eagle76sct Loc: 10930

Greetings,
I am looking for some honest feedback and opinions on tripod / monopod combo's. I am considering purchasing one. I have looked at a bunch and I am not sure now if there is one better then the other. I don't have to have carbon fiber but if the price was right would consider it. I am more leaning toward aluminum. I am 5'11" so hgt is consideration. I would like to stay around $150 - $200.
I have a Nikon 5600. My go to lens is a 18-140. I also have a 70-300.

Twist lock legs vs flip lock legs?

One I looked at Vanguard VEO2 235ab Aluminum another was MEFOTO Road trip Aluminum?

I do like the arca type lock system.
I have a befree Manfrotto and just not a fan of it. Maybe because it's the head and it's to small for my camera.

Thank You hogs..

ZtaKED Loc: Lakes Region, New Hampshire & NE Florida

I picked up a K&F Concept combo tri/mono aluminum with twist locks on Amazon for under $100. Fits my bill as my tripod use is infrequent. I prefer twist locks as the screw holding the flip lock cam can loosen up and you end up carrying a Torx screw driver with you as well.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I have an aluminum OBEN AT-3586. It has twist lock legs. It will accommodate large full frame cameras with a heavy piece of lens. Using a JOBY wrist strap, the metal portion attaches to the bottom of my camera. I can slide my camera into the receiving part of the head of the tripod. A unique feature of this tripod is that one leg unscrews from the tripod. It can be fashioned into a monopod. The average price retails for under $200 perhaps closer to one hundred eighty dollars.

One thing to remember: Never leave the camera attached to the tripod. While moving the tripod, one can easily snap off their camera and lens. I have seen many a grown photographers cry when the bottom plate of their camera is broken in half.

I hope you will not be offended by my suggestion. If you are , please accept my apology.


Happy Shooting!

rv8striker Loc: St. Louis, MO area

My first tripod was a Promaster xc525. Does all you describe and won’t break the bank. My local camera store carried them but here’s a link I found on line.
Steve
https://www.districtcamera.com/p/promaster-2696-xc525-tripod-with-head-black/029144026967

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

I own one and never use the monopod on it. I tried a couple of times, but it was too much of a pain to take the leg off, remove the head etc. Plus it wasn't as stable and didn't give me the height. So I bought a separate monopod. I prefer the clamp type legs. Especially on the monopod. Much easier to adjust with one hand since I'm holding the monopod and camera with the other one.

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

...Benro is your friend...to start check out the TMA28A Mach3 Aluminum Tripod...

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I have a MeFoto and like it a lot. One of its legs becomes a monopod. Great for travel.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I don't know how honest this is but, Would take you camera and lens to a store. I believe that the tripod should be at eye level with out the center extension up. I also agree with your not going to Carbon Fiber as you have a cost restriction and you will get a bette tripod for your money. Stretch your self on the tripod or you be looking for another tripod soon again. A cheep one will make you unhappy. Good luck and have fun.

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

I have the Alta Pro 263AT with their SBH100 ball head. I bought it for several reasons. 1. Ultra sturdy - built like a rock 2. Tall - allows me to look directly into viewfinder without extending the center column 3. One leg detaches and becomes monopod 4. Center column can be used horizontally 5. Legs extend horizontally for low shooting 6. the SBH100 ball head is heavy enough to easily support my heaviest lenses 7. Price was reasonable
8. Comes with a nice ballistic nylon carrying case. But....., it is heavy (est. 6lbs). Probably not something you would want to carry in addition to a full backpack. IMHO there is one indisputable rule when it comes to tripods: there is no such thing as a cheap, lightweight sturdy tripod.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Tripod/mono combos are mostly a marketing ploy and the functional efficiency of both suffers for it.

Get a good tripod and a good monopod. I recommend monopods that can collapse SHORT for versatility and tripods that collapse LONG for stability and good height.
.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

I fully agree with NCMtnMan about switching between a tripod and monopod. I suggest getting both as separate units and the monopod should have a head that rotates forward and backward to make shot alignment easier. I often take both a tripod and monopod in the car and when I stop for a photo, I don"t need to start putting one leg back on to use the tripod or removing and setting up for a monopod. I also suggest a set of quick release mounts to make set up so much easier.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

I have a MEFOTO Road Trip. I use it a lot with my micro 4/3 cameras. Most often I use it low to the ground for macro work. I have short column that allows the camera to be rather close to the ground. The tripod is light weight and is stable enough for use with my Panasonic 100-300mm lens. I consider this to be a good purchase. I am 6' 1" and the tripod is of adequate height for me.

If you have a heavy camera with a large lens (e.g. Nikon 200- 500mm) I would be concerned about the head.
You could swap out the head if necessary however.

I have a much heavier Manfrotto tripod designed for MF that is more stable for larger camera assemblies. This tripod was designed for hikers but one would notice the weight over longer distances.

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

Your best place to get independent, unbiased and quantitative data to inform your tripod purchase decision is here:

https://thecentercolumn.com/

It provides torsional rigidity data which is where most tripods are least stable, and it dispels the myths that hanging a weight from the center column, aluminum is just as good as carbon, only heavier, and that twist locks are any better/worse than flip locks and finally that load capacity has anything to do with tripod stability.

There is a lot of information to digest, but you'll come away with a more accurate and better understanding of tripods, and why spending $100 on a tripod might just add $100 to the cost of the tripod that will actually serve your needs.

In general the worst tripod choice would likely be an aluminum "travel" tripod with skinny legs and a removable leg that can work as a monopod.

As you peruse the rankings, I'd look for a tripod with at least a ranking of 800, and more if you plan to get a longer lens, unless you don't mind having two tripods. I would absolutely dismiss anything below 700, as not being stable enough to keep your 300mm lens quiet to avoid blur. Needless to say, if you only shoot with really short lenses, and don't shoot high-magnification macro, then a less stable (and less costly) tripod might be a good option.

cedymock Loc: Irmo, South Carolina

Benro TMA28A Series 2 Mach3 Aluminum Tripod purchased at B& H about a month ago well pleased, check reviews.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1157830-REG/benro_tma28a_mach3_aluminum_series_2.html

eagle76sct Loc: 10930

Scruples,
Thank you for your reply. I haven’t posted a lot on here so am a little new to this. I have seen your reply’s before and respect your decision. I did look at your suggestion and the only downside to it was the wet. Since my wife and I fly frequently and wgt. Can become a factor I would like your idea on the oven 3565t. It looks yo be very similar but the wgt is a little lighter. Also what about the BZ217T. Head?
Thanks
By the way my father in law lives in bay ridge..

John