Lens or Tripod next

wyx087

wyx087

Messages
3,209
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all, just wondering what to get:

- 85mm f1.8 portrait lens
- Manfrotto 190CXPro4 with head and bag <- good deal?

I've only got budget for one of those, going to Edinburgh for 3 days of holiday before Xmas/payday, so would love to have a new toy to play with while on holiday.

Thinking behind either are:
- 85/1.8: for portraits. going with my girlfriend, so good hand hold low light performance is ideal, and it's a good portrait lens. doubt I'll take the tripod around Edinburgh.
- tripod: as a landscape shooter, I don't have a good tripod! shocking I know. that looks like a limited time deal. also I've got the nifty-fifty for low light anyway (not a fan of it).


leaning towards the lens, as the tripod will be at back of the car most of this trip. also it's a city break, not a quiet scenery location. but that deal looks soooo good to pass up.
 
Ask yourself what YOU need the most out of the two.

As much as people could advise you on what they would want, it might not neccaserrily suit your needs...

What do you shoot mostly / will you be shooting on this trip?
 
I think I want the portrait lens more.

but that tripod deal looks so good to pass up. it has exact head I wanted, not 100% sure on the tripod, but reviews seems good. is that a good deal?
 
Looks good to me.

Any chance that santa might spring for whichever option you don't go for?
 
I could write what I thought you were but it could make kiddies cry!

So, WTF, here I go!!! *deleted by poster in the cause of good taste and discretion!*
 
wuyanxu said:
but that tripod deal looks so good to pass up.
Click to expand...
I have the same tripod and what I'd consider to be a better head (324RC2) and I paid £40 less than that at Jacobs in March this year so I wouldn't say it was too good to pass up.

Have a look around for a good condition second hand 85mm f1.8 then when you have some money again keep an eye on here or eBay for a secondhand tripod and head. You'll save money on both buying secondhand and get to where you want to be a lot quicker.

Enjoy Edinburgh :)
 
£220 for the tripod which you might not even like in the end (CF seems to be less firm than good old metal). I'd get 190 xprob and keep the change. What do you have now?

85mm is great lens and if you do portraits it is almost a must; the 50/1.8 could go towards funding your tripod :)
 
SecretSanta said:
What do you think I am? Made of money?! :lol:
Click to expand...
no, you are not made of money, but you've got an army of elves. can you tell the elves to make a tripod for me? :D


thanks guys. looks like lens it is.

so that's not as good tripod as expected, I'll be keeping my eyes pealed on here for better deals.
 
Last edited:
do you have a tripod at the moment? yes then go for the lens, no then go for the tripod.

It will be bloody dark up here for the few days before christmas so i would suggest the tripod. Ive been shooting alot around edinburgh the last few weeks and tbh i think you would get more out of the tripod. if you want i can make you a list of the top things to shoot in edinburgh. What lenses do you have already?

If you had a nikon i would have loaned you my tripod
 
I've got a Gorillapod :bonk:

as for lenses, i've got:
-24-105mm f4 IS walk about
-17-40mm f4 for landscapes
-50mm f1.8
-a cheap Tamron 70-300mm, hate it, don't do much telephoto anyway.

don't really like the 50mm, too narrow in tight space and not long enough elsewhere. ultimate goal is to get a 35mm and a 85mm.
 
Damn you, GAS! Damn you to b***ery and back!

I did think long and hard about whether I needed another tripod and decided that yes, I do - I have an ally 190Pro which is great - sturdy, easy to use but not light! Hence, I rarely lug it about with me on walks and often wish I had. So, I now have a far lighter CF version with the far easier horizontal arm feature. I also have a head that will probably find its way onto the classifieds at a bargain price. I know at least one member wants that particular head.

While I was at WEX, I ordered a small, light head for a tabletop tripod I have whose head has seized up. Just waiting for a 1/4" Whit tap to thread the top of the tripod so I can fit a machine screw up it to attach the new head. Just waiting for the parcel to warm up a bit before I open it and play!

Bloody quick delivery! Order placed at 16:53 yesterday and here before 10:00 this morning. Via ParcelForce.


ETA...

I've had a play with the tripod in the past but couldn't (at the time) justify the cost but at that price, with the freebies, I just couldn't resist! Ultimately, in terms of stability, I would say that my older ally 190 is possibly slightly sturdier but in the real world, the CF one is plenty stable enough for the conditions I'm likely to be out and about in and so much lighter that I'll be happy to carry it rather than leave it in the boot!
 
Last edited:
you can get a tripod for £20 that'll do the job. You'll struggle to get a great portrait lens for £20.

Lens every time.
 
do the job . . . . . yes. do the job well, last you a lifetime, produce excellent shots for £20? I dont think so. if you could then companies like manfrotto wouldnt exist.

I like my £160 tripod and I would easily recommend it to anyone.

If you have the money to spend buy the lens. Else buy the tripod. The key is you can only use the lens for one thing the tripod can be used for soo much more.
 
wuyanxu said:
ops, sorry about posting that :D

So you bloody well should be!!! :lol:

so how stable is your D700 on it? stable enough for star trails or light trails?

I reckon so. Haven't tried yet (it's still light!) but it feels good and sturdy - even better than I remember when I tried one in a shop.Unfortunately, there is very bad light pollution here (at home) towards the north so star trails aren't that easy and it's too blinking cold for me to walk up the hill to a decent spot for them! Can't see any problems. :)
Click to expand...

I personally don't like 3 way heads, so have swapped it for my 322 joystick ball head (which was in a cupboard having been replaced on the ally 190 by a 410 geared head.Watch the classifieds for a bargain 3-way. Being less delicate, the ally 'pod is now in the other freebie - the unpadded bag and the CF 'pod is in the padded one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top