Recommendations for a Tripod or Monopod
penny
Registered Users Posts: 23 Big grins
So I recently bought my wife a sonya700 sigma 17-70 lens. She is focusing on childrens photography. This said, she uses both natural and studio lightening. I am wanting to get her a tripod or a monopod. Which ever one would be of most use to her. I have read the forums on here regarding tripods, yet I am clueless when it comes to which one is better then the rest. I have gone to some shops, yet I get the typical biased opinion. Bottom line they try to sell me there brand. To top things off, we live in a city where there are few (only 1) camera dealers who carrys no equipment other then lenses and bodies. My next best thing is bestbuy so its hard to get a good honest opinion and actually be able to see the product first hand.
Your input is much needed. My wife tells me that there are a couple of sony uses on here. I say this because from what I have read you want to factor in the weight of your camera, adjustability, what type of equipment you use and what your trying to accomplish. This said, any ideas of what would serve her purpose.
Your input is much needed. My wife tells me that there are a couple of sony uses on here. I say this because from what I have read you want to factor in the weight of your camera, adjustability, what type of equipment you use and what your trying to accomplish. This said, any ideas of what would serve her purpose.
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With your wife's current gear and current goals she won't need either. Save for a better glass and/or maybe decent flash.
I know she has a decent flash, the Promaster 7500EDf or least this is what we have been told. Whats a better lens? Are tripods more for portrait/nature/sports shooting?
answers above in bold
Tripos/monopods are fairly useless for kids, they move too much/too fast. Unless we're talking wek old babies.. In any case for studio work I'd recomment a shooting stand not a *-pod. And for the outdoors you can just handhold.
Tripods are needed for stable envirnaments and long exposures. People, especially kids, do not qualify. Monopods (and in certain cases tripods) are used to support very long and heavy lenses - when you don't own. Hence - no need for either...
I agree with Art that you could do better flash-wise, but I'd recommend you find someone selling a used Sony. She'll be amazed what she can do with an F56AM or F58AM. Even the F42AM would be a step up. Still...I'd probably spend the cash on glass.
Better means higher quality optics and faster aperture. I've found the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 to outperform the Sigma 17-70, though the 50mm is a bit short for portraits so I understand your choice.
If I were in her shoes I would add two lenses to my collection. A Minolta 50mm f/1.7 will only cost you about $100 and is an excellent portrait lens on a crop-sensor camera like the A700. The f/1.7 will make it possible to take advantage of natural lighting far more often than the Sigma's aperture at 50mm.
Then, unless all the children portraits are taken in a very cramped studio, I'd pick up a Tamron 90mm Macro. This is $500 but may well be the best portrait lens A-mount offers. (I'd be interested to hear Art's opinion on that - he's been shooting Minolta longer than I've been alive!)
I think tripods have a more broad range of use than Nik indicates but I completely agree with him that a tripod is unnecessary for children portraiture.
For studio work, weight isn't much of an issue as your wife isn't going to lugging the tripod around much. So get a good solid one. A tripod with fewer leg sections will, all else being equal, make for a more sturdy/solid tripod.
The thread is quite recent and might give you a good starting point. You can also check the "Reviews You Can Use". You'll find there are more than just a couple tripod reviews to be found there.
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But, as we already agreed, they are pretty useless for shooting fast moving kids...
When I wrote that sentence I was actually hoping you'd come back with something like this! I knew you were painting with broad brush strokes, as was I. And I agree - for shooting portraits of children a killer portrait lens is a much, much higher priority item than a tripod (somewhere at the bottom of the list).
To the OP: Scott is also right on the money. When you do decide to buy a tripod, don't buy junk. You'll regret it later.
Best Buy has a couple of (overpriced) Manfrottos that wouldn't buy, but you can test them out in the store and quickly see the difference between even a low-end Manfrotto and the highest end of the junk lines.
- Guide Number: 138 (ISO 100, 105mm)
- TTL Auto Range: 2�-99� (ISO 100)
- Motorized Zoom: 24mm-105mm
- Power Source: 4 AA alkaline or PROMASTER rechargeable NiMH batteries
- Recycling Time: 0.3-10 seconds
- Angle of Coverage: 92� H 75� V (with diffuser): Covers 17mm lens on 35mm camera or 12mm lens on digital format SLR 78� H 60� V (without diffuser): Covers 24mm lens on 35mm camera or 17mm lens on digital format SLR
- Bounce Angle: -7� to 90�
- Swivel Angle: 0� to 180�
- AF illuminator for autofocusing
- Front and rear flash-ready light
- LCD display panel
- Full digital auto TTL dedication
- TTL Auto, Manual, Multiple, Modeling, Slave
- Flash upgradeable by your PROMASTER dealer
It compares to sony's Sony HVL-F42AM flash. That said, besides her Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 she has a Sony 50mm/1.4.I know Art said a Sigma flash. Also Art which Sigma do you recommend, the 530 St or the 530 Super?
I was looking at picking up a Sigma 10-20/3.5 or the Sigma 18-50/2.8 or even maybe Sigma's 20/1.8, 24/1.8 or 28/1.8. I want to make sure she has an arsenal of lenses to where she can do different things. Any thoughts?<!-- Product Description Ends Here --><!-- begin footer ztag cLTGqie6 --><!-- end main div -->
http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/fs-sigma-105-f28-ex-dg_topic53358.html
It's not mine I just saw it on the forums.