Tripods - what do you use

[Fordo]

I know this has been asked before, but i just wanted to gather a few up to date responses.


the time has come to replace my 10 euro plastic piece of nonsense tripod that i bought 5 years ago from carrefour.

The other day i was outside at night stuggling with it- doesnt go high enough, no spirit level, no ability to level the head apart from adjusting the legs, no camera plate, so you have to screw the canera into the tripod every time, plasticy horrible feel, doesnt lock securely enough etc etc etc

and it dawned on me that i should have thrown it away long, long ago!


whats everyone using at the moment? And can anyone recommend a good online retailer?


this tickled my fancy when i had a play in jessops (although they were charging twice this price):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manfrotto-785B-Modo-Tripod...


went down quite small, felt decently built, and the tripod head was really nice to operate. No spirit level though.

[Kermit power]

I've got a Manfrotto 190XPROB which is very nice. Not too heavy, but also not too light, so it stays nice and steady.

It does have a spirit level, but I'm not convinced that's anything more than just a marketing gimmick. After all, are you ever going to mount your camera directly onto the tripod? Assuming you're not, and you're using a head (in my case a Manfrotto 484RC2 which I also like very much) then what does it matter whether or not the tripod surface is perfectly balanced? I've got a £2.99 hotshoe spirit level which lets me get the camera perfectly flat on the head, which I think is altogether the most important bit.

[jon-]

I've got the 190XPROB too with a ball head (with pan lock) which makes a spirit level on the tripod next to useless, other than a quick indication as to whether the tripod is well footed

I did look at the smaller Manfrotto tripods but the weight loadings concerned me. I figured if i was going to spend some money I might as well future proof it as the smaller ones wouldn't take a pro body and heavy lens. Also you have to remember in windy conditions you probably want something substantial under a few grands worth of camera gear!

If you're only doing indoor work then the smaller units will probably be fine. If you want to future proof and have the option of heads, look at the 190XPROB.

Edited by jon- on Wednesday 12th August 17:34

[SamHH]

Kermit power said:

I've got a Manfrotto 190XPROB which is very nice. Not too heavy, but also not too light, so it stays nice and steady.

It does have a spirit level, but I'm not convinced that's anything more than just a marketing gimmick. After all, are you ever going to mount your camera directly onto the tripod? Assuming you're not, and you're using a head (in my case a Manfrotto 484RC2 which I also like very much) then what does it matter whether or not the tripod surface is perfectly balanced? I've got a £2.99 hotshoe spirit level which lets me get the camera perfectly flat on the head, which I think is altogether the most important bit.

I think it's quite important if you want to do a panoramic stitch.

[oobster]

Manfrotto 190XDB Tripod with 390RC2 head from Aspens of Hereford (eBay) - £89.99 inc. next-day delivery.

[C&C]

Redsnapper RS283 legs and RSH-12 ball head.
Details here

Very sturdy and solid and great value too - includes convertible feet (rubber/spikes), an additional short reversible column, built-in spirit level and a good quality comfortable to carry bag.
You can order over the phone or via the web, delivery is usually next day, and if you mention the talkphotography forum, Joe will give you a 10% discount.

P.S. I have no connection with them other than being a very happy customer.

[Simpo Two]

Manfrotto 055 ProB tripod (similar to 190 but taller).

I'm not sure of the point of having a spirit level on the body of the tripod, because the important bit is the levelness of the camera. Anyway, with a viewfinder grid it's easy enough to get it level.

[SamHH]

Simpo Two said:

I'm not sure of the point of having a spirit level on the body of the tripod, because the important bit is the levelness of the camera. Anyway, with a viewfinder grid it's easy enough to get it level.

As above, if you want to do a panoramic image stitched together from multiple photos, it's useful to have the tripod level.

[Simpo Two]

SamHH said:

As above, if you want to do a panoramic image stitched together from multiple photos, it's useful to have the tripod level.

I don't usually do panoramas but I was pleased with a 14-shot 360-degree example I took in New Zealand. It ended up 23,004px wide, and I did it with a two-legged tripod (ie me) aligning the horizon with the VF grid each time. Rather too big to post meaningfully on here though! But I agree we all have our own ways of doing things

[Kermit power]

SamHH said:

Simpo Two said:

I'm not sure of the point of having a spirit level on the body of the tripod, because the important bit is the levelness of the camera. Anyway, with a viewfinder grid it's easy enough to get it level.

As above, if you want to do a panoramic image stitched together from multiple photos, it's useful to have the tripod level.

I assume you're not using a ball head then? If you are, then I can't see how it makes a difference whether or not you've got the tripod perfectly flat?

[paul911]

Fordo said:

this tickled my fancy when i had a play in jessops (although they were charging twice this price):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manfrotto-785B-Modo-Tripod...

went down quite small, felt decently built, and the tripod head was really nice to operate. No spirit level though.

I have the Monfroffo 785B that you have had a play with. I also had a play in Jessops, but bought it there and then (£50 2 month ago).

It does have a small spirit level, but as Simpo says, I don’t use it and use the view finder focus points to set the level as near as. I bought this one as I do a fair bit of walking and this is very light and compact. The head has “camera” mode for 360deg movement, and “video” mode for a video camera, but this could be used for the panoramic shots (vertical and horizontal movements only).

This is a lightweight tripod and not brilliant in strong winds fully extended. Annoyingly it does not have a hook at the base to hang your bag to add extra weight. And I wouldn’t recommend putting a big (full frame?) camera on it. )Mine is a Canon 350D). I think the tripod is actually designed for a compact rather than a DSLR!

Overall I’m very happy with its performance and would recommend it, if you intend caring it about on location. If your after a solid heavy tripod then this one isn’t for you.

Hope this helps
Paul

[...Mole...]

I have a Velbon tripod of some sort, does the job i suppose. Extends to a decent height and is light enough to carry around. Although i use a tripod a lot so im looking at upgrading to something sturdier.

[GetCarter]

Manfrotto 055 Pro B with a 410 geared head, and a Benbo Trekker.

[Simpo Two]

paul911 said:

I have the Monfroffo...

I have an image of you choking on cappuccino...

[SamHH]

Kermit power said:

I assume you're not using a ball head then? If you are, then I can't see how it makes a difference whether or not you've got the tripod perfectly flat?

If you use the panning function on a ballhead or if you use a three-way head and the tripod is not level, you will be turning the camera not just sideways but also up or down. You can then adjust the other controls on the head in order to re-level the camera or if you are using complicated software to do the stitching or are willing to spend a lot of time doing it manually, it may not be problematic for the camera not to be level. However, I'm sure you agree that it's easiest for the tripod to be level in the first place, which is made easier by having a built in spirit level.

[Kermit power]

SamHH said:

Kermit power said:

I assume you're not using a ball head then? If you are, then I can't see how it makes a difference whether or not you've got the tripod perfectly flat?

If you use the panning function on a ballhead or if you use a three-way head and the tripod is not level, you will be turning the camera not just sideways but also up or down. You can then adjust the other controls on the head in order to re-level the camera or if you are using complicated software to do the stitching or are willing to spend a lot of time doing it manually, it may not be problematic for the camera not to be level. However, I'm sure you agree that it's easiest for the tripod to be level in the first place, which is made easier by having a built in spirit level.

I wasn't even aware that ball-heads had a panning function! Can you tell how many panoramas I've created using mine?

[paul911]

Simpo Two said:

paul911 said:

I have the Monfroffo...

I have an image of you choking on cappuccino...

Lol, fat finger syndrome honest.

[SamHH]

Kermit power said:

I wasn't even aware that ball-heads had a panning function! Can you tell how many panoramas I've created using mine?

Not all of them do. Their purpose is to be able to turn the camera on the horizontal plane without adjusting the other axes, the same as you would with a three-way head, but that only works if the legs are level.

[Quick silver]

jon- said:

I've got the 190XPROB too

Me three........however, the billet ball head remains firmly on my Benbo Monopod....I didn't see the point in a ball head on the tripod when there's a decent enough adjustment in both azimuth & elevation with the standard panning head.

I also use a Hama suction mount that also doubles up for the HD digi recorder when out hooning around North Wales.

But used most of all is my trusty green bean bag, bought for a mere 20p at a car boot sale 25 years ago

[jon-]

SamHH said:

Kermit power said:

I wasn't even aware that ball-heads had a panning function! Can you tell how many panoramas I've created using mine?

Not all of them do. Their purpose is to be able to turn the camera on the horizontal plane without adjusting the other axes, the same as you would with a three-way head, but that only works if the legs are level.

You need the head up (486RC2) for a pan lock.