OwlHarbor Loc: Pacific North West USA

Discussion about types of tri-pods and heads for different type photography

OwlHarbor Loc: Pacific North West USA

I have a bogen 3205 with a 3285 head. These have been great addition to my kit but need something that will handle a larger lens and able to pan evenly. I am looking at a Manfrotto 229 3D Super-Pro Head. What are your favorite tri-pod heads? Have you used the 229 3D Super-pro?

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

If you are using a longer lens to fast-follow wildlife or do sports, I use and recommend a video fluid head. I use a Manfrotto 3063 - because it older and therefor CHEAPER ! There are many older video tripods on ebay with the 3063 head. I use the 3063 on both my monopod and tripod. There are newer more expensive ones too - I would prefer the Manfrotto heavier duty ones. I have been shooting a 300 2.8 W/2X for several years now - so I do speak from some experience.

dweaver Loc: Atlanta

I have a Manfrotto fluid video head (flat base, not bowl) for sale, Manfrotto MVH502AH | 502HD Pro Fluid Video Head Flat Base. Never used. Retails for $199, will sell for $150 including shipping within the U.S. if you are interested. I didn't continue with video like I thought I would. Should work very well for your needs.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

What it looks like on (my) monopod .....

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I love my Acratech GP-s. Works great with both short and long lenses, small and big bodies.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

It completely depends upon your particular uses.

I have an old Bogen too (I forget which exact model... but it's bigger than your 3205... has a geared center column and leg braces)... The head I have on it is similar vintage, but quite similar to the current Manfrotto 229. This rig stays at home now... Gets used in-studio only. It's just more than I care to haul around. Weighs close to 20 lbs, altogether. I used to use it with large format and medium format cameras, some of which are pretty hefty.

One thing I really dislike about Bogen/Manfrotto heads is their proprietary quick release designs. Heck, they have at least 2 or 3 different ones. Those aren't compatible with much of anything else, or even with each other!

I much prefer to use the more universal Arca-Swiss style platforms and plates. In fact, I've modified that Bogen head and another small Manfrotto ballhead I use on a monopod, they're now both fitted with A-S type platforms too.

For field work I have three carbon fiber Gitzo tripods.... Two are older G1325 Mk II and one is a G1348 Mk II. The 1325's have three section legs, while the 1348 has four section, which makes it both taller when extended and shorter when it's fully collapsed.

These are all "Series 3 Systematics", which means there are many accessories that can be optionally used with them. For example, they can be set up without any center column or with one (choice of geared or "rapid" ). There are also leveling platforms and video "bowls" available to use with them. I have the two 1325s set up with leveling platforms that I find very handy when working with long lenses on gimbals. With the Gitzo levelers (G1321 is the old model), it just takes a quick twist of a handle to loosen, set the head perfectly level, then retighten to lock it in place. Adds a bit of weight, but I can live with it. The 1348 has a rapid column, that can be reversed to make it particularly nice for low angle macro work.

(Note: In addition to their Systematic series, Gitzo also offers Mountaineer series, which are a bit be more compact and lighter. Even smaller/ligher are their Traveler and Explorer series, the latter have a center column that can be rotated to the horizontal. They even have an Ocean series, made with materials that are particularly resistant to corrosion, such as in salt water environments. A now-discontinued Reporter series was offered, too. All these differ from the Systematic in that they have permanently installed center columns and many are sized so that the column often needs to be used, in order to bring the camera up to a comfortable level. Tripods that don't use or rely upon a center column are generally more stable, one reason for the popularity of the Systematics, which have been widely copied by other manufacturers (some of whom - such as Really Right Stuff or RSS - offer even more accessories that will work with the Gitzo pods).

I don't mind them in a studio but learned to dislike pan/tilt heads for field use. Their protruding handles are always catching on branches and such. Instead on my field tripods I use two heavy duty ballheads (one with a Wimberley Sidekick gimbal) and a full size gimbal head on one of the 1325s. The ballhead/Sidekick combo allows quick switching back and forth from use with standard lenses and use with big, long telephotos. The tripod with the full size gimbal essentially becomes "big lens only" dedicated, because it's not very quick or convenient to switch it back to standard usage.

All in all, each tripod weighs roughly 9 lbs, including a carrying case, Leg Coats and with heads in place. Not super light, but they are rock steady and have 35 lb. capacity, while the ballheads are rated to 50 lbs. (One is a Kirk BH-1 and the other a Smith-Victor BH8.) The Wimberley Sidekick is rated to handle lenses up to the size and weight of an EF 500/4 (about 7 or 8 lbs. for the lens itself + weight of camera, etc.). The full size gimbal is recommended for larger lenses, such as 400/2.8, 600/4, 800/5.6.

Close to 15 years ago now, I spent a ton of money on the first Gitzo 1325 kit, brand new. The other two I've bought more recently used (but in great shape and shipping incl.), one with the leveling platform accessory and the other with the rapid column included (each of which adds considerable cost typically). I have about $450-$500 total in each of the more recently purchased t'pods.

Finally, I have two Bogen or Manfrotto monopods. One is just fitted with an Arca-Swiss platform. The other has a small Manfrotto ballhead (single lever controls all functions) that's been modified with an Arca-Swiss platform.

These are what work for me. My biases are for big, long telephoto use and macro work, primarily. I do somewhat less landscape or architectural work with a tripod or monopod.

Depending upon what gear you need to support, how you use it and what you are shooting with it, completely different setups might work better for you.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I have an old studio Gitzo with a pan/tilt head. It's a bit overkill for smaller format cameras, but it was purchased and is used with my 4x5.
--Bob

bretedge Loc: Moab, UT

I use a couple different Induro carbon fiber tripods, both with Acratech ballheads. My Induro CT213 has an Acratech GP ballhead on top while my Induro CT214 uses an Acratech Ultimate Ballhead. Both tripods and ballheads have proven to be stable and reliable through years of use. I am a nature and adventure photographer with no long lenses. I used Canon DSLR's with battery grips and "L" lenses for years and never had any issues with stability when using heavy gear. I've since switched to a Sony mirrorless kit which is much smaller & lighter. Not surprisingly, still no issues with stability.

cucharared Loc: Texas, Colorado

I'm getting the Sony A6000 so don't need a really heavy duty tripod. I'm really liking what I see (and feel) in the MeFoto A1350. Comes with what seems like a nice ball head and feels like a really well made piece of equipment. If you settle for aluminum they are less than $200. Carbon fiber saves 1/2 lb and adds another $150.

ron

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

Have you entered this in SEARCH?

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

I have the same beef with Vanguard! I bought one of their tripods (Alta-Pro 263AT) with a ball-head, and it came with a mail-in rebate of a pan-tilt head. I got this, and later got another set of legs to use it with, but the 2 heads have different and incompatible quick-release plates. What is the logic or reasoning behind that decision???

I also have an old department-store tripod, and when I am setting up to shoot video in church I use all 3, plus several other mini-pods. It is a real pain to have 3 tripods which all require different mounting plates, especially if I have to swap things around quickly...

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

A tripod's ability to reduce vibration is critical. I purchased a $200+ Vanguard tripod and now regret it.
You should check out Gene51 on UHH and his recommendations on tripods (37mm on the top leg tube). I took his advice and bought a Feisol tripod and a Suri ball head. It was expensive; but, it makes a huge difference with macro, telephoto, and long exposure shots. When you go up in price, save your money to get a tripod with a minimum of 37mm top tube of legs. You will keep it for your lifetime

OldEarl Loc: Northeast Kansas

I have two tripods that I generally use. My grab and go general purpose tripod is a Slik 112 which I got in the mid eighties. It has a quick release pan head and I have three or four attachment buttons that I put on lenses or cameras I am carrying. I thought about switching the head and putting on an ARCA Swiss, but the prospect of being haunted by my Scotch-Yankee-Calvinist grandmother has so far put a damper on that.

The other is a Manfrotto 3033 so old it came under the Bogen label. The head is #3055 and I got it when they were closing out those labeled Bogen. It also has a quick release. This will work with any lens I have and will hold my view camera. I generally use this with my heavy teles and my medium format cameras. The reason I only take this when I am planning to use it is weight--which was not that much 20 years ago.

In my shop next to a couple Enfield #4 rifles is a Tilt-All I will finish putting back together one day.

I had two tripods get stolen back in the late Pleistocene. One I had stashed in the supply locker of the school paper. The other disappeared from my car trunk--I'll never figure that one out.

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

I have a Leitz Titall (Tiltall w a Leitz name on it) That is still a great tripod for for lenses under 250 mm. Found it in attic last month and will use it.