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Tripod, Tripod, which Tripod?
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Mar 5, 2013 11:13:56   #
OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR
 
Let me add... It's been often said here that the best camera is the one you have with you. Same with tripods? I'm way more likely to pack a 12-inch, 2 pound tripod for walkabouts than a 5-pounder that folds to 24 inches. I've missed several low light and/or HDR shots recently because I didn't want to carry around a heavy tripod.

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Mar 5, 2013 11:23:47   #
OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR
 
Georgia Peddler wrote:
Pliers work just fine, but don't look the best, you know?


C'mon Georgia, just suck it up and get on with it. :D

Pretty Pliers
Pretty Pliers...

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Mar 5, 2013 11:32:14   #
Dazay Loc: Laurentians
 
Relatively new to the North American market and available at B&H is Sirui. I'm delighted with their M-3204 tripod plus K-30X head. Superb and unreservedly recommended.

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Mar 5, 2013 11:35:23   #
Georgia Peddler Loc: Brunswick, GA
 
OddJobber wrote:
Georgia Peddler wrote:
Pliers work just fine, but don't look the best, you know?


C'mon Georgia, just suck it up and get on with it. :D


Well now, Jobber - that sure makes a difference. Thanks, I will hunt me up a pair of those "Designer Pliers" to keep in my back pocket and adjust my pod center section as needed.

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Mar 5, 2013 12:02:03   #
JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK
 
Screamin Scott wrote:
He needs to attach the pages so that they can be downloaded & viewed larger....That said, My tripod (a UK brand) isn't listed. Now it is a newcomer to the field & has been getting rave reviews. I wonder when the comparison article he posted came out ?

OddJobber wrote:
JR1 wrote:
A little more info for you


Thanks for the article, JR. I'm shopping for a compact tripod that I would be more likely to travel about town with (but love my full-size Manfrottos). This article covers all the bases.
He needs to attach the pages so that they can be d... (show quote)


You can easily zoom in and out using Ctrl and the mouse wheel

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Mar 5, 2013 12:07:56   #
BigGWells Loc: Olympia, WA
 
damvit wrote:
Hey UHH folks,
I'm trying to decide on my first buy, highest quality @ lowest price. I've seen posts here about the Ravelli APG L4 for $95, which caught my eye, found Ravelli Professional 65-inch Carbon Fiber 3 Axis Ball Head Camera Video Photo Tripod for $85...then found Costco has Dolica ZX600B103 70" for $99, which is also Carbon Fiber. Interested in hearing opinions, experiences, etc...trip to Europe this summer, and indoor/outdoor use...How important is T's height? I'm 6'1", ultimately interested in portrait/head shots, 65" or 70"?
Other options are buying used Manfrotto, which seems widely appreciated, but older, heavier, at around $100-150...some come w' heads. I would spend a little more if quality, portability & longevity are there...Help!?!
Thank you!
Hey UHH folks, br I'm trying to decide on my first... (show quote)


Highest quality and lowest price can not be in the same sentence.

"The bitterness of poor quality remain long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten"....

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Mar 5, 2013 12:30:06   #
dstead
 
mt, you are always correct!! doug

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Mar 5, 2013 12:37:42   #
mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)
 
Festus wrote:
Check out this article:

http://www.bythom.com/support.htm


I agree, Festus. Best advice on tripods you'll ever read. I'm just sorry I wasted so much money on junk or overweight angle iron before I read it. Now I have a Gitzo 2531 with a Markins ball head, and couldn't be happier. It's my last tripod.

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Mar 5, 2013 12:44:25   #
GaryS1964 Loc: Northern California
 
I have three. First a lightweight Velbron that folds to around 14" including head. It's very light and I use it when I'm on vacation at Disneyland (fits in the smallest locker there), Carmel, Lake Tahoe, etc. and photography is secondary to what I'm doing. I'll mount my 7D with 15-85 lens (my walk around lens) on it but I always keep the strap around my neck. One leg actually collapsed while taking a night shot in Monterey. Probably my fault as I didn't tighten the leg well enough but illustrates the perils of an inexpensive tripod.

Then I have a big heavy Manfrotto for serious stability for use when photography is the primary objective and I don't have to carry it far.

Finally I have a an Optica carbon fiber tripod which is in between the Velbron and Manfrotto in terms of stability and weight. I use it when photography is the primary objective but it will involve a lot of hiking and climbing. I also always keep the strap around my neck when using this one.

I'm an amateur and my choices were dictated by budget as much as utility. But each serves it's purpose well for the way I use them.

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Mar 5, 2013 13:01:20   #
I STOP TO SHOOT Loc: By the No. CA Sea
 
This is the tripod I have and I found this comments abot the Ravelli model APGL4... I like it, price wise, I had not seen one before and the problem is that it is heavy... I think it is aluminum, but it is sturdy and doesn't move with the wind. I have to use the tripod all the time and it is a pain in the butt, but got this 1 1/2 yrs. ago, so maybe it has impoved. Good luck.

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Mar 5, 2013 13:02:33   #
I STOP TO SHOOT Loc: By the No. CA Sea
 
I STOP TO SHOOT wrote:
This is the tripod I have and I found this comments abot the Ravelli model APGL4... I like it, price wise, I had not seen one before and the problem is that it is heavy... I think it is aluminum, but it is sturdy and doesn't move with the wind. I have to use the tripod all the time and it is a pain in the butt, but got this 1 1/2 yrs. ago, so maybe it has impoved. Good luck.

opps forgot to include the web site: http://www.amazon.com/Ravelli-APGL4-Professional-Tripod-Adjustable/product-reviews/B003SQEAY0/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

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Mar 5, 2013 13:32:59   #
arlissd
 
I learned some time ago, you can spend the money now are you can be cheap and keep on spending and end up spending more. My first suggestion, Really Right Stuff, second, Gitzo, and final Manfrotto. Of the Three Really Right Stuff and Gitzo you cannot lose. I have two Really Right Stuff( one is their ground pod), and one Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 that I use as a travel tripod.

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Mar 5, 2013 14:24:20   #
AlanK Loc: No. Califorina
 
JR1 wrote:

Fully agree with the above, tripods are very personal you MUST try them

I would agree that trying out a tripod/head is step # 1, and even that may not be enough. I had a Manfrotto aluminum from the early '70's and used it for video once I put a video head on it. Much too heavy as I got older, after two back fusion's and 2 fake knees.
I started looking for a good light carbon fibre tripod w/head and found a Gitzo that seemed OK, until I got into heavier camera's (D3, D3x, D4, D800) and heavy lenses (Nikon 24-70 ƒ2.8, 70-200 ƒ2.8).

A well know shop in LA sold me on a Kieser Ball Head for the Gitzo, wow what a waste of $450! No matter how hard I'd tighten that ball head the darn thing droops, every time!

Moving on, and spending even more money, I finally bought a RRS Carbon Tripod & their big ball head! Not too light, sturdy, great service and expensive as all get out! Only problem with RRS, no way to try it out, I don't think they sell retail, only mail order.

And what I paid for the setup (about $1200), got me a great, sturdy & pretty easy to carry tripod!

My 2C worth, don't buy cheap, it's a very deep dark hole.

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Mar 5, 2013 17:21:59   #
MT Shooter Loc: Montana
 
Georgia Peddler wrote:
MT Shooter wrote:
A crappy tripod is worse than no tripod at all.
Try to find a camera store to actually handle a few before you buy off-brand stuff online. Buy once, cry once, then enjoy the usefulness of a good tripod for decades rather than throw away a crappy one every 6 months or so.


Shooter - a question - I have a Bogen/Manfrotto 3221 that is missing the little knob thingee that you push in to engage the slot and tighten or loosen the center post positon. I have exhausted all of the sites I find on-line for Bogen/Manfortto and even order the supposed correct piece from their authorized site in South Carolina, but it was incorrect. Any direction you can point me in??
quote=MT Shooter A crappy tripod is worse than no... (show quote)


You must have the first generation 3021 (3221 in black) with the removeable column clamp handle. It originally had an allen wrench in it that fit all the leg clamp screws. The second and third generation 3021 did not have the removeable handle there.
Check with www.manfrottospares.com, I think they are still available for about $21, but they come all the way from Italy so it takes a couple of weeks. The part number is: E055,516F

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Mar 5, 2013 17:39:26   #
Georgia Peddler Loc: Brunswick, GA
 
MT Shooter wrote:
Georgia Peddler wrote:
MT Shooter wrote:
A crappy tripod is worse than no tripod at all.
Try to find a camera store to actually handle a few before you buy off-brand stuff online. Buy once, cry once, then enjoy the usefulness of a good tripod for decades rather than throw away a crappy one every 6 months or so.


Shooter - a question - I have a Bogen/Manfrotto 3221 that is missing the little knob thingee that you push in to engage the slot and tighten or loosen the center post positon. I have exhausted all of the sites I find on-line for Bogen/Manfortto and even order the supposed correct piece from their authorized site in South Carolina, but it was incorrect. Any direction you can point me in??
quote=MT Shooter A crappy tripod is worse than no... (show quote)


You must have the first generation 3021 (3221 in black) with the removeable column clamp handle. It originally had an allen wrench in it that fit all the leg clamp screws. The second and third generation 3021 did not have the removeable handle there.
Check with www.manfrottospares.com, I think they are still available for about $21, but they come all the way from Italy so it takes a couple of weeks. The part number is: E055,516F
quote=Georgia Peddler quote=MT Shooter A crappy ... (show quote)


Thanks for the reply - this is the stem with a little spring and the little handle is slotted to fit over the end of the screw. You can turn it and then push the little handle in by puushing it past the spring catch and take another bite without having the little handle at an awkward position. Is that the one you are referring to? Hard to tell when looking at the parts breakdowns, and like I said, the Manfrotto/Bogen site in SCarolina sent me the wrong thing even after talking with me and assuring me it was the correct thingee. Thanks

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