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Tripod recommendations

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Tim Lauro said:
had to post it :)
Click to expand...
gosh, I'd never fall for a guy who lists his gear in his sig... makes me wonder what he lists as his gear on the dating forums! LOL!!!!!

Sorry, couldn't resist either!!!!!!! ;)

Lonnit LOLing!
pdqgp said:
lonnit said:
See, this is why I love you all. Within moments I get all the info
I need on whatever question arises! You guys are the best!

BTW, for the record, I'm not an idiot; my typing is just sloppy! LOL!

Here goes... whole new train of thought. I'm not happy with the
compromises I'll have to make, so this is what I'm going to do:

Forget the ball head for now. Let's look at tripods with standard
heads right now, within the $100 - $150 range. I will buy that now
and LATER I can add the ball head, after hubby gets over the tripod
purchase. :) This way, I don't have the huge investment all at
once, and who knows, I might start making money selling stock and
I'll be able to justify going for an even better ball head later! I
can spend anything I want on this as long as it's paying for
itself. :)

So, what are your recommendations now? Essential is lightest
possible weight and quick release, the ability to add the ballhead
later, strong enough to hold my bag should I desire to clip it on
for stabilization (I don't need an actual hook on the tripod as I
have plenty of clips on the backpack that can wrap around the
center post supports - so lets be sure the supports can handle that
if it doesn't have a clip! Hmmmmm.... perhaps we ought to look for
one with a hook so taht we know it's made to handle it?)

I think this is being much more reasonable, right?

Thanks,
Lonnit

--
Please visit my gallery at http://pbase.com/lonnit
and offer your comments. The fastest way for me to learn is when
you tell me what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong, what you
like and what you don't. I welcome all opinions. :)



WARNING: 10D-itis is contagious!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
--
-tim
Canon 1 0 D, 24-70mm/f2.8 L-Series, 75-300mm/f4-5.6 IS, 35mm f2,
Canon 4 2 0EX Speedlight
Sony 7 1 7, Nikon 9 9 5 & Konica KD-4 0 0 Z
Accessories....tons of course
http://www.pbase.com/pdqgp
Click to expand...
--
Please visit my gallery at http://pbase.com/lonnit

and offer your comments. The fastest way for me to learn is when you tell me what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong, what you like and what you don't. I welcome all opinions. :)



WARNING: 10D-itis is contagious!!!!!!!
 
Like I said earlier I recommend the slik 700dx. I had a Bogen 3021 but it was stolen. I don't know the exact specs but the weight and stabality of both are very close. I started out with the pan head that the slik comes with and have since upgraded to a slik ball head. The QR is the same for both heads so now I have one on the camera and one on my 70-200. The $130 falls right in your price range and you can upgrade to a ballhead later. I went with the slik pro800 head. According the the weight specs the pro800 is a little on the light side but I think they under rated the specs as I have had no problems. You are not limited to and brand with the head, the threads that attach it to legs for the most part are pretty standard. I would also second going to a camera shop and looking at all your options.
 
I too was in the market for a tripod to handle a hefty lens (Bigma) and took to heart the advice to only buy once. That is to buy the tool to get the job done the first time. Not to buy an interim pod/head combo, then spend more good money buying the one you should have bought the first time. Sometimes it's cheaper to go expensive from the start!

I bought the Velbon Carmane 640 (with pan/tilt head) on the local economy in Japan. It put a hurting on the MasterCard, but it is a very nice, light tripod yet sturdy. I would rather have saved around $150 by going to Adorama, but they are out of stock and the cherry blossoms are blooming early (you knew there would be some excuse to justify this!).

Next, I need to get a remote release to unleash the potential in my Bigma. All of this wouldn't be needed if I had hands of 'stone' like some other people using this lens.

Brian
lonnit said:
I've got a cheap tripod that can't handle the weight of my 75-300mm
lens; it just droops forward. Another problem I have, and I don't
know if this applies to better tripods, is that when I'm up on a
city roof shooting, it can be pretty windy. I end up having to
ditch the tripod and rest the camera directly on the parapet wall
(strap always around my neck of course!) or, my latest method,
camera on the tripod and don't let the legs out but sit the tripod
on the parapet wall (again, camera strap always around my neck!).
This last method worked very well for me about 30 stories up, but
I'm terrified of heights when it comes to roofs and I don't go near
the walls. There I was though, gutsy enough to be sitting my tripod
on the ledge and nauseated if I looked anywhere but right thru that
viewfinder! LOL!

Here are my parameters:

Ball head is a must - I'm sick of dealing with unlevel ground and
jerking around with the legs to get the camera level.

Lightweight is essential - I keep it attached to my minitrekker
backpack and I don't want anymore weight than I have to. The bag
already weighs a ton!

Max price in the $100 range - and no, that doesnt' mean $139.95! A
couple $ over, ok, but I really just cannot go more than about $129
and with that I'd really want to include tax.

If possible I'd like it sturdy enough to handle wind.

Please let me know what is the best quality tripod I can get for
the $ that meets these parameters.

Thanks!
Lonnit

--
Please visit my gallery at http://pbase.com/lonnit
and offer your comments. The fastest way for me to learn is when
you tell me what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong, what you
like and what you don't. I welcome all opinions. :)



WARNING: 10D-itis is contagious!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
 
That is about $30 less than the 3221 legs. I got the 3221 instead because it is a little bit taller (I am 6') and stable, but the 3021 ought to serve you well.

Received my legs and lens plate tonight but ain't got no stinkin head yet :(

Gene

--
Gene (the hawkman) - Walk softly and carry a big lens

Please visit my galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/gaocus/

 
Bogen 3001N
Strobo FLM compact ( or standard) ball head
http://www.adorama.com/SBBHC.html?searchinfo=strobo&item_no=1
Generic QR plate system.

Still $150, all up, but you get your ball head, you get you a solid tripod (if a little short) and you get QR.

It' doesn't always have to be brand name. I've been using this strobo head for probably 18months now, and always thought it would be too cheap and I'd move up, but I still haven't. You just can't beat the weight. arca swiss? get real.

Cheers,
Karl P
 
Lonni,

Yes that Joystick will add a couple more inches to the top of the tripod but
then again any head will add some extra length. My biggest worry about
that particular Joystick/Ballhead is that bad reviews I read at PC Photo
where the users said the ball head failed and let thier equipment hit the
ground!

I don't know if those were isolated incidents or not. I looked this head
over good in the local camera store and it seems to be built like a rock. But
Manfrotto has a tendency to use Phenolic (plastic) balls on thier ball heads
and that in general scares me. I would much rather see a 100% machined
aluminum ball than a combination of a phenolic ball molded onto a steel
rod because that plastic can always fracture under load and split away from
the steel rod it is molded on to.

--



http://www.westol.com/~brettd/sd10/gallery/
 
GAO,

I had a hard time finding any reasonably priced tripods that would be tall
enough (without having to extend the center column) for my 6'2" stance.

The 3221 fit the bill perfectly! I don't have to extend the column with my
3030 head and the legs fully extended. It's very stable and very well built
for the money. It's heavy though... I guess that's the downside of it being
real stable :)
GAO said:
That is about $30 less than the 3221 legs. I got the 3221 instead
because it is a little bit taller (I am 6') and stable, but the
3021 ought to serve you well.

Received my legs and lens plate tonight but ain't got no stinkin
head yet :(

Gene

--
Gene (the hawkman) - Walk softly and carry a big lens

Please visit my galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/gaocus/

Click to expand...
--



http://www.westol.com/~brettd/sd10/gallery/
 
Yes, you are likely to buy heavier lenses and need a sturdier tripod later. Wait a while and buy once. Get a good Bogen or Gitzo that will support a heavy lens. Like Abu, I don't like carrying one around much. I use a monopod when I go to the zoo. I use a tripod when I take group photos and want to use a shutter release cable so I can watch for expressions.
 
Hi again lonnit,

another idea - if you really hate to lug a heavy tripod around would be the Hakuba Branner S5. this is the smallest travel tripod that still makes sense with an SLR like the 10D. It is very very compact and very light and comes with a tilt/pan head with quick release.

I have it and use it if I am not sure if I will need a tripod and want to travel light. Drawbacks are that it doesn't extend up to eye level, it reaches it's limits of sturdiness with the 10D+28-135IS... this means it won't fall over but it doesn't absorb vibrations as well as a big and sturdy tripod.

and the best thing of all: it is only USD 45 at B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/product/195099/HATBG/REG/2635

Just an idea.
Cheers,
Sharif

--
Sharif El-Hamalawi
http://members.chello.at/alfalfa/
http://www.pbase.com/alfalfa
 
Brett DiMichele said:
GAO,

I had a hard time finding any reasonably priced tripods that would
be tall
enough (without having to extend the center column) for my 6'2"
stance.

The 3221 fit the bill perfectly! I don't have to extend the column
with my
3030 head and the legs fully extended. It's very stable and very
well built
for the money. It's heavy though... I guess that's the downside of
it being
real stable :)
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting this! At 6'4" (190cm), I'm willing to trade weight for height, too. (On the other hand, I picked up an angle finder, and that does make things a lot easier.)

I figure the heaviest load I'll be mounting would be a Bigma -- if I get prosperous enough to afford the bigger guns, I'll also be able to afford a specialized tripod. :-)
 
It's got a 6.5lb weight limit. The 10D with a 28-135 or a 75-300 plus a flash is more than that. :(

Lonnit
Karl Palsson said:
Bogen 3001N
Strobo FLM compact ( or standard) ball head
http://www.adorama.com/SBBHC.html?searchinfo=strobo&item_no=1
Generic QR plate system.

Still $150, all up, but you get your ball head, you get you a solid
tripod (if a little short) and you get QR.

It' doesn't always have to be brand name. I've been using this
strobo head for probably 18months now, and always thought it would
be too cheap and I'd move up, but I still haven't. You just can't
beat the weight. arca swiss? get real.

Cheers,
Karl P
Click to expand...
--
Please visit my gallery at http://pbase.com/lonnit

and offer your comments. The fastest way for me to learn is when you tell me what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong, what you like and what you don't. I welcome all opinions. :)



WARNING: 10D-itis is contagious!!!!!!!
 
lonnit said:
I've got a cheap tripod that can't handle the weight of my 75-300mm
lens; it just droops forward. Another problem I have, and I don't
know if this applies to better tripods, is that when I'm up on a
city roof shooting, it can be pretty windy. I end up having to
ditch the tripod and rest the camera directly on the parapet wall
(strap always around my neck of course!) or, my latest method,
camera on the tripod and don't let the legs out but sit the tripod
on the parapet wall (again, camera strap always around my neck!).
This last method worked very well for me about 30 stories up, but
I'm terrified of heights when it comes to roofs and I don't go near
the walls. There I was though, gutsy enough to be sitting my tripod
on the ledge and nauseated if I looked anywhere but right thru that
viewfinder! LOL!

Here are my parameters:

Ball head is a must - I'm sick of dealing with unlevel ground and
jerking around with the legs to get the camera level.

Lightweight is essential - I keep it attached to my minitrekker
backpack and I don't want anymore weight than I have to. The bag
already weighs a ton!

Max price in the $100 range - and no, that doesnt' mean $139.95! A
couple $ over, ok, but I really just cannot go more than about $129
and with that I'd really want to include tax.

If possible I'd like it sturdy enough to handle wind.

Please let me know what is the best quality tripod I can get for
the $ that meets these parameters.

Thanks!
Lonnit

--
Please visit my gallery at http://pbase.com/lonnit
and offer your comments. The fastest way for me to learn is when
you tell me what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong, what you
like and what you don't. I welcome all opinions. :)



WARNING: 10D-itis is contagious!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
--
Please visit my gallery at http://pbase.com/lonnit

and offer your comments. The fastest way for me to learn is when you tell me what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong, what you like and what you don't. I welcome all opinions. :)



WARNING: 10D-itis is contagious!!!!!!!
 
Gene,

What tripod & head combination do you use with 100-400 lens?

I have a basic tripod and I would like to upgrade to a decent one that can handle this lens. At the same time I do not want to spend a lot of money.

Thanks
Ramesh
GAO said:
Don't mean to be negative, I just can't think of any. Perhaps some
of the low end Slilk or low Velbron?

One thing you can do, if the tripod can support the extra weight
($), is to put a hook on the center post and hang a weight off it
for the wind.

Gene
lonnit said:
I've got a cheap tripod that can't handle the weight of my 75-300mm
lens; it just droops forward. Another problem I have, and I don't
know if this applies to better tripods, is that when I'm up on a
city roof shooting, it can be pretty windy. I end up having to
ditch the tripod and rest the camera directly on the parapet wall
(strap always around my neck of course!) or, my latest method,
camera on the tripod and don't let the legs out but sit the tripod
on the parapet wall (again, camera strap always around my neck!).
This last method worked very well for me about 30 stories up, but
I'm terrified of heights when it comes to roofs and I don't go near
the walls. There I was though, gutsy enough to be sitting my tripod
on the ledge and nauseated if I looked anywhere but right thru that
viewfinder! LOL!

Here are my parameters:

Ball head is a must - I'm sick of dealing with unlevel ground and
jerking around with the legs to get the camera level.

Lightweight is essential - I keep it attached to my minitrekker
backpack and I don't want anymore weight than I have to. The bag
already weighs a ton!

Max price in the $100 range - and no, that doesnt' mean $139.95! A
couple $ over, ok, but I really just cannot go more than about $129
and with that I'd really want to include tax.

If possible I'd like it sturdy enough to handle wind.

Please let me know what is the best quality tripod I can get for
the $ that meets these parameters.

Thanks!
Lonnit

--
Please visit my gallery at http://pbase.com/lonnit
and offer your comments. The fastest way for me to learn is when
you tell me what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong, what you
like and what you don't. I welcome all opinions. :)



WARNING: 10D-itis is contagious!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
--
Gene (the hawkman) - Walk softly and carry a big lens

Please visit my galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/gaocus/

Click to expand...
--
http://www.world-of-photos.com
 
5.5lb limit for this joystick head looks limiting.

A quick summary puts a 10D, 24-70L, 550EX and grip over 5.5lbs I think....

Anyone have experience of fast glass on it?
lonnit said:
Please tell me about that flash diffuser. I'm in the market.

Thanks,
Lonnit
Tim Lauro said:
I also love my Joystick Head, 3265. Comes with a quick release too.


lonnit said:
I've got a cheap tripod that can't handle the weight of my 75-300mm
lens; it just droops forward. Another problem I have, and I don't
know if this applies to better tripods, is that when I'm up on a
city roof shooting, it can be pretty windy. I end up having to
ditch the tripod and rest the camera directly on the parapet wall
(strap always around my neck of course!) or, my latest method,
camera on the tripod and don't let the legs out but sit the tripod
on the parapet wall (again, camera strap always around my neck!).
This last method worked very well for me about 30 stories up, but
I'm terrified of heights when it comes to roofs and I don't go near
the walls. There I was though, gutsy enough to be sitting my tripod
on the ledge and nauseated if I looked anywhere but right thru that
viewfinder! LOL!

Here are my parameters:

Ball head is a must - I'm sick of dealing with unlevel ground and
jerking around with the legs to get the camera level.

Lightweight is essential - I keep it attached to my minitrekker
backpack and I don't want anymore weight than I have to. The bag
already weighs a ton!

Max price in the $100 range - and no, that doesnt' mean $139.95! A
couple $ over, ok, but I really just cannot go more than about $129
and with that I'd really want to include tax.

If possible I'd like it sturdy enough to handle wind.

Please let me know what is the best quality tripod I can get for
the $ that meets these parameters.

Thanks!
Lonnit

--
Please visit my gallery at http://pbase.com/lonnit
and offer your comments. The fastest way for me to learn is when
you tell me what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong, what you
like and what you don't. I welcome all opinions. :)



WARNING: 10D-itis is contagious!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
--
-tim
Canon 1 0 D, 24-70mm/f2.8 L-Series, 75-300mm/f4-5.6 IS, 35mm f2,
Canon 4 2 0EX Speedlight
Sony 7 1 7, Nikon 9 9 5 & Konica KD-4 0 0 Z
Accessories....tons of course
http://www.pbase.com/pdqgp
Click to expand...
--
Please visit my gallery at http://pbase.com/lonnit
and offer your comments. The fastest way for me to learn is when
you tell me what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong, what you
like and what you don't. I welcome all opinions. :)



WARNING: 10D-itis is contagious!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
 
Buying new, you won't find what you want for the price you want to pay. Check out the used gear on the various photo sites and on eBay. I snagged a SLIK 700DX in new condition with pan head for $90 on eBay and got the interchangeable ball head for another $30. Both came with quick releases. You'd pay close to $400 match the capability of this combo with Bogen or Gitzo gear. There are lots of good, expensive tripods out there, but when it comes to bang for the buck, it's hard to beat SLIK. Read the reviews here:

http://www.photographyreview.com/Tripods/PLS_3114crx.aspx

--
Frank Weston - http://www.weston.smugmug.com
 
lonnit said:
alekas said:
lonnit said:
Re: Thanks for all the input. I'll get to the store and check 'em in > person! :) n/t
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
A couple of things to think about when you are trying the tripods:

1/ Take your camera and heaviest lense with you. If I remember correct your lense is a Zoom x-300m without a collar. That means the attachment to the tripod will be at the base of the camera. Therefore, the centre of gravity is going to be out in front of the head - I have found in this situation that I cannot get a good lock on my ballhead and the camera droops/drops forwards. Best thing to do is set up the camera on the tripod and leave it 5 minutes - if it is still solid you are probably OK (tendancy is to play in shop and never have chance to see if it droops over time).

2/ Play with the knobs and catches to see whether you like them or not. I have the Manfrotto 055Pro (Bogen 3021 in US) with a 486RC2 head. Whilst it generally holds my 10D stable I do need to exert a lot of force on the ballhead locking lever to get the thing to hold steady. The leg locks also require some heft to open and close them.

3/ Linked to 2 see how long it takes to set up and put down and adjust the leg lengths.

4/ Does it go high enough and low enough?

5/ The Manfrotto ball head enables me to put the camera 90 degrees on its side - my old pan/tilt didn't do this, so may be worth checking whilst you are investigating. However, on the side - especially with big lens - check that the head remains stable (with my 70-200 2.8L IS it droops).

My Manfrotto is quite new, I'm happy with the feet, but reserving judgement on the ballhead.

To be honest, I found picking a camera easy (EOS 10D). Finding the right backpack, tripod, storage and other bits and pieces is proving to be a nightmare :-) Good luck
 
lonnit said:
lonnit said:
3. Carbon Fiber is more delicate than aluminum. What are you going
to do when you snap a leg off your $400 CF tripod? My aluminum
tripod has been in many, many rough circumstances and I have never
had to worry about it.
Click to expand...
Alluminum can bend though, so I think a smash taht breaks a fiber
will dent alluminum, rendering it unusable. No?
Click to expand...
You can replace a whole aluminum tripod for less than a repair of a CF pod would cost!

I haven't bought a CF tripod for all the reasons listed previously - I have a small, light aluminum Manfrotto 190 Pro that does the job at a fraction of the cost, and is only very, very slightly heavier than a CF tripod.

A friend of mine bought a CF Manfrotto pod and worries about it all the time. (What's the point?) It is no sturdier than my aluminum job, and the one I bought is the second cheapest tripod that you can buy from Manfrotto (in the full-size range). So, less to worry about, too! :-)

--
Regards,

Rudi
http://www.rudiphoto.net/
 
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