For our tall members, (6ft+). what height tripod do you use?

MichaelFrederickPhoto · Jul 21, 2018

I have two tripods, a cheap Sunpak 6ft I used with my old D50 but I bought a travel CF Benro with my new D750.

The more I use it, the more I don’t like having to extend the neck to get some height from it as I am 6’4. I just find it to not be stable enough for my liking.

I am shopping for a new one that will be a minimum 69 inches with no entension tube but the taller the better. The Benro 488 goes up to 83inches and is very high on my radar.

I am not looking for suggestions on models but curious what height my fellow giants are using.

Ragnar Jensen · Jul 22, 2018

I'm four inches shorter than you. My tallest tripod, a Sirui R-5214XL, is 79 inches at its maximum. I have the optional center column which gives me another 25 inches. The center column sees use pretty much only indoors, for situations where I might want to fine-tune the height in small increments.

Hosko · Jul 22, 2018

I use a RRS 24L and is great for taller photographers.

Hoof Arted · Jul 22, 2018

At 6'2" I'm no giant but I just now measured my Manfrotto MK055XPRO3-BHQ2.

With legs fully extended = 61.5 inches to top of plate
Legs fully extended with camera mounted = 66 inches to viewfinder (a couple inches below my eye level)
plus 16 inches of center column available

avalvo · Jul 22, 2018

http://jobu-design.3dcartstores.com/Algonquin-Carbon-Tripod_p_122.html

TALL AND ROBUST.

BBbuilder467 · Jul 22, 2018

TheMB3Life said:
I have two tripods, a cheap Sunpak 6ft I used with my old D50 but I bought a travel CF Benro with my new D750.

The more I use it, the more I don’t like having to extend the neck to get some height from it as I am 6’4. I just find it to not be stable enough for my liking.

I am shopping for a new one that will be a minimum 69 inches with no entension tube but the taller the better. The Benro 488 goes up to 83inches and is very high on my radar.

I am not looking for suggestions on models but curious what height my fellow giants are using.

calson · Jul 22, 2018

I need a 4-6 inch taller tripod when photographing birds or mammals way up a tree or on a hillside than I would otherwise.

A secondary concern is how short the legs are when fully collapsed, which is why I have one tripod for car travel and a shorter when collapsed one for air travel.

bobkoure · Jul 22, 2018

I use two Benro 'Combination' series tripods (systematic type, no column at all)

COM28C (4 sections, 53.3" tall, 20.5" folded, 3.97lb, 29mm top tube dia)
COM48CL( 4 sections, 58.3" tall, 22.4" folded, 5.31lb, 36mm top tube dia)

I'm 'only' 6'1" tall. I have to stoop for the 28C, The 48CL is marginally too tall for me. I use the 28 for airplane travel. There was also a COM 48CXL that's 70.3" tall.

This series has been discontinued by Benro. Other than flip locks instead of twist, it's exactly the same as the Induro 'grand' series. The flips were why I got them as I'm sometimes in sand/surf and I despise cleaning sand out of twist locks. As a plus, the flips are lighter than the twist (equivalent models are about a half lb lighter).

There was also a COM47AXL, made of alu, 71" tall, almost a lb heavier than the CF. I've seen these on eBay for under $200.

Does your camera have a tilting liveview panel? I've recently added a camera with this to my collection, and it's completely changed my attitude about having a camera below eye level.

MichaelFrederickPhoto · Jul 22, 2018

Yes the d750 has a tilting screen and has been my savior so far. I really want to get away from using the extension tube as much as I can so anything under 65 inches is useless for my needs. I will keep my current one for travel needs.

Mr Keys · Jul 23, 2018

I will follow this thread as it is of interest for me too. I'm 197cm tall. Not really sure what that is i feet and inches. Is 6'6 correct?

bobkoure · Jul 23, 2018

Mr Keys said:
I will follow this thread as it is of interest for me too. I'm 197cm tall. Not really sure what that is i feet and inches. Is 6'6 correct?

FWIW, my converter tells me that 197cm is 6' 5 9/16". Also, wow. If you're in Europe, how do you not bang your head on, well, everything? I went to school in Normandy (France) and at 6'1" (185.5cm), I had a constant sore on my head from banging into things...

Mr Keys · Jul 23, 2018

Haha, well, Sweden, we’re pretty tall here in general, but yes, you get a somewhat hardened skull after a while I guess!

tex · Jul 23, 2018

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079KNWZPS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and here: http://en.leofoto.cn/products_detail.php?id=174

I'm 5-11. I can walk under it without bending over. Very stable, using it with the 645Z.

HRC2016 · Jul 23, 2018

Why do you need a tripod that matches your height? This seems to be backward thinking.

I'm above average height. Sometimes I stoop, sit, kneel or lie down to get the shot I want. Sometimes I hold the camera above my head, sometimes I hold my tripod above my head.

If I could find a tripod that's close to my height it would be quite unstable and probably quite large to carry.

CameraCarl · Jul 23, 2018

I am 6'1" and can walk under my Gitzo XL. And it is amazing how often I am extending at least one of the legs to its full length.

bobkoure · Jul 23, 2018

HRC2016 said:
Why do you need a tripod that matches your height? This seems to be backward thinking.

I'm above average height. Sometimes I stoop, sit, kneel or lie down to get the shot I want. Sometimes I hold the camera above my head, sometimes I hold my tripod above my head.

If I could find a tripod that's close to my height it would be quite unstable and probably quite large to carry.

It's a function of what you're doing. For instance, with a long lens and gimbal, you'd want it a bit taller than your eye height. Front of the lens goes up, rear (including camera and viewfinder) goes down. I see BIF shooters with huge tripods.

I'm starting to get into astro. I use my taller tripod pretty much for the same reason, the downwards motion isn't as dramatic (camera on ballhead) but it's still an issue.

It's that or bring a camp stool along.

Bing Chow · Jul 23, 2018

HRC2016 said:
Why do you need a tripod that matches your height? This seems to be backward thinking.

Sometimes the terrain is uneven and the extra length can help the legs find purchase while allowing you to stand upright. If the composition can be at eye level, then it's very comfortable. Otherwise, you're forced to lower the camera and you're stooping.

HRC2016 said:
If I could find a tripod that's close to my height it would be quite unstable and probably quite large to carry.

Unstable? No. Not if you buy a good one and you don't use a center column. Are they big and heavy. Well, that's up to you to decide. Personally, I don't find a 4-5lb tripod (legs only) is too big. I see tripods and ballheads as mandatory, so I'm very willing to carry it.

Ellis Vener · Jul 23, 2018

I am 6’5”

i currently use a ProMediaGear TR344L tripod and my standard heads with this tripod are an old Arca-Swiss B1 Monoball and a Really Right Stuff PG-02.gimbal / multirow panorama rig.

with the legs fully extended on the TR-344L the apex or crown of the tripod is above my head but that is fine by me as it means I don’t have to work with the legs full extended when I am on level ground and can pretty much keep it at eye level on uneven or sloping ground. Also I like having the extra height when I need it.

--
Ellis Vener
To see my work please visit http://www.ellisvener.com
Or on instagram @therealellisv

tex · Jul 24, 2018

of tripods. At full extension I use a stepladder with mine---I won't go into why if you can't already imagine the possibilities of high angle shots, or the need to get closer to the center of something tall, or all sorts of other needs.

Anyway, I was responding to a call out from the OP.

MichaelFrederickPhoto · Jul 24, 2018

Bing Chow said:
HRC2016 said:

Why do you need a tripod that matches your height? This seems to be backward thinking.

Click to expand...

Sometimes the terrain is uneven and the extra length can help the legs find purchase while allowing you to stand upright. If the composition can be at eye level, then it's very comfortable. Otherwise, you're forced to lower the camera and you're stooping.

Bing Chow said:

If I could find a tripod that's close to my height it would be quite unstable and probably quite large to carry.

Click to expand...

Unstable? No. Not if you buy a good one and you don't use a center column. Are they big and heavy. Well, that's up to you to decide. Personally, I don't find a 4-5lb tripod (legs only) is too big. I see tripods and ballheads as mandatory, so I'm very willing to carry it.

Exactly for that reason!! I like to hike in the woods for shots and I may need to use feet 1-2 feet lower than me or to be able to spread the legs wide for support.

For our tall members, (6ft+). what height tripod do you use?

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