Right now I have a Slik tripod (can't remember the model) with a ballhead that I paid about $120 or so for a few years ago. It works ok with my 35-80, 10-22 & macro lens, but when I use my 70-300 lens, there is visible shake in my shots. I love that it is super light but its limitations when using my 300 lens are frustrating and I've been thinking about buying a new one. While out shooting last night, the tripod shot craps so the decision was made for me - I need a new one. We're going to Utah in late May so I need to move pretty fast so I'll be sure to have it by then.
I mostly shoot landscapes and macro. Since I do a lot of floral shots, I need to be able to spread the legs out and get low. I also want a ballhead and very light weight for hiking, but I need something strong enough to support my one big lens. Due to budget constraints, I don't want to have to spend my life savings to get a good tripod. That's a pretty tall order, huh?
Any recommendations or advice any of you have would be greatly appreciated!
There was a thread recently in this forum on this issue: http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=34482&CGISESSID=a98ef709eb7646fcd637e8fe1ff88114&u=16990
There is another one, but I couldn't find it. You could try a search.
Posted by Carson Wilcox on April 22, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Posted by Paul DeCesare on April 22, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Angela, you can get a boatload of suggestions, but to start SOMEWHERE, here's what I got and am very happy with the stability:
Manfrotto 055XPROB Legs - about $170
Manfrotto RC488 Ball Head - about $105 (the 488 is sturdier than the popular 486)
I use this rig with a Canon 5D Mark II and the 70-200mm/2.8, and it's quite sturdy. I used this at the top of Ute Canyon at Colorado National Monument in the gusty winds there with no problems.
This is an aluminum tripod, not carbon fiber, JSYK. Carbon fiber is lighter, but more bucks.
Posted by Nathan Buck on April 22, 2009 at 6:07 PM
I have the Bogen 3022 (or are they 3021) legs. I like them a lot. The legs on these spread out to go low. They ARE aluminum - not carbon fiber.
Up until recently I used a pistol grip ball head but found with my D80 and 180 macro that it would sag a bit once in a while. I found an Acratech ultimate really affordably, and have been using that, but I hate how I have to use two hands to loosen it and set the shot (I did not have to do that with the Manfrotto Action Grip Ball head). I find when I am on my knees shooting, trying to set the shot, and trying to focus that the ball head has been a pain. My old Action grip ball head only was rated to hold 5.5 lbs. but there is a horizontal version that is rated to hold 11 lbs. I think I am going to try that one as I love to be able to set the ball head position with one hand, while focusing with the other.
Nathan
Posted by Kent Staubus on April 22, 2009 at 8:22 PM
You're finding out that for sharpness, the tripod is just as important as a lens, and more important than a camera. It's no accident my tripod/head cost as much as my camera. You can buy a parade of increasingly expensive tripods/heads like many of us did, or just buy one good one.
You will as you have noticed get a lot of advice. My input would be to envision the heaviest rig you will own in 10 years, then get legs and head that meets those needs. My first "real" tripod was a Manfrotto 441 carbon fiber leg set with a Bogen head. The model numbers have been updated in the 5 years since getting the legs. The legs were good for everything I needed until I got my 500 F4. They were just not up to the task for that.
I still use it occasionally and my wife uses it for her primary set up. However the head was replaced with a much better Markins Q 10. We use a 40D and a !D MK2 and lenses from a 17-40, 24-105, 100 f 2.8 macro, 300 F4 and 100-400 with ease and good results.
For the 500 F4 and teleconverter combinations I now use a Gitzo LS 3540 with Really Right Stuff BH55 head, occasionally with a sidekick. This combination is just outstanding. However it is much more expensive.
So, if you are not going to use a super tel you can get away with spending a lot less and still get a good set up. Manfrotto is a good choice as well as others in its class. Heads from Markins, the Really Right Stuff BH 40, Archetech, Kirk and Bogen among others are all good head choices.
If you are doing, or anticipating doing cold weather work, -20C and below, I would avoid Manfrotto. While my older Manfrotto takes these sort of temperatures, I've used it at -45C, it seems the quality of plastic has suffered in recent years. We purchased a number of Manfrotto products for the Arctic Winter games last year and two of the three items had locking levers or a mount snap in the cold. -25C
Discussion
8 repliesI mostly shoot landscapes and macro. Since I do a lot of floral shots, I need to be able to spread the legs out and get low. I also want a ballhead and very light weight for hiking, but I need something strong enough to support my one big lens. Due to budget constraints, I don't want to have to spend my life savings to get a good tripod. That's a pretty tall order, huh?
Any recommendations or advice any of you have would be greatly appreciated!
There is another one, but I couldn't find it. You could try a search.
http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=41271&CGISESSID=751105b4e95df36d7fc4738e77528ee3&u=4930
Manfrotto 055XPROB Legs - about $170
Manfrotto RC488 Ball Head - about $105 (the 488 is sturdier than the popular 486)
I use this rig with a Canon 5D Mark II and the 70-200mm/2.8, and it's quite sturdy. I used this at the top of Ute Canyon at Colorado National Monument in the gusty winds there with no problems.
This is an aluminum tripod, not carbon fiber, JSYK. Carbon fiber is lighter, but more bucks.
Up until recently I used a pistol grip ball head but found with my D80 and 180 macro that it would sag a bit once in a while. I found an Acratech ultimate really affordably, and have been using that, but I hate how I have to use two hands to loosen it and set the shot (I did not have to do that with the Manfrotto Action Grip Ball head). I find when I am on my knees shooting, trying to set the shot, and trying to focus that the ball head has been a pain. My old Action grip ball head only was rated to hold 5.5 lbs. but there is a horizontal version that is rated to hold 11 lbs. I think I am going to try that one as I love to be able to set the ball head position with one hand, while focusing with the other.
Nathan
Kent in SD
I still use it occasionally and my wife uses it for her primary set up. However the head was replaced with a much better Markins Q 10. We use a 40D and a !D MK2 and lenses from a 17-40, 24-105, 100 f 2.8 macro, 300 F4 and 100-400 with ease and good results.
For the 500 F4 and teleconverter combinations I now use a Gitzo LS 3540 with Really Right Stuff BH55 head, occasionally with a sidekick. This combination is just outstanding. However it is much more expensive.
So, if you are not going to use a super tel you can get away with spending a lot less and still get a good set up. Manfrotto is a good choice as well as others in its class. Heads from Markins, the Really Right Stuff BH 40, Archetech, Kirk and Bogen among others are all good head choices.