-
Welcome to the new forums! Please read this first. For known issues we are working to resolve, click here.
D810 Tripods, what are you using?
- Thread starter AM4L
- Start date
-
- Tags
- nikon d810
Since it never leaves the building I picked a heavy Gitzo series 3 aluminum 3-section tripod, model GT 3330.
I use two heads:
A Gitzo G2380 fluid head
Manfrotto 410 geared head with fine and coarse knobs for all 3 axes. It's fantastic for high mag macro work using a bellows or a reversed lens.
This all may seem like overkill but with a fully extended PB-4 bellows, D810 and a Nikkor 200mm f4 D I need all the mass and rigidity the system delivers.
I use two heads:
A Gitzo G2380 fluid head
Manfrotto 410 geared head with fine and coarse knobs for all 3 axes. It's fantastic for high mag macro work using a bellows or a reversed lens.
This all may seem like overkill but with a fully extended PB-4 bellows, D810 and a Nikkor 200mm f4 D I need all the mass and rigidity the system delivers.
Last edited:
larrywilson
Veteran Member
According to this forum hardly anyone uses an old fashion tripod 
I'm old fashion and use a Gitzo GT 3531 which is out of production I think. It has two extensions on the legs and is a carbonite tripod. I use it for my Nikon 300 and 500 lenses with the Kirk King Cobra gimbal head.
I use a lighter tripod for my short lenses. Its a "Three Legged Thing", is carbonite with 4 leg extensions. It fits into my carry on bag. I use the Kirk b1 ball head on it.
Now if I could only catch up with the times and get a camera and lens that will not only stabilize the camera for hand holding, but also stabilize the moving subject.
Larry
I'm old fashion and use a Gitzo GT 3531 which is out of production I think. It has two extensions on the legs and is a carbonite tripod. I use it for my Nikon 300 and 500 lenses with the Kirk King Cobra gimbal head.
I use a lighter tripod for my short lenses. Its a "Three Legged Thing", is carbonite with 4 leg extensions. It fits into my carry on bag. I use the Kirk b1 ball head on it.
Now if I could only catch up with the times and get a camera and lens that will not only stabilize the camera for hand holding, but also stabilize the moving subject.
Larry
AM4L
Senior Member
I have a Gitzo as well, carbon, not sure of model number I inherited from my late father, however, I think I need something more substantial to really get the most out of my D810. I have been doing some testing this week. I have a heavier older Bogen, but its pretty beat up. I am interested in shooting some video now as well, so a fluid head interests me. Thanks for the reply!According to this forum hardly anyone uses an old fashion tripod
I'm old fashion and use a Gitzo GT 3531 which is out of production I think. It has two extensions on the legs and is a carbonite tripod. I use it for my Nikon 300 and 500 lenses with the Kirk King Cobra gimbal head.
I use a lighter tripod for my short lenses. Its a "Three Legged Thing", is carbonite with 4 leg extensions. It fits into my carry on bag. I use the Kirk b1 ball head on it.
Now if I could only catch up with the times and get a camera and lens that will not only stabilize the camera for hand holding, but also stabilize the moving subject.
Larry
AM4L
Senior Member
The manfrotto head looks promising, thanks for posting!Since it never leaves the building I picked a heavy Gitzo series 3 aluminum 3-section tripod, model GT 3330.
I use two heads:
A Gitzo G2380 fluid head
Manfrotto 410 geared head with fine and coarse knobs for all 3 axes. It's fantastic for high mag macro work using a bellows or a reversed lens.
This all may seem like overkill but with a fully extended PB-4 bellows, D810 and a Nikkor 200mm f4 D I need all the mass and rigidity the system delivers.
--
MF Lens Website - www.nikkorglass.com
Gallery BLOLG - www.roaringstar.com
Book - www.AM4L.com
Mark
Cameron Habib
Leading Member
I use a carbon Gitzo (GK1580TQD4) with the included ballhead. The head isn't my favorite (not many features, could stand to lose a little weight) but the legs are top notch, and about as light as they come.
I agree!
FWIW I originally had a Gitzo ball head and hated it. With a telephoto lens I couldn't make fine adjustments no matter how I adjusted the friction control. I find the Gitzo G2380 fluid head to be excellent for both video and stills.
BTW the Manfrotto 410 geared head ($269) is rated at 11 lbs. If you have some monster lenses you might consider the 405, ($499) which is rated at 16.5 lbs
IMHO these ratings are conservative.
This video compares them.
Last edited:
One of the sturdier Benro's, price for performance I'm pretty happy with it, hasn't shown any wear in the two years I've had it. More than likely I'd buy it again, but if I had found something close to the price on the used market I might go with that instead.
Slugsworth
Forum Enthusiast
When I'm not shooting H/H, I match my D810 (&D4s) with my 400 f/2.8E & 500 f/4VR most of the time, I use the tried and proven CF-Gitzo GT3540LS & Markins M20 with the Wimberley sidekick, I've lugged this all through Africa, in sand, mud, etc the last 10 yrs since I purchased this and has never let me down, plus it's "reasonably" light weight being CF.......just the "ducks guts" ;-)
--
https://500px.com/africaddict
--
https://500px.com/africaddict
Last edited:
KenEis
Senior Member
I gave up on Manfroto long ago because of the camera plate. Those cork faced plates can't be tightened enough to spot saging with a longer lens. The Arca-Swiss plates are way better. I have an L bracket on my 810 and its rock solid. This is more of a concern then the brand of tripod.
Gitzo Giant 4-series (the next-to-the-biggest one). Very solid - I sometimes use 3-4 shots multiple exposure to get enough flash on a subject for smaller aperture for focus across the image plane, and haven't had significant problems with pixel-level shifts between clicks.
I sometimes wish I had bought the 5-series (a foot more height), but it's two pounds more.
It's nice to be able to get up above parked cars, pedestrians, fence lines, stone walls, etc. in the view from the road. I found that a 4-foot platform ladder is a great accessory, if a bit bulky at times. I had fallen off my 4-foot stepladder a couple of times on uneven ground, and decided that at my age, it wasn't smart to keep that up too long.
I sometimes wish I had bought the 5-series (a foot more height), but it's two pounds more.
It's nice to be able to get up above parked cars, pedestrians, fence lines, stone walls, etc. in the view from the road. I found that a 4-foot platform ladder is a great accessory, if a bit bulky at times. I had fallen off my 4-foot stepladder a couple of times on uneven ground, and decided that at my age, it wasn't smart to keep that up too long.
I disagree on the geared head. Any time I'm going for precise framing to keep every pixel, I save 10x the time and many wasted shots compared to trying to align with just the ball head to get the plane of focus parallel to the sensor or parallels straight up and down. It always shifts just enough when tightening to throw off alignment 1/4 degree or more, way too much.
Geomaticsman
Senior Member
Now replaced by the GT3452XLS. I don't use a tripod much when I do, but one thing I have learned is that if you're tall (like approaching 6 feet) and setup in the field, it's important that your tripod extends high enough such that you're not having to bend over for long periods of time -- I would think that would go doubly true for video work. The GT3452XLS has three leg extensions...at 6'1" tall, I don't need the third extension on flat ground, but anytime I'm set up on uneven ground that third extension come in mighty handy.
Just sayin...
FWIW I use a BH55 for short lenses and a Wimberley gimbal for my 600mm.
--
Gary -- Some Nikon stuff -- and a preference for wildlife in natural light
www.pbase.com/garyirwin
Just sayin...
FWIW I use a BH55 for short lenses and a Wimberley gimbal for my 600mm.
--
Gary -- Some Nikon stuff -- and a preference for wildlife in natural light
www.pbase.com/garyirwin
Last edited:
Microshooter
Senior Member
The Manfrotto 410 works like a charm. Have used one for my D800 since I bought the D800. Holds everything solid as a rock and fine adjustments are a breeze. I use it on a heavier duty geared column tripod so that I have fine adjustments for height rather than just tilting with the head. Sometimes I want to be straight on for macro shots...and sometimes angled up or down...so the geared column gets it done. The 410 never leaves the geared tripod and is dedicated to macro shots indoors or outdoors.
--
Dan
"I never read, I just look at pictures"- Andy Warhol
Currently shoot with Nikon D800, V1/V2, Sony HX400V, Lumix ZS40 & LX7
--
Dan
"I never read, I just look at pictures"- Andy Warhol
Currently shoot with Nikon D800, V1/V2, Sony HX400V, Lumix ZS40 & LX7
Osvaldo Cristo
Senior Member
Marc,
As most people I knew, my first tripod was a very cheap one: something I paid around USD 20-30 on the beginnings of 1990s.
My first "serious" tripod was a venerable Manfrotto 055 aluminium with a ball head from the same manufacturer that served me for years since the end of the last millennium until to be replaced by a Gitzo G1227 and an Acratech Ultimate ballhead on 2004 (I think so). I modified it replacing its center column by a base from Kirk so I could go at ground level with no gymnastics.
When my interest for macrophotography increased I decided for another tripod although using the same ball head: Gitzo GT2531EX five or six years ago. I am plenty happy with this set up. Very sturdy, 2,020 grams only (including head) and its movable arm give it an odd flexibility and it does not stop to surprise me despite such articulation possibility it maintains very stable!
I am using the same Acratech Ultimate ballhead after more than ten years. It is also a surprise as it can be so durable as I use it frequently and under all kind of abuses: salt water, mud, mechanical impacts, etc.
All the best,
--
O.Cristo - An Amateur Photographer
Opinions of men are almost as various as their faces - so many men so many minds. B. Franklin
Last edited:
Keyboard shortcuts
- f
- Forum