tripod suggestions

[Rinthe]

The 55. And of those, the aluminium one (also the cheapest of the two).

you're saying that the cheaper 55 is more stable than the more expensive one?? is it just because it's heavier?

 

[removed account4]

a tiltall tripod ( like the 4602 ) might work for you ...

the older ones are the best
i have had mine since 1988, and use it for 35mm, as well as 4x5.
it doesn't weigh much and it is sturdy.
a sandbag/ bag of rocks can dangle from the center post if needed ...
and the legs unscrew and to give you a monopod if you want one of those as well ..

http://cgi.ebay.com/Leitz-Tiltall-T...ltDomain_0?hash=item1e59c93bcb#ht_2682wt_1167

good luck!

 

[Q.G.]

you're saying that the cheaper 55 is more stable than the more expensive one?? is it just because it's heavier?

It is, yes.

People don't like to carry heavy things, so they pay a premium for lighter stuff.

 

[Rinthe]

sounds good.

about tripod heads, is this good http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._468MGRC2_Magnesium_Hydrostatic_Ballhead.html

or should i save up for http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/469077-REG/Arca_Swiss_801103_Monoball_Z1_sp_with.html with plate

 

[Q.G.]

I have a very old Arca Swiss Monoball, and it is rock solid. Don't know the Manfrotto ball heads.

But apart from the thing that there are very little handles or other things sticking out, making them very compact and good for travel, i don't like ball heads very much. Hard to nudge in just one direction without moving in all other directions too.

 

[jp498]

I have a Manfrotto monopod and I like it, so the tripods are probably a safe bet too.

I mostly use a Tiltall tripod. Very rugged and pretty versatile. I've used it for everything from a flip video to 300/2.8+F4s to speed graphic.

 

[John Koehrer]

Save for the Arca, it's going to be more finely made & much smoother.
I know many people use the Bogen ball heads & are happy with them, I just never thought they were all that smooth.

 

[Rinthe]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/469077-REG/Arca_Swiss_801103_Monoball_Z1_sp_with.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/469923-REG/Arca_Swiss_801104_Monoball_Z1_sp_with.html

what's the difference and which one?

 

[John Koehrer]

They both need a plate and the difference seems to be whether you want flip lock release or the locking screw.
IF the flip lock has a safety lock(button/lever/?) it would be faster to install/remove the camera.
I've known people who have carried tripods over their shoulder & caught the release on something, losing the camera(bumpity bounce=$$$) Solution for that is not to leave the camera on the tripod when it's on your shoulder.
I use a Cambo CBH-5 with a Linhof plate. it's solid, has a lever release but again don't carry it OTS with the camera.

 

[macrorie]

I don't know if you have bought your tripod yet, but I think tripods and heads are the kinds of things in which it is really good if you can try them in person and see how they work before buying them. There are so few good photo stores now outside of major cities that can be difficult. But the ergonomics of the different brands really vary a lot. I own an old Gitzo and two Manfrottos, and they all have very different characteristics as camera supports. You may like to use some kinds of leg locks and hate others, for example.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I'll with Bogen/Manfrotto. Get the best one you can afford.

Jeff

 

[Rinthe]

i didn't get it yet but i will soon. there are no good photos stores around where i live.

i'm going for the Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod Legs, Arca-Swiss Monoball Z1 sp and a Wimberley P5 Arca-Type Universal Quick Release Plate with 1/4-20" Screw

 

[Rinthe]

i'm reading everywhere saying that the 055xprob is good for tall people.. i'm not very tall. does that make a difference?

 

[jovo]

i'm reading everywhere saying that the 055xprob is good for tall people.. i'm not very tall. does that make a difference?

No. You can simply extend the legs partially if, at their fullest, they're too long. But, if you're tall, you need a center column to reach eye level, and that is less sturdy.

 

[Rinthe]

thx for all the info, 1 more paycheck and i can buy! FUCK YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

 

[2F/2F]

That's the spirit!

Be sure you are looking at used tripods. IMO, unless you need something very specific and just can't wait to shop the used market, there is no reason to buy one new. IME, the cost of a near-new used tripod is about 25 to 33 percent of the cost of a new one, and you usually get a head included.

 

[Rinthe]

i could get the manfrotto legs fro 140ish from bh because of education discount. the plate i couldn't really find anywhere else used. i'll look into the arca-swiss ballhead tho. thanks for the tip.

btw where do you usually look for used gear? ebay, craigslist and keh?

 

[2F/2F]

I have had good luck with used tripods on Craigslist, though I do live in a major metropolitan area with tons of schools and photographers in general. 3036 and 3051 tripods for under $200 with 3047 heads in like-new condition are fairly commonplace on Craigslist here. I have also had good luck on E-Bay. Just take your time and ask lots of questions on E-Bay. I usually shop for something on E-Bay for 3-6 months before I finally "pounce", and I have made some major steals. Often, it is a Buy It Now that shows up for a great price that I notice while it is still fresh, or a lot of gear in kit form, which terribly lowers the value there. I got about $2,500 worth of Canon FD gear and accessories for under $400 one time. It only happened because I had watched and waited for a long time, however.

 

[MattKing]

What 2F/2F said, with one caveat.

Sometimes, the best deals on eBay or Craigslist do appear quickly. As an example, when I was first considering that a 4x5 enlarger would be nice, I saw a great deal for an Omega enlarger with an Ilford Multigrade head and controller. If I had waited, it would have gone, and I haven't seen anything like it since.

So the advice is be prepared to be patient, but also be knowledgeable and prepared to pounce!

One of the good things about tripods is that there are many out there, and even a marginally inadequate tripod is still useful while you wait for a better one. Your cameras aren't huge, so a reasonably sturdy tripod should be functional even if not perfect.

It may be true as well that you will need to work with any tripod for a while before you know whether it suits you. If you buy a used, quality tripod at a reasonable price, and it turns out not to be suited to you, you can probably re-sell it for close to what you paid for it.

Matt

 

[lxdude]

If you don't really have a need for the horizontal arm, you can save some money by getting the 055XB instead of of the PROB. I think the arms are overrated in their practicality, especially with the Manfrotto, which only goes horizontal. The load rating and stability go down rapidly the more you extend the arm from the tripod's centerline. I do have a tripod with a multi-angle column-a Giottos MT9371, but it's big enough and heavy enough to handle it. It's one size up from the 055 size category. Giottos also make tripods equivalent to the 055 which compare very well, seem to be a little less expensive, and which I personally prefer.

One thing concerning height-with your MF camera, if you're using the waist level finder, you won't have it as high as with your 35mm. So with the heavier camera you'll be able to increase stability by having the tripod legs not extended as much.

Regarding the head-consider a standard 3-way pan-tilt head; a high quality one is much cheaper than a high quality ball head. I like the Bogen 3028/Manfrotto 115. It's very inexpensive used. Its sections can be worked around so that a vertical shot with your 35mm will have the camera almost perfectly over the tripod's centerline, unless you're using a winder, in which case it will still be better than with most 3-ways or ball heads. In addition, the sections can be worked around to enable it to hold the camera off the tripod's centerline farther than a regular 3-way or ball head-enough that I like that better than an adjustable angle column for a lot of my angled or straight-down shooting.

If you later decide you would rather have a ball head, you can start saving up for a really good one, then sell off the 3-way. I have both, and like them both, but if I had to choose, I'd keep my 3-way.

 

[Rinthe]

i just got my arca swiss z1 sp and manfranto 055xprob tripod with the wimberley universal plate!!!!!!!! YES!!

just one thing, the wimberley plate is a little longer than the arca swiss quick release, makes it look a bit weird. what plates do you guys use with ur arca swiss ball head?