Tripod a definite Must Have but which tripod?

[richardjames]

I realise I definitely need a tripod. My 5D mark II arrived today - lightyears apart from my old Nikon coolpix of circa 2000.

I want to concentrate on landscapes (and some restrained HDR images) and have quickly gather that I do need a very capable tripod. Ideally it should be lightweight, easy to setup, pack away and carry and be steady and easy to use with my kit. At present I have just a 24-105 mm Canon lense and the 5d but that's a good bit over a kilo.

I don't have a specific budget but would hope, with good advise to be able to purchase something that will last (and be light) for £300 - £500 maybe a little more if really needed. I hear the names manfrotto and gitzo mentioned but do I need something like this or would it be overkill. I am very much an amateur, I just don't want my work to look amateurish.

I'd really value any advice.

Many thanks, Ricard

[foodpoison]

I produced absolutely fine images on a Jessops 323 :thinking:

I currently have a Manfrotto 190XB, which in design is 10 fold better than the Jessops, but it was 4x the cost. My images haven't changed, I just feel a lot more comfortable putting the £500 camera on a sturdier tripod.

The Jessops 323 by the way, was £18. The Manfrotto 190XB was £80.

It seems that money be no object, so I'd look on the Manfrotto/Gitzo website, choose the tripod that best suits your needs, check reviews and THEN check the price. I think you'll be surprised at just how little the tripod costs. Remember you'll need to look at tripod heads, too, since most legs aren't supplied with.

[richardjames]

Thanks for the advice foodpoison,

Not anything like as costly as I had imagine. What about the head, Any thoughts there?

I was scanning through messages about spending several hundred pounds on a tripod. What do people gain from spending that much? (apart from a small bank balance)

Richard

[foodpoison]

Thanks for the advice foodpoison,

Not anything like as costly as I had imagine. What about the head, Any thoughts there?

I was scanning through messages about spending several hundred pounds on a tripod. What do people gain from spending that much? (apart from a small bank balance)

Richard

You'll have to ask someone who owns one that much, because I for one have no idea. Yes there's a blatant difference between a £15 tripod and a £100 tripod, but not much difference between a £100 tripod and a £300 tripod, apart from features.

[scott1979]

Check out the Redsnapper, excellent build quality, sturdy and real value for money!! :woot:

http://www1.clikpic.com/Redsnapper/gallery_103792.html

[happy haggis]

Its really down to personal preference. I've had numerous tripods in the past, and none were totally suitable for one reason or another. I bought a Gitzo a while back and have no regrets whatsoever. It is light and sturdy and very well built. The leg opening is a doddle and can be done with one hand. Mine also has a built-in levelling base which makes setting up for panos a lot easier. I combined it with a Markins Q10 ballhead and saved around 3lbs in weight. It may not sound much, but on long walks it makes a big difference - at least it does for me. :)

[MarkEvan]

I use a £500 Gitzo but I use it with a 500 f4 when you spend £3500 on a lens you wan`t the best support available. For landscapes I imagine you are going to be carrying it around a bit so something light (and therefore most likely carbon fibre) is ideal.....thats going to mean over £200 but you won`t need to pay for the abilityto carry a heavy load so that should cancel out the £400-500 ones. I`d say that if you were willing to pay for the lightness of carbon fibre then between 200-400 should be more th enough.

[jerry12953]

Highly recommend the Gitzo 2531EX. It's very versatile, each leg opens separately which makes using it on rough ground a doddle. About £400 though.

For versatility again I'd recommend the Novoflex Magicball available from Speedgraphic. It's like a ball and socket head only upside down. The Ball is on the tripod, the socket on the camera. It gives you a much wider range of movements than a normal B&S. Its also quick to screw the camera on and off so you don't need an extra QR set-up:)

Why not go to Focus on Imaging next week(?) and try some out?

[awp]

I was scanning through messages about spending several hundred pounds on a tripod. What do people gain from spending that much? (apart from a small bank balance)

Richard

Stability! Reliability! Versatility! :)

[richardjames]

Thanks to foodpoison, scott1979, jerry 12953 and awp. Great advice I particularly appreciate awp's pithy reply, "Stability! Reliability! Versatility!"

I'll check out Redsnapper but suspect I'm going to go for a Gitzo and will start by looking at the 2531EX and Novoflex Magicball that jerry12953 recommends.

What a great forum where such valuable advice is given freely :-)

[awp]

What a great forum where such valuable advice is given freely :-)

eh?? My invoice is in the post! :D

[jerry12953]

Thanks to foodpoison, scott1979, jerry 12953 and awp. Great advice I particularly appreciate awp's pithy reply, "Stability! Reliability! Versatility!"

I'll check out Redsnapper but suspect I'm going to go for a Gitzo and will start by looking at the 2531EX and Novoflex Magicball that jerry12953 recommends.

What a great forum where such valuable advice is given freely :-)

I was used to a Benbo Trekker which was very versatile, and when I came to replace it the only option was one of the Explorer series. The 2531 EX is superb and easily fulfils my expectations of it; the only minor gripe I have is that when you pull out the central column, it seems to have a rather rickety movement. But once tightened up its solid as a rock. The 2541 would have 4 leg sections rather than 3 which means its shorter for carrying but slower to expand fully.