Tripod: how heavey is heavy?

mercphoto · May 25, 2004

I have always been told that tripods should be heavy. I understand why this is so. I also know my $40 Wal-Mart tripod does not cut it. Mild wind will shake it.

But, exactly how heavy is "heavy" ?

pathfinder · May 25, 2004

mercphoto wrote:

I have always been told that tripods should be heavy. I understand why this is so. I also know my $40 Wal-Mart tripod does not cut it. Mild wind will shake it.

But, exactly how heavy is "heavy" ?

Weight is not the sole answer - rigidity is more important. The Gitzo 2228 lets you hang your camera backpack from the center of the tripod if you need more weight. It is stable in a 20mph wind for me.

Most inexpensive tripods are just junk - more trouble than they are worth. When I first looked at the price of a good tripod I coughed three times! Ha! But then I relized we may go through several cameras in our lifetime, but a really good tripod should be forever and a joy to use.

I was at a photographic workshop a week ago in Arizona, and noticed that 9 out of 10 participants were all using carbon-fibre Gitzo tripods - including me as well. (I think there is a message here!!

) There were many different styles and sizes - various heights, weights, and tube thicknesses - but all were Gitzo Carbon-Fibre. There is a reason - they last and they work. They are not cold in freezing weather amd they are rigid. Take a look at tripods at www.reallyrightstuff.com - OR AT B&H. They have a good discussion of tripods there. There is great information here http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/tutorials/tripods/index.html and http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/tripods/index.html

You will also need a plate to attach to your camera - threading a camera in with the standard 1/4-20 bolt gets old really quick. Get a good tripod and a good plate and you won't ever go back to a cheap tripod. Good tools are a joy to use. Use an Arca-Swiss type quick release clamp - RRS will fix you up.

I plan to order another for myself - the G2228 - levels, tilts, slants, strong.

Because I cannot get mine away from my wife after she used it last week.

I found a another article reiterating what I just said here . http://bythom.com/support.htm He agrees with me - neat!

gus · May 26, 2004

Im the opposite...light weight/compact & cheap. It has to do one job for me...hold the camera still. We have to be carefull not to make this too technical. I paid $30 for mine & it gets thrown into cars/bikes etc. If it breaks then i get another one.

We are all different so there will be many different answers. I would love to see how many andy has.

Hey andy...you up for a coffee in Manhatten in late july...i'd love to catch up for an hour or so to meet you.

Bryan · May 26, 2004

I keep looking at this item:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30094&item=3817755443&rd=1

Dynatran AT 6703, Tripod, with removable mono pod. Selling for About $100 after shipping. Does anyone have experience with Dyantran products?

GREAPER · May 26, 2004

Bryan wrote:

I keep looking at this item:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30094&item=3817755443&rd=1

Dynatran AT 6703, Tripod, with removable mono pod. Selling for About $100 after shipping. Does anyone have experience with Dyantran products?

I do not, but that head looks like a rip off of the bogen head I have which I am fairly certain says patented on it. I can say that I had to dissasemble my bogen after less than a year because it no longer gripped the head firmly. I was able to fix it but the camera stores were no help at all. Their suggestion was that I buy a new one. 75$ and lasts less than a year, I dont think so. That being said If there are strength and quality issues with the patented version made by a company with a good reputaion like bogen/monfrotto, Iwould hesitate to buy something that looked like a copy.

On the flip side my head was 75$ by itself and the legs were another 200$ so perhaps the price justifies the risk.

Unfortunatly my eperience has shown me I should always buy the best equipment I can afford as I will surly pay for the cheaper stuff in the long run by losing images.

Andy · May 26, 2004

Humungus wrote:

Im the opposite...light weight/compact & cheap. It has to do one job for me...hold the camera still. We have to be carefull not to make this too technical. I paid $30 for mine & it gets thrown into cars/bikes etc. If it breaks then i get another one.

We are all different so there will be many different answers. I would love to see how many andy has.

Hey andy...you up for a coffee in Manhatten in late july...i'd love to catch up for an hour or so to meet you.

i've used lots of tripods and this is my favorite and the one that i use now all the time

bogen 3001B Pro Legs:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=222612&is=REG
and
bogen 329 RC4 low-profile pan & tilt head:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=253613&is=REG

to quote shay: it's nice and "stout" and yes, i can hang a weight from the center post for extra stability but i rarely need it. i have had this out in the middle of a roaring river, in the water. i've had it 200 yds out in the middle of the hudson river in january, in 40mph winds, and gotten great shots. i love this 'pod. it's no lightweight though.

i'm in the market at some point soon for a carbon getup, but i'm not really in a hurry.

'gus: let's do more than coffee, eh? how about a full day of shooting in the greatest city in the world?

pathfinder · May 26, 2004

andy wrote:

i've used lots of tripods and this is my favorite and the one that i use now all the time

bogen 3001B Pro Legs:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=222612&is=REG
and
bogen 329 RC4 low-profile pan & tilt head:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=253613&is=REG

to quote shay: it's nice and "stout" and yes, i can hang a weight from the center post for extra stability but i rarely need it. i have had this out in the middle of a roaring river, in the water. i've had it 200 yds out in the middle of the hudson river in january, in 40mph winds, and gotten great shots. i love this 'pod. it's no lightweight though.

Andy - You prefer a pan/tilt head to a ball head apparently. Can you explain your preference? I have never developed any affection for pan/tilt heads! I thought they were used mostly for video or moving pictures?

Most of your street shots are heand held are they not? What percentage of your shots do you use a tripod for?

Andy · May 26, 2004

pathfinder wrote:

Andy - You prefer a pan/tilt head to a ball head apparently. Can you explain your preference? I have never developed any affection for pan/tilt heads! I thought they were used mostly for video or moving pictures?

Most of your street shots are heand held are they not? What percentage of your shots do you use a tripod for?

i like the precision control of this pan tilt head. i like the sturdy grip action it has, i like the one twist and adjust, retwist and it's locked. there are more levels on this thing that on norm abram's tool belt

i've used a ball held on two shoots. i dunno, i just prefer this, it suits me fine. oh and there are all the degree marker thingies so if i decide to do panos i have that going for me, too hehehe

my street shots are all handheld. my 'pod comes out for landscape, nightshots, and when it's convenient or the scene / subject dictate. i don't mind carrying it around for a whole day if need be. it balances quite nicely over my shoulder, camera, lens and all.

wxwax · May 27, 2004

andy wrote:

'gus: let's do more than coffee, eh? how about a full day of shooting in the greatest city in the world?

You guys do that and I'm inviting myself to New York for a day!

wxwax · May 27, 2004

Merc, for what it's worth... I'm on my fourth tripod. I could have saved a lot of money by buying a good one the first time out.

My needs may be quite different to yours. I needed something that could support a heavy camera and a heavy lens, and had a good height... but was lightweight and folded small enough to fit in my motorcyle's luggage.

I settled on the Bogen/manfrotto 3444d. It's carbon fiber, and has a ring for hanging a bag to solidify it in winds. I had some mild wind while traveling a couple of weeks ago, and it was steady enough. I got a ballhead, after being frustrated by fiddling with the pan/tilt controls of a pan/tilt head. I got the Acratech Ultimate Ballhead, which is a nice piece of kit. The issue with a ballhead, and my setup, is that I have no level, so I have to be extremely careful about orienting the camera. I finally got one of the little bubble levels that slides into the camera's hotshoe.

Anyway, my point is that I bought stuff for specific needs - lightweight for carrying, compact folded length for traveling, good height, good quality, able to support heavy weights, something I'll use for years. So far, I haven't been disappointed, save that the tripod ain't easy to carry because my fingers won't fit between the folded legs!

One last thought: whatever you buy must be something you will feel comfortable using. It's all well and good to buy the "best' product. But if it doesn't suit you, you won't use it, and it will gather dust.

Tripod: how heavey is heavy?

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