Tripod for night sky, bird and macro photography.

[Martas89]

Hi, I looking for tripod for night sky, bird and macro photography. I don't have a big budget, but I'm thinking about these two:

1) Benro Tortoise 24C + GX30

2) LEOFOTO Ranger LS-324C + LH-40

But I'd appreciate any advice. Thank you.

 

[Bobby2Shots]

Hi, I looking for tripod for night sky, bird and macro photography. I don't have a big budget, but I'm thinking about these two:

1) Benro Tortoise 24C + GX30

2) LEOFOTO Ranger LS-324C + LH-40

But I'd appreciate any advice. Thank you.

The only advice I can offer at this stage is this;,,, try to find these products at a local store in order to get a direct "hands-on" impression before ordering, and,,, inquire about after-sale support/ replacement-parts availability/ accessories. (Arca-Swiss plate compatibility, etc)

Good luck,

--
Veni, Vidi, Velcro;
I came,,,, I saw,,,, I stuck around.

 

[BBbuilder467]

Hi, I looking for tripod for night sky, bird and macro photography. I don't have a big budget, but I'm thinking about these two:

1) Benro Tortoise 24C + GX30

2) LEOFOTO Ranger LS-324C + LH-40

But I'd appreciate any advice. Thank you.

I have Benro/Induro/Mefoto products and the quality is fine.

The Leofoto Ranger has a levelling bowl built-in. With no column, I'd prefer that over the Benro version that looks fixed.

Without a column, it's hard to adjust the precise height for macro/close-up.

 

[Martas89]

And Benro Rhino is better than Tortoise?

 

[john isaacs]

Hi, I looking for tripod for night sky, bird and macro photography. I don't have a big budget, but I'm thinking about these two:

1) Benro Tortoise 24C + GX30

2) LEOFOTO Ranger LS-324C + LH-40

But I'd appreciate any advice. Thank you.

Okay, I recommend neither. Because neither of these have a center column. For night sky and bird, you will be pointing the camera up, and want to get some height so you don't have to bend over to see what you are doing. For macro, you want to be able to easily adjust height to get the perspective you need, and adjusting legs to do so is a real pain. I recommend a tripod with a center column that can be shortened for low height, but can be used to get adjustable height and raised to get good height when pointing the camera up.

 

[Martas89]

And what do you recommend for good money?

SIRUI T-2205SK+K-20II?

For me, probably the most important thing is to keep it stable with the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro Pack.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1604032-REG/sky_watcher_s20512_star_adventurer_pro_pack.html

 

[Nusratty]

I use a Benro TMA38cl tripod. Well built and very sturdy with a good operating height. Doesn't have a levelling head but I am very pleased with it. I use for long exposures and some astro (no tracker).

 

[BBbuilder467]

And Benro Rhino is better than Tortoise?

The Rhino seems to be some type of travel tripod. That's the opposite of the tripods you are comparing to that don't use columns at all.

Those tripods with no column would be more stable, but take a lot more effort to level at the precise height. You should always level the tripod with the legs, but you want the camera at the right height at the same time.

I think the Leofoto Ranger is the better choice. It has the interchangeable bowl and column. I think that's what you want with that tracking device you mentioned.

 

[CameraCarl]

I wouldn't get either one for what you say you want, but to give you a thoughtful answer,

How tall are you?

What camera are you using? What lenses?

How much do you want to spend?

How important is the night sky part of your plans? The macro part?

 

[Martas89]

I wouldn't get either one for what you say you want, but to give you a thoughtful answer,

How tall are you?

What camera are you using? What lenses?

How much do you want to spend?

How important is the night sky part of your plans? The macro part?

Hi. I use olympus om-d e-m1 mark iii. My lenses are: olymlus 12-100, oly 60mm macro, olympus 100-400mm (birds) and laowa 7.5mm.

I'm around 180cm tall, but until now I was used to a 130cm tripod.

I would use the tripod most for astrophotography, then landscape, birds and least macro.

I have a maximum budget of 400$ or 350 euro.

 

[CameraCarl]

I wouldn't get either one for what you say you want, but to give you a thoughtful answer,

How tall are you?

What camera are you using? What lenses?

How much do you want to spend?

How important is the night sky part of your plans? The macro part?

Hi. I use olympus om-d e-m1 mark iii. My lenses are: olymlus 12-100, oly 60mm macro, olympus 100-400mm (birds) and laowa 7.5mm.

I'm around 180cm tall, but until now I was used to a 130cm tripod.

I would use the tripod most for astrophotography, then landscape, birds and least macro.

I have a maximum budget of 400$ or 350 euro.

For my night sky photography I use a tripod which is about 6 to 10 inches taller than I am. That way I can extend the tripod as high as possible and be able to look directly into the viewfinder when composing images and trying to focus. If your tripod is too short you will spend your entire night bending over to look at the viewfinder or LCD. If your camera has a tilting LCD screen, then the height of the tripod is not as critical, but you may still find it more comfortable to get a tripod tall enough so you don't have to bend over. I prefer to avoid tripods with center columns because they tend to be less stable, and the center column makes macro photography difficult since you can't get the tripod close to the ground. I don't know anything about your lenses or camera, but am assuming that none of them weigh too much for most tripods to support, so I would look, first of all, for the tallest tripod you can afford.

 

[Martas89]

I have yet to discover this inexpensive tripod on Amazon that caught my eye. What do you think? It looks quite stable and has a large base. https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Tripod-INNOREL-LT324C-Professional-Photography/dp/B081SV6XWM

 

[CameraCarl]

Sorry, I know nothing about this tripod, and never heard of the brand, but I see it is only 146cm tall, far too short for me to ever consider for night sky photography for the reasons I mention in my previous post.

 

[Bobby2Shots]

Sorry, I know nothing about this tripod, and never heard of the brand, but I see it is only 146cm tall, far too short for me to ever consider for night sky photography for the reasons I mention in my previous post.

146cm's is not bad,,,, add 1-1.5" extra with the levelling base installed, and another 5" or so for the ball-head,,, and another 5" or so to the camera's viewfinder, and you're at 5'10". Should be fine for anyone up to 6'2" without stooping.

here's a video review; ( I haven't watched it)

 

[BBbuilder467]

I have yet to discover this inexpensive tripod on Amazon that caught my eye. What do you think? It looks quite stable and has a large base. https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Tripod-INNOREL-LT324C-Professional-Photography/dp/B081SV6XWM

That might be a rebranded variation of the Leofoto Ranger.

I'd check to see if replacement parts are available. You can always damage or lose parts.

It would be tall enough for me at 5'9" on level surfaces, but won't allow much adjustment on natural surfaces. You can lose several inches height on slopes or rough terrain. I saw another version that was 6" taller. There is usually an interchangeable column available for the bowl type tripods.

 

[HRC2016]

I never understood the idea of getting a tripod based on the user's height. Yes, a taller one gives you more options (generally) but it's likely to be heavier and longer when folded.

When I'm doing night photography I often use a folding chair or my tailgate so I can sit during long exposures.

 

[Martas89]

Then it's simple. I'm deciding between two tripods. But I can't tell the difference.

1) Benro Tortoise 34c

2) LEOFOTO Ranger LS-324C

 

[Bobby2Shots]

Then it's simple. I'm deciding between two tripods. But I can't tell the difference.

1) Benro Tortoise 34c

2) LEOFOTO Ranger LS-324C

You might want to check into parts availability & service for those tripods. Ask your dealer about who will help you if something breaks, or a part wears and needs replacement

I just did a quick search for Benro spare parts,,, and replacement parts, and all I got was an email address to contact them,,,, no parts list.

For Leofoto, I got nothing,,,,

If you go ahead with either of these, don't forget to register your product for warranty protection. Typically, you'll get a warranty extension when you register.

Good luck,

 

[jerry1]

Then it's simple. I'm deciding between two tripods. But I can't tell the difference.

1) Benro Tortoise 34c

2) LEOFOTO Ranger LS-324C

Just a note about the Leofoto Ranger LS-324C. I don't think that model has the leveler. I think you want the LS-324CEX if you want the leveler built into the tripod. It's one I'm looking at too.