Regardless of the camera you use , the topic of Tripods is always subjective, Some photographers swear by one particular manufacture, other photographers find great difficulty finding a light yet sturdy tripod, The simple answer is if want sturdiness then you have to suffer some degree of weight.
Manfrotto have recently brought out the 057 series, and yes I bought one, I find it truly sturdy in any conditions priced at less than the Gitzo tripod, and just acceptable in weight, I have 5 other Tripods but this one seems to be the flavour of the month at the moment
Those three legged friends, Tripods, Love or Hate
(52 posts) (23 voices)-
Posted 7 months ago #
-
Many threads on tripods, but over a year old, so I think to gather in the info
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=2610
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=590&page=2
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=3125
As you have added the newer Manfrotto 057 series, we can see what others have purchased recently.
My latest are the Benro C3580F CLASSC TRIPOD/CF FLIP LOCK LEGS with a Manfrotto HEAVY TELE LENS SUPPORT w/QR (3421)
and Induro Carbon 8X CT213 Tripod with a Manfrotto 468MG HYDROSTATIC BALL HEAD w/RC2.The Induro is better in the way the leg locks work, not levers, but very smooth twist locks...feels like RRS at about 1/3rd the price.
But, what I really think I should have done is to purchase the heads with Arca-Swiss release plaes as these are clearly more versatile, IMO.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Ok ... Support confession time.
Manfroto ... Gotta love em.
A few years ago, I was doing a shoot inside and with what I thought was fast enough glass (no flash allowed) and I "don't need no stinking tripod to slow me down". Long story short and I get out my gear to do a test shot or three and it quickly becomes obvious that boy, was I WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!
So I rush out to the local Walmart (the parking lot backed onto the one for this venue) and they are almost sold out of all the usual cheap, junky, photo accessories EXCEPT for a lone Manfroto 394 monopod; all $39 of it.
Damn thing saved the day for me.
I still use it when I need an extra stop or two and can't set up a tripod. I think monopods are very under-rated items in a photographers tool kit.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I personally own two tripods. My Manfroto has been with me for well over 19 years and has served me well. However, when I was looking at carbon fiber ones, I landed on Really Right Stuff and their line of goods. Needless to say, I find that their tripods to be one of the best one can buy....and so I did. In addition, I also have their ball heads and their L-brakets for my Nikon D4 and D7000.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Tripods... loathe them, must have them, and Too Damn Expensive!
Anyway I have an older CF Manfroto 190 with a 468MG HYDROSTATIC BALL HEAD with a RC3 quick release.
I had one of my small sections of a CF leg snap in two. Manfroto customer service was great and I was able to buy a replacement for $25. It came with a new foot, full instructions, etc. They even sent a personal followed up to see if everything worked out. When I didn't send a response (busy/lazy), they sent a second one. That really caught me off guard in a good way.
I have been looking at the Benro Travel Flat Tripods as a good travel tripod. I like the lay flat design.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Love tripods, even if they can be a pain to carry around a times. Bought a Gitzo 3531s (now discontinued), earlier this year and it is great. Twist locks are so much better than flip locks. Thanks to CF construction it weighs less than 2KG, but can carry 18KG (500mm F4), so it is more than enough for my needs. I had a Manfrotto 055XPOB before and they are in a totally different league.
Got a Markins Q10 head, and Arca-Swiss plates, which are so much easier and better to use than crappy Manfrotto junk I used before.
Got a monopod for situations where a tripod doesn't work.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I still have and use my SLIK that I bought years ago. It has been very reliable and durable. I have an old Manfrotto-Bogen safari style from my Leica days that I use for fun, and a very heavy duty Bogen from 25 years ago. I sold a Manfrotto 055 that was very nice, but too heavy to carry around to remote job sites, and I am all set with the even heavier Bogen tripod if I need it, so my day to day is my new CF manfrotto 190CXPRO4 with a tiny ball head. I use the horizontal center tube feature quite a bit when doing close up work on small parts. I stabilize it by clipping a camera bag to it, and it works great, folds tiny, and weighs litte.
I keep lusting after RRS.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I still like my Bogen #3221. I have tried many lighter Manfrotto tripods I see other people say they love but I keep coming back to my Bogen #3221. For the first time I checked the label on my tripod to get the model number for this posting and to my surprise I found it said this Bogen tripod was made in Italy by Manfrotto! Guess I like Manfrotto after all!
Posted 7 months ago # -
@donaldejose: that is what we call a "V'8 moment." :P
Posted 7 months ago # -
I have a Giottos MT 9370 4-section aluminum tripod with a MH 1300-657 head/plate combo. Of all the tripods I checked out, it came down between this setup or one of the Vanguards. I went with the Giottos cause I found one in a small shop for cheap. ($170, they usually go for at least $50 more)
It's rock solid and sets up quick. A little on the heavy side but I don't mind.
I also have a Vanguard Tracker monopod that's fantastic.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I have a had fair number of tripods....most were fairly cheap. Finally I bit the bullet and purchased a Gitzo 4 section series 6. It has a flat plate and a hook for sandbags. I have an Acra Tech leveling base and a Pano head that I can switch out with a Manfrotto 229. ... Until I bought a good quality tripod, I really didn't understand the huge difference it would make.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I have a Benro CF monopod which seems strong, durable and light enough. Twist locks don't grab quite as well as gitzo but very secure when firmly tightened and the price was right :-)
Otherwise I worry that i'm going to follow the classic route of working up through progressively more expensive gear to find the right tripod and head ...I bought a manfrotto 190 x-proB in aluminium - seemed good value and can't fault it but I quickly found i prefer twist locks and don't like the way the aluminium vibrates, so I want to change to CF.
Reading suggests that RRS are top of the pile but it's too expensive to buy from the UK without ever having seen one in the flesh.
Gitzo are nice but as the other manufacturers improve, I'm not convinced that they justify the price premium.
I've seen and and been very impressed by the apparent quality of Markins and PhotoClam from Korea - one of theirs will probably be my choice, and for an L plate or arca compatible camera plate.A final favorite is the little manfrotto 209 tabletop tripod - which can be bought with or without ball head or part of the 345 tabletop kit. Small and strong I have three and use them for off-camera flash, compact cameras and sometimes even as an extra support for the 70-200 when I need to lean it against something while handholding. Use like a beanbag but one that folds up ! Hint - turn things sideways and it braces really well against windows and walls when there's nothing else to lean on.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Taking note from the comments made on the subject of Tripods, it becomes very clear that photographer who buy tripods believe they have bought the best they could at the time. thats great if you are happy with your Tripod and it does the job for you, what more can you say.
I think the difference between a photographer who uses a tripod and one that does not, in a situation where either choice would apply, is the photographer who uses the tripod tends to take more time and thinks about the image they are about to take, compared to the snapper who takes a 1000 shots hoping one is perfect.
If you are from a film background then perhaps taking your time, is your particular style, when you had to pay for each image, unlike today.
My enjoyment is the whole procedure of setting both the Tripod and camera up to get the best image I can, so less time is spent in Post Production.However I have been taking images for nearly half a century and old habits die hard.
Posted 7 months ago # -
A bit more confession here...I have two aluminum tripods for the 1960's... very heavy as they were for a 4x5 Calumet view camera, but with a modified top which accepts the large Manfrotto RC-5 plate, it is perfect for shooting a big lens set up when one wants a solid base and does not need a gimbal mount. Tis tripod weighs about 10 pounds, however.
There is an old rule of thumb...or some old bologna which suggests the smaller the camera the larger the tripod...
My overall preference is the Induro, but if one has the $1000...go the RRS route and be very happy. But, for those who want to read up on taking theirs to Antarctica, here is a test...
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/accessories/indiro413.shtml
Posted 7 months ago # -
Here's the thing - many people cheap out on the tripod because it's an "accessory", so they think spending the extra money isn't worth it - especially when you look at the cost of say a Gitzo leg/ball head combo.
But here's the thing - go into any camera shop that sells used gear and look at the tripods. The older Gitzos and Bogens, etc will all be scratched up and ugly, BUT fully functional. They are made to last for many years of hard use.
The tripod I've used for years was an all-aluminum Star D that my mother bought in the mid 70's. It still works great. Maybe not as fast, adjustable or portable as my new one, but it just keeps working.
Posted 7 months ago # -
nuff said
Posted 7 months ago # -
@ Gareth
I think you need to post this on this thread...LOL But, keep it here of course....
Posted 7 months ago # -
@Gareth +1
Posted 7 months ago # -
@R8R
Love the Star-D! I have a slightly newer one that's a little more than 20 years old and it still holds my camera still. Imagine that! I also have an even older Gitzo monopod. I can see how some of the newer tripods are easier to use but really once I pull out the tripod everything slows down. I would like a carbon fiber one just for the weight savings.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Anther +1 for @Gareth. You get what you pay for, Gitzo is top of the line, and more than just in price. I looked at the other brands, in terms of price, build, load capacity, and unit weight. Gitzo simply stood out when you put all those things together. If you like buying new stuff every few years buying a cheap tripod can be nice, for those who like long longevity, reliability and stability Gitzo is the standard for legs. Other brands are nice and are catching up, but just not there at this point.
As for heads, there are plenty of good options, I choose Markins beacuse they have a rep in the area so I could try the stuff out before buying.
Posted 7 months ago # -
if you buy markins don't get the 70-200 foot, it's rubbish. I sent it back and got the rrs 70-200 foot, which is far superior. then i ended up buying all rrs plates, which I love. i do wonder if I would prefer the rrs ballhead, but the markins still does the job, so I'm not going to switch.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Gareth said:
if you buy markins don't get the 70-200 foot, it's rubbish. I sent it back and got the rrs 70-200 foot, which is far superior. then i ended up buying all rrs plates, which I love. i do wonder if I would prefer the rrs ballhead, but the markins still does the job, so I'm not going to switch.The RRS heads are fantastic. Should you get one, you will NOT be disappointed; moreover, given that you have their L-Plates you are all set.
When it comes to tripods, I only considered two companies: Gitzo & RRS. For my monopod, I went with Gitzo and got the RRS monopod head (MH-01 Pro /w B2-Pro II). For my tripod I went with the RRS TVC-23 & their ball head (BH-40 LR: Mid-size).
Posted 7 months ago # -
I have a pretty inexpensive tripod that was purchased from best buy, but I really haven't ever had a problem. I just used it last weekend and it worked wonderfully. It is pretty light weight and after handling my friends manfroto one a couple times while we were out it made me glad to have mine.
I do have a manfroto monopod though.
Posted 7 months ago # -
-
I have two Manfrotto tripods and two Manfrotto monopods. The monopods are great for taking pictures and movies at my boy's school events. No more tired arm or standing to get a clear view.
What I'm looking for is a new head with Manfrotto RC2 Rapid Conecct System, in order to replace the Manfrotto 222 Joystick Head from one of my tripods (I plan use it with a monopod).
For TaoTeJared and msmoto, how do you like the Manfrotto 468MG Hydrostatic Ball?
Thank you,
Alfonso
Posted 7 months ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.
