Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Main Photography Discussion
Tripod for mirrorless camera
May 14, 2017 20:59:42   #
billpan45
 
Dear Hogs: I just traded my DSLR kit for an Olympus OMD-1 E-M1 Mark II mirrorless camera, and two Olympus PRO lenses: the 12-40mm F2.8 and the 40-150 mm F2.8. I cannot get to B and H to look at tripods. Any recommendations for a good, sturdy tripod suitable for that scale gear? The heaviest load the tripod would have to hold is the OMD body plus the 40-150 mm, about 5 lbs. Thanks.

Reply
May 14, 2017 21:17:03   #
PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago
 
billpan45 wrote:
Dear Hogs: I just traded my DSLR kit for an Olympus OMD-1 E-M1 Mark II mirrorless camera, and two Olympus PRO lenses: the 12-40mm F2.8 and the 40-150 mm F2.8. I cannot get to B and H to look at tripods. Any recommendations for a good, sturdy tripod suitable for that scale gear? The heaviest load the tripod would have to hold is the OMD body plus the 40-150 mm, about 5 lbs. Thanks.


What is your budget?

What height you interested in?

Reply
May 14, 2017 21:24:51   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
billpan45 wrote:
Dear Hogs: I just traded my DSLR kit for an Olympus OMD-1 E-M1 Mark II mirrorless camera, and two Olympus PRO lenses: the 12-40mm F2.8 and the 40-150 mm F2.8. I cannot get to B and H to look at tripods. Any recommendations for a good, sturdy tripod suitable for that scale gear? The heaviest load the tripod would have to hold is the OMD body plus the 40-150 mm, about 5 lbs. Thanks.


Look at the wisdom contained in the guidance provided by RRS - keep in mind that your effective focal length is equivalent to a 300mm lens.

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/Guides-Support-for-Tripods

Gear weight has NOTHING to do with what is the correct tripod. It sounds like any set of legs that will support a 300mm lens - regardless of weight - will work.

Also look at the guidance in the Gitzo catalog - they suggest a Series 3 for up to a 300mm lens.

You can get a $40 tripod to support 5 lbs. it won't hold it steady, which is the entire reason you are buying a tripod.

Reply
 
 
May 14, 2017 22:44:51   #
CO
 
If your budget will allow it, look at carbon fiber tripods. They're lighter than aluminum and dampen vibration better. Also, when you handle them in cold weather, they don't feel cold like aluminum. There are many manufacturers of carbon fiber tripods. I guess you have to decide if you prefer ball heads or pan/tilt heads. Gitzo makes an excellent pan/tilt head. Manfrotto makes various pan/tilt heads. There are many fine ball heads available.

Reply
May 14, 2017 22:56:02   #
PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago
 
billpan45 wrote:
Dear Hogs: I just traded my DSLR kit for an Olympus OMD-1 E-M1 Mark II mirrorless camera, and two Olympus PRO lenses: the 12-40mm F2.8 and the 40-150 mm F2.8. I cannot get to B and H to look at tripods. Any recommendations for a good, sturdy tripod suitable for that scale gear? The heaviest load the tripod would have to hold is the OMD body plus the 40-150 mm, about 5 lbs. Thanks.


Can I assume you had a tripod for your DSLR?. If so, what is wrong with it?

Reply
May 15, 2017 02:52:17   #
wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
 
billpan45 wrote:
Dear Hogs: I just traded my DSLR kit for an Olympus OMD-1 E-M1 Mark II mirrorless camera, and two Olympus PRO lenses: the 12-40mm F2.8 and the 40-150 mm F2.8. I cannot get to B and H to look at tripods. Any recommendations for a good, sturdy tripod suitable for that scale gear? The heaviest load the tripod would have to hold is the OMD body plus the 40-150 mm, about 5 lbs. Thanks.


Good news. Because you own an Olympus E-M1 mrII, you will have 5.5 stops of stability in your hands. If you owned the 12-100 f4 or the 300 f4, you would have 6.5 stops of stability in your hands. Their are some photographers that can handhold the 12-100 for 5 to 10 seconds and get acceptable shots. Even though it was by accident, I personally have shot a handheld picture of 1.6 seconds that is sharp except for some of the kids moving in it. I recently was shooting at the moon handheld at 400mm (800mm in 35mm terms) and getting ~50% acceptable pictures. You can probably get any cheap tripod at just about any store to take with you now, but I would advise against it. Try handholding and if you are not satisfied, go to your local store and pay the extra bucks for a good tripod to take with you. Be sure to use your best handhold techniques to "help" the camera.

Reply
May 15, 2017 06:12:58   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
billpan45 wrote:
Dear Hogs: I just traded my DSLR kit for an Olympus OMD-1 E-M1 Mark II mirrorless camera, and two Olympus PRO lenses: the 12-40mm F2.8 and the 40-150 mm F2.8. I cannot get to B and H to look at tripods. Any recommendations for a good, sturdy tripod suitable for that scale gear? The heaviest load the tripod would have to hold is the OMD body plus the 40-150 mm, about 5 lbs. Thanks.


Lots of choices. Here are some good links.

https://digital-photography-school.com/everything-about-tripods-phil-steele/
http://www.bythom.com/support.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIWvjfI_-PA
http://digital-photography-school.com/build-ideal-tripod/
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/5-pros-and-5-cons-of-using-a-tripod/
http://www.lightstalking.com/tripod-heads/

Reply
 
 
May 15, 2017 07:12:55   #
billpan45
 
Thanks everybody.

Reply
May 15, 2017 09:21:50   #
HughB Loc: Minneapolis MN
 
I have the same Olympus which I love. I also recently purchased a MEFOTO Carbon fiber
Road trip tripod which with zippered cover I easily sling over my head and back. It's light but very sturdy and with as another hog pointed out the image stabilization in the camera and now in the 12-100 f4 that I just added to my collection the images are sharper than ever. Amazon sells the tripod for $299.

Reply
May 15, 2017 11:35:36   #
ecurb1105
 
Gitzo Reporter

Reply
May 15, 2017 12:59:18   #
Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI
 
Get the RRS camera plate first, then any arca swiss compatible head will work. I use an acratech gp-s with mine (on a manfrottto 190CXpro3), which was a carry over from my dslr days. It's way overkill, but works like a charm when I mount the 150mm f2 and EC-20 on it.

Reply
 
 
May 16, 2017 18:20:17   #
mrpentaxk5ii
 
If you don't have the money for a carbon Tripod, look at the Benro travel angle, works well and it folds to about 15 1/2 inches to fit inside a photo backpack.

Reply
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Main Photography Discussion
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.