Help me spend some cash....

Ian Kilby

Ian Kilby

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Hi folks,

I'm new to this photography malarkey and would welcome your advice. I've recently started mounting my camera on a cheap tripod and have noticed an improvement in the sharpness of my shots. I now want to purchase a tripod/head combo that's up to the job. I wandered into jessops today and saw a manfrotto joystick for the first time. It looks amazing but looks can be deceiving. So,

- I want to shoot wildlife (birds, mostly) and some landscapes
- so I want a set-up that's quick to re-compose - those birds never seem to sit still!!
- I have canon 400d, battery grip and canon 100-400mm is my biggest lens (about 2kg in total I reckon)
- budget - on the basis it's preventing my camera/lens from hitting the deck I'm willing to spend a reasonable amount - would £500 be enough or do I need to sell a kidney and think again?

Any views?

I was considering a gimbal head but am I right in thinking the main benefit is lost with a zoom lens? I would need to keep adjusting the balance every time I zoom in or out?

Once I've settled on a head I can then move on to the legs.....? Or is it legs first??

Thanks
 
Have a look at the redsnapper tripod kits - they used to advertise on here and gave a small discount I believe.

I have a Giottos tripod which was about £90 from Jessops and is very sturdy, bit heavy, but very good. Heads are more of a personal choice as to what you are doing so look around for what suits. You should be able to get a decent setup for under £150.

Nick
 
Manfrotto 055xprob legs and a good ballhead should do you fine. I have the 468MG hydrostatic ballhead myself but look at RRS, Benro, etc.. I got the 'frotto at more than 50% off so went for it but it's expensive for what it is.

No experience with gimbals but the joysticks are a bit fiddly - not easy to get it exactly where you want and you have to squeeze it all the time while moving the camera which makes it impossible to use a zoom and just looking through the viewfinder and trying to shoot pictures while squeezing the grip was not for me. I wouldn't recommend one for an only head. My joystick head lives on a pair of 190 leg now for camcorder use.
 
Ive got a 222 and a 322 (on an 055) and i find them very easy to use - the squeeze and release is a dam sight easier to use than standard head controls
 
To be honest, I thik spemding a huge amount on a tripod at this stage would be a bit OTT. For a 100-400mm with birds you're going to want the freedom to move quickly, so handholding, utilising the IS system or shooting with a monopod would be my preferred choice. I use the 400mm f5.6 either handheld or resting on something like a hide window.

If you want one for landscape work, then by all means get a quality tripod, but I think if you've got a spare 500 quid then it would be better spent on lenses or a camera upgrade.
 
You want a gimbal head, Jobu Black Widow are a good balance of quality and cost, but you are looking at around £300 just for the head.

LINK I am hanging a 500mm f4 off the BWG-LW2 and it is fine.
 
With the 100-400 I would use a gimbal like the Manfrotto 393. I know that the lens changes in length but most times you will be using it at 400mm for birds anyway.
 
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