Tripods????????????

[Kim]

I really really need to invest in a new tripod for myself. Thing is I haven't a clue where to start looking. What I mean is which is best or good value for money.

When I first started getting my photography stuf I got myself a Jessops one but to be honest it s not that good. The head has never really sat level no matter how much I have adjusted it, and it certainlly not up to holding the weight of my 300D with Sigma 170-500mm lens attached.

What do you guys recommend, or what do you use that has really served you well? It does not have to be any of the "new" ones abalible as I am quite happy to look for and buy second hand.

[Joe T]

Manfrotto 190XPROB legs ar a good start. Perhaps a 486RC2 head to go with it?

[Jonnyreb]

I guess your budget determines the advice here.....

I just bought a Velbon Sherpa CF 645 which i picked up for £160. I bought this as i was tired of lugging around a heavy Manfrotto 055Prob to the extent i was leaving it at home.

For town shots with a light lens i have a Velbon Luxi SF - i wouldn't trust this in a wind with anything more than a 1kg lens, but its transportable and so light you dont notice you're carrying it.

As Joe says, the 190xprob is a great compromise between weight and strength but its not the shortest to strap to a pack.

[inaneredstripe]

the 190 pro may be a prob if your tall too. the 055pro is longer. i,m 5,10 and me and her both use ours. the lie flat feature is usefull for her macro stuff too. she makes me carry everything:| so wieght isnt an issue , for her anyway.
i bought a MINT second hand one from ebay for less than £100. and a ball head from photoskill, an ebay seller.not manfrotto standard , but good for the money.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PS-4059-Ball-Head-engineered-professional-quality_W0QQitemZ290199837646QQihZ019QQcategoryZ33 25QQcmdZViewItem
ah just noticed, big lens.
maybe one of these then.http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PS-4057-Pro-3-way-Pan-head-engineered-quality_W0QQitemZ290199360669QQihZ019QQcategoryZ33 25QQcmdZViewItem

[wildtracks]

Not to undermine Jonny here, but I use a 455 manfrotto (same as 055) at about 2.5kg for the legs alone. I feel it is worth carting the weight to get the stability and dependability they afford. The only thing I would change is to get leg warmers for holding during the winter...pretty cold walking around with your hands exposed to the wind and grabbing an aluminium tube! I think the latest ones come supplied?
Horses for courses, it depends on the kind of terrain and distances you will be travelling with your pod.

[King of Groove]

I brought one from Jessops. The latest issue of PhotoPlus has slated it!

[inaneredstripe]

hows this.http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MANFROTTO-CLASSIC-055CL-BLACK-TRIPOD-with-488RC2-HEAD_W0QQitemZ230211912300QQihZ013QQcategoryZ3325Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Jonnyreb]

The 055prob comes with foam wrapping on two legs which is helpful and you're spot on, horses for courses.

When its a big heavy lens the 055 makes the journey but i dont often go walking with a 2.5kg lens :). Having played with the CF 645 i'm now confident its stable enough and the stone bag is going to have a field test soon ;)

btw, i much prefer a ball head for the heavy lens - 3 way is not stable enough and is awkward to adjust!

[Messiah Khan]

The 190XProB is a decent versatile tripod, but I wouldn't recommend it for long lens use. Its simply not tall enough and the centre coloumn affects the stability. I would look at a columnless one.

[kevshore]

I have the Manfrotto Neotec. A sturdy tripod coupled with the 488rc2 ballhead. A very quick tripod to use. (no unclipping clamps on legs). Very solid build quality.

[Kim]

Budget is not too much of an issue............I want something that is going to last, but then I am thinking £180 tops on price (I am not to rich and over time is snapped up at work when new equipment is wanted).

You have certianlly given me some ideas to start with and it gives me a better idea of place to start looking.

[bradkb]

I just bought the 055XPROB tripod with 488RC2 head and cannot get over the quality, I can see this lasting quite a few years, total cost inc postage was £170.

[IanC_UK]

Can only echo whats been said above really, just do not scrimp on a tripod you will live to regret it, be aware how much your kit weighs that will be put on one, and make sure you get a tripod that can handle more than that weight, this will ensure its able to handle the weoght of your current kit and also hopefully anything you add in the future. Loads of people buy cheap tripods, only to have to replace them with something after a couple of months, so you end up spending more than you would have if you just bought a more expensive tripod in the first place.

[DoubleT]

just having a read of this thread,

i recently bought a manfrotto 190xb with a 390rc2 head for £100 brand new,

the quality of it is outstanding, and i find it very sturdy.

the only critism i have is with the head.

the plate that you screw into the bottom of the camera doesnt have any type of support to stop the camera from "spinning" round if you have it in portrait mode so your only option is to screw it up really tight ( which im not to confident with doing as its only a plastic base)

and another problem i find is when i use the lens mount on my 80-200 i cant use the quick release lever to either attach or remove the camera which is ANNOYING!. because the battery grip gets in the way

but this is just down to the head,

im currently looking for a better head setup.

ive seen above that the 488RC2 has been mentioned as well as the 486RC2.

now im not too sure about either of these becasue it doesnt have a control arm to piont and control the camera with?

i thought maybe something like the 808rc4 would be more usuable?

it even has a spirit level

http://www.manfrotto.com/webdav/site/manfrotto/shared/_images/Manfrotto/product_images/zoom/808RC4.JPG


or the 804rc2

http://www.manfrotto.com/webdav/site/manfrotto/shared/_images/Manfrotto/product_images/zoom/804RC2.jpg

but i think with all these heads im still going to have a problem with the battery grip?

[IanC_UK]

With the ballheads you dont need the levers to move the camera around, they usually have tension and lock knobs so the camera doesnt just flop down, but they are very flexible in use.

[Jonnyreb]

Hi Matt - I've had the same issue with the RC2 heads attached to the 70-200 on the 1d's. Its not such a problem with a ball head as you can set it up so the quick release lever is off to the side. This is not so easy with pan and tilts as you need the handles facing you.

The 804 looks like a better bet as the release is on the side - thus away from battery grip.

I much prefer ball heads to pan and tilt but thats just cos you can track birds better :)

[DoubleT]

ah thanks guys, ill take my camera into a local stockist and try out some heads before i buy i think.