Basil Loc: New Mexico

My Sirui Carbon Fiber travel tripod was the first semi-serious tripod that I ever bought. It has been a pretty good tripod for the past few years, but there have been times when I needed something a little beefier. For example, I've been out shooting Milkyways and had to hang extra weight under the Sirui due to windy conditions. I also found that getting sharp images with the legs in any kind of rushing water (e.g., the ocean surf of a running stream) was next to impossible due to the vibrations not being sufficiently dampened. Also, I had to use a center column to get the camera up to eye level, so often times I ended up leaving the camera setting lower without extending the center and just bending over a lot. Lastly, when putting a big lens on the Sirui with a Gimbal head, I just felt like it was right at, or a little past, its limit with stability. The Sirui is a nice, light general purpose tripod that was good for hiking, weighing only 3.3 lbs and folding down to just 18". But it was getting long in the tooth and, for the aforementioned reasons, I have been thinking for quite a while that I wanted to get that one last tripod that I hope will be the last tripod I ever need to buy.

I've been doing my research for a few months now, reading and watching all manner of reviews and comparisons for a number of different tripods. Among the brands I've considered were Gitzo, RRS, Manfroto, Benro, ProMediaGear, and a few other lesser known brands. One thing I'm pretty sure of is that I don't think I could have gone wrong with a good tripod from any of these major brands like Gitzo, RSS, Benro, Manfroto, etc, but in the end, I decided to go with the ProMediaGear TR344LBL. Yes it was pricy (not that the other brands were cheap) but there were a few specific things that, when combined, led me to this decision:

1. I like that it is made in USA (yes I know some others are too)
2. I like the large, knurled aluminum non-rubberized twist locks
3. I like the 10-layer CF legs. It is not the stiffest one out there, but it's pretty high on the list, and from some real-world reviews it seemed like a good mix between stiffness, and weight/size. The upper legs are 34mm thick. I could have gone even beefier with their 42mm series, but then I'm not going to be mounting a 50cal machine-gun on it.
4. I like the way the legs attach to the apex. PMG has a unique mechanism for adjusting the stiffness of the legs at the apex such that, once set, the legs stay that stiffness forever, unlike some tripods that just use a bolt through a collar with some sort of nut that can (and usually does) work loose over time. It allows you to carry the tripod by one leg and not have it work it's way open as you are walking.
5. I like the "non-ratcheting" legs that can be set in three different positions. I know this is just a personal preference thing, but I really prefer non-ratcheting legs and legs that don't have spring-loaded auto-locking. Just more things to wear out. The PMG leg lock system is well made, straight forward and has fewer parts to wear out.
6. I like that it is the perfect height (for me at 5'10") with only the first 3 sections extended and the head and camera attached. With the fourth sections extended it goes to a whopping 71 inches. This is nice to have when you are shooting on the side of a hill or in very rocky terrain where you may need one leg extended more than the others. It gives a bit more flexibility. (also the 4 section collapses to a couple inches shorter than their 3 section).
7. I like the included spikes that are built into the feet. With some other brands, you have to buy the spikes separate and then store them separate. These spikes are built in to the feet. Just unscrew the foot, then unscrew the spike and screw it into the bottom of the foot.

These are just some of the factors that led me to the PGM TR344LBL. The "34" means the upper leg diameter is 34mm. The second "4" means it is 4 section (They also make a TR343). The "L" means "Long" as in max height of 71 inches. The BL just means this version comes with the leveling base. I'm not knocking an any way any other tripods. There are a lot of good ones out there but for me, after looking at all the features and factors combined, I felt this one checked the most boxes for me. I'm hoping this will be the last tripod I ever buy.

My only minor disappointment (so far) is that it comes in a light-weight nylon bag with a draw string at the top. Even my Sirui came with a nice heavy duty carry case with sturdy zippers. I kind of wish this one had come with a decent carrying case as well. Not a deal breaker, just a minor nit.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Good choice. I was looking for a new tripod recently and came across a review on Promedia tripods that put them on my final list as well. Then saw the price! In NZ I would have to get thru Amazon but landed here it was going to be over $NZ2500, depending on exchange rate. Am happy with the Manfrotto I ended up buying but later saw one listed on a NZ auction site. Start price was $1000 and it ended up being passed in at $1500. They certainly hold their price.
I see you use an LX100. Another good choice (imo of course). I replaced mine with the MkII recently. Not much of an upgrade. Should have saved my money and got the Promedia tripod probably, but I do enjoy using the LX100.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

Yeah, I can understand that additional cost being a real turn off. I'm luck in that I'm in US so got Free Shipping. With a 10% discount they gave me at PMG, and no taxes, I ended up paying $1192. Not cheap, but it was nice to saver on shipping and tax. Yes, I have the LX100. It's a great little walk around camera. I had wanted that camera since it first came out but took me a few years to find one on EBay that I could swing.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Re the LX100: I sometimes find Ive got more 'keepers' from the LX100, in a month, say, than I have got with either of the other 2. I just wish they had included even just a 'fiip' out screen on the updated one. I've found that I now use the flip out back screen more and more on the D750 with the tripod and Live View.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Count in another LX100 owner, user and fan.

Bill_de Loc: US

You said:

I like that it is the perfect height (for me at 5'10") ...

That is one of the most important things to consider.

I wish you years of happiness with the new tripod.

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Basil_O Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Congratulations on your new tripod. It should serve you well for a long time. Getting one tall enough to use comfortably is key. Now comes the fun part: let's see some pictures!

tcthome Loc: NJ

Congrats & enjoy. A couple years back I went into NYC & shopped at B&H. Looked all the brands you mention & settled on the RRS TVC34L MII. I was interested in the one you chose after watching some You Tube reviews but they only one of PM's smallest on display so settled on the RRS with the level base for their 3 series. Happy shooting.

BebuLamar

Congrats. Too rich for my blood. I have the Bogen 3035 tripod with the Bogen 3047 pan head (they were made by Manfrotto in Italy) which I bought for $50 about 20 years ago at estate sales. Still work just fine. Heavy like hell. But that's all I can afford.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Don’t sell yourself short! In 1998, I bought a new Bogen 3231W (incl shoulder strap) that also came with a Bogen 3030 pan head. I don’t remember what I paid except it had to be something like $150-$200, maybe? For years I lugged that beast everywhere and it still looks like new including the feet/spikes. Latches still work like a charm and it’s simply rock solid. For travel, a few years ago, I bought a Sirui 2205, which is fine for most, but that B-M still gets its fair share of work.

Canisdirus

Sometimes you get what you pay for...nicely done...that's a great tripod.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

Thanks. I don't think you could go wrong with RRS. That was definitely one of the tripods I was looking at. Had I been in your position with the same choices I may well have made the same choice. RRS makes some seriously quality stuff.

photoman43

I went to Pro media website looking for more info on the twist leg locks and found no info. Nor could I find a user manual. I always want to know how to take the leg sections off for cleaning if the twist locks get sand and dirt in them. And I wanted to see if the tripod could be used in salt water.

I still my first tripod that I bought, a Bogen 3221 that I use in sandy places and in the water. I know how to take it apart and clean it.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

Thanks guys. It probably sounds like overkill, but I actually made a spreadsheet with all the relevant specs for each of the PMG models, plus the other brands/ models I was considering to help me decide which model to get.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

It did come with a user's manual, but oddly, they don't describe how to disassemble the legs for cleaning and/ or maintenance. (I'll give them feedback to suggest they include that in the manual). That said, disassembling the leg sections is extremely straightforward. Just loosen the twist lock, then continue to unscrew until it is completely free of the threads. Then the section just pulls out. There is a nylon sleeve that you can then remove (it is slotted and only goes back one way). I just tried it and it's really a no brainer.