Looking to upgrade my Tripod
May 4, 2022 17:06:12 #
Hello gentle people:
I am thinking of buying a travel tripod that can serve as my one & only tripod. I want to be able to do macro as well as Astro photography with this tripod. I will use it with my Canon R6 with couple of telephoto lenses. I want to stay less than 4lbs in weight and size must be small enough to fit in carry-on luggage. I am thinking about Manfrotto Befree GT XPRO Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod with 496 Center Ball Head. For the money I am planning to spend is this a good rig or would you recommend another alternative.
Wishing you the perfect shot :)
Thanks
Em Em
I am thinking of buying a travel tripod that can serve as my one & only tripod. I want to be able to do macro as well as Astro photography with this tripod. I will use it with my Canon R6 with couple of telephoto lenses. I want to stay less than 4lbs in weight and size must be small enough to fit in carry-on luggage. I am thinking about Manfrotto Befree GT XPRO Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod with 496 Center Ball Head. For the money I am planning to spend is this a good rig or would you recommend another alternative.
Wishing you the perfect shot :)
Thanks
Em Em
May 4, 2022 17:32:06 #
Photolearner01 wrote:
Hello gentle people: br br I am thinking of buyin... (show quote)
Sounds like you need a tripod with a stiffness rating of at least 1000 -
https://thecentercolumn.com/rankings/
Manfrotto doesn't make anything that stiff and at your price point.
You don't mention what you are upgrading from . . .
May 4, 2022 17:56:16 #
Tripods are one of those things that if you try to save money- it cost you money. Just go get a Gitzo and call it a day.
May 4, 2022 21:00:31 #
May 4, 2022 21:19:01 #
I spent a lot of money on a high quality carbon fiber tripod. It is light so carrying it is easy. But it isn't very sturdy. I miss my heavyweight Bogen I had in the 70's.
May 5, 2022 06:50:32 #
May 5, 2022 07:38:29 #
May 5, 2022 08:03:19 #
I had tried Manfrottos as my main tripods for 400mm Nikon lens, however, I was never happy & images proved it with final output. I researched a lot and finally broke out the credit card bought a Gitzo GT5543XLS for 600mm coupled with a Wimberly WH-200 Gimbal Head & a Gitzo GT3533LS I have yet to think of it as overkill. In windy conditions, I will hang a small fiber grocery bag with 3 bricks taped together from each tripod
May 5, 2022 08:24:59 #
It sounds like trying to find an off-road SUV that gets 50 mph. A "travel" tripod is small and light." A "regular" tripod is big, heavy (unless carbon fiber), and sturdy.
May 5, 2022 08:36:36 #
Sidwalkastronomy
Loc: New Jersey Shore
I have a benro and it's good brand. Carbon fiber is for you and 4 section legs to make it shorter
May 5, 2022 09:03:15 #
Photolearner01 wrote:
Hello gentle people: br br I am thinking of buyin... (show quote)
Leofoto tripod - https://www.ebay.com/itm/174738296428?epid=10022071532&hash=item28af36ce6c:g:mwsAAOSwyJxgfUyB
Ball head - https://www.ebay.com/itm/175202446064?epid=1168441413&hash=item28cae12af0:g:7JUAAOSwqb1iMTeO .......
.
May 5, 2022 09:28:35 #
Photolearner01 wrote:
Hello gentle people: br br I am thinking of buyin... (show quote)
Leofoto makes excellent CF pods
May 5, 2022 09:57:29 #
Your requirements call for a stable,very stable tripod wich most travel tripod don’t meet so I guess you’ll have to compromise some how
May 5, 2022 10:43:36 #
Sidwalkastronomy
Loc: New Jersey Shore
I have a Manfrotto 190 CF I would look into that one as it meets most of your requirements.
I was looking on line and I had to physically see them so I took the trip to B AND H.
I was looking on line and I had to physically see them so I took the trip to B AND H.
May 5, 2022 10:51:14 #
Photolearner01 wrote:
Hello gentle people: br br I am thinking of buyin... (show quote)
My normal travel tripod--small enough to fit in a suitcase, is a Benro/Induro series two carbon fiber tripod, with each leg having four sections. Its model number is Steath CLT 204. (Now that Benro owns Induro, double check the model number.) I have used this tripod successfully in Costa Rica with Nikon 300mm f4 pf and 500mm f5.6 pf lenses. I would not use series two tripod with a 500mm f4 lens--that weight requires a bigger tripod.
However, I do not consider it sturdy enough for astro work that may require a long an heavy tele lens. For that kind of application, I would want a series three or four tripod that can be extended taller than I am as the lens might be pointing up a lot.
IMO you need two good tripods as the applications you have described are very different and each needs the right tool.
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