Advice needed Tripod, Monopod and wide angle lens

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Hi,

I'm about to invest in some new material, but the choice and prices is so vast that I'm not sure what to buy
  • A good sturdy tripod for long exposures Budget less than £800
  • A monopod, what do I need to look at before buying?
  • A Wide angle lens for my Sony A57, I already have a few models in mind, but would like to hear your experiences
Many thanks!!!!
 
If you could provide further details on the type of photography that you do or are seeking to do, this will enable us to offer more focussed suggestions.

Can I take it the entire budget is £800 not just the tripod !!!
 
The choice is vast because there are so many percievrd needs.
how often would you use a tripod..?
what weight will it need to support?
where will it be used studio in the wilds near your car?
is carry weight important?
is fineness of quality more important to you than robustness?
what is the maximum height you need?

If you had a monopod would you use it, and for what?

Every one here could name their favourites or favourite for a particular job. But it might well not fulfill your needs at all well.

answering some of those questions might help.
 
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+1 for the Feisol CT3472 tripod, substantial carbon fibre of large section, I use it regularly with my 500 f4 and it has taken both a 400 f2.8 and a 300-800 each without a murmur ... if you are going to get a 'serious' tripod, get a good one like this :)
 
Thanks for your reactions!
The tripod is for long exposures, night photography, landscapes, the sea, waterfalls, sunsets,...
I wouldn't use it that often, but once I'm out and about I would use it on a daily basis!
If weight is what it takes to finally get sharp pictures, than so be it!
I only have light equipment! A standard 300 lens so no bazooka's ;-)
£800 was for the Tripod only!!!
The monopod is for macro, like flowers, butterflies, sometimes a wee handier than a tripod!

The wide lens is for landscapes and city scapes!

Many thanks!!!!
 
I'm after a tripod for exactly the same purpose and want something really sturdy. Haven't tried the Feisol models yet but I did try a 3 Legged Thing Frank a while back and have been kicking myself ever since for not buying it. It was very light, extremely stable and one of the legs can be used as a monopod. The Frank is now discontinued but still available here and there.

I'm planning on going to the Photography Show in March just to try and buy a tripod. That's the only problem living in Cornwall - hard to buy anything from a local shop :)
 
I use a couple of Manfrotto tripods, an older 190Pro which is aluminium so not as light as the newer 190XProCF one (CF=Carbon Fibre so lighter!). The heavier one has a 410 geared head fitted with a converter plate to accept the same QR plates as the rest of my kit, including the 322 joystick head which is atop the CF one. My monopod is also a Manfrotto one and has a 234 head with the same QR plate. My last tripod is a Giottos Vitruvian CF for travel - very compact and sturdy enough for the lighter weight kit I take on holiday and was capable of holding my D750 with a 14mm f/2.8 (not the heaviest but not light!) for 1 minute exposures using its native head with a Manfrotto QR converter.
 
here's my two pennyworth

surprised no one has mentioned Gitzo, I have a couple of big Gitzo Mountaineers, a CF one and a metal one, (pre the new range), which I use for my long lenses - have a look at their range you cannot really go wrong

I have a couple of smaller and much lighter Manfrotto's which I also use quite a bit, depending of where I am going - nothing at all wrong with Manfrotto - you just need to choose the model you want

If you only opt for one tripod, it is better to choose a tripod that you will use rather than one that you will not because it is too big and heavy, (if choosing just one I would look at a mid range, size wise Gitzo CF
Mountaineer ... they are all quite expensive but very good)...... you really need 3 or 4 different tripods depending on the circumstances

also three or four piece

I have a lightweight Redged which I use for travel, really small and light but it will support my 300mm f2.8 VR Nikon - looked at the three legged thing but preferred the Redged

Then you have to decide on the head or gimbal

Have a look at the Gitzo site it has lots of info and should help you decide on carry weight, payload weight and size


(just been looking the new Safari tripods look great)
 
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Tripod
Gitzo GT3542, good ball head 2nd hand £3-400 ,
&
Sirui Carbon T-1205x with head £1-200

Monopod
I use a 3LT Bob with no head simply bolt it to the camera, although to be fair rarely use it as a lightweight tripod is FAR MORE USEFUL than a light monopod & as such the Sirui gets used much much more.

Lens.
No idea for your camera
 
When I was last looking for a new tripod I settled on the Manfrotto 055 pro b. It now comes in various versions in both carbon and aluminium. It suits me because it is quite tall,even with out extending the centre column. It is very steady and robust, but if accidents did happen spares are easy to get. I replaced the feet with their spiked versions (there are two sorts, the more expensive are far better.) This is not an expensive tripod but it does its work very well indeed and is versatile and quick to set up. It is a true work horse, rather than a fancy dan.
I Do not use a monopod, as such, any more as I use my Bracher walking pole which takes a camera on top. I find this more convenient as I always have it with me. Mostly I use it for "hand held" stitched Panoramas.
 
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Gitzo series 3 or 4 Systematic, they are the versions with no centre column.
Tried and trusted although the many clones are probably very good too, but I can only comment on what I've owned
 
If you talk nicely to me (through the classifieds) I could be persuaded to sell my nearly new Gitzo 4542LS carbon fibre tripod for a lot less than you mentioned in the original post!
 
I have a Manfrotto Neotec monopod. It's brilliant, just put your foot on the bottom bracket and pull it up till you get to the right height. I hate all that fiddling around with locks and twisty rings.
They aren't cheap though, but if you are prepared to spend £800 on a tripod......................
 
I use a Gitzo GT3532LS when coupled with a Manfrotto 808 3 way head the weight is still very manageable and I can carry it around all day without a problem. The long 3 section legs are very quick to set up and it will extend to about 1.5m height which means you don't normally need the weight and increase flexibility of a centre column. Mine gets used most and after 5 years use is still as tight as it was when I purchased it. It's light enough that when I need a mono pod I just use it with a single leg extended.

The tripos is about £580 and the head is around £100.
 
If you get a Brian from 3LT, you get a built in monopod that you can remove and use... Check them out three legged thing.. I much prefer it to my Manfrottos.
 
Thanks very much for all the tips, this doesn't make the choice any easier though haha!
 
Anyone any experience with the Manfrotto MT190XPRO4? I will use it for long exposures, land/seascapes, night photography and mainly with a wide angle lens (which I still need to buy)
And it's quite cheap!
 
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