Your Tripod?

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Dorsetsnapshot

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Morning all,

I've been watching some videos (to learn) now i'm getting my way back into photography, and I've also been out and taken some photos myself... the one thing i've realised, is that I should probably buy a proper/decent tripod....

The one I bought when I first got into photography was a cheap Argos one, as I didn't want to spend big bucks when I had just started, and whilst I'm not the one to spend hundreds and hundreds, I do believe I should upgrade my current one to a mid-range one.

What would you recommend?

Thanks in advance.
 
Tripods are like cameras. There isn't really a one size fits all. It depends what you want it for and, how far you're going to have to carry it and how much you want to spend. In an ideal world you'd want it to be exceptionally sturdy, exceptionally light, pack up tiny but be huge when fully extended and of course be nice and cheap. In reality, you have to compromise a bit based on your intended usage. To give you an example, I have three tripods:

1. a 3LT Brian - This is a small, light carbon fibre tripod. I use it when hiking. It's not as stable as bigger tripods but much, much better than not having one at all.
2. a manfrotto 055 with a geared head. This combo weighs a tonne and is big. I use it when I don't need to carry a tripod any significant distance or when I want ultimate stability.
3. a 3LT Winston. This is a big carbon fibre tripod with ballhead. It's quite light. A jack of all trades and I use this for most landscape trips if I'm hiking big distances.

Something else to consider is that tripods are really a combination of legs and a head. You can buy them as a package (normally with a ballhead) or you can pick and choose what you need for each element.
 
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gad-westy said:
Tripods are like cameras. There isn't really a one size fits all. It depends what you want it for and, how far you're going to have to carry it and how much you want to spend. In an ideal world you'd want it to be exceptionally sturdy, exceptionally light, pack up tiny but be huge when fully extended and of course be nice and cheap. In reality, you have to compromise a bit based on your intended usage. To give you an example, I have three tripods:

1. a 3LT Brian - This is a small, light carbon fibre tripod. I use it when hiking. It's not as stable as bigger tripods but much, much better than not having one at all.
2. a manfrotto 055 with a geared head. This combo ways a tonne and is big. I use it when I don't need to carry a tripod any significant distance or when I want ultimate stability.
3. a 3LT Winston. This is a big carbon fibre tripod with ballhead. It's quite light. A jack of all trades and I use this for most landscape trips if I'm hiking big distances.

Something else to consider is that tripods are really a combination of legs and a head. You can buy them as a package (normally with a ballhead) or you can pick and choose what you need for each element.
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Wow, thank you for the reply and information. There is alot there to think about that I hadn't thought of myself!
It all makes sense though.

I guess based on what you've said, I'd want a decent alrounder to get me into things properly, so I have more stability than I have right now, but not too heavy that it's difficult to carry anywhere. I kind of want to get into going out more and if I'm not on a planned trips, have some time to scout out locations, look for shots etc, so one I could carry would be useful! (I wouldn't be hiking much though)
 
the "travel" type tripod strike a great balance. I use a Benro Travel Angel 2 CF and it's excellent, very sturdy, decent height and reasonably lightweight for carrying around the mountains etc.

Simon
 
Dorsetsnapshot said:
What would you recommend?
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A tripod is a good place to lose money!

This article is very important and, if chosen carefully,
will last you a life time. I understand that there may be
limitations like budget, travelling, etc but, nonetheless,
cheap solutions are no way to go.
 
there was a manfrotto in sales which was good price with ballhead too (£125 post IIRC). I'd suggest that one :)
 
nandbytes said:
there was a manfrotto in sales which was good price with ballhead too (£125 post IIRC). I'd suggest that one :)
Click to expand...

So would I, its mine and to be honest it is a bargain especially for carbon fibre from a respected company.

Its going spare because I have three others, they are
FLM CP26-M4S, my do it all tripod, C/F so its light, but stable too
Manfrotto C/F Befree, light travel wandering about job
Manfrotto 055 Pro, stays in the car, too weighty for lugging around and ok if wanted when out and about
 
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For an excellent lightweight alloy tripod without spending mega bucks, have a look at a Manfrotto MT190X3 with a decent head, if you want a ball head then the 488rc2 are cheap enough s/h now but massively sturdy, or if you want a pan and tilt head then the 804rc2 head
 
Like may others, I have a few, but 3 I use more than the other 2.

1) A Gitzo carbon fibre travel tripod with a ball head, not particularly tall, but it's light, packs up small and has a hook to hang a bag on to increase the stability
2) A Manfrotto CX055 with a 3 way head. Again, Carbon fibre so it's not too heavy and small enough to hike with. With the legs fully extended it's about 5ft high, plus the centre column.
3) A Manfrotto 190 Aluminium tripod with either a video head (used with my spotting scope) or another 3 way head. It's very stable, but very heavy, and I tend to use this when I park not far from a hide when using my scope (to digiscope).

As others have said, it's all about what you want to use it for and what you are putting on it. Since I have moved to Fuji, even my Gitzo can take my longest lenses without too much of an issue. Think about how you want to use it, what you're putting on it, and how far you need to carry it.
 
I've had a Velbon Sherpa 600 for more than ten-years and it's been ok though it now needs a new head. For the last few years it has been assigned spotting scope duty.
My main tripod is a carbon fibre Giottos 8261B with a Pig Iron ball head. This for me has been a good solid setup.
For travel I use a Redged TSA-322K and RNB-0n ball head.

When I was working, we had a couple of Manfrotto 055 series tripods that were pretty solid if a bit on the heavy side. The photography guys used Gitzo tripods most of the time.

As far as I can tell, both Giottos and Redged have disappeared.
 
A Benro TMA38CL (full size, light weight, carbon fibre tripod. not the cheapest, but not particularly expensive either) and a Benro GD3WH Geared head or a Benro Ball head depending on what I'm shooting or how far I have to carry it.
 
Manfrotto 190MF3 and 055CXPRO3 both carbon, and I lug one or the other around, still not found a lightweight travel tripod I'm happy with. I like the 190MF3 because you can bin the center column, by unscrewing it from the stub that holds the ball head, and provides a much more stable platform. Not fond of center columns, there great for inducing vibration. If I take it off its a bit less weight to lug as well.
 
I've said it before ... i went down the path of a cheaper (?) tripod and regretted it all the way .. I bought a Manfrotto 057 and a CB gimbal and had terrible shake ... then bought a Wimberley head and a fiesol tripod and it will take anything I can throw at it without any problems ... i know its a lot of money but do you want to buy twice or three times and it cost you more in the long run??? yes its money but I wish I had the advice of the good people who know back when i bought my gear ...... and thanks to those that did help ... you saved me a LOT of money (working my way up to good equipment) ....
 
I have an old RedSnapper 4 section tripod & ball head. Had it years & it still works fine although it does have a slightly bent leg section now!! Arca Swiss too which is very handy in conjunction with an L Bracket! It is a little on the heavy side but I manage to carry it up to 7-8miles on some days out!!

Certainly buy properly & buy once though is the best advice I can give!!
 
I've had three tripods in my life, two were next to useless and the third I'm happy with but hardly use. Anyway, my point is that I think choosing a tripod and head takes a bit of thought.

The problem for me was that conventional centre column through the middle of the legs designs frustrated me as I couldn't get the positioning I wanted for many shots such as flower shots and stuff like that. I now have a Benbo which can be positioned to point the camera almost anywhere. I'm not a great lover of tripods but I would recommend thinking carefully about how you'd want to position one and if the ones you're looking at meet your requirements. Ditto heads, I'm not a great fan of ball heads.
 
Take note of Kodiak Qc's post. Tripods are a case where you get what you pay for.

This is, probably, the area where most photographers cheap out - to their cost. I started cheap with some bendy Manfrotto tripods but soon realised that they were just not up to the job. Luckily my (then) local camera shop was willing to talk sensible prices on Gitzo tripods - what a difference! Lighter, MUCH more rigid, more versatile and far stiffer. Yes they are pricey - but you won't need to replace one in the foreseeable future.

These days there are some very good copies/clones from the likes of Benro, Feisol, Induro etc which are well worth a look - their headline prices are less too. However all my Gitzo tripods were purchased much cheaper than the copies which is why I bought Gitzo, they are not always expensive if you hunt around and are patient.
 
Hi

For general use i run a Manfrotto 055 CF with the center column and most recently a Sirui Ball head. Fantastic combination, great stability with any standard lens, and the center column allows you to get to almost any angle, low, high, side etc great flexibility. I only found it limiting when i get a big Tele lens (500mm). I still use it for all my landscape work to great effect.

Rob
 
I would recommend my gear as a mid ground between rubbish and very expensive high end gear. You could get a ball head to save weight etc.

Head Manfrotto 804rc2. Monopod Manfrotto 680b Tripod Manfrotto 055xprob ( if still made )

Not the best gear but I find it quite sturdy and well made / tough.
 
My "Bendy" Manfrottos were the 190 and the 055 XB Pro. My Gitzo GT2530 is lighter and vastly superior in rigidity and vibration damping to either of them - cost £300 new (should have been £478) when I bought it. Not cheap but well worth it! Even my monster Gitzo GT4542 LS is lighter than an aluminium 055 and was under £400.

Not having a go at anyone but I wasted money on cheap tripods and regretted it! I don't want to see others making the same mistakes as I did.
 
I have owned several Gitzo tripods and as John says they are very good albeit expensive.

My current tripod is this one https://snapperstuff.com/products/cp26-m4s-flm-centrepod-tripod-3693
Its twist locks really do only need a quarter turn to function and the knurled leg locks offer a good surface to grip.

Bought it to replace two Gitzo models and so far its an excellent compromise of size, weight and stability.
Not that cheap, but German made with a ten year warranty, I use one of their ball heads too which is equally well built
 
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