z2889

Does anyone have any experience or input good bad or ugly on the ME Photo Carbon fiber or aluminum Globe Tripper? Supporting a Nikon D500 w/18-300 lens. Will happily take other suggestions in the $350 or under range. Thanks in advance everyone.

loperR Loc: Medina ,Ohio

See MT Shooter ,he sells Nest tripods

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks for that link. As he says, you have to spend over $200 to get something decent, unfortunately.

Also -

http://www.techradar.com/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/best-travel-tripods-6-great-carbon-fibre-stands-for-your-camera-1325010
http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2015/05/01/8-great-travel-tripods-whats-the-best-tripod-the-one-you-take-with-you
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_6?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=mefoto+tripod&sprefix=mefoto%2Caps%2C152

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

This article recommends the Feisol CT-3442 - and I am totally in agreement. It is tall enough for my 5'-11", very stable, extremely light at 2.31 lb without a head, and comparable to Gitzo and RRS alternatives at half the price. The other stuff in the under $350 range can be a)unstable, b)fragile because plastic is used in place of metal or carbon fiber, c)heavy, because making a tripod with a decent load capacity out of aluminum is cheaper than using carbon fiber, and d)almost always has an extendable center column that if extended seriously reduces stability.

A cheaper tripod is ok for most shooting with normal and wide lenses. But if you expect to use it for a 300mm lens on a crop body, it won't be adequate. besides, the 18-300 extended places a large off-center load on the tripod and head at full zoom. I am not sure a low cost tripod is designed for such an eccentric load.

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

I have a friend with a couple of the MeFoto carbon fibers and they are good. I would suggest a Benro Travel Angel. These are good quality, not too pricey and work very smooth.

I forgot mine on top of the jeep once and threw it off at 50 mph. It went skidding down the highway and still functioned perfectly, just a little cosmetic damage.

Bill

jayw Loc: Contoocook, NH

I have the Globetrotter Classic Aluminum in Blue. Been using it for over a year and find it the best I have had in the price range. It holds my Nikon D5300 w/Tamron 18-200mm zoom or Sigma 17-70mm Contemporary. The only issue(s) I have is that the ball head has, IMHO, more "screws" (forgot technical term) to position camera/lens. I keep forgetting which does what and many times I'll loosen the wrong one. The other issue I have is that most tripods have rubber feet that you turn to expose the spike. On the MeFoto tripods, you have unscrew and remove the rubber foot and then attach the spike in it's place. If you're not careful, you can lose the spike or rubber foot. Other than these 2 minor issues, I'd go with the Globetrotter.

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

Excellent article. I have yet to find my perfect travel tripod. On some I had to upgrade the ball head to support larger lenses. Add to this article the Newer 20" tripod, https://neewer.com/product/neewer-20-inches-portable-compact-desktop-mini-tripod-with-360-degree-ball-headcellphone-holderbluetooth-remotebag-for-iphonesamsunghuawei-smartphonedslr-cameraload-up-to-11-pounds/ , which is sold under a few brands. Short and sturdy, but can't completely lock panning.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

You might want to take a look at some of the tripods previewed/reviewed here:

https://www.scvphotoideas.com/p/photography-support-equipment.html

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

You have not said if this is to be for travel or if size/weight really matters ?? - irregardless,

Since there is no tripod collar with that lens, and if you are serious about safety and stability, I would highly recommend using this lens bracket/stabilizer - https://www.ebay.com/itm/220mm-Y-ty-Telephoto-Lens-Support-Clamp-for-Arca-Hejnar-Benro-Fluid-Video-Head/172143858639?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372

If weight/size matters less than cost - I always recommend the Slik - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Slik-615900-Pro-700DX-AMT-Super-Titanium-Alloy-Tripod/332602326168?rt=nc&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D52935%26meid%3Db1ceb2caee864a6d9b4cd3da1b9a3d5c%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D332291533162%26itm%3D332602326168&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851- which does have some size/weight being aluminum.

Please read the user reviews.

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imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Thanks for the valuable link !

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rjandreoff Loc: Hawaii

I own the MEFOTO Globe Trotter Aluminum and used it A LOT for 3 months while touring Australia and New Zealand. Other than being slightly on the heavy side, it worked extremely well supporting my D4 and 70-200 F2.8 Vr. Packable into your standard 22" roller. Well built, very stable even in wind. Adaptable to any terrain and weather condition one can imagine. "0" problems.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Happy to share!

SCV is a great guy, by the way - I am "building" something like his heavy duty multi row pano head and his advice has been indispensable. He even put me in contact with one of his suppliers to rectify an "old inventory" indexed rotator that I purchased at B&H on Monday. The part is on it's way back to the importer who is swapping it out for the current version. Without his advice and guidance I would have had some issues down the road. He is frugal and his suggestions are always based on value and functionality. Anyone can recommend a RRS multi row pano head, and it wouldn't be bad advice - if money was no object. But to construct a functional equivalent for less than half the price - that is a great thing.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

This is the type of advice and ability that SHOULD interest EVERYONE ! - sadly, it will not

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via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

I have used a Marfrotto tripod for many years but it developed some problems. So, I looked around and then ordered a Gitzo tripod. When it arrived I found that it was huge (pays to actually read all of the information!), so I sent it back. I looked at the Induro tripods based on what someone on this site said. I ordered two more tripods, one a Manfrotto with the clip type closures (which I am used to) and one an Induro with the other type of closure. The Manfotto was really nice but I found the last leg—it was a four part tripod—to be way too small and, I felt, flimsy. I liked the Induro, which was about the same size as my now well-used Manfrotto. The Induro also came with a bag of parts that can be attached to the tripod, a lighweight carry case, and a second more durable carry-case. I liked that it came with all the "stuff." I took it to Costa Rica just a few weeks ago and it worked out great. I used a D500 with a Nikon 200-500 on it and there was no drop at all. One of the bottom feet holders came off, I think I most likely unscrewed it trying to get the hang of the screw type closures. I emailed Induro and they are sending me a set in the mail for free, so really good service: I was just asking them where to purchase a set as I could not find anything online. My tripod is the Induro CLT203 Classic Series 2 Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod and I bought it from BH for $375.00. It is actually lighter than my old Manfrotto but the same size. I'd call it a medium-sized tripod. I use a RRS B-55 bullhead on it. Good luck.