Tripods

It's time to replace my ancient tripod, largely because it does not allow me to mount the camera in portrait format with any stability.

I'm taken with the Manfrotto 190XPROB as it's so easy to change the centre post from vertical to horizontal ... but are there others that are just as easy ?

And my old one only has a pan and tilt head. Is it worthwhile going for a bulkier ball head - what are the downsides/upsides ?

Take a look at the Alta pro Series from Vanguard, it's a very flexible system:

http://www.vanguardworld.com/index.php/de/pv/products/photo-video/list-1-4-15.html

BeeJayEff said:

It's time to replace my ancient tripod, largely because it does not allow me to mount the camera in portrait format with any stability.

I'm taken with the Manfrotto 190XPROB as it's so easy to change the centre post from vertical to horizontal ... but are there others that are just as easy ?

And my old one only has a pan and tilt head. Is it worthwhile going for a bulkier ball head - what are the downsides/upsides ?

Click to expand...

what camera gear do you have/expect to have? need to know how much weight you are talking about and bulk.

--
RaymondR

some information regarding tripods for photography can be found here:

http://bythom.com/support.htm

the page discusses tripod weight vs stability, ballheads vs. pan/tilt heads, tripod material vs stability, and stability advice for taking photos (for longer exposures, etc.)

if you cannot afford cream-of-the-crop gitzo legs and really-right-stuff heads, you might try sirui/giottos/manfrotto legs and kirk/markins/arca-swiss/acratech heads ...

don't forget quick-release clamps and plates (aim for arca-swiss compatible) so you don't have to screw on/off your equipment all the time (disregard if you don't mind screwing)

generally, a ballhead will allow you to position your camera body in a portrait position with a drop notch or other method, but pushing the ball into the portrait position also pushes the weight of the camera off-center and reduces stability. a movable center column (like manfrotto) would put the weight of the camera even further out away from the center of stability.

for stability, try to keep your camera/lens center as close to the tripod center as possible (don't extend the column, etc.). L-brackets and quick release clamps (really right stuff or kirk brand) for your camera body will allow you to use a portrait position AND keep the weight centered over your tripod with smaller lenses. big lenses generally have tripod collars to allow for easy portrait/landscape orientations.

whatever works for you ...

p.s. if you have lighter gear (like a micro 4/3rds camera, small lenses, or point and shoot) then the manfrotto 190 series may work. frankly it's a shade too short for me even fully extended (full extension = less stability). considering trying at a store with your heaviest gear before you buy.

BeeJayEff said:

It's time to replace my ancient tripod, largely because it does not allow me to mount the camera in portrait format with any stability.

I'm taken with the Manfrotto 190XPROB as it's so easy to change the centre post from vertical to horizontal ... but are there others that are just as easy ?

And my old one only has a pan and tilt head. Is it worthwhile going for a bulkier ball head - what are the downsides/upsides ?

Click to expand...

BeeJayEff said:

I'm taken with the Manfrotto 190XPROB as it's so easy to change the centre post from vertical to horizontal

Click to expand...

I'd go with an Manfrotto 055X (or similar). I have a Manfrotto 190X that's rock solid but for sale on ebay right now beacuse I'm 5'10" and it's just too short for me.

BeeJayEff said:

And my old one only has a pan and tilt head. Is it worthwhile going for a bulkier ball head - what are the downsides/upsides ?

Click to expand...

For me a ballhead is so much better than a pan/tilt head. For me there is no downside, only an upside: the ability to quickly adjust the camera in three axes in one swift move. A word of advice, spend more money than you think you should, a quality ballhead is not cheap. It's like being a kid and your parents kept telling you the stove was hot: you didn't really understand until you touched it.

Gitzo has an interesting material they call "basalt", and it's some sort of carbon-fiber-ish material that does not cost as much as carbon fiber. If it's the same price as a good solid aluminum tripod it may be worth investigation. My understanding is that like the 190X they are all a bit short, you'd have to do some investigation.

I personally think tripods are one of the most under-utilized and under-rated tools on the market. You may own that super-duper $20K Zeiss manual-focus lens, but if it's not rock solid the results don't matter. I can also tell you from experience that the more you spend, the more you get. Iff'n anybody were to ask me I would say a tripod/head is the one thing you should never try to save money on.

Best regards,
Mike

RaymondR said:

what camera gear do you have/expect to have? need to know how much weight you are talking about and bulk.

Click to expand...

sorry, should have said .. heaviest current set up is Canon 550D with Tamron 18-270, which together with my flash weighs in at 1.7 Kg. Obviously the Tamron at full extension is going to send the CoG out, to a point about 3" away from the tripod fixing.

I purchased a new Manfrotto 190XPROB tripod and 496RC2 ball head 9 months ago for my Nikon D300S, and I have been very happy with it. It easily supports the heavy camera (with extra battery pack and external flash), and the ball head provides wonderful freedom. Occassionally I wish it was a little taller, but that is minor. I would purchase the Manfrotto short center column, though, if you take ground level shots. Sliding the taller center column up and sideways made for some unstability with a heavy camera.

mlackey said:

I'd go with an Manfrotto 055X (or similar). I have a Manfrotto 190X that's rock solid but for sale on ebay right now beacuse I'm 5'10" and it's just too short for me.

Click to expand...

I agree the:

055XPROB Maximum Height: 70.3" (178.5 cm) w/o Column Extended 55.9" (142 cm)

190XPROB: Maximum Height 57.5" (146.0 cm) w/o Column Extended 48" (121.9 cm)

mlackey said:

For me a ballhead is so much better than a pan/tilt head. For me there is no downside, only an upside: the ability to quickly adjust the camera in three axes in one swift move. A word of advice, spend more money than you think you should, a quality ballhead is not cheap. It's like being a kid and your parents kept telling you the stove was hot: you didn't really understand until you touched it.

Click to expand...

Agree again

The Manfrotto 498RC2 Midi Ball Head with 200PL-14 QR Plate is a nice head.

It has an extra nob for panoramic rotation. Though you do have to level the tripod by the legs or a leveling base for pano shot.

I level mine by the legs using a fence post level attached to the bottom part of the center column between the legs.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100124903/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

The Ball Head on my wish list is the Acratech GP Ball Head.

Acratech video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0K_QVrV_-M

--
Norm

Norm Neely said:

mlackey said:

I'd go with an Manfrotto 055X (or similar). I have a Manfrotto 190X that's rock solid but for sale on ebay right now beacuse I'm 5'10" and it's just too short for me.

Click to expand...

I agree the:

055XPROB Maximum Height: 70.3" (178.5 cm) w/o Column Extended 55.9" (142 cm)

190XPROB: Maximum Height 57.5" (146.0 cm) w/o Column Extended 48" (121.9 cm)

Click to expand...

Thanks - one drawback of the 055 is the closed length; the 190XPROB at 57 cm is much more easily carried in aircraft cabin luggage. But the extra 30 cms height would be useful. But 4-section ones which might meet both criteria are presumably less stable and/or more expensive. Hmmm.

Thanks also for the recommendations re heads - very useful.

Norm Neely said:

The Ball Head on my wish list is the Acratech GP Ball Head.

Click to expand...

A Really Right Stuff head is in the same price range, and they are really, really nice.

Mike