness, especially with long lenses. I have two Manfrotto aluminium tripods (055 and 028) both of which had a tendency to ring.

The 055 also had a tendency to collapse, but that is a separate issue tied to how junky they are.

Wood tripods are excellent because they do not transmit vibration, but they tend to be heavy. My Zone VI tripod weighs in excess of 15 pounds IIRC.

CF tripods offer the best of all worlds, in that they damp vibration nearly as well as wood, and weigh significantly less than metal.

I'm using a 3 section Feisol Tournament tripod with their CB50D ballhead with lenses up to the A400/5.6 (including the DA*60-250).

It feels a little light for those lenses, but at the same time performs very well.

If I wanted a tripod specifically for the 60-250, I would look at a slightly heavier duty tripod than the Tournament, but would still get the CB-50D head.

soheil said:

But I have a Somita (chineese) tripod and it's working solidly as well.

Click to expand...

What kind of Somita tripod do you have? I'm trying to get a ST-650 and was wondering how their product was? Has yours given you any trouble at all since you posted this?

Anything will be greatly appreciated.

sparkhee93 said:

sparkhee93 said:

But I have a Somita (chineese) tripod and it's working solidly as well.

Click to expand...

What kind of Somita tripod do you have? I'm trying to get a ST-650 and was wondering how their product was? Has yours given you any trouble at all since you posted this?

Anything will be greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

You managed to find a 5 year old thread. Elvis has probably left the building by now.

It was a worth a shot :-| The tripod looks decent for its price and the three reviews on Amazon are good and the only mention of Somita tripod was here by that one comment...

Holger Bargen said:

Dear all,

I have to work with a K5 with the 60-250 mm lens. I have to take pictures of a defined area under a defined angle. I have to work outdoor. Weight is no problem as I have to transport it to the place I take the photos by car. It has to be stable. I think I will use the self timer for releasing.

I need a good tripod but I do not know what is important, which brands are good, which have a good price-performance ratio etc.

I know Manfrotto is good - but do you have to pay for the good name - will I get more of a tripod for the same price if I buy Bilora or Cullmann?

I think I will buy a ball-head. Which one is good and can be fixed easily and really firm?

Click to expand...

I use Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod with a Vanguard BBH-200 Ballhead. I also use a Vanguard pistolgrip Ballhead - the GH-200 - on my monopod. Of course they use the same QR plates which is useful. I've found the tripod to be excellent for HDR shots in low light conditions. The tripod/ballhead combo weighs 3kgs. Also, I'm tall and the max working height is 170 cms = 1700mm = 66" (I think cms should be banned for all time).

these HDR shots were taken using that combo of tripod & b/head:-




K-3 & 18-135 @ 1.3s & F9






K-5 & 18-135 @ 0.6s & F5.6







--
Mike McEnaney. (emem)
www.veritasmea.com

Jirka- said:

With such a long and heavy lens you will need a very good head,

Click to expand...

Really

I've always thought da* 60-250 a lightweight in its class at 1040g it is considerably lighter than say the Sigma 70-200 at 1500g

And in this class its certainly not physical long lens. Bear in mind the V1 had no tripod mount at all (like the 50-135) and only on redesign was the mount added.

look ma no mount

Jirka- said:

which does not sag after fixing the position. Since the weight is no object you could consider this: many photographers nowdays sell perfectly good alu tripods and buy lighter carbon fiber ones. You can buy a used alu tripod and spare the money for the head (good ones tend to be expensive) .

Click to expand...

True enough

If you also look into what make s good tripos you can safley buy Chinese imports at very low prices.

If unwilling to put in the leg work your a lot safer sticking to mainstream manufacturers where price defines quality



--
My PPG
My Photo Stream
1x.com

awaldram said:

Jirka- said:

With such a long and heavy lens you will need a very good head,

Click to expand...

Really

I've always thought da* 60-250 a lightweight in its class at 1040g it is considerably lighter than say the Sigma 70-200 at 1500g

Click to expand...

The 60-250 is perfect for handheld BOF (Blues On Fire)




Bending

5 YO thread . . .
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Doug

Great image and good catch on the obsolete thread

Feel quite justified in adding the obsolete 60-250 V1 to it

emem said:

Holger Bargen said:

Dear all,

I have to work with a K5 with the 60-250 mm lens. I have to take pictures of a defined area under a defined angle. I have to work outdoor. Weight is no problem as I have to transport it to the place I take the photos by car. It has to be stable. I think I will use the self timer for releasing.

I need a good tripod but I do not know what is important, which brands are good, which have a good price-performance ratio etc.

I know Manfrotto is good - but do you have to pay for the good name - will I get more of a tripod for the same price if I buy Bilora or Cullmann?

I think I will buy a ball-head. Which one is good and can be fixed easily and really firm?

Click to expand...

I use Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod with a Vanguard BBH-200 Ballhead. I also use a Vanguard pistolgrip Ballhead - the GH-200 - on my monopod. Of course they use the same QR plates which is useful. I've found the tripod to be excellent for HDR shots in low light conditions. The tripod/ballhead combo weighs 3kgs. Also, I'm tall and the max working height is 170 cms = 1700mm = 66" (I think cms should be banned for all time).

these HDR shots were taken using that combo of tripod & b/head:-


K-3 & 18-135 @ 1.3s & F9


K-5 & 18-135 @ 0.6s & F5.6

--

Click to expand...

Even thoguh this is a very old thread - thank you for your answere. Nice photos!

Yes, for most jobs the Mafnortto is a good tripod,

I opened this thread for a certain task at my job - I had (and still have) to take HDR photos with a K5 in an environment with controlled LED light. The sum of the exposures of the three photos of the HDR process may exceed 1:30 minutes - and you need something extremely stable which also would buffer disturbance from the ground (there is more than you think and even though I managed to get a very stable setup I never will take the photos again near to a heavily used road with lots of trucks on it...).

We bought a solid Berlebach tripod with a Manfrotto Gearhead MA 410.

For my private equipment I have also a wooden tripod - it is a Bosch tripod which was build for lasers used at building lots (meanwhile the Bosch trpods are no longer made of wood). If you know the design and the elements from original Berlebach tripod it seems so as if this tripod would have been made by Berlebach.

I also have a Slik tripod.

I have several tripod heads. I like my old lightweight Gitzo head - very simple design but good enough for most tasks.

I also bought an Arca Swiss monoball (as used) - a beast! Overkill for most situations - but if you open the screw easy to move and if you close it all movements of the camera system stopp immediately. I like my Monoball also as unit to fix my flash for table top situations. I can place the flash on the Monoball and it is heavy enough to carry the flash in every situation and with the ball I can easily fix the direction of the light.

You are mentioning your Vanguard tripod heads - I once was interested in the tripods from the Vanguard alta pro series - look nice for macro work. But actually my Slik does a good job, too.

Best regards

Holger

emem said:

Mike McEnaney. (emem)
www.veritasmea.com

Click to expand...

You can buy vintage original wooden tripod Berlebach from Ebay