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What are the best tripods?
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Jan 28, 2013 18:15:04   #
nolte1964 Loc: Des Moines, Iowa
 
Really Right Stuff TV-33 wonderful tripod

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Jan 28, 2013 18:30:12   #
PhotoArtsLA Loc: Boynton Beach
 
I have owned a lot of tripods. Gitzo in the olde days made the best tripods on the planet which last forever so you can find them on Ebay from time to time. The Gitzo Tele Studex Giant is a keeper, way better than just about all other tripods in current manufacture. But it is not featherweight.

In the insanity of attempting to make weightless cameras in our oddly softening world, tripod manufacture is at an all time low point, most efforts can be considered "dilettante."

Currently Manfrotto, at the $500 range for legs only, makes "coffee nervous" tripods which just the camera shutter will send into image wrecking motion. I have one, and it what a joke it is for supertelephoto work. If you must suffer with Manfrotto, keep your shutter speeds high, but then, why not just use a good monopod or handhold. In my studio, I handhold when my big Gitzo is on rental. The Manfrotto also does NOT go low.

Current Gitzo carbon fiber tripods are pretty good (the bigger ones.) Most things Sachtler are good to great, and they have DSLR models, but they are a bit more bent on video.

I plan to put Really Right Stuff to the test, but their largest tripods are quite small by professional standards, particularly in maximum height. Still, for purposes of less demanding general shooting, I have read some good reviews. They are worth checking out. I hope.

For example, concerning the Gitzo Tele Studex Giant: I often raise the tripod to say, six or seven feet in the air (it goes several FEET higher) and load it with about 150 pounds of movie gear. Like a big jib arm and a once upon a time $800,000 movie camera which is not a good thing to break. No big deal. And solid as a rock. No coffee nerves. No twist. No bad habits. Too bad such excellence in manufacture does not exist today.

Funny thing, our family used to own Arkay Corporation, which, apart from the processing gear I had at my commercial lab years ago, also offered camera stands for the studio. I have decided to add one to my studio for its instant high to low shooting capability and rock solid functionality.

If you need such a thing, they sell them at B&H today:

http://tinyurl.com/ahh6jas

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Jan 28, 2013 19:00:09   #
ata3001
 
JR1 wrote:
The one that best suits your purpose which you don't state.

What is the best saloon car, without knowing the use the answer is not possible

What exactly is a saloon car? Never heard the term, but sounds like something a moonshiner would drive. What is it?

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Jan 28, 2013 20:21:43   #
wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ
 
imagemeister wrote:
wlgoode wrote:
Scoutman wrote:
guitarbts wrote:
I am in need of a tripod that will hold 11+ lbs. What brand is the most dependable, easy to use and of coarse,safe from failure with your equipment?

Thanks for your input and help


Come on Man!

Isn't this the third straight day for a request for basic tripod suggestions? Good Grief :-(


The magic word here was "best" so the other magic word is GITZO!!!


I don'y see the word "best" in OP .....
quote=wlgoode quote=Scoutman quote=guitarbts I ... (show quote)


On second look you're right, guess that's how I interpreted "What brand is the most dependable, easy to use and of coarse,safe from failure with your equipment?"

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Jan 30, 2013 02:05:10   #
raysass Loc: Brooklin, On, Canada.
 
ata3001 wrote:
JR1 wrote:
The one that best suits your purpose which you don't state.

What is the best saloon car, without knowing the use the answer is not possible

What exactly is a saloon car? Never heard the term, but sounds like something a moonshiner would drive. What is it?


could be British for Sedan.

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Jan 30, 2013 02:21:25   #
Larrie Loc: NE Ohio
 
MT Shooter wrote:
You can never go wrong with Manfrotto or Gitzo, just stay away from their low-end models, they both make crappy versions just for those out there who won't pay for quality.


Or big box stores

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Jan 30, 2013 09:59:41   #
bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.
 
price is a consideration for some , so tthe best you can afford.i took my heaviest camera/ lens combo to the camra store, and tried different ones till i found a good setup.

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Jan 30, 2013 12:04:24   #
JayB Loc: Northeast US
 
GeorgeVee wrote:
Here you go , read this BY THOM HOGAN
http://www.bythom.com/support.htm


I'm jumping on the Thom Hogan article bandwagon. I've read lots of responses to tripod questions here, and am grateful for the many recommendations by our resident gurus, but this very readable article is great for delivering the big picture to newbies.

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