Tripod suggestions

Jamesbjenkins

So, I'm pretty green in tripod land. I've finally got my glass and body where I want them for now, and I'm trying to decide on a tripod / head combo. The 3 rigs I've looked at seriously are the Manfrotto 055pro, several models from Feisol and several models from RRS. I'm 6'6", so height is a big consideration. I definitely don't plan on having anything larger than a 300mm 2.8 in the future, so a gimbal head is unnecessary. Weight isn't a huge concern, and I've always thought CF was overpriced and overrated.

Please help me understand why I should spend 3x the price of the manfrotto setup on a Feisol, RRS, Gitzo, etc. I'm a Semipro with full-time pro plans in the next 2-3 years, so I don't have any problem paying for quality...

Please enlighten me! I'm tired of reading biased reviews.

puzzledpaul

Jamesbjenkins wrote: »

Weight isn't a huge concern, and I've always thought CF was overpriced and overrated.

Please help me understand why I should spend 3x the price of the manfrotto setup on a Feisol, RRS, Gitzo, etc. I'm a Semipro with full-time pro plans in the next 2-3 years, so I don't have any problem paying for quality...

Please enlighten me! I'm tired of reading biased reviews.

What sort of photography do you do - and is buying used an option?

pp

Jamesbjenkins

puzzledpaul wrote: »

What sort of photography do you do - and is buying used an option?

pp

Up to this point, I've done mostly portraits and weddings. However, I'm trying to transition my business into more of a focus on architecture, commercial, event, etc. I've done a lot of playing around with HDR, and I'm ready to start delivering realistic HDR to my clients, hence my need for a high quality sturdy tripod / head combo.

Used could be an option, if the gear was in excellent or like new condition. I certainly don't want someone's abused, cast-off gear.

I can spend several hundred dollars for the right option, but I need to be as economical as possible. I have at least 3 other big purchases to make this year (14-24mm 2.8, iMac, D800), so there isn't a ton of room for a $700+ tripod...

puzzledpaul

Personally I'd never dream of shelling out the amounts needed for a new 'top end' tripod. Millions of pics (some might even have been ok? ) have been taken with older solid / stable gear down the years before the arrival of current generations of gear.

I use old ali Gitzo gear (mainly series 4/5 stuff) because I like the ease of attaching custom widgets into the 85mm dia clamp ring, and the fact that legs can be mixed n matched for (my) different sitations.

Cosmetically challenged is great in my books - makes it look less attractive as a potential theft target and is also more likely to get used in challenging situations / less likely to be a 'hanger queen'

Ali, whilst being colder and heavier is a relatively well known quantity re aging ... and being able to be fixed in a DIY manner. Do we actually know what state a CF tripod is going to be in 20yrs later, after being subjected to use (and occasional abuse) ?

In my books, no tripod offers the perfect solution - especially for the sort of sitations I'm often in - so I don't use one at such times.

In your situation, some (clients) might think 'nice new tripod' ... but others might be re-assured to see a used one, indicating that it (and its user) wasn't new to the game?

pp

Jamesbjenkins

puzzledpaul wrote: »

Personally I'd never dream of shelling out the amounts needed for a new 'top end' tripod. Millions of pics (some might even have been ok? ) have been taken with older solid / stable gear down the years before the arrival of current generations of gear.

I use old ali Gitzo gear (mainly series 4/5 stuff) because I like the ease of attaching custom widgets into the 85mm dia clamp ring, and the fact that legs can be mixed n matched for (my) different sitations.

Cosmetically challenged is great in my books - makes it look less attractive as a potential theft target and is also more likely to get used in challenging situations / less likely to be a 'hanger queen'

Ali, whilst being colder and heavier is a relatively well known quantity re aging ... and being able to be fixed in a DIY manner. Do we actually know what state a CF tripod is going to be in 20yrs later, after being subjected to use (and occasional abuse) ?

In my books, no tripod offers the perfect solution - especially for the sort of sitations I'm often in - so I don't use one at such times.

In your situation, some (clients) might think 'nice new tripod' ... but others might be re-assured to see a used one, indicating that it (and its user) wasn't new to the game?

pp

Thanks for your take.

cab.in.boston

I'm 6'5", so I went through a similar process looking for a tripod that was tall enough to shoot from eye level when desired. However, I have no pro or semipro requirements, so your needs are different than mine. I'd imagine shooting weddings you don't need a tripod a whole heckuva lot, but for portraits having a stable platform probably would help. Anyway, someone (probably Art Scott) pointed me towards Giottos, and I ended up with the MT-9371 legs, Kirk BH-3 ballhead, and a Kirk L-plate for my D300. The legs are aluminum and 3-section, so they're nice and sturdy but a little heavy for all-day toting around. Since they're 3-section, they don't collapse really small if you need to put them in a suitcase for traveling. They live in my car most of the time, so that's not an issue for me.

Anyway, I'm happy with my system, I can shoot at eye level when I want to - in fact when running the numbers I thought I'd need to have the legs fully extended to shoot eye level but in reality that's quite a bit too tall for me so I had to make markings on the lower leg section, I'm sure it would be plenty tall enough for 6'6". I can get down pretty low (even right at floor level by inverting the center column - which I otherwise always just leave completely lowered or replace it with the stub insert Giottos provides), and the whole kit was on the order of $650. I find the L-plate fantastic, and if the weight capacity wouldn't support a 300/2.8 (I don't know how heavy that guy is), you could step up to the larger size ballhead for a bit more. I prefer the twist locks, as they can be operated easily with gloves on and there is no risk of pinching the skin on your hands in a lever lock, but that is all personal preference. If I were traveling a lot or routinely hiking all day, I might want a smaller kit or CF to save some weight, but I don't and so I'm very happy.

I'm going to assume you may have found this already, but just in case you haven't seen it, here is Thom Hogan's tripod article, which is what always gets linked to in these types of threads. I think it's worth the read and has a lot of valid info.

And here's my gear modeled by my favorite budding photog, just cuz I love the photo.

Jamesbjenkins

great suggestion, Cab. I'm checking it out. haven't looked at Giotto's pods yet. thanks!

JimKarczewski

I'm 6'9" so I feel your pain. There are 2 options from Gitzo, I went with the one that's I think 6'6" which was about $800. The 8ft version while would be nice in situations was a bit much for $1200 and I don't think I'll ever need something that high (I say it now. ) I love it and while weight was a concern with me when I bought mine (as I knew I'd be doing a LOT of hiking with it) when my friend brings his (one I gifted him, my old tripod) it's like lifting a boat vs a feather.

RRS was my other option.. I honestly forget why I went with Gitzo to be honest..

ETA- Mine (duh) from looking at my tag is a Gitzo GT3541XLS which B&H shows as discontinued? I bought mine in 2010 before a big trip. I think, but not positive is that the RRS may have had a center column to raise it to the height I was looking for and I wanted something with NO center column. Been there, done that and found I still get movement thanks to that column.

DavidTO

In reading your original post I don't think there's any reason you should spend the extra money for the RRS or others. You don't care about weight and aren't interested in carbon fiber. Sounds like you'll be happier saving money than getting the build quality of the more expensive tripods. The trade offs are money, weight, stability and build quality. For me (shooting landscapes, mostly) I'm wiling to spend the extra money to get a lightweight, stable tripod. There's just no way I'm going to get an aluminum tripod, period.

As for me, I had a Manfrotto followed by a SLIK, a Gitzo and lastly a RRS. The Manfrotto I had was by far the inferior tripod. By a very wide margin. The Gitzo was a huge step up, but the RRS is the best tripod I've seen, period. But all that said, it's the best tripod I've seen for my needs, not yours.

DavidTO

I want to add that I came to hate that Manfrotto. Hate. The little covers on the ends of the legs would come off in sandy environments, for example.

It was the 190MF4.

Icebear

My hobby is mountaineering. One of the most important things I've learned in my decades in the mountains is that ounces add up. It's easy to make fun of the guy who cuts the handle off his toothbrush (or does without) cuts the lables out of his clothing, sleeps on top of his fleece instead of using a insulating pad, etc, but when you're panting from exhaustion in the thin air, and he's already through the dangerous ground, he looks pretty smart.

I carry so much crap to a photo shoot that anywhere I can save weight is worth some extra $$ to me. I have carbon and aluminum tripods. My aluminum ones (and some of them are huge beefers) stay in studio. When I'm on location, it's light weight for me.

Jamesbjenkins

Do you guys have any experience with Feisol 'pods? The other less expensive aluminum option I'm looking at is Giotto's. I'm looking at the tournament series from Feisol and the MT9371 from Giottos. Probably a large ballhead for each.

I really really like everything that I've seen from RRS. I know a lot of Dgrinners love them (I'm looking at you, Andy), but at this time I can't justify dropping a grand on a tripod. The most I can probably go is $500-600...

There are simply other much more important things that need to be purchased with the gear budget...

Thanks so much for all your perspectives, I really appreciate you taking the time to respond!

Art Scott

Awais Yaqub has a Feisol and Loves it...I use Giottos, for my need no other t-pod come close especially for what it cost me...$159.00 approx 8 yrs ago...it is still a hard working pod and yes it is alum. ... ... it does studio work, it compacts small enuff to pack in a duffel bag for flying the center column can be pulled out the head flipped and then the center column can be re-inserted for getting a t various angles for macro shooting or just getting close to the ground at weird angles... yea..i could have spent a grand on a pod but I would not have been any better off in reality..over my 30 yrs I have a grand total of 4 tripods ...most of which I have sold to friends that could not afford to buy new, so I helped them out and me too....it does not bother me to sell a piece of equipment that is off the books... If I need a tax deductions then it is time for new to me equipment and sell the older stuff ... ... it is just the way it works for me ... if my knees and back get a lot worse then I may have to break down and go CF... ... ... ...

Icebear

Art Scott wrote: »

if my knees and back get a lot worse then I may have to break down and go CF... ... ... ...

Hey Art! Are you implying that I'm a broken down, old wreck? Never mind. I AM a broken down, old wreck.

Art Scott

icebear wrote: »

hey art! Are you implying that i'm a broken down, old wreck? Never mind. I am a broken down, old wreck.

no no no never ... ... ... ...

Dreadnote

An iMac starts at: $1199
Nikkor 14-24: $1999.95
D800: $2999.95

Stable platform for a tall guy and debatably more important than any of the above - RRS TVC24L: $935, but "it's over priced"

I don't get it

puzzledpaul

Dreadnote wrote: »

I don't get it

When it's possible to buy a used series 4 or 5 Ali Gitzo for a fraction of that price, then I do.

pp

Dreadnote

puzzledpaul wrote: »

When it's possible to buy a used series 4 or 5 Ali Gitzo for a fraction of that price, then I do.

pp

Don't misunderstand, I simply am saying that the OP stated he was going to be buying some very expensive gear whose value beyond his current gear is very marginal given what he says he has in his signature. So I'm simply a bit confused as to why people relegate a tripod to the bottom of the pile. If you can find something used in good condition then go for it.

puzzledpaul

Dreadnote wrote: »

So I'm simply a bit confused as to why people relegate a tripod to the bottom of the pile.

Don't know for sure, but possibly because they're not considered a 'sexy' piece of kit in the same way as new cam/ lens whatever.

Even though we know the importance of a stable platform (whatever form it might take) ... it's possibly still thought of as *just* a set of tubes / bit of scaffolding etc ... compared to a fancy container crammed full of state of the art wizardry that must - in our mind - be more useful in our quest for taking better pics.

Dunno - the wetware between our lug 'oles often works in weird and mysterious ways, methinks

pp

eoren1

I've had a Feisol for a few years now and am happy with it overall. I had issues with the three screws used to hold the ballhead in place initially and realized later that they were off a bit. With new screws and some blue loctite, it has held tight. The CF is nice - light and doesn't get cold (well not as cold as metal would). I've used it in all conditions without issue.
It really is a great pod for the money. If I had unlimited funds, I probably would have gone with the full RSS setup though.

NikonLover

cab.in.boston I have that exact tripod and I LOVE it. Sturdy, strong, fast and easy to break down and set up. And deffinitely the right price for someone on a budget.

As far as heads go it very much depends on what type you like. I have tried many different types from ball heads to pan and tilt type head. And I have to say from my personal experience the ball heads are not nearly as sturdy as pan and tilt. Every ball head that I have had from used to new manfrotto, gitzo, and 3rd party have all not held up the the standards and shift and slide causing images to be blurry. This is just from my own experience though. But for me pan and tilt all the way. I currently use a Manfrotto pan and tilt and it hasn't failed me yet.