Tripod Priorities

[firrae]

Hi there,

Quick question on how people prioritize building/choosing a tripod kit. Currently I'm looking at picking up a new tripod kit and while my budget is not tiny, I don't want to blow the bank if I can help it. Previously I had a cheaper Amazon Basics one to try and get used to using them and finding the situations where I like to use them. It's been good at that and I've learned that I really only use it like 3 to 4 times a year and my monopod for most of the rest of my use cases. Main use case is single person and small group portraits/pictures.

So the question: With that in mind should I look at buying a single pre-determined kit, or look at maybe doing something like buying an expensive but good head and cheaper legs (or vice versa)?

My budget is around $350 to $400 CAD ($275-314 USD/255-290 Euro/215-245 GBP) with a small amount of stretch past that. I prefer something that could stably bring my camera up to my eye level (I'm about 5'10") as I would prefer to have it be able to do that without extending a center column too far, but I can give and take there if that's the bank breaker. I use a Sony camera setup and on the tripod it'll likely be a 70-200 or smaller most of the time, maybe my 200-600 if there's some rare reason.

Some of the things I've looked at are as follows:

• iFootage Gazelle TA6 with a Vanguard Alta BH-250 Ball Head
• Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB Aluminum Tripod with SBH-100 Ball Head
• ARTCISE HS80C with a Vanguard Alta BH-250 Ball Head
• Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 055 with a Vanguard Alta BH-250 Ball Head
• I also looked at potentially cheaper legs (or the iFootage) with a Manfrotto MHXPRO-BHQ6
• If you think going with a pre-determined kit package is there one you would recommend over another in that price range?

Any other thoughts on how to prioritize choosing/building out a tripod kit is also appreciated.

 

[Macro guy]

I have discovered a long time ago that no single tripod will serve each and every one of your needs. I have to have 3 tripods - A heavy and tall tripod, a medium size travel tripod for traveling and a table tripod.

Stability is the overall priority in each of the tripods. Stability does not necessarily translate into price. I am willing to pay less for a heavier tripod.

The other issue is how quickly I can set up and break down the tripod. The locks have to be smooth, they have to be easy to operate and I should be able to close and open the legs with minimal fuss.

Then, I look for value. I will find the best value for my needs. The best value doesn't necessarily mean the cheapest, but it means the most quality for the lowest price. The best values can be found on the used market. A tripod that has been used in a studio or even on location that hasn't been abused will last you for decades.

Heads:

The choice of a head depends on the type of work you do. If you're doing sports or wildlife, perhaps a gimbal is the way to go. Some prefer a fluid head for action and landscapes. I need precision in the type of work that I do, so I prefer geared heads.

As stated above, I look for value - a head that provides the stability, features and build quality for the lowest amount of money.

So, what type of work do you do? Which type of a tripod are you looking for? What type of head?

 

[firrae]

Main use case is single person and small group portraits/pictures. I'm not really looking for a travel tripod. It can be bulkier and heavy as it is mostly used for set up situations outdoors with the odd rarer indoor use. My monopod covers my gimbal use and most other cases, so the tripod is pretty much just for those occasions (think family photos and portraits).

From what I could tell a ball head was the most common and utilitarian option for head, but I'm open to hearing of other options.

 

[Bobby2Shots]

Main use case is single person and small group portraits/pictures. I'm not really looking for a travel tripod. It can be bulkier and heavy as it is mostly used for set up situations outdoors with the odd rarer indoor use. My monopod covers my gimbal use and most other cases, so the tripod is pretty much just for those occasions (think family photos and portraits).

From what I could tell a ball head was the most common and utilitarian option for head, but I'm open to hearing of other options.

If you decide to go with only one tripod, try to stick with a 3-series tripod with 3, or, no more than 4 leg sections. You'll typically get the height you'd need, with the appropriate weight capacity.

Nothing beats a good "hands-on" assessment, so try to find a local camera store that stocks a decent array of models, and handle/manipulate them in the store. Even if you don't buy right away, at least you'll have a good idea of their physical attributes,,, and, you'll have a better appreciation of why some models are expensive, and others are cheap and not worth wasting your money on.

A good tripod can last you a lifetime, so you want something that you can get parts for down the road. If you add a ball-head, just make sure it has a decent friction control (to avoid droop when composing your shot). Having a built-in pano base is also nice.

I'm not familiar with any of the models you've posted above, so I can't comment on those; my feeling though, is that you'd have to add a few more $$ to your stated budget. Our Canadian dollar doesn't seem to buy much these days.

 

[NickZ2016]

With what you've mentioned I'd see if you can find anything used. It doesn't sound like you need an uber light weight set of legs. Good metal legs outlast the owner quite often.

If you can find a good set of cheap used legs add your head of choice to that.

I still have a 30 year old aluminum tripod that if you ignore the weight works perfectly fine. By that I mean it could support a far larger camera and not be an issue. They don't fold small. It outweighs my car. But it's a perfectly fine tripod still today.

 

[Macro guy]

Main use case is single person and small group portraits/pictures. I'm not really looking for a travel tripod. It can be bulkier and heavy as it is mostly used for set up situations outdoors with the odd rarer indoor use. My monopod covers my gimbal use and most other cases, so the tripod is pretty much just for those occasions (think family photos and portraits).

From what I could tell a ball head was the most common and utilitarian option for head, but I'm open to hearing of other options.

Gor your use cases, I would go for a medium size/weight legs. Look into Bogen/Manfrotto 3021, Slik 700dx, Manfrotto 055 aluminum 3 section. These are good offerings that won't break the bank.

For a head, a 3 way pan and tilt head is the way I would go. I'm not a fan of ball heads, although some people like them.

Gor 3 way heads, look into Benro Hd1a, Sirui AM-01, Manfrotto 141rc. All of these are good heads.

I prefer heads with Arca Swiss clamps, rather than proprietary ones, but that's not a deal breaker.

 

[firrae]

With what you've mentioned I'd see if you can find anything used. It doesn't sound like you need an uber light weight set of legs. Good metal legs outlast the owner quite often.

If you can find a good set of cheap used legs add your head of choice to that.

I still have a 30 year old aluminum tripod that if you ignore the weight works perfectly fine. By that I mean it could support a far larger camera and not be an issue. They don't fold small. It outweighs my car. But it's a perfectly fine tripod still today.

Yea, weight isn't really an issue for me unless is stupidly heavy. Most aluminium ones I've seen in person are fine.

My area though doesn't have much used, and even traveling a hour or more away is pretty slim pickings sadly. So buying new is likely my best bet at this point unless some stuff changes.

But yea, my thought is to likely buy a good set of tripod legs, and then try a few different heads until I find what I like best and then invest more in the head type I like the most.

 

[firrae]

Main use case is single person and small group portraits/pictures. I'm not really looking for a travel tripod. It can be bulkier and heavy as it is mostly used for set up situations outdoors with the odd rarer indoor use. My monopod covers my gimbal use and most other cases, so the tripod is pretty much just for those occasions (think family photos and portraits).

From what I could tell a ball head was the most common and utilitarian option for head, but I'm open to hearing of other options.

Gor your use cases, I would go for a medium size/weight legs. Look into Bogen/Manfrotto 3021, Slik 700dx, Manfrotto 055 aluminum 3 section. These are good offerings that won't break the bank.

For a head, a 3 way pan and tilt head is the way I would go. I'm not a fan of ball heads, although some people like them.

Gor 3 way heads, look into Benro Hd1a, Sirui AM-01, Manfrotto 141rc. All of these are good heads.

I prefer heads with Arca Swiss clamps, rather than proprietary ones, but that's not a deal breaker.

The Manfrotto 055 series was the one I've gotten to see in person so far. They seemed really good (especially in comparison to my Amazon Basics one lol). I have heard of Slik from other posts here. I think I am leaning towards buying more expensive legs and then trying more heads and then following up and investing in a better head in whatever type I find works for me the most. I've really only used ball heads so far.

I plan for whatever head I end up with is Arca Swiss. I've standardized most of my kit to mount to that at this point.

 

[Macro guy]

Main use case is single person and small group portraits/pictures. I'm not really looking for a travel tripod. It can be bulkier and heavy as it is mostly used for set up situations outdoors with the odd rarer indoor use. My monopod covers my gimbal use and most other cases, so the tripod is pretty much just for those occasions (think family photos and portraits).

From what I could tell a ball head was the most common and utilitarian option for head, but I'm open to hearing of other options.

Gor your use cases, I would go for a medium size/weight legs. Look into Bogen/Manfrotto 3021, Slik 700dx, Manfrotto 055 aluminum 3 section. These are good offerings that won't break the bank.

For a head, a 3 way pan and tilt head is the way I would go. I'm not a fan of ball heads, although some people like them.

Gor 3 way heads, look into Benro Hd1a, Sirui AM-01, Manfrotto 141rc. All of these are good heads.

I prefer heads with Arca Swiss clamps, rather than proprietary ones, but that's not a deal breaker.

The Manfrotto 055 series was the one I've gotten to see in person so far. They seemed really good (especially in comparison to my Amazon Basics one lol). I have heard of Slik from other posts here. I think I am leaning towards buying more expensive legs and then trying more heads and then following up and investing in a better head in whatever type I find works for me the most. I've really only used ball heads so far.

I plan for whatever head I end up with is Arca Swiss. I've standardized most of my kit to mount to that at this point.

What country do you live in? If you have to buy new, check out the Benro TMA37AL. It may be a bit big and heavy for what you need, but it's a really nice tripod that won't break the bank. It's a step or two up from the Slik 700dx, which is not a bad tripod by any stretch of the imagination, but the Benro is REALLY solid.

 

[firrae]

Main use case is single person and small group portraits/pictures. I'm not really looking for a travel tripod. It can be bulkier and heavy as it is mostly used for set up situations outdoors with the odd rarer indoor use. My monopod covers my gimbal use and most other cases, so the tripod is pretty much just for those occasions (think family photos and portraits).

From what I could tell a ball head was the most common and utilitarian option for head, but I'm open to hearing of other options.

Gor your use cases, I would go for a medium size/weight legs. Look into Bogen/Manfrotto 3021, Slik 700dx, Manfrotto 055 aluminum 3 section. These are good offerings that won't break the bank.

For a head, a 3 way pan and tilt head is the way I would go. I'm not a fan of ball heads, although some people like them.

Gor 3 way heads, look into Benro Hd1a, Sirui AM-01, Manfrotto 141rc. All of these are good heads.

I prefer heads with Arca Swiss clamps, rather than proprietary ones, but that's not a deal breaker.

The Manfrotto 055 series was the one I've gotten to see in person so far. They seemed really good (especially in comparison to my Amazon Basics one lol). I have heard of Slik from other posts here. I think I am leaning towards buying more expensive legs and then trying more heads and then following up and investing in a better head in whatever type I find works for me the most. I've really only used ball heads so far.

I plan for whatever head I end up with is Arca Swiss. I've standardized most of my kit to mount to that at this point.

What country do you live in? If you have to buy new, check out the Benro TMA37AL. It may be a bit big and heavy for what you need, but it's a really nice tripod that won't break the bank. It's a step or two up from the Slik 700dx, which is not a bad tripod by any stretch of the imagination, but the Benro is REALLY solid.

I'm in Canada, more specifically Southwestern Ontario (close to Windsor). I looked at that one, but no one near me carries Benro so I have never seen any of their stuff in person. Most camera stores within reasonable driving distance only carry Manfrotto and maybe one other brand.

 

[Macro guy]

Main use case is single person and small group portraits/pictures. I'm not really looking for a travel tripod. It can be bulkier and heavy as it is mostly used for set up situations outdoors with the odd rarer indoor use. My monopod covers my gimbal use and most other cases, so the tripod is pretty much just for those occasions (think family photos and portraits).

From what I could tell a ball head was the most common and utilitarian option for head, but I'm open to hearing of other options.

Gor your use cases, I would go for a medium size/weight legs. Look into Bogen/Manfrotto 3021, Slik 700dx, Manfrotto 055 aluminum 3 section. These are good offerings that won't break the bank.

For a head, a 3 way pan and tilt head is the way I would go. I'm not a fan of ball heads, although some people like them.

Gor 3 way heads, look into Benro Hd1a, Sirui AM-01, Manfrotto 141rc. All of these are good heads.

I prefer heads with Arca Swiss clamps, rather than proprietary ones, but that's not a deal breaker.

The Manfrotto 055 series was the one I've gotten to see in person so far. They seemed really good (especially in comparison to my Amazon Basics one lol). I have heard of Slik from other posts here. I think I am leaning towards buying more expensive legs and then trying more heads and then following up and investing in a better head in whatever type I find works for me the most. I've really only used ball heads so far.

I plan for whatever head I end up with is Arca Swiss. I've standardized most of my kit to mount to that at this point.

What country do you live in? If you have to buy new, check out the Benro TMA37AL. It may be a bit big and heavy for what you need, but it's a really nice tripod that won't break the bank. It's a step or two up from the Slik 700dx, which is not a bad tripod by any stretch of the imagination, but the Benro is REALLY solid.

I'm in Canada, more specifically Southwestern Ontario (close to Windsor). I looked at that one, but no one near me carries Benro so I have never seen any of their stuff in person. Most camera stores within reasonable driving distance only carry Manfrotto and maybe one other brand.

The Benro TMA37AL is a very solid, tall, relatively heavy and very stable tripod. If you can live with the size and yhe weight, this thing will last for decades. You can put a large format 8x10 camera on it and it will hanfle it with aplomb. You can put a gimbal on it and a 600mm f4 lens and it won't even blink. It's not light and it's not small, but you would have to spend 2.5- 5x as much to get anything even remoyely as tall and stable as that.

The Slik 700dx is a much lighter, more portable tripod. The legs are thinner than Benro and the build quality is a notch below. It could handle a 4x5 camera, but I'm not sure I would be comfortable putting an 8x10 camera on it or a gimble with a very long and fast lens. It would be fine for the long consumer lenses in the 500-600mm f6.3 or f8, but not the big, heavy primes. It's a very good value for money, but it's not a "pro grade" tripod. If you can deal with big and relatively heavy legs, I think Benro is a better deal, but if you need greater portability and you're using consumer grade lenses, the Slik would be fine.

 

[Bobby2Shots]

I'm in Canada, more specifically Southwestern Ontario (close to Windsor). I looked at that one, but no one near me carries Benro so I have never seen any of their stuff in person. Most camera stores within reasonable driving distance only carry Manfrotto and maybe one other brand.

Check this out; Benro Mach3 2-series in Carbon Fibre,, free shipping, from Vistek in Mississauga

https://www.vistek.ca/store/279740/benro-mach3-series-2-9x-carbon-fibre-tripod-tma28c

Here's a 3-series in Aluminum;

https://www.vistek.ca/store/279737/benro-mach3-series-3-aluminum-3-section-long-tripod-tma37al

and,,, a 2-series Aluminum;

https://www.vistek.ca/store/279736/benro-mach3-series-2-aluminum-4-section-tripod-tma28a

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

 

[3dwag]

Main use case is single person and small group portraits/pictures. I'm not really looking for a travel tripod. It can be bulkier and heavy as it is mostly used for set up situations outdoors with the odd rarer indoor use. My monopod covers my gimbal use and most other cases, so the tripod is pretty much just for those occasions (think family photos and portraits).

From what I could tell a ball head was the most common and utilitarian option for head, but I'm open to hearing of other options.

Gor your use cases, I would go for a medium size/weight legs. Look into Bogen/Manfrotto 3021, Slik 700dx, Manfrotto 055 aluminum 3 section. These are good offerings that won't break the bank.

For a head, a 3 way pan and tilt head is the way I would go. I'm not a fan of ball heads, although some people like them.

Gor 3 way heads, look into Benro Hd1a, Sirui AM-01, Manfrotto 141rc. All of these are good heads.

I prefer heads with Arca Swiss clamps, rather than proprietary ones, but that's not a deal breaker.

The Manfrotto 055 series was the one I've gotten to see in person so far. They seemed really good (especially in comparison to my Amazon Basics one lol). I have heard of Slik from other posts here. I think I am leaning towards buying more expensive legs and then trying more heads and then following up and investing in a better head in whatever type I find works for me the most. I've really only used ball heads so far.

I plan for whatever head I end up with is Arca Swiss. I've standardized most of my kit to mount to that at this point.

What country do you live in? If you have to buy new, check out the Benro TMA37AL. It may be a bit big and heavy for what you need, but it's a really nice tripod that won't break the bank. It's a step or two up from the Slik 700dx, which is not a bad tripod by any stretch of the imagination, but the Benro is REALLY solid.

I'm in Canada, more specifically Southwestern Ontario (close to Windsor). I looked at that one, but no one near me carries Benro so I have never seen any of their stuff in person. Most camera stores within reasonable driving distance only carry Manfrotto and maybe one other brand.

Have you considered FLM? FLM Canada should be convenient to for you to deal with, on their website you will see they sometimes have Open Box, Demo, or used for a discount. Very fine tripods and heads, and Ari is so good to work with, contact him by phone or email if any questions.

 

[firrae]

Main use case is single person and small group portraits/pictures. I'm not really looking for a travel tripod. It can be bulkier and heavy as it is mostly used for set up situations outdoors with the odd rarer indoor use. My monopod covers my gimbal use and most other cases, so the tripod is pretty much just for those occasions (think family photos and portraits).

From what I could tell a ball head was the most common and utilitarian option for head, but I'm open to hearing of other options.

Gor your use cases, I would go for a medium size/weight legs. Look into Bogen/Manfrotto 3021, Slik 700dx, Manfrotto 055 aluminum 3 section. These are good offerings that won't break the bank.

For a head, a 3 way pan and tilt head is the way I would go. I'm not a fan of ball heads, although some people like them.

Gor 3 way heads, look into Benro Hd1a, Sirui AM-01, Manfrotto 141rc. All of these are good heads.

I prefer heads with Arca Swiss clamps, rather than proprietary ones, but that's not a deal breaker.

The Manfrotto 055 series was the one I've gotten to see in person so far. They seemed really good (especially in comparison to my Amazon Basics one lol). I have heard of Slik from other posts here. I think I am leaning towards buying more expensive legs and then trying more heads and then following up and investing in a better head in whatever type I find works for me the most. I've really only used ball heads so far.

I plan for whatever head I end up with is Arca Swiss. I've standardized most of my kit to mount to that at this point.

What country do you live in? If you have to buy new, check out the Benro TMA37AL. It may be a bit big and heavy for what you need, but it's a really nice tripod that won't break the bank. It's a step or two up from the Slik 700dx, which is not a bad tripod by any stretch of the imagination, but the Benro is REALLY solid.

I'm in Canada, more specifically Southwestern Ontario (close to Windsor). I looked at that one, but no one near me carries Benro so I have never seen any of their stuff in person. Most camera stores within reasonable driving distance only carry Manfrotto and maybe one other brand.

Have you considered FLM? FLM Canada should be convenient to for you to deal with, on their website you will see they sometimes have Open Box, Demo, or used for a discount. Very fine tripods and heads, and Ari is so good to work with, contact him by phone or email if any questions.

I had never heard of them before, and while out of my price range currently, I'll keep it in mind going forward.

 

[vindellama]

The Benro TMA37AL is a very solid, tall, relatively heavy and very stable tripod.

Hijacking this thread...

Things are getting colder around here, so it's almost time to take some late night fog shots and I'm about to pull the trigger on a tripod, but I'm at a loss...

Are the benro rhino/bat series any good? The BAT one is carbon fiber and affordable, while being almost the same weight as a travel tripod, but one of the only 2 reviews at amazon complains that it isn't very stable fully extended and that it is a pain to setup as you need to fully twist the lock 2 times or something like that.

I really have no idea of what to get...

Since I didn't finished buying my entire kit yet, and that I plan on traveling after finishing it... I'm thinking about getting a Befree Advanced. Half the price of a heavy one, so I could use the other half to buy filters or an uw lens. But is it stable enough to be left alone fully extended with a 1,5kg kit in portrait orientation (which I would need for those night photos)? Would this be advisable or should I buy the more expensive bat one, or some of the heavier options?

 

[Macro guy]

The Benro TMA37AL is a very solid, tall, relatively heavy and very stable tripod.

Hijacking this thread...

Things are getting colder around here, so it's almost time to take some late night fog shots and I'm about to pull the trigger on a tripod, but I'm at a loss...

Are the benro rhino/bat series any good? The BAT one is carbon fiber and affordable, while being almost the same weight as a travel tripod, but one of the only 2 reviews at amazon complains that it isn't very stable fully extended and that it is a pain to setup as you need to fully twist the lock 2 times or something like that.

I really have no idea of what to get...

Since I didn't finished buying my entire kit yet, and that I plan on traveling after finishing it... I'm thinking about getting a Befree Advanced. Half the price of a heavy one, so I could use the other half to buy filters or an uw lens. But is it stable enough to be left alone fully extended with a 1,5kg kit in portrait orientation (which I would need for those night photos)? Would this be advisable or should I buy the more expensive bat one, or some of the heavier options?

It all depends on how you're shooting and the environment in which you're shooting. If you're shooting with a wide lens, in a place where there's no wind, and no traffic that causes vibrations, the tripods you mentioned will suffice.

However, if you're in a situation where the environment can be unpredictable or if there is wind or other vibration causing factors, then you'll find out very quickly that you had wasted your money by buying the lighter tripods.

The rule of thumb that prevails is that if you're looking for cheap, light and stable, you can only have 2 out of three. It's actually quite true. Personally, I prefer to sacrifice the weight and deal with a heavier, stable, inexpensive tripod. However, to each his own and you have to decide where to make your sacrifices.

 

[vindellama]

The Benro TMA37AL is a very solid, tall, relatively heavy and very stable tripod.

Hijacking this thread...

Things are getting colder around here, so it's almost time to take some late night fog shots and I'm about to pull the trigger on a tripod, but I'm at a loss...

Are the benro rhino/bat series any good? The BAT one is carbon fiber and affordable, while being almost the same weight as a travel tripod, but one of the only 2 reviews at amazon complains that it isn't very stable fully extended and that it is a pain to setup as you need to fully twist the lock 2 times or something like that.

I really have no idea of what to get...

Since I didn't finished buying my entire kit yet, and that I plan on traveling after finishing it... I'm thinking about getting a Befree Advanced. Half the price of a heavy one, so I could use the other half to buy filters or an uw lens. But is it stable enough to be left alone fully extended with a 1,5kg kit in portrait orientation (which I would need for those night photos)? Would this be advisable or should I buy the more expensive bat one, or some of the heavier options?

It all depends on how you're shooting and the environment in which you're shooting. If you're shooting with a wide lens, in a place where there's no wind, and no traffic that causes vibrations, the tripods you mentioned will suffice.

However, if you're in a situation where the environment can be unpredictable or if there is wind or other vibration causing factors, then you'll find out very quickly that you had wasted your money by buying the lighter tripods.

The rule of thumb that prevails is that if you're looking for cheap, light and stable, you can only have 2 out of three. It's actually quite true. Personally, I prefer to sacrifice the weight and deal with a heavier, stable, inexpensive tripod. However, to each his own and you have to decide where to make your sacrifices.

I ended up buying the rhino tripod. I've seen a review of the slightly larger one where the reviewer says that it is "overkill" for mirrorless, so I guess it will be stable enough for a mirrorless in any situation, while being only 2kg with the ball head.

 

[Neon Birding]

Hi there,

Quick question on how people prioritize building/choosing a tripod kit. Currently I'm looking at picking up a new tripod kit and while my budget is not tiny, I don't want to blow the bank if I can help it. Previously I had a cheaper Amazon Basics one to try and get used to using them and finding the situations where I like to use them. It's been good at that and I've learned that I really only use it like 3 to 4 times a year and my monopod for most of the rest of my use cases. Main use case is single person and small group portraits/pictures.

So the question: With that in mind should I look at buying a single pre-determined kit, or look at maybe doing something like buying an expensive but good head and cheaper legs (or vice versa)?

My budget is around $350 to $400 CAD ($275-314 USD/255-290 Euro/215-245 GBP) with a small amount of stretch past that. I prefer something that could stably bring my camera up to my eye level (I'm about 5'10") as I would prefer to have it be able to do that without extending a center column too far, but I can give and take there if that's the bank breaker. I use a Sony camera setup and on the tripod it'll likely be a 70-200 or smaller most of the time, maybe my 200-600 if there's some rare reason.

Some of the things I've looked at are as follows:

• iFootage Gazelle TA6 with a Vanguard Alta BH-250 Ball Head
• Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB Aluminum Tripod with SBH-100 Ball Head
• ARTCISE HS80C with a Vanguard Alta BH-250 Ball Head
• Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 055 with a Vanguard Alta BH-250 Ball Head
• I also looked at potentially cheaper legs (or the iFootage) with a Manfrotto MHXPRO-BHQ6
• If you think going with a pre-determined kit package is there one you would recommend over another in that price range?

Any other thoughts on how to prioritize choosing/building out a tripod kit is also appreciated.

Ah, good question, and looks like you've done your research. And good that you've narrowed down your choices. For me, Tripods are more a personal preference, and what works for my style may or may not work with yours. Thus, if you've not used a tripod ever, not to worry, your experience with monopod and shooting low light will help you pick a good tripod. Also, explore other options or "Work arounds" that will compensate for a tripod. Such as studio lighting, reflectors/diffusers for outdoor, or strobe while using your monopod. Or boost ISO, etc... If other options don't work there are a couple of way's you can do this.

1) since you've done your research, check them out at your local camera store if possible. Get a feel of how it will balance your long lens and camera. And if it fits your style of shooting.

2) OR, do like most of us: buy one that fits the budget, sight unseen based on reviews, and adapt to it, untill the "right" one is acquired. In most cases, I ended up getting another, and another, and another. Ended up spending 4X more on wasted tripods, vs the one I ended up with. Because each fail was replaced by a more expensive fail.


And same for video or photo heads. There are many to choose from. Also, consider a video head for photos, especially using telephotos, it will be easier than a ballhead. A gimbal head would be distracting for people portraits.

 

[Macro guy]

The Benro TMA37AL is a very solid, tall, relatively heavy and very stable tripod.

Hijacking this thread...

Things are getting colder around here, so it's almost time to take some late night fog shots and I'm about to pull the trigger on a tripod, but I'm at a loss...

Are the benro rhino/bat series any good? The BAT one is carbon fiber and affordable, while being almost the same weight as a travel tripod, but one of the only 2 reviews at amazon complains that it isn't very stable fully extended and that it is a pain to setup as you need to fully twist the lock 2 times or something like that.

I really have no idea of what to get...

Since I didn't finished buying my entire kit yet, and that I plan on traveling after finishing it... I'm thinking about getting a Befree Advanced. Half the price of a heavy one, so I could use the other half to buy filters or an uw lens. But is it stable enough to be left alone fully extended with a 1,5kg kit in portrait orientation (which I would need for those night photos)? Would this be advisable or should I buy the more expensive bat one, or some of the heavier options?

It all depends on how you're shooting and the environment in which you're shooting. If you're shooting with a wide lens, in a place where there's no wind, and no traffic that causes vibrations, the tripods you mentioned will suffice.

However, if you're in a situation where the environment can be unpredictable or if there is wind or other vibration causing factors, then you'll find out very quickly that you had wasted your money by buying the lighter tripods.

The rule of thumb that prevails is that if you're looking for cheap, light and stable, you can only have 2 out of three. It's actually quite true. Personally, I prefer to sacrifice the weight and deal with a heavier, stable, inexpensive tripod. However, to each his own and you have to decide where to make your sacrifices.

I ended up buying the rhino tripod. I've seen a review of the slightly larger one where the reviewer says that it is "overkill" for mirrorless, so I guess it will be stable enough for a mirrorless in any situation, while being only 2kg with the ball head.

It makes absolutely no difference whether the camera is mirrorless, an SLR or a film camera. What matters is the stability you need for based on the lenses you use.



The rhino tripod may serve your needs, but if it does, it's because you got lucky, not because of the way you went about selecting it.

 

[firrae]

Hi there,

Quick question on how people prioritize building/choosing a tripod kit. Currently I'm looking at picking up a new tripod kit and while my budget is not tiny, I don't want to blow the bank if I can help it. Previously I had a cheaper Amazon Basics one to try and get used to using them and finding the situations where I like to use them. It's been good at that and I've learned that I really only use it like 3 to 4 times a year and my monopod for most of the rest of my use cases. Main use case is single person and small group portraits/pictures.

So the question: With that in mind should I look at buying a single pre-determined kit, or look at maybe doing something like buying an expensive but good head and cheaper legs (or vice versa)?

My budget is around $350 to $400 CAD ($275-314 USD/255-290 Euro/215-245 GBP) with a small amount of stretch past that. I prefer something that could stably bring my camera up to my eye level (I'm about 5'10") as I would prefer to have it be able to do that without extending a center column too far, but I can give and take there if that's the bank breaker. I use a Sony camera setup and on the tripod it'll likely be a 70-200 or smaller most of the time, maybe my 200-600 if there's some rare reason.

Some of the things I've looked at are as follows:

• iFootage Gazelle TA6 with a Vanguard Alta BH-250 Ball Head
• Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB Aluminum Tripod with SBH-100 Ball Head
• ARTCISE HS80C with a Vanguard Alta BH-250 Ball Head
• Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 055 with a Vanguard Alta BH-250 Ball Head
• I also looked at potentially cheaper legs (or the iFootage) with a Manfrotto MHXPRO-BHQ6
• If you think going with a pre-determined kit package is there one you would recommend over another in that price range?

Any other thoughts on how to prioritize choosing/building out a tripod kit is also appreciated.

Ah, good question, and looks like you've done your research. And good that you've narrowed down your choices. For me, Tripods are more a personal preference, and what works for my style may or may not work with yours. Thus, if you've not used a tripod ever, not to worry, your experience with monopod and shooting low light will help you pick a good tripod. Also, explore other options or "Work arounds" that will compensate for a tripod. Such as studio lighting, reflectors/diffusers for outdoor, or strobe while using your monopod. Or boost ISO, etc... If other options don't work there are a couple of way's you can do this.

1) since you've done your research, check them out at your local camera store if possible. Get a feel of how it will balance your long lens and camera. And if it fits your style of shooting.

2) OR, do like most of us: buy one that fits the budget, sight unseen based on reviews, and adapt to it, untill the "right" one is acquired. In most cases, I ended up getting another, and another, and another. Ended up spending 4X more on wasted tripods, vs the one I ended up with. Because each fail was replaced by a more expensive fail.

And same for video or photo heads. There are many to choose from. Also, consider a video head for photos, especially using telephotos, it will be easier than a ballhead. A gimbal head would be distracting for people portraits.

I ended up doing a mixture of this. I bought a Benro Mach3 "Large" as suggested by others in this thread as it was cheaper and now that I have it it does seem just as sturdy or even more so than the Manfrotto I looked at at the store.

For the ball head I ended up finding a local camera guy who was upgrading and bought his old ball head. It's not shiny but it seems to be well built and working. He even did something to swap it from the Manfrotto plate to an ARCA plate. Still don't know how, but it works and I got it decently cheap so I'm not gonna question it further until I see if it works for me and decide to get a new one.