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Tripods & Heads

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Priapus

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So today I went to my local pro-shop and started trying to figure my way through the morass of tripod options avaialbel to me. All I have to say is GASP!

To get a system that does what I want I'm staring down the barrel of US$1k+. This is insane! All I need is a reasonably stable tripod with quick release plate(s) so that I can have a few - one for the camera body one for my each of my big tele's, etc. 1k! eeeeeep

Can anyone point me towards a more reasonable option(s)?

--
'Live together as brothers, or die together as fools.'
Martin Luther King Jr.
 
Are you going to lug this gear around a lot? What body are you using? What lenses? Do you prefer ballheads or pan?

These types of things will help recommend either carbon fiber or not..etc etc.

Teski
Eric Sobalvarro said:
So today I went to my local pro-shop and started trying to figure
my way through the morass of tripod options avaialbel to me. All I
have to say is GASP!

To get a system that does what I want I'm staring down the barrel
of US$1k+. This is insane! All I need is a reasonably stable
tripod with quick release plate(s) so that I can have a few - one
for the camera body one for my each of my big tele's, etc. 1k!
eeeeeep

Can anyone point me towards a more reasonable option(s)?

--
'Live together as brothers, or die together as fools.'
Martin Luther King Jr.
Click to expand...
 
Eric,

I suggest you read Thom Hogan's article--Tripods 101.

http://www.bythom.com/support.htm

I hate to say it, but I agree with him. I wish I had known about that article BEFORE I bought my first tripod. I am now looking to buy YET ANOTHER tripod--one that will REALLY fill my needs. I have come to understand the longer I do this, the more "must have" gear I acquire, the heavier my bag becomes. I am ONLY considering carbon fiber tripods now.

If you can get by with 1K, you are doing very well! I'll be interested in seeing what you decide to do.

Brendon (Group Idiot) posted a message recently about a 'pod that he loves. You might want to do a search for that thread.

Hope this helps.

Janice
Eric Sobalvarro said:
So today I went to my local pro-shop and started trying to figure
my way through the morass of tripod options avaialbel to me. All I
have to say is GASP!

To get a system that does what I want I'm staring down the barrel
of US$1k+. This is insane! All I need is a reasonably stable
tripod with quick release plate(s) so that I can have a few - one
for the camera body one for my each of my big tele's, etc. 1k!
eeeeeep

Can anyone point me towards a more reasonable option(s)?

--
'Live together as brothers, or die together as fools.'
Martin Luther King Jr.
Click to expand...
--
Have camera, will travel :-)
http://homepage.mac.com/janice_legler/
 
I have the Gitzo 1228 Carbon Fiber tripod and the Kirk BH-3 ballhead. I have the custom L-Bracket for my S2 and the replacement shoe for the 70-200 AFS VR. This combo does add up to over $900.

Teski
Teski said:
These types of things will help recommend either carbon fiber or
not..etc etc.

Teski
Eric Sobalvarro said:
So today I went to my local pro-shop and started trying to figure
my way through the morass of tripod options avaialbel to me. All I
have to say is GASP!

To get a system that does what I want I'm staring down the barrel
of US$1k+. This is insane! All I need is a reasonably stable
tripod with quick release plate(s) so that I can have a few - one
for the camera body one for my each of my big tele's, etc. 1k!
eeeeeep

Can anyone point me towards a more reasonable option(s)?

--
'Live together as brothers, or die together as fools.'
Martin Luther King Jr.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I shoot tons of action shots of my kids with the 80-200 (now the 70-200 VR) handheld. My largest lens is the 70-200 VR. I take lots of candid shots of my and other people kids. I do very little landscape stuff. I use my tripod for portraits of my kids, a few of friends, and to take shots of stuff for EBAY. I bought a Bogen 3021 with the matched Pan/Tilt head about 10 years ago and meets my needs. It's heavy, I don't like it, but it only cost $120. I'd love the $1200-1500 setups the heavy users recommend here, but my next $1500 is going towards the 28-70 AFS...joe
Eric Sobalvarro said:
So today I went to my local pro-shop and started trying to figure
my way through the morass of tripod options avaialbel to me. All I
have to say is GASP!

To get a system that does what I want I'm staring down the barrel
of US$1k+. This is insane! All I need is a reasonably stable
tripod with quick release plate(s) so that I can have a few - one
for the camera body one for my each of my big tele's, etc. 1k!
eeeeeep

Can anyone point me towards a more reasonable option(s)?

--
'Live together as brothers, or die together as fools.'
Martin Luther King Jr.
Click to expand...
 
Are you going to lug this gear around a lot? Not really, at least I don't think so - I'd get a monopod if I was doing much "lugging".

What body are you using? D100

What lenses? 80-200 AF-S & Sigma 50-500

Do you prefer ballheads or pan? I don't really know the difference, whichever is cheaper :)
 
I'm a rank amateur - I'm doing my damndest to learn good handheld techniques, but I wanted to complete my kit and the pod is all I'm missing now.
 
Thom Hogans article is good info.

I have been using a bogen 3233 tripod with 3039 head.
Plenty heavy enuf for studio D100 and D1HX with up to 80-200mm.

Brendons advice is great also.
Gitzo 1325 and G1321 with Arca Swiss B1.
This is the ultimate.

Over the years, I started out with a Slick U212 Deluxe with a pistol grip and worked up over time to the Gitzo setup listed above.

Got good pictures all the time.

Birger
 
If you want a good solid, versatile, built-like-a-tank, tripod, I recommend the Bogen 3021N ($117) wiith the Bogen 488RCO ball head ($76) and a spare plate ($17). Total: $210. I have been lugging around the older version of this combo for a few years. I wrapped 1/2 inch closed cell foam mattress material around the upper portion of the legs and wrapped duct tape around the foam. This provides insulation for handling in the cold, and makes it easier on the shoulder when carrying it from stand to stand.

If you want to browse and be able to see what things look like, I recommend http://www.adorama.com . Even if you dont buy stuff from them, their web site lets you see what most things look like. They also tell you how much weight the various models will support.
Cheers
'It's all about light'
Don McVee
http://www.pbase.com/mcveed/gallery01
http://www3.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=92755
 
So would this head allow me to quickly attach and detach different things like my camera body and lenses?

That is - are there plates that I can leave attached to the lens rings and to the botton of my camera that'll allow me to switch instantaneously, w/o needing to thread the screw each time?
 
I have been using a Bogen 3021 (2021?Been so long, I forget the numbers) tripod for years. I have the grey plastic foam pipe insulation wrapped around the upper legs and would suggest you look into the Bogen 3047 3-way head. I still use the 3047 heads for 4x5 and 8x10 work, though on 3036 legs. The Bogen hex-head quick release plates are economical and work well. I have stayed with them because Bogen makes large format plates that fit their hex system and I can use any camera on any 'pod. Bogen also has specialty plates, one has a stop on it, for anti-rotation and another is an "L" bracket, makes switching from horz to vert a snap. I would think you could do the whole thing for about $250. I put my 4x5 on the 3021 (2021?) in a pinch, though I prefer the larger pod for the heavier weight. I do use my Pentax 645 with 80-160 zoom with no problems. I have since added a Linhof ball head, which is fantastic, the new in the box price second-hand was easy to take, about $150 ($550 @ B&H). Bogen does make a smaller QR, a rectangular plate, you can usually find these in stock at many camera shops.
Eric Sobalvarro said:
So would this head allow me to quickly attach and detach different
things like my camera body and lenses?

That is - are there plates that I can leave attached to the lens
rings and to the botton of my camera that'll allow me to switch
instantaneously, w/o needing to thread the screw each time?
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/baywing
 
You can get by for a lot less than $1k if you shop around and if you don't need the lightest, high-tech carbon stuff. I recently picked up a Gitzo G320 on eBay for ~$200, perfect condition, stable enough for my camera/lenses. You can get heavier weight versions of Gitzo's metal tripods (i.e. 4 Series), used on eBay, for less than $300 I would think.

For a head, a Linhoff Profi-II Ballhead for example can be found on eBay also for under $200, or any of the better Bogen/Manfrotto 3D tilt/pan heads for under $100.

Adding an RRS quick release to the ballhead or tilt/pan head, plus 3-4 RRS (or Kirk) plates will set you back another ~$250 for new ones.

For a pretty decent setup, mostly purchased used (good+ condition), your range should be $500-700.
 
No, Thom. Your opinions are very much appreciated. The issue that I hated to agree with you about was that it was going to cost the big bucks to get a tripod set up that would be right for him! Sorry if I seemed to slam you--not intentional. ;-)

Janice
Thom Hogan said:
JW Legler said:
http://www.bythom.com/support.htm

I hate to say it, but I agree with him.
Click to expand...
You hate to say you agree with me? Are my opinions really THAT bad?
; )

--
Thom Hogan
author, Nikon Field Guide
author, Nikon Flash Guide
author, Complete Guide to the Nikon D100
author, Complete Guide to the Nikon D1, D1h, & D1x
http://www.bythom.com
Click to expand...
--
Have camera, will travel :-)
http://homepage.mac.com/janice_legler/
 
Just to interject a

That's what I went for, and have been very satisfied so far. But I don't know if Thom would recommend it for the Sigma 50-500, which weighs over 4 pounds. Might be fine if you hang some extra weight (e. g., your camera bag) from the pod for extra stability.

Ray Ritchie
JW Legler said:
I suggest you read Thom Hogan's article--Tripods 101.

http://www.bythom.com/support.htm

I hate to say it, but I agree with him. I wish I had known about
that article BEFORE I bought my first tripod. I am now looking to
buy YET ANOTHER tripod--one that will REALLY fill my needs. I have
come to understand the longer I do this, the more "must have" gear
I acquire, the heavier my bag becomes. I am ONLY considering
carbon fiber tripods now.

If you can get by with 1K, you are doing very well! I'll be
interested in seeing what you decide to do.

Brendon (Group Idiot) posted a message recently about a 'pod that
he loves. You might want to do a search for that thread.

Hope this helps.

Janice
Eric Sobalvarro said:
So today I went to my local pro-shop and started trying to figure
my way through the morass of tripod options avaialbel to me. All I
have to say is GASP!

To get a system that does what I want I'm staring down the barrel
of US$1k+. This is insane! All I need is a reasonably stable
tripod with quick release plate(s) so that I can have a few - one
for the camera body one for my each of my big tele's, etc. 1k!
eeeeeep

Can anyone point me towards a more reasonable option(s)?

--
'Live together as brothers, or die together as fools.'
Martin Luther King Jr.
Click to expand...
--
Have camera, will travel :-)
http://homepage.mac.com/janice_legler/
Click to expand...
--
Ray Ritchie
 
Ray,

What type of photography do you normally do?

Under what conditions are your using your tripod setup?

Have you found any situations where you wish you had gone a different direction with your tripod/head combination?

I am heading to Alaska towards the end of the summer, and am looking for something light that will also work in my portrait and wedding photography. I am trying to decide between the Hakuba and a Gitzo, and the Acratech Ultimate and the Arca-Swiss B1. As soon as I can find the time, I am heading to a camera shop that carries them both so that I can compare them side by side. I would rather spend money on a new lens than the

I also want to start shooting macro stuff and wildlife. How does your tripod/head combination work in those situations (panning, getting down-low-and-personal)?

Thanks,
JW
Ray Ritchie said:
That's what I went for, and have been very satisfied so far. But I
don't know if Thom would recommend it for the Sigma 50-500, which
weighs over 4 pounds. Might be fine if you hang some extra weight
(e. g., your camera bag) from the pod for extra stability.

Ray Ritchie
JW Legler said:
Eric,

I suggest you read Thom Hogan's article--Tripods 101.

http://www.bythom.com/support.htm

I hate to say it, but I agree with him. I wish I had known about
that article BEFORE I bought my first tripod. I am now looking to
buy YET ANOTHER tripod--one that will REALLY fill my needs. I have
come to understand the longer I do this, the more "must have" gear
I acquire, the heavier my bag becomes. I am ONLY considering
carbon fiber tripods now.

If you can get by with 1K, you are doing very well! I'll be
interested in seeing what you decide to do.

Brendon (Group Idiot) posted a message recently about a 'pod that
he loves. You might want to do a search for that thread.

Hope this helps.

Janice
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Have camera, will travel :-)
http://homepage.mac.com/janice_legler/
 
JW,

I can't give you a very authoritative assessment of the relative merits of the Hakuba/ Acratech vs. other alternatives, as I'm an amateur, and this "lower cost" setup is still by far the most expensive I've ever owned. But I'll try to respond to your questions below:
JW Legler said:
Ray,

What type of photography do you normally do?
Click to expand...
In the past, dominantly landscapes, secondarily family photos (some family portraits from tripod). Now, I've been getting very interested in branching out. I've been shooting some wildlife (birds and deer in the backyard), trying to gain enough experience to get ready for a trip to Yellowstone in May. My longest lens currently is a 70-210 zoom, but I'm hoping to pick up a Sigma 100-300 f4 and maybe the 1.4TC in the next month or so.

I feel pretty confident in my tripod setup for that combo, but am not sure about how it would do for longer lenses. I know from private communication with Thom that he has a concern that the head+load to platform weight ratio gets too large with the longer lenses and might make this lightweight setup less stable and prone to tipping in some situations. The load ratings of both the Hakuba and the Acratech are ample to bear some pretty heavy glass - it's just a question of stability under a wide variety of leg configurations.
Janice Legler said:
Under what conditions are your using your tripod setup?
Click to expand...
Pretty benign so far. I've only had the tripod and head for about two months. Besides using it from my den, shooting through windows, I've only had it out on grass, sand, and gravel. Haven't tested it on hiking/ backpacking trips on severely uneven terrain yet. But I have used it from very low (with legs splayed out at very shallow angles) to maximum height, and haven't felt the setup was the key limitation to my photos yet.
Janice Legler said:
Have you found any situations where you wish you had gone a
different direction with your tripod/head combination?
Click to expand...
About the only criticism I'd have at this point is that the Acratech seems to have a very slight amount of creep - that is, after I frame the shot as I wish, it may sag a slight bit when I remove my hands from the camera. I don't have experience with the more expensive options like Arca-Swiss B1 and Kirk equivalent, so I can't say how much better, if at all, they would be. For me, cost was a big issue. I didn't want to be sorry and purchase something that wouldn't last me a long time, but the cost of the Gitzo with an Acra-Swiss or Kirk ballhead just seemed way too high for my pocketbook (I had blown most of my hobby budget on the D100 and AFS 24-85 only a few months ago). From talking to Thom, Brendan and others, I concluded this setup was OK for my purposes.
Janice Legler said:
I am heading to Alaska towards the end of the summer, and am
looking for something light that will also work in my portrait and
wedding photography. I am trying to decide between the Hakuba and
a Gitzo, and the Acratech Ultimate and the Arca-Swiss B1. As soon
as I can find the time, I am heading to a camera shop that carries
them both so that I can compare them side by side.
Click to expand...
That seems wise to me. I envy you for your Alaska plans!
Janice Legler said:
I would rather
spend money on a new lens than the
want to kick myself that I didn't go the course and get the
Gitzo/Arca-Swiss combination.

I also want to start shooting macro stuff and wildlife. How does
your tripod/head combination work in those situations (panning,
getting down-low-and-personal)?
Click to expand...
I think it's fine for those applications. One nice feature of the Hakuba is that it comes with an extra (shorter) center column, allowing you to get down to about a foot off the ground for your flower/ macro work.
Janice Legler said:
Thanks,
JW
Ray Ritchie said:
Just to interject a
lower-cost option of a Hakuba carbon-fiber and an Acratech Ultimate
ballhead. This setup runs about $650 with a Kirk plate.

That's what I went for, and have been very satisfied so far. But I
don't know if Thom would recommend it for the Sigma 50-500, which
weighs over 4 pounds. Might be fine if you hang some extra weight
(e. g., your camera bag) from the pod for extra stability.

Ray Ritchie
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Ray-

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions so thoroughly. I haven't gotten one of the big lenses yet--biggest I have is 28-200. However, I don't want "creep" when I have a shot setup. Is there a way to tighten down the Acretech to avoid this? Even a little bit would be too much when doing macro stuff.

Sorry for not responding earlier. I am just now catching up on posts and email.

Janice
Ray Ritchie said:
Ray Ritchie said:
Have you found any situations where you wish you had gone a
different direction with your tripod/head combination?
Click to expand...
About the only criticism I'd have at this point is that the
Acratech seems to have a very slight amount of creep - that is,
after I frame the shot as I wish, it may sag a slight bit when I
remove my hands from the camera. I don't have experience with the
more expensive options like Arca-Swiss B1 and Kirk equivalent, so I
can't say how much better, if at all, they would be. For me, cost
was a big issue.
Click to expand...
I am tagging along with my husband--he has a three week business trip. I am going to photograph while he is working! I can't wait.
Ray Ritchie said:
Ray Ritchie said:
I am heading to Alaska towards the end of the summer, and am
looking for something light that will also work in my portrait and
wedding photography. I am trying to decide between the Hakuba and
a Gitzo, and the Acratech Ultimate and the Arca-Swiss B1. As soon
as I can find the time, I am heading to a camera shop that carries
them both so that I can compare them side by side.
Click to expand...
That seems wise to me. I envy you for your Alaska plans!
Click to expand...
That IS a nice feature.
Ray Ritchie said:
One nice feature of the
Hakuba is that it comes with an extra (shorter) center column,
allowing you to get down to about a foot off the ground for your
flower/ macro work.
Click to expand...
Tha
nks again,
Janice
--
Have camera, will travel :-)

http://homepage.mac.com/janice_legler/
http://www.pbase.com/jwlegler
 
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