Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyy don't tripods and heads come with instructions? (Page 2): What the heck did you buy? A tripod for a cinematographer shooting a major motion picture...

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

BabyNurse wrote:

I have an old tripod that I think I got at Staples for $30. It would barely hold my point and shoot. I've gotten to a point where I can't hold my camera steady with the smallest lens I have no matter how hard I try or what tricks I use. So, I broke down and bought a nice tripod and head. It came today. By the time I get this figured out I will be dead and gone.

What the heck did you buy? A tripod for a cinematographer shooting a major motion picture...

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Oh this is real bummer! Fancy supplying a complicated bit of kit like this without a full set of instructions with plenty of pictures. However is one supposed to know how to open the legs and adjust the height so its level? And then that screw in the head that sticks up can prove such a mystery without a picture of it being screwed into the hole in the bottom of your camera. These suppliers just do not care do they?
How is the shoe lace tying going? Have you got the hang of that now?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

BabyNurse wrote:

I have an old tripod that I think I got at Staples for $30. It would barely hold my point and shoot. I've gotten to a point where I can't hold my camera steady with the smallest lens I have no matter how hard I try or what tricks I use. So, I broke down and bought a nice tripod and head. It came today. By the time I get this figured out I will be dead and gone.

Give us the make and model, and we'll have you up and running in no time.

Psdunner

Your sarcasm is undignified. This guy is having a problem and either help him or be gone. I'm glad you are so intelligent and perfect but most mortals out here aren't.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

lamiaceae wrote:

Lightbulb?

Mazda was a brand name of lightbulbs way before the vehicles became popular.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Psdunner wrote:

Your sarcasm is undignified. This guy is having a problem and either help him or be gone. I'm glad you are so intelligent and perfect but most mortals out here aren't.

If you were talking to me, it wasn't meant as sarcasm... I cant' believe a person having & knowing (assuming) how to operate something as complex as a modern DSLR can't figure out how to use a tripod/head...like I said, if it were for a steady cam or a cine cam I could understand it...love to see a picture of it or a model #'s to understand what makes it so complicated.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

OKay...

I have different tripods for different cameras. However that is because of the Weight Factor of the cameras that the tripods will be able to support.
On the Canon cameras - 5D (two of them - One with a Tamron 150-600 - the other with a bunch of lenses) 7D - and an old XTi converted to IR - I use a Gittizo aluminum three section tripod. I have two others for the other different cameras Including an old aluminum Bogen that weighs in at about 10 pounds = this is for a 8X10 Ansco view camera that tilts the scales at about 10 pounds. The others are for the lighter cameras.

There is a "Rule of Thumb" I read once about the camera to tripod ratio.... If your camera and heaviest lens weighs a certain weight - you tripod Should weigh about the same or a little more then the camera and lens you put on it. Get one that has No More than Three (3) extensions as more would be a bit wobbly - Not Good.

The cost of the tripods that I make use of, New, are from 100 to 200 dollars some are bought used off E-Bay. However If I am going to put a 6,000 dollar camera and lens combination on a support system, I am NOT going to get a Cheap tripod to hold that equipment. I do not care about the weight of the tripod - as I do not walk very far anymore from the Jeep as to where I want to shoot. However I do have a "traveling tripod" that is less then two pounds that I use for the Canons IF I MUST hike a mile or more.

Instructions usually come with a GOOD tripod.

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

MT Shooter wrote:

Actually, most all quality tripods and heads DO come with a set of instructions. The operative word here is "quality", that pretty much excludes office supply store products.

Ditto in spades.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Psdunner wrote:

Your sarcasm is undignified. This guy is having a problem and either help him or be gone. I'm glad you are so intelligent and perfect but most mortals out here aren't.

I thought it was well written sarcasm and pretty much to the point. Compared to a camera, A tripod is not a real sophisticated device.

And the people at the camera store would surely be happy to help if asked! Oh a camera store was not involved? Bummer. Then a simple google search should bring up lots of links, including u-Tube videos. Or one could post the question to UHH and put up with a little good natured kidding.

(Download)

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I'm just curious as to what kind of tripod you purchased. They are, in reality, one of the simplest pieces of equipment one could purchase.
--Bob

BabyNurse wrote:

I have an old tripod that I think I got at Staples for $30. It would barely hold my point and shoot. I've gotten to a point where I can't hold my camera steady with the smallest lens I have no matter how hard I try or what tricks I use. So, I broke down and bought a nice tripod and head. It came today. By the time I get this figured out I will be dead and gone.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I acquired a Gitzo tripod about 10 years ago. The primary reason was to support my 4x5. You're correct. One could almost support a car on it. No instructions, but could easily figure out what adjustment does what.
--Bob

lamiaceae wrote:

I had one, actually two like that, sort of... br M... (show quote)

lumix9 Loc: lakeland,fl. via nyc

Its a Tripod...! How hard can it be? Anyway you just Google if you need specific instuctions. :(

rfmaude41 Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)

BabyNurse wrote:

I have an old tripod that I think I got at Staples for $30. It would barely hold my point and shoot. I've gotten to a point where I can't hold my camera steady with the smallest lens I have no matter how hard I try or what tricks I use. So, I broke down and bought a nice tripod and head. It came today. By the time I get this figured out I will be dead and gone.

Go on line to Google put in something like "manual or instructions for <whatever you bought>"

T. Walton Loc: Newton, Kansas

Google your tripod and you might find all kind of information about it including videos on how to set it up

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

speters wrote:

I never received a tripod that did not come with instructions!

I recently bought a new ball head, sans instructions. I guess they don't have time to tell me what the 4 knobs are for.