about to buy my first tripod: I will be going to Alaska to photograph the Northern Lights in March and I've heard that a tripod is essential for taking good shots of them. Any...

Nanc Loc: Rocky Face

I will be going to Alaska to photograph the Northern Lights in March and I've heard that a tripod is essential for taking good shots of them. Any suggestions on a ballhead tripod would be helpful. I'd like to stay in the $200 or less range. If anyone has one for sale let me know. I have never used one because by the time I set it up the bear has gone into the bushes or the lynx has disappeared.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I saw a Bogen 3021 leg set with a Bogen 3055 ball head on Ebay yesterday for $165, that is the setup I use in the field for over 25 years now, its light but very strong.

Tomphoenix Loc: Phoenix,MD

I just got back from alaska got some great pics using a tripod I got from Ritz camera store under 100bucks. May not been best out there but it worked just great and it was light.it had kind of a pistol grip. :ave to wait till I get home for brand name.

Tomphoenix Loc: Phoenix,MD

I just got back from alaska got some great pics using a tripod I got from Ritz camera store under 100bucks. May not been best out there but it worked just great and it was light.it had kind of a pistol grip. :ave to wait till I get home for brand name.

Tomphoenix Loc: Phoenix,MD

I just got back from alaska got some great pics using a tripod I got from Ritz camera store under 100bucks. May not been best out there but it worked just great and it was light.it had kind of a pistol grip. :ave to wait till I get home for brand name.

Tomphoenix Loc: Phoenix,MD

Sorry for repeats

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Cheap tripods are fine for a while, but wear rapidly, and may even break. Go for separate legs and head, or, if second-hand where the two happen to come as a package, for a good name such as Manfrotto. With a $200 limit, you should be able to get a decent basic tripod and ball head, but as soon as you start looking at geared centre columns, fancy heads, etc., for the same money, you are looking at something that will survive only light use for a limited time.

Cheers,

R.

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

CHEAP TRIPODS AINT GOOD, GOOD TRIPODS AINT CHEAP,
Yes I know I am yelling, for emphasis. For 200 you can buy a SOLID used platform. do not waste your time and money for "bargain equipment" when the chap junk breaks it will be in the field when you need it.

Good luck with the nortnern lights, I was stationed up there and it is an AWESOME experience.
By the by, wear light layers, the initial cold is nuttin compared to the effect when you are out for hours.
have fun, postem when you get back, enjoy Fairbanks

Nanc Loc: Rocky Face

Just bought this one from Ebay. Can you please tell me the height of it and the weight? Also can I buy a case or carrying strap for it. Thanks

MT Shooter wrote:

I saw a Bogen 3021 leg set with a Bogen 3055 ball head on Ebay yesterday for $165, that is the setup I use in the field for over 25 years now, its light but very strong.

Fran Loc: Northeast, United States

MT Shooter wrote:

I saw a Bogen 3021 leg set with a Bogen 3055 ball head on Ebay yesterday for $165, that is the setup I use in the field for over 25 years now, its light but very strong.

I also need a tripod. I see another one on eBay For 155. 3021 with 3055 ball head. I'm 5' 9" will this tripod be tall enough for me?

hwkphoto Loc: Nebraska

I bought a Manfrotto 732YB,482K M-Y Tripod and Backpack Bundle Kit for 99.00 at Ritz. I then switched the small ball head on for a pan head from a manfrotto ( a 391RC2 ) that I already had on a window mount.

This works well for me for traveling. It's light and fits well into my bags. On the negative side it's short (I have tilt screen on my main camera body) and I don't think it would be stable in wind. But, I can also take it hiking without feeling like I'm carrying a bundle of tent stakes.

Remember you can always use other things, like bean bags, in a pinch.

It's always a challenge to figure out how much to spend to get something that works well for you, and what works well for one isn't necessarily the right thing for another.

Scubie Loc: Brunswick Georgia

Ditto on the Bogan....I have had two over thirty years..they are virtually indestructable. You may not want to get a large, they can be heavy and they sell a really nice back pack one...over 100.00 but well worth it.....I used to buy the 50.00 one's and they broke quickly.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

A tip - in the future you might have several cameras and tripods. It is helpful if every camera can attach quickly to every tripod.

I just ordered a Manfrotto 323 combination tripod plate with camera quick release. I can use that plate on my other tripods. Then I can buy the 200PL-14 QR plate for any cameras I want to use with the tripods.

naturalite Loc: Up state NY

Believe it or not...I still have my old argus. Actually 2 of them. Aluminium, yes, heavy, yes. But I can't go backpacking anymore anyway.
One has the crank up center column. The other is slide.
I have a Bogen 3030 pan head for the crank up. and use it for my medium format stuff. The other I use a hefty import ball head. This way I have it all covered.
Best part.....I only paid $30 for both with stock pan heads.
Shop around, old doesn't mean obsolete.
One day I may go graphite.....but then again.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Nanc wrote:

Just bought this one from Ebay. Can you please tell me the height of it and the weight? Also can I buy a case or carrying strap for it. Thanks

MT Shooter wrote:

I saw a Bogen 3021 leg set with a Bogen 3055 ball head on Ebay yesterday for $165, that is the setup I use in the field for over 25 years now, its light but very strong.

The viewfinder on my D90 sits at 64" off the floor with the center column all the way down, 80" off the floor with the center column all the way up. The whole thing weighs about 4 pounds. OpTechUSA.com has a nice carrying strap for tripods. A case is not worth it as it slows you way down in setting up, unless you want one for storage purposes.
Congrats, I think you will really like it!