Can I just say, WOW - DPChallenge Forums

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

01/23/2007 09:37:27 PM · #1

Ok I got my Bogen/Manfrotto 3021BPRO tripod and my 488RC4 head and WOW! this is a match made in heaven!

I LOVE this tripod/head combination. I now have an ultra secure feeling of having my camera fully supported and locked into any position needed.

This friggin' rocks!

I originally bought through Amazon.com but the head was out of stock for way too long so I canceled and bought from binoculars.com. This is a great site for tripods and heads...free shipping too...and great customer service.

If you are looking for a new tripod/head...this is the way to go!

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

01/23/2007 09:55:40 PM · #2

Congrats! Great combo... I might be biased, it's exactly what I use ;-)

renefunk

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

01/23/2007 10:01:27 PM · #3

cool! o had a manfrotto to the 055prob with 141rc head. for 190 in the peruvian black market... and WOW

Marjo

Canon EOS-7D

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

01/23/2007 10:05:07 PM · #4

Yep, 3021 on the tripod for me, too. Just bought it. It is beefy compared to those cheap kodak ones from walmart I'd been trying to use.
I'm using the head that I bought for my 'monopod'. It's a 486.
:)

dassilem

Nikon D90

01/23/2007 10:11:47 PM · #5

I JUST got mine too...that exact setup....Wow...much better than the Walmart one I was using....I said "hmmm now this is what a tripod is like...."

Marjo

Canon EOS-7D

01/23/2007 10:22:05 PM · #6

Should we start a Manfrotto club? ;)

01/23/2007 10:30:20 PM · #7

Originally posted by Marjo:

Should we start a Manfrotto club? ;)

YES!

I thought I could only be in love with a lens....I was wrong...

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

01/23/2007 10:31:32 PM · #8

Originally posted by kirbic:

Congrats! Great combo... I might be biased, it's exactly what I use ;-)

I took your advice, Kirbic, thank you!

Somehow I feel such comfort taking advice from Jean Luc Picard. I have always admired him!

levyj413

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

01/23/2007 10:40:21 PM · #9

I've got a $40 cheapo tripod, but I'm ready to git all learnified and stuff.

What makes a great tripod? For example, I can understand how super smooth movement would be useful for a video tripod. But for a camera, where you lock it in place and shoot away, what features should I look for?

Mick

01/23/2007 11:00:06 PM · #10

Originally posted by 'slickchik':

I thought I could only be in love with a lens....I was wrong...

Wanna see a real tripod? 8^o

01/23/2007 11:08:12 PM · #11

Originally posted by levyj413:

what features should I look for?

1. Rigidity/torsion resistance
2. Eye height without extending column
3. Reversible/cantileverable column
4. Legs that can be set independently at different angles
5. Easy-to-operate leg locks
6. Secure, efficient rapid-mounting system
7. Large range of movement in 3 separate planes

R.

Mick

01/23/2007 11:11:53 PM · #12

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

I got all of those features covered.

01/23/2007 11:17:58 PM · #13

Originally posted by levyj413:

I was using $40 tripod and I had no idea how incredibly junky it was until I got this combo.. HUGE difference...it is like using a cheapo lens and then using an "L" lens...what luxury!

Edit to fix spelling.

Message edited by author 2007-01-23 23:18:25.

Mick

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

01/23/2007 11:24:05 PM · #14

Originally posted by levyj413:

What makes a great tripod?

It depends on what you're going to use it for.

In the studio, weight isn't much of a concern. Go for a big, heavy tripod for lots of stability.

If you're going to carry it around a lot, then you might want to look at the lighter carbon fiber/fiberglass tripods. Much better for a long hike. They're kind of spendy though.

levyj413

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

01/23/2007 11:24:52 PM · #15

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by levyj413:
what features should I look for?

1. Rigidity/torsion resistance
2. Eye height without extending column
3. Reversible/cantileverable column
4. Legs that can be set independently at different angles
5. Easy-to-operate leg locks
6. Secure, efficient rapid-mounting system
7. Large range of movement in 3 separate planes

R.

Thanks! My cheapo actually has 5-7, and while the legs can't be set and different angles, they can be set at different lengths, so I guess it's pretty decent for the price. :)

Is #2 because you lose stability with an extended column?

What's #3 mean? That you can hang the camera below the tripod's apex?

Greetmir

Nikon D60

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Nikon

02/07/2007 03:54:18 PM · #16

I love my Velbon tripod for what it is ... and it does have a really nice fast on fast off locking mechanism ... but it does not have a swivel to swing the camera up to portrait orientation. I find this a HUGE drag.

Is there such a device around to provide that function? Some kind of a hingy swivelly hootflangadget?

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/07/2007 03:58:50 PM · #17

Originally posted by Greetmir:

Yes, it's called an "L Bracket".

R.

Elvis_L

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/07/2007 04:02:11 PM · #18

Originally posted by levyj413:

number 3 is hard to explain but insteadof going up and down the piece attached to the camera goes left to right or back to front.

the stabilty can't be overstated. our tripod is a beast. yea it is heavy sometimes but i feel alot more comfortable than with a cheapo. But for you Jeff it may not make alot of difference with your lightweight camera.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

02/07/2007 04:07:03 PM · #19

Originally posted by levyj413:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by levyj413:
what features should I look for?

1. Rigidity/torsion resistance
2. Eye height without extending column
3. Reversible/cantileverable column
4. Legs that can be set independently at different angles
5. Easy-to-operate leg locks
6. Secure, efficient rapid-mounting system
7. Large range of movement in 3 separate planes

R.

Thanks! My cheapo actually has 5-7, and while the legs can't be set and different angles, they can be set at different lengths, so I guess it's pretty decent for the price. :)

Is #2 because you lose stability with an extended column?

What's #3 mean? That you can hang the camera below the tripod's apex?

\
Dang, I missed this. Sorry. You are correct in both guesses. The more a center column is extended, the more potential exists for harmonic vibration, like when you strike a thing and it vibrates and takes a while to return to equilibrium. This is VERY noticeable in a strong breeze, when a tripod with an extended center column may be useless. A reversible center column lets you mount the camera UNDER the apex, hanging upside down, so you can get really low level shots. Another way to do this is with legs that spread out at near-right angles, but the problem here is that you will also have to REMOVE the center column completely and (usually) mount the head directly to the tripod sans column. Bogwen/Manfrotto (and others) solve this by having a two-piece column, so you can remove the longer portion of you wish.

Cantileverable means you can remove the column and mount it horizontally, allowing you to (for example) shoot with the camera supported over space on the OUTSIDE of a bridge railing, a real plus if you do ultra wide angle landscape work. It also makes it easier to use the tripod as a camera stand for copy or macro work shooting straight down, since you can position the tripod and then slide the column back and forth to fine-tune the camera's position relative to the subject underneath.

R.

Bernard_Marx

Canon EOS-40D

02/08/2007 11:20:10 AM · #20

Oh, good, I was looking to learn a few things about tripods. To keep the conversation churning, perhaps someone would like to suggest legs/heads based on my wish list...

1. Rigidity/torsion resistance
2. Eye height without extending column
3. Reversible/cantileverable column (I really want this feature!)
4. Legs that can be set independently at different angles (don't think I care as much about this one).
5. Easy-to-operate leg locks (flips - not turns)
6. Secure, efficient rapid-mounting system
7. Large range of movement in 3 separate planes
8. Save money, avoid name brands unless POSITIVE only a name brand will do.
9. Not a ball head I'm thinking. I don't want it to dip every time I move it - I want to be able to traverse a horizontal plain without dipping.
10. Secure locks - when I use my telephoto on my bobo tripod, I lock it into position and then the weight of the lens continues to move it out of place.
11. The ability to control the horizontal movement by twisting the primary lever - I don't want to have to adjust some little fly wheel.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/08/2007 12:16:19 PM · #21

Originally posted by santaspores:

Bogen/Manfrotto 3021 does all that when you mount the simple, 3-way head to it. It's basically the standard other no-frills tripods are judged by. Cost is gonna be a couple hundred bucks, and it is going to last you a lifetime.

You can't get anywhere near this performance with an off-brand pod for less than $150 or so anyway. Why quibble about the extra $50 when you factor in the security of the bogen/manfrotto warranty and reputation? Your tripod is one place you don't want to cut corners.

That said, I am sure there ARE other tripods out there that can do the job at a lower cost; I just don't know which ones to recommend anymore, except that I have always felt Slik was a good, medium-priced tripod. You can look at Gitzo also. But the economy models of these tripods don't have variable leg angles or reversible-cantileverable columns, and their quick release systems are neither as precise or as secure as the Bogen/Manfrotto's.

R.

Niten

Canon EOS-20D

02/08/2007 12:20:37 PM · #22

I thought they discontinued(renamed) that line. Those are great value for a tripod. The 3021 is a little short for me but the 3221 is great but heavy. I think you need to have 2, another for long hikes that is lighter.

Everyone says ballheads are the way to go but I just can't adjust to them. I'll have to stick with my 3way panning head.

02/08/2007 12:26:10 PM · #23

I cannot emphasize enough how nice the Bogen/Manfrotto 3021 tripod legs and the 488rc4 head is.

Total cost was about $230. Well worth every penny! I spent a small fortune on equipment and using a $40 tripod is scary...this combo holds everything very securely.

Until you experience a really nice tripod, you don't know what a piece of junk a $40 tripod is...Just my $0.02

You will never regret buying this.