Tripod suggestion

stu.artd

stu.artd

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Stuart
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I'm now giving serious thought to investing in a quality tripod and head. I have a Gorillapod Focus GP-8 with the Ball Head X that I've messed about with but want something that gives more height.
The main use will be for landscape and macro work, having to support a 5d2 with probably a canon 24-70L 2.8 with square filter holder / filter attached or 100L 2.8 macro. Macro's will be mostly of insects or flowers close to ground level so the ability to drop the centre column right down is something I'd need (have no idea if this would be a common feature).

I've had a look around and think I'd prefer a ball head for easier adjustment and think the redsnapper RS-284 / RSH-12 ball head look good, but I'm looking for advice on whether I'd be better spending a bit more and looking at something else instead. The budget could stretch to around £200 and that would have to include the head (I could just use the ball head x I suppose though).
 
i have the bogen 322rc head which is a ballhead with a pistol grip for easy control. for the legs i bought a set from bogen that could hold the head+camera+heaviest lens with the number of leg sections and types of leg locks i wanted. the head runs $119 USD, but you can probably find a deal that isn't much more and includes the legs.
 
I have just bought a Benbo Trekker MK3, it is very flexiable in what postion you put the legs, and tilting centre column to allow low macro shots. I got mine from Amazon, including the ball head for £135, including carry bag.
Haven't had alot of timeto play with it but I like the feel of so far.
 
Have a look at Manfrotto - quality tripods and heads- Ive had Manfrotto gear for years and they cope well - even with the weight of a 150-500mm lens

Les :thumbs:
 
I have just had this same decision to make. I ended up going for a Giottos. I found the build quality and adjustments hard to beat. They are slightly heavier than some other brands but I felt that was about the only down side and a steady tripod was more important to me than a light one.
 
I'm liking the Manfrotto 055xprob. Good height with the column down and other specs seem good enough. I'll have a look at the Giottos range as well.
 
Thanks for the links.
I've read some non complimentary things about Sirui tripods and would rather stick with kit I've heard of and buy from somewhere with a good returns policy if I don't like it. ;)
 
lhb said:
I have just bought a Benbo Trekker MK3, it is very flexiable in what postion you put the legs, and tilting centre column to allow low macro shots. I got mine from Amazon, including the ball head for £135, including carry bag.
Click to expand...

YaY! I have a Benbo and they really do do things that the others don't. Plus they're made in England from real metal and can be used in streams and on beaches and in muddy fields and take all the knocks you and the outside world can give. Mine is much more stable than my previous Manfrotto 055 and it makes the Manfrotto look and feel like a toy :D

Although I own a ball head I wouldn't recommend one for macro as there's always the dreaded "drop." For macro something else is much better, possibly a geared. I have one and they really do help you to get the position you want.
 
stu.artd said:
Thanks for the links.
I've read some non complimentary things about Sirui tripods and would rather stick with kit I've heard of and buy from somewhere with a good returns policy if I don't like it. ;)
Click to expand...

Which ones?
Any links handy?
Am considering one and KX-Series ball head.
 
Bogen = Manfrotto.

I'm also a 322 head user for speed but for accuracy and a total lack of sag, I use a 410 geared head. Either of those atop a RedSnapper set of legs should come in under budget, with the 322 being the cheaper option (although it's now been superseded by newer more expensive models.). Some places might have second hand legs and heads - look at the usual suspects (MPB, Ffordes, Mifsuds etc.)
 
3leggedthing Adrian is within your budget, sturdy, tall, and compact. Everything is modular, can drop right down to the ground, height of your ballhead. or reverse centre column to have the camera touching the ground.

the ballhead is a little gem, works brilliantly and can have it semi-locked, adjustable yet won't move when you remove your head.

3LT is a local company based in Bedford. I bought my Adrian by paying them a visit, they are all very friendly people interested in photography.
http://www.3leggedthing.com/
 
Redsnapper. I can't complain about mine. Very well made. Bit on the heavy side compared to some of the other brands about, but it's not where near the price of them!
 
wuyanxu said:
3leggedthing Adrian is within your budget, sturdy, tall, and compact. Everything is modular, can drop right down to the ground, height of your ballhead. or reverse centre column to have the camera touching the ground.

the ballhead is a little gem, works brilliantly and can have it semi-locked, adjustable yet won't move when you remove your head.

3LT is a local company based in Bedford. I bought my Adrian by paying them a visit, they are all very friendly people interested in photography.
http://www.3leggedthing.com/
Click to expand...

Looking at the 3leggedthing tripod the Adrian looks like it might be a little short with the column down (eg 1.28m v 1.42m of the 055prob) ? I'm 5'11 and want to keep the centre column down and stoop as little as possible to use the camera. I like the splash of colour that's available on their ballheads and tripod bag - a bit better than the usual all black affairs.

However I do like the quick/easy change from vertical to horizontal of centre column on the manfrottos.

Is there any benefit to the leg extenders being the screw type rather than the levers ? Think I prefer the click out/click in levers but don't know if there's a beneficial reason that some use the other type ?

PJ S said:
Which ones?
Any links handy?
Am considering one and KX-Series ball head.
Click to expand...


I had a look again and have found a lot more favourable reviews than negative ones this time. Weird :thinking:
The K series ballheads look good.
 
sorry, forget about 3leggedthing, I didn't know you wanted to put 8kg kit and wanted much higher load capacity. their tripods don't go that high, highest is 12kg load capacity in their 29mm range.

I think screw type benefits from allowing you to grab hold both without finding the latch or taking off your thick winter gloves. In ideal conditions, latch is definitely faster.
 
I'm 5'11" too ... I use the 'frotto 055XPROB and the 496RC2 ball head - works very nicely for me.
 
wuyanxu said:
sorry, forget about 3leggedthing, I didn't know you wanted to put 8kg kit and wanted much higher load capacity. their tripods don't go that high, highest is 12kg load capacity in their 29mm range.

I think screw type benefits from allowing you to grab hold both without finding the latch or taking off your thick winter gloves. In ideal conditions, latch is definitely faster.
Click to expand...

The weight's not much of a worry - at least for now. It's more the height.
I'm planning on taking more landscape photo's this year and all I'll be using is a 5d2 / 24-70 (or 17-40) and filters. I guess 5Kg would cover that easilly enough. I just want to try and make sure that whatever I get will handle a longer and heavier lens (not for landscapes) when I get round to buying one in the future.

That makes sense about the screw type, thanks.

PaulButler said:
I'm 5'11" too ... I use the 'frotto 055XPROB and the 496RC2 ball head - works very nicely for me.
Click to expand...

Sounds good. I'd done some rough sizing up and thought that setup would be a good fit.
 
stu.artd said:
PJ S said:
stu.artd said:
I've read some non complimentary things about Sirui tripods......
Click to expand...

Which ones?
Any links handy?
Click to expand...

I had a look again and have found a lot more favourable reviews than negative ones this time. Weird :thinking:
The K series ballheads look good.
Click to expand...

Your previous reply had me puzzled, because for the life of me I couldn't find those comments - not even 7 pages deep into a search, with 50 results per page!

This is indicative of what I have found.......

Professional review?

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3256980 - last two posts
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3353114

http://www.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=40680
http://www.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=41166
http://www.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=41343
 
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I was only curious Stu, not looking to prove anything.

I'm somewhat surprised he can't remember the model he bought, and "a while back" is very open to interpretation, so improvements in design/quality control may have been implemented since then, if it wasn't just a case of bad luck with a rogue unit.

No mention of exchanging for another or anything - it's all rather vague, and makes me wonder if he's not mixing his Sirui with a Horusbennu or some other Far East brand.
 
If you do get the Sirui it'll be good to hear what you think of it.
I've seen a lot of offers come and go in the past, free heads by online redemption etc.. so as I'm not in a huge rush I might hang off a little and see if anything like that crops up as I bought a rx100 last year before sony started the cashback campaign. :bang:
 
Redsnapper all the way i have one and its brilliant and they hold there money!
 
Has anyone used a vanguard alta pro 283 or 284ct?

Vari-angle centre column is very appealing.
 
PaulButler said:
I'm 5'11" too ... I use the 'frotto 055XPROB and the 496RC2 ball head - works very nicely for me.
Click to expand...

I'm 6ft and use the 055XPROB with a pistol grip. It's a very solid set-up and I don't have to stoop to look through the viewfinder when on a level surface, with the middle column down. It's just about exactly at eye-level.

However, I can't see the LCD on the top of my D2x, even on tiptoes. This is sometimes a smidge annoying. Fortunately most of the same info is in the viewfinder.. but when off the tripod, the top LCD is my go-to.

The tripod is also quite weighty - good for stability, but not so much for yomping.
 
Thanks for that, it's not something I'd given much thought to. I tend to use the top lcd as well, even with magic lantern running so would miss it if I couldn't see it. I'll probably be carrying the tripod about a mile so not too far. I'll either use a strap/tripod bag or attach it to the front of my kata 3n1 25pl as that has a tripod holder/strap.
 
SimonH said:
I'm 6ft and use the 055XPROB with a pistol grip. It's a very solid set-up and I don't have to stoop to look through the viewfinder when on a level surface, with the middle column down. It's just about exactly at eye-level.

However, I can't see the LCD on the top of my D2x, even on tiptoes. This is sometimes a smidge annoying. Fortunately most of the same info is in the viewfinder.. but when off the tripod, the top LCD is my go-to.

The tripod is also quite weighty - good for stability, but not so much for yomping.
Click to expand...
It is at eye level for me too, I don't make as much use of the top lcd so hadn't given it much thought tbh. Agree with you about the weight, it isn't light for sure though I don't find it overly heavy - no doubt some of the carbon fibre pods are lighter though, if a lot more expensive!
 
Has anyone owned/used a Giottos MTL tripod with the '3d column' ?
Looks even more useful than the flip to horizontal function on the manfrottos and with the MTL range being replaced by the YTL models with the Y shaped centre column they're looking very interesting.

I've also seen a Gitzo 2531EX that looks very good but it's just too pricey. :(
 
Thought I'd add that I did get a tripod eventually. I went for a Vanguard 284ct with the sbh-100 head (came as a kit called the 284cb).
 
The next tripod I buy will be carbon fibre. I don't care how expensive. Because the last Giottos I got, while sturdy as a rock, is just too heavy and awkward to lug about for any general use. I ended up buying a gorillapod for when just heading out on the bike down the river to shoot - the big tripod only ever gets used at home of for portrait sessions when I want to keep the framing between shots.
 
I'm liking mine, the carbon fibre does make it lightweight and as the legs have 4 columns it's quite small when packed up, with the ball head attached it fits in a 70cm tripod bag. I ordered it from Amazon.com when it was on offer at around $280, even with fast shipping and prepaid customs fees it was around £270 which is less than the tripod on its own at UK prices.
 
.
 
If money is no object get a top end gitzo a wimberley mkii head & a plate to suit whatever lens you use.
You'll never complain about how it performs but even though the tripod is carbon fibre it is still heavy.
I carry mine everywhere I go & you do get used to the weight.
 
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