New Tripod - HELP!!

[RichB]

Thanks guys, it was definitely heavier weight than my spec but seemed otherwise a compromise and useful for any ultimate system upgrade I can conceive of. I also don't know how comparable or reliable load capacities are so I'm inclined to take extra capacity if it's there.

Ultimately my problem is I don't understand the Benro models, is there an obvious step lighter weight than that that anyone knows of? If it's ok for that Nikon combination (which a friend let my try out and is killer on the arms :S) then I definitely need a lighter weight one.

[Manfred M]

Thanks guys, it was definitely heavier weight than my spec but seemed otherwise a compromise and useful for any ultimate system upgrade I can conceive of. I also don't know how comparable or reliable load capacities are so I'm inclined to take extra capacity if it's there.

Ultimately my problem is I don't understand the Benro models, is there an obvious step lighter weight than that that anyone knows of? If it's ok for that Nikon combination (which a friend let my try out and is killer on the arms :S) then I definitely need a lighter weight one.

Check on this website for the specs and models: http://www.benrousa.com/main/

[Harpo]

A couple good tutorials:

LensRentals on Tripods
Lensrentals on Ballheads

One thing that wasn't mentioned enough in these posts is… your tripod will most likely will be turned away from being brought into a cabin of any airline. It can be considered a weapon. It generally must be put in the cargo hold, thats why if you have luggage checked in, thats where it goes. If not, you don't bring it. It cannot be put in carry on luggage. However, I wonder if the Gorillapod tripod might get through being so flexible and all?

[Manfred M]

A couple good tutorials:

LensRentals on Tripods
Lensrentals on Ballheads

One thing that wasn't mentioned enough in these posts is… your tripod will most likely will be turned away from being brought into a cabin of any airline. It can be considered a weapon. It generally must be put in the cargo hold, thats why if you have luggage checked in, thats where it goes. If not, you don't bring it. It cannot be put in carry on luggage. However, I wonder if the Gorillapod tripod might get through being so flexible and all?

I think it might depend on where you are flying or the airline you are flying with. I've had mine aboard many aircraft, strapped to my camera backpack.

[Harpo]

I think it might depend on where you are flying or the airline you are flying with. I've had mine aboard many aircraft, strapped to my camera backpack.

Interesting. Ive read so many posts from frequent flying photogs that literally preach it. I know some of the major US airlines, I was not able to bring it as carry on including one flight overseas. Wonder if they have kinda loosened up the enforcement over time?

[Manfred M]

Interesting. Ive read so many posts from frequent flying photogs that literally preach it. I know some of the major US airlines, I was not able to bring it as carry on including one flight overseas. Wonder if they have kinda loosened up the enforcement over time?

I don't know about US airlines; my experience was with Canadian and European carriers.

[IanCD]

I've posted this before, as a response to a similar thread... hope it might be helpful to add to the mix:

I spent almost a year up to this February looking into what tripod and head to buy. I wanted something light and compact that I would be able to carry fairly comfortably while hiking several miles, but that would also give me stability for long exposures. I knew that wouldn't be cheap, so I looked at Gitzo's range, including their Traveller tripods and kits. I read a lot of stuff on forums, including here at CinC.

The Gitzo Series 1 Traveller, though very light, was too small. The Series 2 Traveller might have been favourite but it only comes as a kit with Gitzo's own traveller ballhead. That head doesn't take Arca-swiss compatible plates, and I also came across negative reports about it on some forums (e.g. here). Plus, that tripod kit is very expensive: around £650 here in UK.
Roger Cicala's articles on choosing a tripod and, particularly, the one on choosing a ballhead were very helpful. The latter article directed me toward a Markin's head. An article by Thom Hogan was also influential in getting me to think about how much I might spend. Once I’d decided on tripod legs, I decided on a Q3 Traveller head which is designed to work with Gitzo’s Series 1 Traveller legs; they fold back on the tripod enclosing the head which makes the folded length of the tripod much more compact. I ordered the head through EBay from Korea, as it was about £100 less than I would have had to pay through Markin’s Europe.
As far as the legs were concerned, as well as Gitzo I looked into Benro, Manfrotto, Velbon and Induro, all of which have their advocates, but I eventually found and decided on a Feisol Traveller 3441T tripod. It’s a carbon fibre tripod which weighs just 1.1kg and folds down to just 48cm, yet extends to 1.45m without the centre column raised. With the column fully extended it goes up to 1.73m if ever needed (and conditions suit).
I’m really pleased with the Feisol + Markins combination and I’m starting to get pictures which I wouldn’t have thought possible just 6 months ago. I’ve had it in the sea and taking 4min+ exposures (and, in fact, double that with long exposure noise reduction). Total cost was just over £500.
Here are links to various sources, as well as those linked above, that led me to that decision:

• Detailed review of Feisol 3441T (includes several photographs)
• Which Gitzo traveller tripod
• Gitzo GK2580TQR Traveler Series 2 Mini-Review
• Travel Tripod Recommendation(s) (Digital Photography Review)
• How Induro Tripods Got Me To Make The Biggest Gear Switch Of My Life

Ian

[Polar01]

Ian: hope to see some of thoses images, I myself went with the Feisol 3472LV tripod with their CB-50DC ballhead, love the way they go together, mine spends a lot of time getting wet, I just extend the legs to dry in sun or a quick wipe, then again mine is in fresh water not salt. Again looking forward to those shots.

Cheers:

Allan

[RichB]

To update from where I was above: I've got myself a Manfrotto 190 to play with for the time being with a view to buying it from a friend and it seems to tick the boxes quite well considering how cheap it will be. Not so fancy but good never the less.

[Polar01]

Richard: I had that very tripod, and it is very good indeed, it did almost everthing I wanted, I still use in for a lot of indoor shots. The reason I got the Feisol was because when you rise the centre column up all the way, as I have to do a number of times, I found that, if there was any wind and I was doing a long exposure (I do a lot of them up to six minutes or more) I was getting vibration transfered to the camera and would ruin the shots. I lost over two hours of shots in Iceland this year because of this. Now taking long exposure may not be your thing, so I would not worry, if you look in the threat "Post Dark Photography", there is a image I did as a 3 shot pan each shot lasted 6 minutes, the image is perfect as per nt shake or vibration I used that very tripod to take it with a D7000 on top. It is a very good tripod, and I would suggest it to anyone, but not if they were planning to play outside in some of the nastier conditions as I now do.

Cheer:

Allan

[The Blue Boy]

Toño,

This is a question we get here so regularly that Sean has even done a quick tutorial on the subject,

https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tu...ra-tripods.htm

The main problems for any sort of accurate guidance from the experienced user to the novice are mainly that we all have different points of reference. And these vary but are most commonly; Budget, weight and sturdiness. Also height and ease of adjustment. Add to these what sort of photography are you most passionate about?

Add to this problem the answers you'll get in any forum, mainly that most people will tell you all about their own equipment, as it has stood them in good stead in their own experience (I've just done this in a monopod question, )

Richard has posted some excellent advice as always.

But the point I'm trying to make is that as we progress through this ever steeper learning curve, our equipment (cameras, lenses, tripods, wives, boyfriends, husbands, software, computers and back-up systems) all have to change as we progress.

Ask anybody here with a decent (read EXPENSIVE) system about their first tripod. It won't make happy reading as their next camera was in need of a better tripod.

And then a better lens needs a better back (Body)

So then to my advice,

Buy a mid range model of your choice. And keep it. Mine (A Benbo Trekker) now is in daily use for holding flash units for macro and portrait use. It would hold the weight of a D80 (Just) but not the weight of the D300s, SB900 and a Sigma 150mm macro lens.

You, like all of us will upgrade all of your equipment, accordingly, as this is not a hobby but an addiction.

I should add that I use a Manfrotto 055X PRO4 with a 410 Junior geared head. And that I'm very happy.

Wouldn't mind a Gitzo though,

[kaneohebud]

The decision you are going to have to make is what kind of photography you are going to do and for how long. I read and ignored Thom Hogan's advice and made all the mistakes he cites. I owned a light aluminum Manfrotto tripod and ball head when I used a lighter Panasonic camera. I moved up to a Manfrotto 055X PRO when I got a Canon 7D.

I finally realized that I'm in this for the long haul. I extensively researched all the possible tripod and ballhead manufacturers and created a monster spread sheet. I looked at the top outdoor photographers whose work I admire most and saw what they were using. My needs are a little different than most photographers because of my 6'3" height. I gritted my teeth, saved my pennies and bought a Really Right Stuff TVC-34L carbon fiber tripod, RRS BH-55 ballhead with a Wimberley Sidekick gimbal head adapter. Yes, they cost a ton of $$$. However, I now have the support equipment I need for whatever camera/lens configuration I get in the future. I do plan to move up the scale as I save my $$$ but I don't have to worry about whether or not my tripod will support it. The tripod/ballhead investment is now sunk cost that I no longer have to worry about. The TVC-34L extends solidly well above my head yet compresses to a length that fits in the large suitcase I use for extended photo trips. I have used the RRS stuff gear extensively over the past year and LOVE IT.

The good news is I was able to sell the Manfrotto tripods for close to what I paid for them.

[RichB]

Richard: I had that very tripod, and it is very good indeed, it did almost everthing I wanted, I still use in for a lot of indoor shots. The reason I got the Feisol was because when you rise the centre column up all the way, as I have to do a number of times, I found that, if there was any wind and I was doing a long exposure (I do a lot of them up to six minutes or more) I was getting vibration transfered to the camera and would ruin the shots. I lost over two hours of shots in Iceland this year because of this. Now taking long exposure may not be your thing, so I would not worry, if you look in the threat "Post Dark Photography", there is a image I did as a 3 shot pan each shot lasted 6 minutes, the image is perfect as per nt shake or vibration I used that very tripod to take it with a D7000 on top. It is a very good tripod, and I would suggest it to anyone, but not if they were planning to play outside in some of the nastier conditions as I now do.

Cheer:

Allan

I do intend to use it for longer exposures and probably in some interesting conditions but my gear is quite light and I'm happy to do the best with what I've got an accept some of the limitations for the sake of it being cheap.

I've just accepted that height is not one of its qualities and I don't even carry the centre column, which has made for some interesting maneuvers to set up on the other side of walls etc.

I used to borrow an 055 but I think on balance I wouldn't be able to take it everywhere I want.

[Polar01]

Richard: you will be happy with that tripod, it will give you great support 95+% of the time, just do not do long exposures with it at full extendion in a stiff wind, like I had to. I was not gentle with it and it gave me no problems until that day. As I stated I still use it as a backup and where I need something with less of a foot print. So enjoy it.

Cheers:

Allan