Well done Godfrey.
But I would add, for max stability, don't extend the center column. Get a
tripod that is tall enough. And if you do any macro photography you might
want to consider a tripod that will go flat to the ground.
With the low weight of today's carbon fibre tripods, I was able to replace a
Bogen 3221 (everyday usage) & my Gitzo 1548 (used mainly for 600mm
photography) with a Gitzo 3521 - getting both the stability & weight
capacity for the 600 along with a lighter carry weight than the 3221 for
every day usage!
I use a Bogen mini gear head for mainly static images & panos, a Kirk BH-1
for all other photography except 600 - for that I have the Kirk King Cobra
gimbaled head.
Kenneth Waller
http://www.tinyurl.com/272u2f
----- Original Message -----
From: "Godfrey DiGiorgi" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Looking for a New Tripod
How I Buy A Tripod:
- First consider what you want the tripod to support. Add the total
weight of camera and lens assembly to find a maximum.
- Consider what kind of head suits your uses best. Ball heads are best
for speed and positioning flexibility. 3D heads are best for positioning
precision and cost. Ball heads that support a lot of weight and operate
precisely are expensive. Geared 3D heads are the most precise, cost a bit
less for the weight they carry, but take a penalty in setup speed. Also
consider the options in a quick release camera mounting ... It's often
important to be able to get the camera/ lens on and off the head quickly
for carrying. (I simplify here: I only buy heads that I can fit an
Arca-Swiss type QR clamp onto.) Look at various heads in the type and
price range that suits your needs, get their weight. Add that to the
maximum weight of camera and lens above.
- Now you can consider legs. Questions:
How much elevation do you need?
How much weight does it need to be able to support?
(Whatever a set of legs is rated, be sure that it's 20-30% more than
the maximum weight of camera and lens plus head above.)
How much weight am I willing to carry?
Does it need to be compact for traveling or will it live in the car?
Will it spend most of its time in a studio or tabletop setup, or does
it have to be
quick to use in the field?
How much flexibility in positioning the camera is needed ... swing
column,
leg positioning, low angle etc etc?
How much can I afford?
- Caveats:
We often tend to think of a tripod that addresses ALL our needs, but then
use it for only one or two specific things. That means we tend to
over-buy for elevation, or load carrying capacity, or compactness, or
lightness, etc. Think carefully about what you need/want the tripod for,
and what edge cases you really shouldn't spend disproportionately on.
---
I currently own three tripods. I tend to prefer ball heads for their
speed and positionability, and nowadays my weight needs are such that if
they can hold a 7 lbs camera and lens steadily, position it precisely,
I'm good. That puts me to the middle class of professional ball head
($300-400)...
1: Bogen-Manfrotto 3021BN legs fitted with Kirk Photo BH-1 head, Really
Right Stuff lever-action QR clamp
I bought these legs as a remaindered item from Porters for $80 after they
were discontinued, a heckuva deal. They're three section, alloy legs with
lever clamps, very fast to set up, and capable of supporting 15-20 lbs
easily. Simple tripod with simple column. Maximum elevation with full
column extension is about 72". The Kirk head I bought when I was shooting
with Hasselblad equipment, so it's a bit of overkill for my current
lighter gear, $450. The tripod is not light, around 8 lbs, so they get
used around my apartment for tabletop and to hold lights, or when I'm
going places where I can drive and/or need a lot of elevation.
2: Feisol CT3442 Tournament legs fitted with Acratech Ultimate Ball Head,
Really Right Stuff lever-action QR clamp
These legs are very light CF + aircraft aluminum allow construction. Four
section with twist locks means they fold down very compactly for their
elevation, and the column options are diverse but slow to change from one
to another. They support up to 25lbs, way more than I need, and can
achieve 74 inch elevation with full column extension, while also allowing
camera positions down to about a foot. There are options for cross tube
column support, different feet, etc etc. The Acratech head is one of the
lightest precise heads available that can support a 20lb load, and is
very nice to work with with good ergonomic controls. $380 for the legs,
$340 for the head. Package in its carry case weighs 4.1 lbs all up, is a
bundle 19" long and 5" in diameter.
3: Bogen-Manfrotto 190CXpro3 legs fitted with Markins Q3 Emilie head
This is at one and the same time the most compromised of my tripods and
the most used. They're the lightest ... just shy of 3 lbs complete ...
and hold the least ... rated for 11 lbs (still overkill!) and are in the
middle between the other two on collapsed size (about 4" diameter, 28"
long). They achieve about 60" elevation. But the elevation is what I need
90% of the time, I'm usually using lighter- than-maximum gear, they are
the fastest to set up and take down, and the cross-tube-column support is
the fastest and easiest way to get low angle and do field macro work
setups I've seen. The little Markins Q3 head is very precise, beautifully
made, and has great controls; supports more than I need easily. Legs cost
me $225, head cost me $269. Since I bought these, I have used them more
than 90% of the time ... They are by default what I grab whenever I'm
running out of the apartment to do a shooting session.
Godfrey
On Mar 12, 2009, at 5:37 AM, Brian Walters wrote:
G'day all
My Velbon CX540 tripod was originally bought as a stop gap measure, a
gap that has now reached something like 20 years. The tripod is just
passably steady if I use a camera and short zoom (and hang a bag of
rocks off the bottom of it) but it's near useless with a telephoto lens
attached.
Clearly, something has to be done and budget limitations
notwithstanding, the time has come to upgrade.
I'm looking at something like the Slik 500DX which can support about 5
kg and sells here for around $A180 with SH-705E Pan head. With the head,
it weighs 2.5 kg, which is about 1 kg more than the Velbon. I've also
looked at the Slik
700DX with PRO 700 DX head at around $A225 - it looks good but seems a
bit heavy.
Does anyone have any experience with these tripods or can anyone suggest
any alternatives. Anyone familiar with the Velbon Sherpa range?
Also, what are the pros and cons of ball heads versus pan heads?
Cheers
Brian
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Brian Walters
Western Sydney Australia
http://members.westnet.com.au/brianwal/SL/
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