Tripod dilemma

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Grasshopper

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Im looking at getting a new tripod but I am going round and round in circles. I need a solid tripod to hold my d90 with sigma 150-500, not to worried about weight or cost as long as it does the job. I like to take some landscape and wildlife but would also like to get into product as well so it would ideally cover all those sorts of photography. Would I need two different heads or is there one that would do the job. I have looked at a couple of Manfrotto legs and heads but wondered if I should be looking at any other makes for better value? Any help would be really appreciated.
 
I started out with a 3 way head and have just gotten a ball head. I'd say for all but panoramic the ball is the easy winner because you can very easily follow subjects and compose naturally. That being said my 3 way still has its place and I most definitely won't be getting rid of it.
 
For landscape and product photography then you can definitely get away with the same head. I would select a decent ball head for this purpose. I would be far less inclined to recommend a ball head for wildlife though, your Sigma 150-500mm would work really well on a lighweight gimbal.

Regarding legs, the manfrotto 055 have a very good reputation although I would not buy them due to the centre column design. I would rather have a short centre column than one that has to be rotated sideways in order to get low to the ground.

I would say whatever you get, make sure that for wildlife the camera is capable of being supported at or above eye level.
 
Thanks for your replies, would just like to ask Naphta, what tripod model are you using? It's interesting to find out and look at the different makes and models that people think are good or bad.The are so many, I don't want to spend out and waist my money on one make when another would have been much better. Also if I went for say Manfrotto legs, can you put a different make head on or is it best to keep it all to the same makes? Thanks again for any replies.
 
Most heads have a 3/8" Whitworth or 1/4" Whitworth female thread in them and most sets of legs (with interchangeable heads) have the male equivalent. Very often, there's a little converter insert that screws into the larger thread to reduce it to the smaller - these are also available as a seperate item.

In general, ball heads are the fastest to aim in the right general direction but can be fiddly to get spot on and can creep. 3 ways are slower to set up but less likely to creep and geared heads take slightly longer again to set up but will stay aimed where you want them to be and can be adjusted with milimetric precision.

IMO, it's easiest (less faffing with QR plates) to keep the heads (or at least the QR system) standardised over all supports. FTR, all my major supports are Manfrotto legs and heads, all with the RC2 (PL-14) QR system. The travel tripod is a Giottos with the standard Giottos head and QR system - but I plan on getting a couple more QR plates so if I take the larger system but the lighter tripod I don't have to faff!
 
Nod said:
IMO, it's easiest (less faffing with QR plates) to keep the heads (or at least the QR system) standardised over all supports. FTR, all my major supports are Manfrotto legs and heads, all with the RC2 (PL-14) QR system. The travel tripod is a Giottos with the standard Giottos head and QR system - but I plan on getting a couple more QR plates so if I take the larger system but the lighter tripod I don't have to faff!
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Totally agree

A while back I moved everything to the Arca compatible QR system. Some folk may not like it, however it is the most standard system out there and many different head manufacturers use it.
 
Again, thank you for your replys. The Manfrotto 055prob is a tripod I have looked at with a 804rc2 three way head which obviously comes With the rc2 quick release so that's great to hear that is a good system. but could anyone tell me, is it much different to the 190prob as that seems to be a bit cheaper?
 
Grasshopper said:
Again, thank you for your replys. The Manfrotto 055prob is a tripod I have looked at with a 804rc2 three way head which obviously comes With the rc2 quick release so that's great to hear that is a good system. but could anyone tell me, is it much different to the 190prob as that seems to be a bit cheaper?
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The 055 and 190 are very similar, the 055 are bigger (and heavier) - so have greater maximum height and load capacity, but cost and weigh more.

I have the 190 ProBX, and am looking to upgrade to an 055 CXPro3 or CXPro4 when finances permit (the 190 was my first tripod, and seemed an excellent balance of price / size / weight, I've since moved from entry level APC-C to Full Frame, and need / want something a bit bigger to cope!).
 
ah Grasshopper

Also don't discount the larger Giottos tripods. The 9361B seems to get good reviews and is their equivalent to the Manfrotto 055XPROB (which I have).

Head wise, if you're looking for one head to do both landscape and wildlife I would suggest a ball head, and another Giottos product. I have a 1311-652 on my Manfrotto legs and it's great. It has a control that allows you to adjust the friction on the unlocked ball, so you can have it set 'light' so the ball moves easily - great for moving wildlife, or set 'heavy' so the ball has more resistance - great where more control for landscape is required.

You can also buy an adapter that will convert the standard plate to an Arca Swiss design plate system.

Might be worth a look
 
There's an 055, without head, for sale over in Classified right now for £80 ovno.
 
Another to consider is SLIK PRO 700DX

Goes up to 6 ft 5 Inches and takes a 7KG load

You can buy legs only or with the 3 way head. I ended up replacing the head (there's nothing wrong with it) but the legs are very sturdy (I prefer them to my Manfrotto 055) and are great if you're tall. The middle column splits to leave you with a little stubby bit so you can splay the legs right out to get low.

Currently available (legs and 3 way head) Sale Price: £125

http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/ProductDetails~man~Slik~productID~4122~categoryid~189.html

Specifications: Slik PRO 700DX Tripod Complete With Head
Maximum Height 76.80 in. (1,950mm)
Minimum Height - Slik pro 700 DX tripod 16.25 in. (413mm)
Folded Length 32.4 in. (823mm)
Centre Column Extension 16.25 in. (413mm)
Weight - Slik pro 700 DX tripod 6.95 lbs. (3,152g)
Number of Leg Sections 3
Leg Lock Type Speed Release Lock
Maximum Load 15.00 lbs. / 6,800 grams
Leg diameter - Slik pro 700 DX tripod 30.2mm
 
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That's great, thankyou again everyone for all your help. I will have a look at this arca Swiss quick release system. Does anyone have any ideas where is good to get one at a good price. Also has anyone seen any Manfrotto 055 at a good price, I am looking at the slik that was suggested and have asked the seller about the one in classifieds but had no response, so trying to see all my options.
 
Does anyone have or know anything about Giottos. Been out looking at the Manfrotto 055 pro B and saw the Giottos GTMTL9361B and thought it looked really solid?
 
Have a Giottos 1301 head, seems rather solid/sturdy!
 
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