Hi friends. I am wanting to get a new set of legs. Mine have seen better days. I am looking at Feisol and wonder if any of you who do Bird photography with a heavy prime lens can recommend a set for my gymbasl head. Under 400.00 if possible I want NO center column
Thanks much
Posted by Lon Overacker on April 25, 2012 at 6:37 PM
Cheryl,
I own the Feisol 3301. I purchased it going on 3 yrs ago to replace my Bogen 3210/3221 tripods. I'm very happy with the tripod. Now I can't speak for bird/wildlife photography as I use only for my 4x5 and I expect you will put it through more paces and abuse that I do, so I can't speak for abuse or durability really.
But I'm writing to mention two things. First, I have the older version and the newer versions have anti-twist leg locks that I believe are metal and a better design. And I didn't have problems with the older version, so the new one must be good too.
The main reason though is to offer this tip/suggestion should you decide to get the Feisol. Unless these have changed, the rubber feet on the tripods are more like "caps." and won't last long and might be prone to falling off and getting lost. Even before I discovered that I ordered the short spikes along with the tripod. Here's what I did. I bought a set of rubber feet you get at the hardware store; they're like $3. I don't recall the exact size, I think like 5/8" or so(make sure you measure and double-check beforehand.) I drilled about a 1/4" hole in the bottom of the rubber foot and forced the threaded spiked foot in to the rubber foot and then screwed it in the bottom of the tripod leg, replacing the nearly useless "cap" of the tripod. I think the tripod comes with a wrench that you use to tighten the spiked foot. It does take a little jimmy'ing and playing with in order to get the threads started correctly. So alternatively you can put the rubber foot on first and make sure the hole is big enough to put the spike threads through.
So there are a number of benefits. 1. The rubber foot is secure and won't every come off, 2. the short spike works to grab in many situations like rocks or even just long enough to grab ice, and 3. the spikes are short enough that the rubber feet can still engage for a non-slip contact with the ground, say on pavement. In other words, with the legs extended and angled out, the spike and rubber foot are such that they both get used and offer kind of a double-feature with the feet.
Anyway, just a thought if you decide to go with the feisol.
Cheryl,
I also bought a Feisol 3301. I was not sure about buying a tripod with twist locks over the lever locks I'd owned for years on my older and heavier Bogen 3221.
However, with Lon's help and input I finally decided to contact Kerry at Really Big Cameras and made the purchase of the later model 3301. As Lon stated the later model has the non-rotating legs and the metal twist locks.
All my concerns about the transition to the twist locks over the lever locks was put to rest within minutes of my first outing. I will say that Lon also made a key point about the short stubby rubber tips and how they seem to fall off easily. I gave mine a few outings and started having issues with them coming loose. So I went to Home Depot and found perfect fitting rubber tips marketed by Shepherd Hardware Products part number 89127. They are listed as size 7/8" or 22mm. Additionally they are much longer and are a very snug fit on the leg tips. In fact I had no need for any adhesive to secure the replacement tips. I also bought the short spikes, but I have not used them to date.
As Lon mentioned we are using LF cameras and not using the legs for avian or wildlife photography, but the units are plenty ridged IMO. You might contact Kerry directly and he no doubt will help you dial in an exact unit to meet your needs.
Posted by Dan Roberts on April 29, 2012 at 8:49 PM
Can't speak to other aspects of the 3301 model recommended by others, but as to the new style twist lock legs, they are awesome. I've got a Feisol 3372 with the new design legs. They work smoothly, lock securely, and the twist locks don't have a tendency to get caught on vines etc like the old cam lock design. By the same token they stow more cleanly on a backpack. I'll also make a plug for Feisol in general. Quality of the equipment is excellent and the company is very customer service oriented based on my limited experience with them. I started with the legs and was impressed enough to follow up with purchase of a ball head. Since then I've added various miscellaneous bits and pieces purchased from them. Nice folks to do business with.
Discussion
5 repliesThanks much
I own the Feisol 3301. I purchased it going on 3 yrs ago to replace my Bogen 3210/3221 tripods. I'm very happy with the tripod. Now I can't speak for bird/wildlife photography as I use only for my 4x5 and I expect you will put it through more paces and abuse that I do, so I can't speak for abuse or durability really.
But I'm writing to mention two things. First, I have the older version and the newer versions have anti-twist leg locks that I believe are metal and a better design. And I didn't have problems with the older version, so the new one must be good too.
The main reason though is to offer this tip/suggestion should you decide to get the Feisol. Unless these have changed, the rubber feet on the tripods are more like "caps." and won't last long and might be prone to falling off and getting lost. Even before I discovered that I ordered the short spikes along with the tripod. Here's what I did. I bought a set of rubber feet you get at the hardware store; they're like $3. I don't recall the exact size, I think like 5/8" or so(make sure you measure and double-check beforehand.) I drilled about a 1/4" hole in the bottom of the rubber foot and forced the threaded spiked foot in to the rubber foot and then screwed it in the bottom of the tripod leg, replacing the nearly useless "cap" of the tripod. I think the tripod comes with a wrench that you use to tighten the spiked foot. It does take a little jimmy'ing and playing with in order to get the threads started correctly. So alternatively you can put the rubber foot on first and make sure the hole is big enough to put the spike threads through.
So there are a number of benefits. 1. The rubber foot is secure and won't every come off, 2. the short spike works to grab in many situations like rocks or even just long enough to grab ice, and 3. the spikes are short enough that the rubber feet can still engage for a non-slip contact with the ground, say on pavement. In other words, with the legs extended and angled out, the spike and rubber foot are such that they both get used and offer kind of a double-feature with the feet.
Anyway, just a thought if you decide to go with the feisol.
Lon
I also bought a Feisol 3301. I was not sure about buying a tripod with twist locks over the lever locks I'd owned for years on my older and heavier Bogen 3221.
However, with Lon's help and input I finally decided to contact Kerry at Really Big Cameras and made the purchase of the later model 3301. As Lon stated the later model has the non-rotating legs and the metal twist locks.
All my concerns about the transition to the twist locks over the lever locks was put to rest within minutes of my first outing. I will say that Lon also made a key point about the short stubby rubber tips and how they seem to fall off easily. I gave mine a few outings and started having issues with them coming loose. So I went to Home Depot and found perfect fitting rubber tips marketed by Shepherd Hardware Products part number 89127. They are listed as size 7/8" or 22mm. Additionally they are much longer and are a very snug fit on the leg tips. In fact I had no need for any adhesive to secure the replacement tips. I also bought the short spikes, but I have not used them to date.
As Lon mentioned we are using LF cameras and not using the legs for avian or wildlife photography, but the units are plenty ridged IMO. You might contact Kerry directly and he no doubt will help you dial in an exact unit to meet your needs.