Tripods - DPChallenge Forums

10/13/2009 04:41:12 PM · #1

I know this question has been asked before but as I scrolled through the countless posts on the countless threads my questions really were not answered. I am in the process of creating a wish list. i.e. lenses, tripods, flashes, etc. for future purchase. I am not planning on buying anything right now so I have not set a budget. This is gonna be one of those things that I just pack away some money here and some money there. I just need to know how much I need to pack away.

Anyway on to the tripods. I want my tripod and tripod head to be pretty versitile. It also needs to be fairly lightweight. I would like to be able to take it out hiking to take landscape pics but still be able to use it to take portraits. I have looked at the manfrotto website but they have so many choices of tripods and heads it will make your head spin.

OK so the question that I pose is. If you had no budget what tripod / head combo would you get or would you get multiple heads for different situations. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..

edited:
I almost forgot I do not want to sacrifice stability for lightweight.

Message edited by author 2009-10-13 16:44:03.

robshookphoto

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM

10/13/2009 04:55:15 PM · #2

Get a nice one. I went through 4 or 5 tripods until i got to school, and finally got a nice manfrotto. It's worth it; the equipment rental at the school still rents out manfrotto tripods from 20 years ago.
Small legs vs big legs

go for the big legs. My roommate has the smaller version, and mine won when we rented canon and nikon 400mm f/2.8 lenses. There is a cheaper version of the manfrotto, but it does not have the extra attachment on the top that allows you to turn the bar supporting the camera sideways to take shots near the ground. definitely worth it.

a 3-way pan/tilt head is the way to go. i chose the smaller one, and wish i had chosen the bigger more expensive one now but mine is still great for normal use

//www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?ci=106&N=4294539736+4291348219

Message edited by author 2009-10-13 16:56:19.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

10/13/2009 05:18:46 PM · #3

robshookphoto is this the head that you were talking about....I really do like those tripod legs.

robshookphoto

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM

10/13/2009 05:23:07 PM · #4

Originally posted by cowboy221977:

robshookphoto is this the head that you were talking about....I really do like those tripod legs.

that's the more expensive one, yes. i have the 79.99 one and it is sufficient, but i imagine that one is pretty spectacular.

ErikV

Nikon D7000

10/13/2009 06:42:46 PM · #5

Ignoring cost considerations: If you want lightweight and stable, you definitely want a carbon fiber tripod. And get a large head that will support the large lens that you will eventually acquire.

Since you state to ignore price, you might want to read this article by Thom Hogan which argues for going straight to a high-end set up rather than starting low-end or mid-range and gradually working your way up.

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

10/14/2009 08:35:53 AM · #6

seems like he is a gitzo fan...I will check out the tripods that he mentioned..thanks

Bugzeye

10/14/2009 11:08:28 AM · #7

I have the 808RC4 head and absolutely love it. Not only does it support the weight of a large lens, It also adds a little extra weight to the tripod which helps keep it stable on windy days. Not exactly a joy to carry around because it is a bit heavy but if you get a good bag or a nice padded shoulder strap for the tripod it isn't too bad. The extra weight is worth the effort when your tripod doesn't wiggle in the breeze.

Originally posted by cowboy221977:

robshookphoto is this the head that you were talking about....I really do like those tripod legs.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/14/2009 11:19:04 AM · #8

OK in this article by Thorn Hogan, he states and I quote (pan/tilt heads were designed for video cameras, not still cameras). How true is this. The tripod that I have now was a good one 20 years ago when my dad had it and it has a pan / tilt head on it. That tripod has issues and it is pretty heavy. I want to make sure that whatever I get is fairly quick and easy to set up and stable so I don't get any shake in the wind etc.

Five_Seat

Canon EOS-6D

10/14/2009 11:32:36 AM · #9

I was looking for a super-lightweight tripod that I could take traveling. I bit the bullet and decided on the Gitzo 1541T carbon fiber tripod, which is one of lightest and strongest tripods you can buy. It has exceeded my every expectation, though it causes friends and family to look at you stangely because you spent almost $600.

The thing is a tank - I have hiked through downpours with it and subjected to bumps and bruises of travel, it just keeps shaking things off. Its also pretty stable given its size, I have been able to use my 70/200/4 + 1.4 extender and have gotten pretty good results. The tripod also sets up quickly.

I know I sound like a Rep for Gitzo, but I think/belive that is the last tripod I'll need, barring the purchase of some hefty L telephotos :).

Bugzeye

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

10/14/2009 12:02:31 PM · #10

I don't know if that is true or false. I have seperate fluid heads for my video cameras that are 2 way not 3 way. They can be used for photography also. But to get the camera level you have to adjust the legs which uses up extra time. With the 3 way tilt and pan your tripod doesn't always have to be completely level because you can adjust the head 3 ways only time you should make sure your tripod legs are level is if you are trying to do a multiple shot panorama where you are going to be stitching the photos together and need perfect or near perfect alignment.

Originally posted by cowboy221977:

Message edited by author 2009-10-14 12:05:31.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/14/2009 12:24:54 PM · #11

Originally posted by cowboy221977:

OK in this article by Thorn Hogan, he states and I quote (pan/tilt heads were designed for video cameras, not still cameras).

That's ridiculous. The pan/tilt 3-way head has been the standard tripod head for a LONG time, since well before video cameras (or movie cameras, for that matter) were available/common. The earliest tripods (wooden, yoke legs) didn't have ANY kind of adjustable head, and you set up your (very large) camera by adjusting the legs. As the need for more versatility manifested itself, the adjustments started getting invented.

Regardless of what Hogan says, the 3-way head is the most straightforward approach to attaching a camera to a tripod, certainly when cost is taken into consideration. Decent, fairly heavy-duty 3-ways that lock up tight can be had for $60 bucks or so. There are plenty of light, cheap ones out there that are worthless for anything but the lightest P&S cameras, of course, but...

Inexpensive ball heads, on the other hand, are maddening, especially for landscape photographers; every time you try to adjust your tilt, you run the risk of losing your horizontal level, since they only have a single locking mechanism. Better, more robust ball heads have a separate panning adjustment, so you can lock in tilt and horizontal level and then pan.

Regarding leveling the tripod, I mildly disagree: anytime you are shooting landscapes, even if you are not doing panos, it's easiest if you can level the tripod up so the center column is a true vertical. This way, when you pan for different edge croppings you don't have to readjust to level the horizon.

In any case, I much prefer my 3-way head to any ball head I have used. It's the Manfrotto 808RC4, and it runs about $150. It has levels built in for every plane, it has spring-loaded detents for the zero points, it locks up tight as a drum, and it is adjustable to maintain locking integrity as it wears. Excellent head.

I'd admit that I might be tempted by a high-end Arca-Swiss or Really Right Stuff machined ball head, but they are ungodly expensive, and what I have works great for me.

R.

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/14/2009 12:39:10 PM · #12

I have a great Gitzo carbon fiber tripod from my 4x5 camera days--love it. If I was buying a new one, the only thing would want for my dslr would be a center column. I also have an arca swiss ballhead, and it is really nice. But I agree with Bear--the 3-way (pan, tilt) is really superior in many ways, except maybe for weight and bulk.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/14/2009 02:26:31 PM · #13

It appears to me that Manfroto is the way to go. I have placed the Manfrotto 055xPROB tripod legs and the 808RC-4 3 way pan / tilt head /w quick release on my wishlist. Do yall think this is a good combo for a man with an endless budget.(I am saving up for what ever) If not let me know or if you have a different configuration post it on here and I will add that into my consideration.

Message edited by author 2009-10-14 14:27:36.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

10/14/2009 02:42:41 PM · #14

Originally posted by cowboy221977:

Good combo. Essentially what I have, though my legs predate the change in model designation, which is relatively recent.

R.