Tripod
May 14, 2012 03:08:54 #
silver
Loc: Santa Monica Ca.
Hal81 wrote:
Those light weight tripods are great if your going off on a hike up the mountans. But Ill stick with my old heavy very strong center post. That I can mount my camera on top or bottom for ground leval shots. Not only do the light weights help reduce the load but your wallet is also much lighter for your trip up the hill.
I have a Gitzo aluminum series 3 tripod with a Calumet CB5 ball head. The tripod is at least 30 years old and the combination tripod and ball head is heavy but not that bad over all. This is my hiking and walking around tripod. When I use a longer lens I press up on the bottom edge of the camera with my thumb and grip the ball head and this stabilizes the camera. I have looked at carbon fiber tripods and I cant get anything made by any manufacturer in a carbon fiber tripod that matches my 3 series Gitzo 30 year old tripod for less then a thousand dollars, not worth it. Ill stick to my Gitzo. I dont understand why the carbon fiber tripods are so expensive, seems like a rip off.
May 14, 2012 05:48:48 #
Roger Hicks
Loc: Aquitaine
Bill41 wrote:
Thought I recognized the name. Who's the better photographer, you or Frances?
Our styles are sufficiently different that we don't think it's a very meaningful question, but on balance, I think she's better and she thinks I'm better.
Cheers,
R.
May 14, 2012 05:55:10 #
Roger Hicks
Loc: Aquitaine
silver wrote:
I dont understand why the carbon fiber tripods are so expensive, seems like a rip off.
They're quite hard to make well, with the carbon fibre for the legs literally spun into tubes. Paradoxically, the more you pay, the better the value for money. The cheapest carbon fibre tripods are indeed a rip off, because they are junk sold to those who know nothing about tripods except a few buzz words. The best -- Gitzo -- are hellish expensive but very good value for money.
Alas, the only carbon fibre Gitzo we have is a monopod (though have a 30-year-old light alloy Reporter I bought new). But Frances and I both use Redged carbon fibre tripods. As their designer/manufacturer engagingly put it, "They're only about 90% as good as Gitzos, but they're half the price."
Then again, that's still a lot of money.
Cheers,
R.
May 14, 2012 10:53:59 #
Roger Hicks wrote:
Our styles are sufficiently different that we don't think it's a very meaningful question, but on balance, I think she's better and she thinks I'm better.
Cheers,
R.
Bill41 wrote:
Thought I recognized the name. Who's the better photographer, you or Frances?
Our styles are sufficiently different that we don't think it's a very meaningful question, but on balance, I think she's better and she thinks I'm better.
Cheers,
R.
Same in my family. Have a great day, both of you.
May 14, 2012 12:10:43 #
Wow- what do you do with "yesterday's" tripod ? Care to donate one to a "shoestring budget" ameteur photographer?
I shoot a light bridge camera and use a light $30 tripod from Walmart- it does feature a quick release plate- 2 level points-but I do struggle with the need of a ball head -as I learned long ago I shoot most all tripod shots on 2 sec self timer
Wa
I shoot a light bridge camera and use a light $30 tripod from Walmart- it does feature a quick release plate- 2 level points-but I do struggle with the need of a ball head -as I learned long ago I shoot most all tripod shots on 2 sec self timer
Roger Hicks wrote:
I hate to disillusion you, but many modern tripods (and heads) are better than those of yore. I bought my first tripod over 40 years ago; my wife is the acknowledged tripod expert on Shutterbug magazine; and between use we own 15-20 tripods. You might care to take a look at http://www.rogerandfrances.com/taster/Tripods%20Taster.pdf .
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
Wa
May 14, 2012 14:47:04 #
unyang wrote:
Thank you, all. I have a Manfrotto ball head and a 3-way head. They cannot support the weight of my camera with 180 mm macro lens. I need something which could support the heavy equipment.
Thank you again.
Thank you again.
Look at the Wimberley Head II (gimbal head). Not cheap but as smooth as butter and easily handles my 150-500mm and 150mm Macro OS Sigma lenses, both of which are quite hefty. I have it mounted on a Manfrotto 055CX3 carbon fiber tripod. The Wimberley uses the Arca Swiss quick detachment system that is extremely strong and stable, although not light. :-D
May 14, 2012 14:54:17 #
Roger Hicks
Loc: Aquitaine
Harvey wrote:
Wow- what do you do with "yesterday's" tripod ?
Most of them have their uses, and get used, though to varying extents: there is no such thing as a perfect tripod. The big Linhof makes big Gitzos look cheap and flimsy, and goes up about eight feet in the air, but it weighs ten times as much as my Redged. The MPP is super-light and fine for up to 4x5 inch, but is bulky when collapsed. The Benbo is extremely versatile, but bulky and heavy. And so forth.
In other words, there's no such thing as "yesterday's" tripod. Across-the-board "upgrades" are mostly illusory: a new tripod which does one thing better may not do another thing as well. And, of course, I use them to illustrate articles...
Cheers,
R.
May 14, 2012 16:28:56 #
I had a Reporter years ago, it got stolen. That sucker was darn near pocketsized!
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