Tripods?

eccentriclens

Im in the market for a tripod and i would like to stay around the $250 mark. I need some suggestions. I heard bogen and manfrotto are good. Should I get a tripod head or L brackets? I just don't know where to start. Can someone point me in the right direction so I can get the most out of my money.


thank you

swintonphoto

Bogen Manfrotto is always a good idea. Gitzo is the other best brand but they tend to be more expensive. Bogen Manfrotto has been around forever and are probably the most frequently used brand in the professional world. This is the setup I use, and I am EXTREMELY happy with it:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/480322-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto__190XPROB_Tripod_Legs_Black_.html
Would fit in your budget as well.
I think it is just the right size, weight, and is very durable. I love ball heads - I use to use pan/tilt for years. Both work well. My preference as of late is ball heads. And this one comes with a quick release.

Icebear

Manfrotto gives a great value. I'd recommend you look at this combo. a few $$ more than your stated budget, but I often use this head, and find it very quick to adjust, yet instantly solid. I really like the side grip.

Art Scott

Asking for advice on tripods is almost like asking for advice on cameras

I have used several brands in the past.....including Bogen and I like Bogen but I carry my tripod everywhere I go and usually a monpod also.....I wanted a tripod that would be easier for me to carry and I wound up with a 4 section Giottos MT 9180 ( donot think it is made any longer) and I sold my Bogen ....Giottos is a very good brand and very sturdy....it does have a center column but I do not use it raised when doing weddings or portraits...but I can pull it out and change it to a horizontal or angle it as needed for close up work or for the rare occiason when shooting wildlife and I have to have it off to the side for me to b able to use it......Giottos can be found at B&H and also on Ebay....for just a few dollars more than you have budgeted for a pod you could have one very nice lava or carbon fibre Giottos tripod.....also for a head I use the Bpgen Manfrotto 322Rc2....this is a grip action ball head and it will hold a ton of camera equipment......

God luck with your search..............

BPerron

I have a dynatran carbon fiber tripod and I love it...and you can find it under 150.00 bucks...very light and very tough. I skimmped on the head and am regretting it...I would spend money on a better well known more expensive head...so get the carbon fiber dynatran tripod and get a good head, that is my advice.

eccentriclens

you guys are very helpful thank you. I really like the grip that icebear suggested. I noticed you all recommended ball heads over pan/tilts. Is that like going from vhs to dvd?

thanks again

Stan

claudermilk

Yup. Unless you have a specific need for separate control of each axis, ballheads are much easier to use. Release one control and move your camera in all axes at once, then lock down that single knob/lever to lock everything in place.

BPerron

I have a ball head and a pan/tilt and I would take the pan/tilt over the ball head any day of the week...They do not allow nearly the movement that a pan tilt does...

i_worship_the_King

loads of tripod talk lately... putting that tax return to good use?

varry

Hi! I'm new to DGrin and haven't done much message board posting in general, so please forgive me if I do something stupid. It's bound to happen.

I'm also in the market for a new tripod (the legs on the one that I have are made out of twizlers). Is there a typical fully-extended height for tripods? I know they vary, but it seems like most of the tripods that I am finding extend to almost 5'. Maybe it's me, but that seems kind of short. I understand that they become more unstable the taller they get...I'm new to tripod research and am not sure what to expect as far as the overall height is concerned. I don't want to keep looking for a taller tripod if such a thing doesn't exist!

BPerron

varry wrote:

Hi! I'm new to DGrin and haven't done much message board posting in general, so please forgive me if I do something stupid. It's bound to happen.

I'm also in the market for a new tripod (the legs on the one that I have are made out of twizlers). Is there a typical fully-extended height for tripods? I know they vary, but it seems like most of the tripods that I am finding extend to almost 5'. Maybe it's me, but that seems kind of short. I understand that they become more unstable the taller they get...I'm new to tripod research and am not sure what to expect as far as the overall height is concerned. I don't want to keep looking for a taller tripod if such a thing doesn't exist!

I know what you mean...my tripod extends to almost 6ft. and I would not want it much taller, as I am short I am only 5'6", so if I was to use it at 6' I would not be able to see what I am shooting and I do not want to carry a step latter everywhere I go, lol...so this is something to keep in mind as well if you are shorter like me

Nikolai

varry wrote:

Hi! I'm new to DGrin and haven't done much message board posting in general, so please forgive me if I do something stupid. It's bound to happen.

I'm also in the market for a new tripod (the legs on the one that I have are made out of twizlers). Is there a typical fully-extended height for tripods? I know they vary, but it seems like most of the tripods that I am finding extend to almost 5'. Maybe it's me, but that seems kind of short. I understand that they become more unstable the taller they get...I'm new to tripod research and am not sure what to expect as far as the overall height is concerned. I don't want to keep looking for a taller tripod if such a thing doesn't exist!

Welcome to Dgrin!
While the tripod height is naturally a concern, please keep in mind that the head and camera body itself add the height too. In my case (Acratech Ultimate V2 and Canon 40D) they add almost 3/4'. I'm 6'2", yet my relatively short Bogen Manfrotto 055 produces enough height to operate rather comfortably on a leveled surface without a need for column extension.
HTH

varry

Nikolai wrote:

Welcome to Dgrin!
While the tripod height is naturally a concern, please keep in mind that the head and camera body itself add the height too. In my case (Acratech Ultimate V2 and Canon 40D) they add almost 3/4'. I'm 6'2", yet my relatively short Bogen Manfrotto 055 produces enough height to operate rather comfortably on a leveled surface without a need for column extension.
HTH

Good point! I hadn't thought of that. I won't worry about it quite so much anymore. Thank you!

claudermilk

When I was looking, I actually made the extended leg height a main point. I wanted on that allowed me to look through the viewfinder without stooping, and did not require me to extend the center column. So I measured myself, and the camera/head height to figure what a goo tripod height would be. Then started shopping. I ended up with a Giottos that fit the requirements nearly exactly; they actually have their model lineup well-organized for looking at this & a nice, logical model-naming scheme so you can look across several option-ranges & compare similar critical aspects.

If you look closely, several manufacturers (Giottos & Feisol for sure) increase the leg diameters as height increases, returning some of the stability lost through height.

SavedByZero

varry wrote:

I'm new to tripod research and am not sure what to expect as far as the overall height is concerned. I don't want to keep looking for a taller tripod if such a thing doesn't exist!

Umm your best best is to just start clicking on the brands and models here on B&H's site.
==> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/2635/Tripods_Complete_Tripods_with_Heads.html

And you'll get a good idea of what's out there and for how much. Then if you have a pro shop in your town (ie not Ritz/Wolf) you might wander on down there to touch and feel them. Weight, size, leg lock types and portability kinda play into which is best for what you need one for.

Srsly there are more tripods makes/models then you can shake a monopod at and you'll have to find the one that works best for you no matter what anyone else suggests. However that being said, you can't go wrong with a Bogen tripod it's like the Charmin of the toilet paper world.

eL eSs Vee

I got a new tripod just today. I researched online and in magazines for about a month before looking at them in person, and I decided on the Manfrotto 190XPROB with their 804RC2 pan/tilt head. (I tried a couple grip heads, but I didn't like the feel of them - personal preference.) Both together came to $230.57, including California sales tax.

This head has three levers, and all of them are short with large, comfortable knobs. The old Velbon I'd been borrowing had a longer handle that hit me on the cheek whenever I'd look through the lens.

Including the head, when closed it's 25.5 inches high: fully extended, with the center column at full height, it's 62.25 inches. With the camera attached, it's more than tall enough for my 5'8" (I'll be 5'9" in July) frame: I have to stand on my toes to look through the viewfinder.

The center column is easily converted to horizontal for macro or copy shooting. In fact, I already copied some vintage documents with it.

I don't have the buyer's remorse with this purchase.