Tripod questions - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/08/2012 01:20:15 PM · #1

I know that there has been a ton of threads on tripods.(which one to buy...etc) I have also seen sites other than dpc where photographers have talked about tripods...I would like to buy a tripod and be done with it and not have to buy another on on down the road.

I have been looking at Manfrotto and they seem to be really popular. My question is what type of tripod (both legs and head) do you own and why. I am also interested in what type of head to put on it.

Because each head can be used for different purposes, here is what I am shooting. I enjoy taking landscapes, (some of these will be taken while hiking), I want to start taking some Macro shots, and also wildlife.

I have a Canon 20d (weighs about 7lb), and my heaviest lens weighs a little over 1.5lb......Anyway your feedback would be helpful

Giles

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

02/08/2012 01:26:34 PM · #2

i have all manfroto

two legs 055c with a 115 two way head very stable but heavy has carrying strap ooption, 190prob with a 222 trigger head, mono pod with 486rc2 ball head all with quick release plates

and 4 superclamps and a magic arm, plus a fluid head for film work, i can change the heads on all of them, i want the micro adjustment plate as well for macro...

best going into local dealer and trying them all out will post photo after tea

Untitled by gilesbert, on Flickr

both of these go flat on the floor, or on the smaller black one you can remove the centre post and have it upside down for really low level or across the top at 90 degress to the tripod in the horizontal

i shoot with 5d battery grip and L glass = heavy heavy

Message edited by author 2012-02-08 14:24:52.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/08/2012 01:53:10 PM · #3

Generally, the bigger the tripod, the more stable it will be. It will also be heavier...unless you get spendy and go for carbon fiber.

So, you have to balance you need for stability vs. how much you'll be carrying it vs. your budget

Similar thing with heads, only you need to decide if you want a pan/tilt style head or a ball head...pan/tilt heads usually offer more stability at lower prices, but you have to adjust each axis independently. Ball heads let you adjust all 3 at once. Some people don't like the way one or the other operates... (There are also fluid heads, but those are expensive and really designed for video to give smooth movements while shooting). I say try both and decide.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

02/08/2012 02:09:55 PM · #4

The only prob about trying out camera equipment.....The internet has shut down all of our camera stores except one...and he doesn't sell much camera stuff anymore

Denielle

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

02/08/2012 02:20:22 PM · #5

I use a Canon 450D for shooting (though I have yet to put some of my work on here, scared perhaps?). Anyhow, I am not a big tripod fan, typically because most of my shooting I do handheld. However, I have invested in the Joby GorillaPod with the Ballhead-X. Mostly because previously we were living in Oklahoma, and I enjoyed mounting the camera on rocks in odd angles, however, normal tripods would not allow for this (at least that is what I had found), so the GorillaPod was a perfect alternative for what I was looking for. It set me back about $150 18 or so months ago, but it was well worth the price! I love it! I have mounted my camera on tree limbs, fence posts, rocks, and all kinds of other areas that you cannot do with a normal tripod.

Something you may want to look into? Just my two cents.
Good luck on finding the perfect tripod for you!

Forgot to mention, this tripod has also worked very well for macro shots! :)

Message edited by author 2012-02-08 14:22:08.

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

02/08/2012 03:12:01 PM · #6

Originally posted by cowboy221977:

The only prob about trying out camera equipment.....The internet has shut down all of our camera stores except one...and he doesn't sell much camera stuff anymore

Amazon lets you return stuff.

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

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

02/08/2012 09:09:20 PM · #7

I tend to reply to these tripod threads with the same basic questions to consider initially and to pare down your options. Here's what I said in the last one:

"First- decide on your budget, and probably then add a bit more. Tripods worth your time cost more than you think, and you'll just burn through cheap ones so you might as well pony up. This article does a good job of explaining what I mean, though his prices are higher than most realistically need to spend (sigh of relief).
What sort of use will it get? Will you be porting it far? How tall are you? Make sure you can get it tall enough for you standing (and I don't mean by extending the center column, which makes it WAY less stable). Obviously consider the weight of the load you'll be putting on it, and pad that number some so you can attach weights to stabilize if need be.
Here is the basic rundown of tripods.
Pick any two from this mix: Cheap, light, sturdy
You can't have all three. Trust me.
Carbon fiber is better for lots of reasons: doesn't freeze your hands, weighs less, dampens vibrations way way better, won't dent. It's also way more expensive. Aluminum is okay, but be aware of its limitations.
Think about if you're okay with twistlock or flick lock. I would say flicklock is faster and probably easier, but Gitzo's Glock is pretty damn awesome and super fast/nice to use.
There are several manfrotto options that are readily available and very good. Check out the 190XPROB as a good starting point.
I would recommend a ballhead. They're more user friendly really, and they're faster to use. Not perhaps as solid as some tilt/pans, but you gain ease of use. Be ready to get a bubble level as well if you get a ballhead. Also pad your ballhead ratings... I think most companies are a bit...generous with their stated ratings.
Some folks like those pistol grips, but they felt pretty crappy when I saw them in person and seem sorta gimmicky to me. Depending upon how soon you're looking to buy, I'll most likely be testing out a cheap but really solid head pretty quick here- Smith Victor BH5 that I'm thinking I'll put on my upcoming monopod.
One other thing to think about is the quick release mechanism. You don't have super heavy lenses, so this is of less concern, but some are designed WAY better for holding. Many of the Manfrotto plates, for instance, rely purely on how tightly you tighten the screw into your camera instead of relying on a lip on the plate. This is lazy design if you ask me, and much less efficient. The other thing is they're all proprietary. I use Arca Swiss style plates and they can work with many different manufacturer's products, so that's certainly nice.

another tripod thread"

Also, I see that the search you embarked on for your perfect tripod has now lasted upwards of a year! :0

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

02/08/2012 10:25:33 PM · #8

spiritualspatula
Yes I have posted about purchasing a tripod for around a year or longer.(I think it was much longer) Unfortunately I lost my job and ran out of money. I got a job after essentially 2 years of unemployment. Now happily employed I am looking to upgrade and buy a tripod.....There is no budget for this. I wanna buy what I will love. If I have to save longer...oh well. This is a luxury item. I don't have to have it but I would like to have it...I am definitely thinking carbon fiber.

sinistral_leo

Nikon D5100

02/08/2012 10:48:16 PM · #9

I won a Manfrotto in a sniper competition before I was into photography. It had a shotbag affixed to it to support a rifle. Later on I rediscovered it as my camera tripod.

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG HSM for Nikon

02/08/2012 10:50:29 PM · #10

Originally posted by sinistral_leo:

I won a Manfrotto in a sniper competition before I was into photography. It had a shotbag affixed to it to support a rifle. Later on I rediscovered it as my camera tripod.

Cool

bohemka

Nikon D700

02/08/2012 10:52:30 PM · #11

As others have said, do it once, do it right. Carbon fiber for lightness (head will add quite a bit on top (no pun)), strength, dampening, won't freeze your hands, etc. For the (more) economical side of carbon fiber, check out Benro, Induro, Feisol, and the like.

ShutterRev

02/08/2012 11:18:58 PM · #12

Best head I have ever used was the Manfrotto pistol grip ball head. 100% hands down best head in the multiverse.

edit: I believe it's also called the "Joystick" ball head.

Message edited by author 2012-02-08 23:20:22.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/09/2012 03:58:34 AM · #13

The ProMaster SystemPRO 2 with a Manfrotto Pistol Grip Ball Head is the most powerful tripod in the world. The only tripod question you gotta ask yourself is "Do I feel lucky?". Well, do ya, punk?

That's my overdramatic way of recommending the tripod system I use.

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

02/09/2012 08:05:03 AM · #14

what are these things so expensive?

ShutterRev

02/09/2012 08:08:00 AM · #15

Because they actually work.As with anything... but also the Tripod and ball mount you can either keep spending $ all the time replacing the crap you bought.. or get the manfrotto... the choice is yours.

Originally posted by mike_311:

what are these things so expensive?

Denielle

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

02/09/2012 08:27:09 AM · #16

Originally posted by ShutterRev:

I have looked into the manfrotto... but for my shooting style, it's not a fit for me.

However, in the future, if I should invest in a regular tripod, it would be a manfrotto.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/09/2012 10:03:17 AM · #17

It looks like it will be carbon fiber....I will look into the pistol grip and ball head.....I am going to do this right the 1st time.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

02/09/2012 10:51:16 AM · #18

Originally posted by sinistral_leo:

I won a Manfrotto in a sniper competition before I was into photography. It had a shotbag affixed to it to support a rifle. Later on I rediscovered it as my camera tripod.

I'm pretty sure that's the best "How I won photo gear" story ever.

Giles

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/09/2012 10:52:59 AM · #19

Originally posted by Spork99:

Originally posted by sinistral_leo:
I won a Manfrotto in a sniper competition before I was into photography. It had a shotbag affixed to it to support a rifle. Later on I rediscovered it as my camera tripod.

I'm pretty sure that's the best "How I won photo gear" story ever.

yep, what was your shot to win the competition, 1000 yard range?

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

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

02/09/2012 10:56:22 AM · #20

Well, since you say money is not a problem, I feel compelled to say Gitzo. Having compared the CF Manfrotto and the CF Gitzo, the Gitzo is clearly BETTER in every category but price. But that's the difficult part- at a certain point, your gains from price are no longer linear. The cost increases logarithmically while the gains continue to rise in a linear fashion, so this may be more tripod than you'd ever need. The Gitzo CF seems to be lighter and stronger, and the locks are better. Are they twice as good, to justify twice the price? That's debatable.
Just make sure to get a tripod that's tall enough for you to shoot standing at full height WITHOUT extending the center column. You extend that column way the hell up there and your tripod isn't half as stable anymore. Remember the head will add some height into it, as well. Also, a 4 section will be more compact, but your legs will have a thinner diameter at the end as a result, making them more fragile.

Giles

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/09/2012 11:02:28 AM · #21

off topic i was in the local great camera shop which is gitzo and manfroto dealer and he was telling me that gitzo legs are better with manfroto heads but he told me a story about a local wildlife photographer who found a full gitzo leg system with a big manfroto head, he took it to the local park ranger station as it was in the high peak national park. after a yearof it being at the station unclaimed they gave it to the photographer. camera shop guy said it was Â£800 worth of tripod... lucky and unlucky

hahn23

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

02/09/2012 11:04:36 AM · #22

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

+1
Couldn't have said it better myself.

I have the Gitzo Carbon Fiber tripod G2257. I'm sure there's a newer model now, but I love my tripod due to light weight, 100% adjustable angles, the center column which facilitates macro photography and the ease of use, in general. (Water proof seals are very important on the collapsable parts. Otherwise, things don't work for long if you get into water and dirt/sand, like I do.)

My tripod head is G1278M. It's not quite heavy enough for my camera and lens, but it's pretty good.

If I were to buy again, my tripod stuff would be very similar to what I have now. I've had this tripod for six years and it's as good as new. I have been diligent about replacing a few small parts that I lost in the field. Manfrotto handles Gitzo parts as follows:
parts@manfrotto.com
In stock. Call 201 818 9500 x 250 to order.
Frank Giokas
Parts Technician
Direct Line: +1 201-818-9500 ext 250

The carbon 6x material is much warmer than aluminum and lighter. Just as strong.... or maybe stronger.