New tripod purchase suggestions

Andrew Horodysky · Sep 15, 2009

I'm looking to purchase a new tripod (old one is just that... old, stripped, etc.) to support both 35mm film camera (will be used horizontally and vertically -- in portrait position) up to an RZ67II.

I've already selected the Manfrotto 055XPROB for purchase, but am kind of stuck as to choosing an appropriate head. I've only used a pan/tilt head, before. Thoughts on differences between available pan/tilt vs. ball head units?

Any experiences and recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Thanks much.

Andrew

Hamster · Sep 15, 2009

You didn't mention what kind of lenses you will be using on your cameras. A lot of lenses are very heavy and they can really unbalance the system.

Also are you mostly doing architecture/portrait/wildlife/landscape? Different head makes a big difference if you want to optimise on a particular style.

I have a small novoflex magicball and a old leitz ballhead that I found for very cheap in a flea market.
Surprisingly I use the Leitz ballhead with my Rolleiflex more often and Novoflex with SLRs. Initially I thought it would be the other way round.

Dave Pritchard · Sep 15, 2009

My Favorite Tripod Links

Start with these articles:

http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?tripods.html~mainFrame

Dead Link Removed

Larry.Manuel · Sep 15, 2009

I prefer a strong ball head to the tilt-pan. If the tripod is on non-level ground, how would one easily level the camera [side-to-side] with a tilt-pan? I have the 055 legs with the following head - 468RC2:

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/lang/en/pid/2304?livid=80&lsf=80&child=2

It's a good balance between price and solidity for my Rollie TLRs. The quick release feature is heavenly. If you can afford an even stronger [heavier] one, I'd say you'll never regret that purchase. The 055 legs are really strong and solid - more than adequate for medium format.

Really strong head:

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/lang/en/pid/2309?livid=80&lsf=80&child=2

Andrew Horodysky · Sep 15, 2009

Thanks, Hamster.

For the 35mm (recently acquired Canon F-1N), I use 35mm/50mm/100mm as only primes (landscape/architectural and portraiture -- mostly portraiture). The Canon will be positioned in both portrait and landscape orientation. Same subject genres with RZ67, but using 90mm, 110mm and 180mm lenses; so, they're considerately bigger and heavier than the 35mm system.

Dave Pritchard · Sep 15, 2009

I have Bogen 3021 / Manfrotto 055 legs. I also have Slik PRO 700DX legs. I bought a Smith Victor BH-8 ball head. It's a pretty decent knock-off of the Arca. It has the quick release. It is available from BH Photo. It's much less expensive than an Arca. I like it. These are not light weight tripods, but how much camera shake is acceptable for your photos?

Andrew Horodysky · Sep 16, 2009

Thank you, all, for your gracious suggestions. And thanks for the article links. I'm still on the fence as to pan/tilt and ball heads, though. I'll try some out, first, at B&H, next week.

Thanks, again.

John Koehrer · Sep 16, 2009

Larry.Manuel said:
I prefer a strong ball head to the tilt-pan. If the tripod is on non-level ground, how would one easily level the camera [side-to-side] with a tilt-pan? I have the 055 legs with the following head - 468RC2:

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/lang/en/pid/2309?livid=80&lsf=80&child=2

Most of the P/T heads are adjustable in two directions & quite simple to level.

Lightproof · Sep 16, 2009

I use the 055XPROB with a Giottos MH1301. It is good considering the price (esp. the Manfrotto legs!) and works okay with my GX 680.

FilmOnly · Sep 16, 2009

I have a Feisol standard class tripod. It is a carbon fiber tripod, and I have found it to be quite exceptional. I have the corresponding Feisol CB-50D ball head, which is also very nice. Feisol is not very well known, and is a true "sleeper" product. Their products may be purchased directly from their US distributor, which I beleive is in North Carolina.

pcyco · Sep 16, 2009

hallo

expensive but everyone who i asked says gitzo.
because of the weight if you want to carry it around with you

Mark Fisher · Sep 16, 2009

I have a Feisol standard and the smaller Kirk ball head. I use the combination easily on a Hasselblad and 4x5. Lightweight and sturdy.

mhanc · Sep 16, 2009

Feisol can also be purchased through reallybigcameras.com, an APUG advertiser. They are a pleasure to do business with and the tripods are great value.

Edwardv · Sep 16, 2009

Check out Acratech ball heads. I would recommend buying a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod that will support 39 lbs.

http://acratech.net/home.php?cat=1

Good luck.

eddie · Sep 16, 2009

I use a Gitzo carbon fiber, with a Manfrotto 410 geared head, for everything up through 4x5. If you're planning on toting it into the field, CF can't be beat. Before I bought the Gitzo, I tried a Feisol CF. It was really impressive, for the money. If a friend hadn't offered me a great deal on a nearly new Gitzo, I would have been happy with one. I don't know how the price compares to the Manfrotto you've picked, but you might want to look into the Feisol.

Q.G. · Sep 16, 2009

Gitzo or Manfrotto.
But get the heavy stuff: alumin(i)um, not carbon fiber.

Though compact, i wouldn't recommend a ball head. They're hard to adjust with any precision, compared to plain old 3D heads.

L Gebhardt · Sep 17, 2009

I like a ball head over the 3 way heads. So it must be personal preference. I have an Acratech, and a new Photoclam from reallybigcameras.com. Both are nice, but the photoclam has a feature that make it better, adjustable minimum drag. With that I can set it up to hold any camera from a small nikon slr, the RZ, to a 4x5 where it is easy to adjust, yet still won't let the camera drop. The Feisol tripod is also very nice.

Pumal · Sep 17, 2009

Start with a sturdy Manfrotto and for a head I'd recomend a Manfrotto-Bogen 3021PRO. I think it will suit you

elekm · Sep 17, 2009

With a heavy camera, I would lean toward a pan head. A ball head is very handy, but I found it a bit clunky in use. If you loosen the head too quickly, the gear and lens can clunk downward. You always have to hold the camera while loosening the head. And that's reasonable.

However, sometimes in the heat of the moment, you're trying to set up quickly and -- oops!

I love the ball head that I use (I think it's the Manfrotto 308 RC), but I'm always very careful when I loosen it.

Paul Jenkin · Sep 17, 2009

I have the same tripod as yourself but I have two tripod 'heads'. One is a Manfrotto and looks like a motorcycle grip. It's extremely easy to position - just hold the grip glosed until the camera is where you want it and then release. The other is a Benbo 'ball' head. I've used bith with everything from an OM1 with a 24mm lens to a Bronica SQ-B with a 150mm lens. Bothe are very stable and I can recommend either....or both.

Andrew Horodysky · Sep 18, 2009

Thank you, everyone, again.

I stopped in at B&H a couple of days ago, and played around with some tripods. I don't know if it's just me, but it almost seemed as though the aluminum models felt sturdier and more solid that the carbon fiber (of which weight was the advantage) -- specifically the Monfrotto 055XPROB, and the heavier 475B, with geared center column. I also looked at the Kirk and Arca-Swiss ball heads as possibilities; although costlier, they look to be simpler and more solid. I don't intend to go hiking/trekking with gear, but use it primarily for environmental portraiture, and some architectural/landscape.

Any thoughts?

cmo · Sep 18, 2009

Try a Berlebach tripod, made of canadian ashwood. Price and weight are in between aluminium and carbon, but they are sturdier than carbon and dampen vibrations very well. I often use very long telephoto lenses without a stabilizer, and it really makes a difference. Many nature photographers swear by these for a diffent reason: they withstand and bear more than carbon tripods.

LFI magazine (Leica Fotografie International) tested Berlebach, Gitzo and other makes in edition 1/2006.

The result:

1. Berlebach Report 2022, a bit heavy at 2.9 Kg.
2. Giottos MT 8170; Carbon fiber; 2.6Kg; a little less weight, but at twice the price
3. Berlebach Report 8023, 2.7Kg
4. Manfrotto 055ProB, Aluminum, 2.6Kg
5. Manfrotto 055MF3 Mag Fiber: Carbon fiber, 1.9Kg.
6. Gitzo G1198: Basalt fiber, 1.1Kg

They have some of these tripods with a built-in ball. That saves some money, but more important it makes the whole setup even sturdier at less weight.

Q.G. · Sep 19, 2009

a.horodysky said:
I stopped in at B&H a couple of days ago, and played around with some tripods. I don't know if it's just me, but it almost seemed as though the aluminum models felt sturdier and more solid that the carbon fiber (of which weight was the advantage) [...]

The weight advantage is on the aluminium side.

I do agree that the aluminium tripods generally are more solid and sturdier than the carbon fiber counterparts.
The only advantage of carbon fiber i can see is that they are easier to haul. Yet that very 'advantage' is a functional disadvantage, since the best part of a tripod's function is performed by its mass. The more the better.

Mind you, there are also aluminium tripods that are not good for anything.
The bits that link the moving parts need to be 'solid' and sturdy as well.

(And some of the aluminium ones are featherweights with flimsy, thin legs, that can't hold anything steady heavier than a butterfly.)

a.horodysky said:
I also looked at the Kirk and Arca-Swiss ball heads as possibilities; although costlier, they look to be simpler and more solid. I don't intend to go hiking/trekking with gear, but use it primarily for environmental portraiture, and some architectural/landscape.

I don't know the Kirks myself, but Arca Swiss ballheads are rock solid, and will hold very heavy gear perfectly well.

I do not like ball heads much, because it is impossible to nudge the camera in one direction a bit, and in that one direction only.
Every time you adjust the head, you are repositioning the camera in all directions all over again.

But for hiking (though tall, and quite heavy), ball heads are the compact choice

Andrew Horodysky · Sep 19, 2009

Q.G.,

Thanks for your input. I'm beginning to lean toward the Monfrotto 475 -- solid as can be. Which pan/tilt heads do you like?

Q.G. · Sep 19, 2009

I use Gitzo heads, Rationelle 3. I'm sure Manfrotto has something similar: a good, not to flimsy head (808?).

I also use Manfrotto's 410 geared head.
Great when small adjustments are needed. But not as solid as the 3D heads. (I perhaps should try the 405 also.)

New tripod purchase suggestions

Andrew Horodysky

Andrew Horodysky

Andrew Horodysky

Andrew Horodysky

Andrew Horodysky

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency