New tripod question

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Skypilot

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ILooking for a good quality tripod to replace my ancient one.
I also want a geared head and I've short listed a couple of those.
Question is..
All the tripods I've short listed seem to come with heads supplied . I don't want to pay for a head I'm not going to use.
Can you opt for the tripod only?
I've not spotted that option when checking out prices etc.
 
Most of the high-end tripods (e.g. Gitzo) are sold without heads, though some are available in kits with optional heads. What's on your shortlist?
 
I'm guessing you are looking at the budget models, because most quality tripods don't come with a head.
 
Skypilot said:
ILooking for a good quality tripod to replace my ancient one.
I also want a geared head and I've short listed a couple of those.
Question is..
All the tripods I've short listed seem to come with heads supplied . I don't want to pay for a head I'm not going to use.
Can you opt for the tripod only?
I've not spotted that option when checking out prices etc.
Click to expand...
You don't mention your budget, but as others have suggested, it sounds like you are looking at the lower end of the market.
In my experience, when it comes to tripods, "Buy cheap and you buy twice."
You should be prepared to spend more than you intended when it comes to tripods and heads.
Buy to suit future requirements, not just what you have right now, a decent tripod and head is an investment that can be used well into the future.
The cheaper geared heads, like the Manfrotto X-Pro, start around the £130 mark and you should be prepared to pay somewhat more than that for the tripod.
Obviously the overall size and weight of the tripod and head is governed by the weight of the outfit you want to mount on it.
Personally I use the Manfrotto 055CX Pro3 CF legs, along with the Manfrotto 410 junior geared head.
I'd regard this as a minimum set-up, it's very easy to spend a whole lot more, but this suits my requirements.


 
Not been looking at cheap or budget but maybe just unlucky with those I'd checked out.
For example:-
Peak Design £329 (includes Ballhead)
Gitzo GK1545T-82TQD £539 (includes Ballhead)

Looked at a few others around £300 to £600 as well. All seemed to come with Ballhead.

Since seeing the replies I've checked out a few others and it seems I may have just been misled by the first ones I looked at.
 
Do you intend to walk miles with this tripod, how tall are you, how much does your heaviest camera and lens combination weigh, can you see yourself out and about in windy conditions?

Answer all of those and we may be able to point you in the right direction.

If I was going out now to replace my current tripod, without a budget to get the most expensive I would probably go for the same as I have now, a Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 or 3 Legged Thing Winston.
 
I recently did quite an in depth analysis of tripods but I was looking for something quite specific. I wanted a full size sturdy tripod but it had to be light...my analysis was based on price per gram of weight saving vs my existing tripod (an old Manfrotto 055). Since I knew I was going to replace the head at some point I did factor that in, and the 3 legged thing Winston's came out on top. The Winston v1 was better 'value' but I didn't mind paying a bit extra for a bit of extra weight saving with the Winston 2.0. Without the head included the Benro 3 series tripods were the best value.

So these would be my recommendations, but my point is that I'd advise deciding on a metric which means something to you, putting some tripods into an Excel sheet and seeing in black and white what the best choice is.
 
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Skypilot said:
Not been looking at cheap or budget but maybe just unlucky with those I'd checked out.
For example:-
Peak Design £329 (includes Ballhead)
Gitzo GK1545T-82TQD £539 (includes Ballhead)

Looked at a few others around £300 to £600 as well. All seemed to come with Ballhead.

Since seeing the replies I've checked out a few others and it seems I may have just been misled by the first ones I looked at.
Click to expand...
Those two are travel tripods. Neither would be suitable for putting a geared head on top. It would be rather top heavy.

You need to search for larger tripods than travel tripods if you want to use a geared head. There are a few options around. Induro is one I can think of that that worth looking at if gitzo are out of budget. I picked up a gitzo a few years ago and don’t expect to ever need to replace it. The equivalent would now be the gitzo GT 3543LS systematic. It’s exactly cheap as legs only but you shouldn’t ever need to replace it.

A good place to look at the options and prices is on www.camerapricebuster.co.uk. There is a whole section for tripods under 3rd party photo.
 
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Gitzo GT3542L Series 3 Mountaineer Tripod with 4-Section Long - Black

Best tripod i have ever bought.
 
Take a look at the benro mach 3 carbon tripods and their geared head, I use both and they're excellent. As already mentioned you'll need a sturdy tripod for a geared head. The geared heads are large and fairly heavy. Even a carbon tripod with a geared head starts to feel heavy on a hike. The benros come with extra spikes and a good bag. Can't comment on the 3LT tripods, not had one for years.
 
With Gitzo.
As others say the traveler would probably be not enough for a geared head I have the gk1555t myself.
The Mountaineer range may well do I have the gt2530 and can probably support myself on that although still lightweight and relatively thin.
But in fairness if I want something to be ultra stable etc I always use my Benro c4770tn which is ultra stable etc but you wouldn’t want to take it on a hike.
 
Skypilot said:
Not been looking at cheap or budget but maybe just unlucky with those I'd checked out.
For example:-
Peak Design £329 (includes Ballhead)
Gitzo GK1545T-82TQD £539 (includes Ballhead)

Looked at a few others around £300 to £600 as well. All seemed to come with Ballhead.

Since seeing the replies I've checked out a few others and it seems I may have just been misled by the first ones I looked at.
Click to expand...
You can buy that Gitzo without a head:
www.gitzo.com

Traveler tripod series 1

The Gitzo <strong>GT1545T</strong> Series 1 <strong>Traveler carbon fiber tripod</strong> is a headless, <strong>ultra-compact, 4-section</strong> support with an 180° leg folding system pioneered by Gitzo, which enables its legs to reverse-fold around the center column and an optional ball...
www.gitzo.com www.gitzo.com
I think that's true for all Gitzo legs. The Peak Design is a bit unusual, as they've designed it to use a specific head (you need to buy an adapter to use a standard head).
 
I've got the gitzo traveller and wouldn't use it with a geared head. It's solid but the geared head can throw the centre balance point off, one good gust and it'd be over. The geared head is also almost half the height of the traveller and would look silly.
 
FWIW I have just weighed my Manfrotto 190Pro B with a Manfrotto Junior 410 geared head.
it is just under 3Kg, portable yes for a short distance but I would not like to carry it very far , apart from the weight it is not very easy to carry (unless your have a willing assistant)
 
Just started to research heads + tripods.
Budget is not really an issue as I see it as a long term investment.
Looking at previous comments I may have to reassess my criteria.

Regarding Tripods
I was looking for a halfway compromise between light/travel and sturdy.
I prefer fliplock clasps and will go for CF legs.

Regarding Heads
I can't get on with Ball Heads so if Geared are going to be too top heavy, I need to look at decent 3 Ways.
I'd like Arca compatibility as I'll be using it with an L Bracket.
 
mstphoto said:
I'm a great fan of Vanguard tripods.
Quality products at a reasonable price.
I've had Manfrotto tripods in the past and although they were ok I still think my Vanguards are better.
Click to expand...
Which vanguards do you have Mike?
 
Skypilot said:
Just started to research heads + tripods.
Budget is not really an issue as I see it as a long term investment.
Looking at previous comments I may have to reassess my criteria.

Regarding Tripods
I was looking for a halfway compromise between light/travel and sturdy.
I prefer fliplock clasps and will go for CF legs.

Regarding Heads
I can't get on with Ball Heads so if Geared are going to be too top heavy, I need to look at decent 3 Ways.
I'd like Arca compatibility as I'll be using it with an L Bracket.
Click to expand...
I know you dont get on with a ball head but it may be worth looking an the uniqball/flex shooter (I think that’s what the newer version is called). It’s quite niche as it doesnt conform to what most think a tripod head should be. I guess it’s a jack of all trades. It’s like a ball head but has an outer ball that levels the head. The inner ball can then only move forwards/backwards and twist. It stays perfectly level if you’ve set the outer ball right. it’s good to make adjustments know you don’t need to worry about keeping it level too.

The smaller uniqball is £250 and weighs around 500g. The larger version is a bit more in cost and is a little heavier (probably 600-700g). I added the pano clamp to mine and it weighs in at around 900g. I bought it in 2014 and still have one I use for landscapes now. I wouldn’t ever let it go (unless I now went with the smaller as Ive sold the big long lenses) as I find it very useful for landscapes. previously I also used it for wildlife with long lenses

legs clamps is a personal preference. I used to say the flip locks was what I preferred too. That was until I got a gitzo with twist locks. that changed my opinion as I now find twigs locks much easier. The benefit I love is that I can open all 3 locks on one leg in a single twist, extend the leg and secure each one up with less than half a turn. Gitzo do make their twist locks very well. I had a cheaper tripod that had twist locks that weren’t anywhere near as good.
 
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If you are looking at 410 head which is arguably the best there is for sensible money... keep in mind they are heavy (nearly 2kg), but also well-built. It will need a big tripod to match (2-3kg) and it will absolutely want to sit on the 60mm (large one) column plate. So that will limit the choices to Manfrotto, Gitzo and a few other copycats. And then only the heavier and bigger models... There is nothing worse than heaving a very top-heavy tripod setup. Otherwise it may seem to work but you will run likely into potentially very big and expensive problems sooner or later... Hopefully without the camera on top!

All I can tell is that 055XRO will balance well with 410 head..., Keep Manfrottos well away from the sea water.
 
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