Tripod recommendation

NeilA1975

NeilA1975

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Hi all,

After a tripod recommendation, ideally column less, carbon, up to £400.
Had a look and cannot seem to find any other than the Gitzo, but are well outside my price range.

Cheers
Neil
 
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Hi Neil, that's a minefield of a question. Probably better to make a list of what your requirements are first? What height as your probably losing 30 cms without the centre column, also what head as some tripods don't come with one. I had a bang on the head and ordered a gitzo last year, yes it was expensive but the height was really important to me.
 
I'm not one to buy anything because of a name, but Gitzo tripods really are good and have no hesitation recommending them.

I just sold my systematic (column less) on here, but the other designs can have the centre column removed via the ground set function
 
paul100 said:
Hi Neil, that's a minefield of a question. Probably better to make a list of what your requirements are first? What height as your probably losing 30 cms without the centre column, also what head as some tripods don't come with one. I had a bang on the head and ordered a gitzo last year, yes it was expensive but the height was really important to me.
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That's a good point Paul.
I currently use a Manfrotto 55Xpro3 aluminium tripod with a Manfrotto 410 geared head. Whilst a lovely heavy tripod, and sturdy, the centre column doesn't allow low down shots with the 410 head attached and since I'm not keen on ball heads, my only solution is to buy an alternative tripod (great excuse for a bit of GAS!).
Height wise upto 1.8 meters will be fine, not much lower than that however. Camera and lens combo will be a no more than 2 kilos. Will be doing a bit of long exposure work too, so the sturdier the better.
I could kick myself really as Wex had a sale on a large Gitzo systematic last year, reduced from £1100 to £600, I should have bit the bullet and purchased, but didn't!

The Benro that Keith has linked too certainly is an interesting proposition but I have to be realistic, money is a factor in this so it may come down to a used Gitzo or new something else.
 
tijuana taxi said:
I'm not one to buy anything because of a name, but Gitzo tripods really are good and have no hesitation recommending them.

I just sold my systematic (column less) on here, but the other designs can have the centre column removed via the ground set function
Click to expand...

Thanks Rich.
 
I also went with feisol and have no regrets. Gitzo were too expensive for what they are. I went with slightly smaller and lighter tournament model CT-3342, which uses slimmer carbon leg tubes vs the elites. Otherwise it's the same build spec. It supports my rz67 + 65 f4 or f5 + 300 f2.8 perfectly and at a good height too. (I'm 6ft and am unable to look into the finder on the 6x7 at full height. I've got a basic manfrotto 488rc2 ball head on there for now which does ok but probably worth upgrading at some point.
24259883325_e5fe318942_b.jpg
 
Kei said:
I also went with feisol and have no regrets. Gitzo were too expensive for what they are. I went with slightly smaller and lighter tournament model CT-3342, which uses slimmer carbon leg tubes vs the elites. Otherwise it's the same build spec. It supports my rz67 + 65 f4 or f5 + 300 f2.8 perfectly and at a good height too. (I'm 6ft and am unable to look into the finder on the 6x7 at full height. I've got a basic manfrotto 488rc2 ball head on there for now which does ok but probably worth upgrading at some point.
24259883325_e5fe318942_b.jpg
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Nice setup you have there Kei.
Ive looked at these on their site, they say max height us 1.41 metres - do you use a centre column Kei?

Thanks
Neil
 
Nope no centre column. The height of the ball head, quick release plate and camera body adds up to make it virtually head height. The F5 with in built grip puts the viewfinder at eye height. My un-gripped D810 is about 2-3" below eye height.
 
Kei said:
Nope no centre column. The height of the ball head, quick release plate and camera body adds up to make it virtually head height. The F5 with in built grip puts the viewfinder at eye height. My un-gripped D810 is about 2-3" below eye height.
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That's handy to Kniw, I shoot a D800E.

Thanks very much.
 
•

One of my two Feisol 3372 tripods has no column. I use
it with the Feisol levelling base and a Jobu Design gimbal
for my long lenses.

The other one has a column and a Feisol 70mm ball head.
 
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A simple option could be to get the 055XCCSB short centre column fro your current tripod.
It won't get as low as having no centre column at all, but is a cheap and easy option - and means you also have the existing centre column available to swap back to if you ever need more height.
(I bought one to mount my Gimball head on, so I can easily swap between that and my 410 by swapping columns)
 
Faldrax said:
A simple option could be to get the 055XCCSB short centre column fro your current tripod.
It won't get as low as having no centre column at all, but is a cheap and easy option - and means you also have the existing centre column available to swap back to if you ever need more height.
(I bought one to mount my Gimball head on, so I can easily swap between that and my 410 by swapping columns)
Click to expand...

Ah thanks, that could be an option but don't know whether or not it fit my tripod. I'll need to check.
 
Kei said:
I went with slightly smaller and lighter tournament model CT-3342
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•

Also a good decision as it has only three leg segments!
 
Also a good decision as it has only three leg segments
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Why is that a good decision?

Less compact to carry and only a very minimal difference if any in stability, also fully extended height is often less on a three section version.

Possibly some advantage for the smaller lighter tripods where the lower leg diameter is quite small, but not really applicable on something like a Gitzo series 3 or above model
 
@NeilA1975 Neil, take a look at the Gitzo Basalt tripods. In practise it works just as well as CF, weighs a fraction more and you should be able to find what you want for about the money you're talking. The GT3840C off the top of my head is a series 3 tripod in basalt. I have the tiny series 1 in basalt which I just modified to remove the centre post for macro work. I did a write-up HERE.
 
Should have added too I do a lot of seascapes do stability with water very important.
 
NeilA1975 said:
Should have added too I do a lot of seascapes do stability with water very important.
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Neil, I found some posts on another forum about the Gitzo GT3830. The guys there were using one with 600mm teles so I'm guessing it's a fairly sturdy tripod.
 
tijuana taxi said:
Why is that a good decision?
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NeilA1975 said:
stability with water very important.
Click to expand...


1, with more sections, the inner segment is even smaller
2, the thicker (3372 ∅37mm) all segments are stronger.

The two combined offer greater stability. That's what I needed.

If portability is the priority, the choice may be different.
 
NeilA1975 said:
Ah thanks, that could be an option but don't know whether or not it fit my tripod. I'll need to check.
Click to expand...

I'm assuming it would be the right one - I have the 055CXPro3 - the CF version, and I believe the centre columns are interchangeable, but you're right to double check before making a decision.
 
I bought a Benro off here a few weeks ago,carbon fibre and a steady beast.
I have a manfrotto carbon from my birdwatching days but it's about half the size, no complaints with either.
 
tijuana taxi said:
Why is that a good decision?

Less compact to carry and only a very minimal difference if any in stability, also fully extended height is often less on a three section version.

Possibly some advantage for the smaller lighter tripods where the lower leg diameter is quite small, but not really applicable on something like a Gitzo series 3 or above model
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Most of the play in a tripod is in the leg joints. Particularly, if the design only uses a bushing at the joint and not also at the free end (cheap tripods).

I've had a Benro CF tripod for ~5yrs now and have been happy w/ it. It uses multiple bushings, but they aren't quite as large, snug, or smooth in operation (compared to some others). The leg joints still have some play. They all do, but I would say it's a touch more than some of my other tripods.

FWIW, I also own Gitzo and RRS tripods. IMHO, they are like everything else in photography... you pay exponentially more for minor improvements/gains, and a certain amount for the name.
 
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NeilA1975 said:
That's handy to Know, I shoot a D800E.

Thanks very much.
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To follow up properly as I was on my phone. My dad has a benro travel tripod and it's not bad compared with the feisol, but it's not quite as sturdy as it's a travel tripod. Seems well made and has some nice features.

This is the height with the first section fully extended and the second roughly half. The camera is level with my chin and I had to stand tip toed to look into the finder. (look down into it)
 
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I've just bought a benro ...... Amazing ... Can't see how a Gitzo would be any better ,,,,,, got the Mach 3
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Main thing is you are happy with it so does it matter what its better or worse than?
 
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