Tripod for night sky photography?

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Steve
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Hello all,


I would like to buy a tripod for night time sky photography with the primary intention to photograph the Milky Way and moon once the weather gets warmer, so long exposures will be used a lot.
I will also want to photograph wildlife (birds mainly) in the garden using a wireless remote and maybe some landscape shots (not a priority).

Weight is not important as I don’t intend to lug it with me on walks. The camera is a Nikon D7100 with 18-105 and 70-300 lenses (1.7kg with the latter).

I had a budget Velbon tripod but found it to be wobbly, leading to blur in my photos so it’s essential I avoid this again. I also found this suffered some “creep” when pointing the camera up to the stars and no matter how tight I turned the adjustment knobs, it never solved it. Again, keen to avoid!

I’m aiming to stay around £100, however if this is not reasonable I’ll understand.

Whilst writing this I've discovered the below Redsnapper deal and it seems they are well regarded.
The Redsnapper RST-283 and RSH 528 3-way head (upgraded from RSH-24) can be had for £59.95 – seems like a bargain?
http://www.redsnapperuk.com/camera-accessories/RST-283___RSH-24_3-way_Head.html#a159


Alternatively, I’ve often seen Manfrotto tripods recommended and I see places like Currys sell them for c.£60, however I’m cautious as I assume they will be budget models and not much better than what I had before…

Compact Advanced Tripod - £59.99
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/camera...tto-compact-advanced-tripod-10010281-pdt.html

The Manfrotto 290 Light Kit 3 Way Tripod from Jessops seems good value at £99.99… ?
http://www.jessops.com/online.store...to/290-light-kit-3-way-tripod-98045/show.html


My local shop, London Camera Exchange advertise the Arena Pro (own brand) for £119.99 and has a best buy from Digital SLR magazine. Does anyone own one and can recommend?
https://www.lcegroup.co.uk/New/arena-pro-tripod_287.html

Most seem to have no horizontal support; something I thought was there to give stability – or does this not matter?

Thanks for taking the time to review and give your thoughts!
 
If you aren't intending lugging your tripod for miles, I'd get a heavier alu. rather than carbon, for extra stability.
Also & more importantly imo, make sure it's plenty tall enough!
Try to get one that is taller than yourself (so you aren't stooping under your camera) & even better, without the legs being fully extended, which can make it less stable.

I got a Giotto MTL9361B a few years ago (not available now) & 15kg ball head, with a quick release plate. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Giottos-MH1300-652-Friction-Control-Release/dp/B001CO96GC
Best to have overcapacity, also imo.
 
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You don't need a long exposure for the Moon unless it's eclipsed. If you use too long an exposure for the stars you'll get trailing (as the Earth moves) unless you use a tracker of some sort. How long you have on a fixed tripod before trailing depends on focal length and where in the sky you're pointing.
I use a Manfrotto 190 and 3 way head. You won't get one for £100...... but it'll keep a 550D + Sigma 150-600mm rigid enough for shots of the Sun and Moon. It's heavy, but that can be an advantage, but not so heavy that I can't carry it for several miles. I'm only little.
I presume you'll be using the long lens for the Moon and the shorter for the Milky Way? The long lens will give you less time before trailing, but that won't be a problem with the Moon. For the Milky Way you'd do better getting a short, fast lens (f2.8 max) which again will give you longer before any trailing. Make sure you use a remote release and give the camera a moment to settle before taking the shot, and bump the iso as high as you can without getting unacceptable noise.
 
Thanks everyone. There's some good advice here and some things I hadn't considered.
Regarding substantial second hand equipment, do you have any suggestions please?
 
The manfrotto 055 are/were pretty popular but quite bulky and heavyish in aluminium therefore tend to be sold 2nd hand quite often. They are quite solid and stable too, owned a couple a few years ago. Looking at eBay seem to be a few around the 75 for legs, some just over £100 with a decent head. There are so many ppl could suggest especially as you say weight is not too much an issue. Hanging a bag under the spider/centre column is also good to help tension legs and reduce vibrations, so looking for one with a hook is good. Although as said, height can be useful and comfortable, personally I'd keep it as low as possible to help with stability.
 
Steve

There are several Astronomical tripods that go for that range of prices. Many available second hand. I use a "low end" astro tripod with my cameras and they are certanly solid enough.
First Light Optics [http://www.firstlightoptics.com/] have new ones and used ones and are very helpful. Explain your requirements and they will point you in the right direction.

David
 
Manfrotto 055 are a good solid tripod, used them in the past at work from time to time.

I've had a Velbon Sherpa 600r for years and it's been very good, though the head needs replacing now as it's a bit worn. I mainly use it for scope duty these days.
Last year I bought a Giottos MTL carbon fibre tripod and have a Pig Iron BH-1V head on it. Really good so far.
 
Thank you for the info. I take it something like this is what you're suggesting, rather than the newer ones being listed on there http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192102701441

Good buy that is !!!
I'd stay away from that one, the leg clamps are a nightmare and once they start to not grip properly they're a bitch to sort out. It's the 055XPROB or the MT055XPRO3 legs that you want as they have the redesigned clamps. The XPRO3 is the newer of the 2 and is better however the XPRO3 is good too!
 
Ah I didn't realise that! I've got the newer one
 
The manfrotto 055XPROB are good tripods. The aluminium version can be had second hand for good prices, both head and tripod wouldn't be far out of your price range.

Regarding bags to stabilise it depends on it there is any wind otherwise acts as a sail introducing movement. One of the tripod manufacturers told me in windy conditions you are better putting the bag on the ground under the tripod and use it as an anchoring point with a bungee type cord adding tension between the bag and tripod.

As you have found out buying a good tripod is the way forward. Spending a little extra now on the right tripod that will last years is more cost effective than buying something cheap that you will end up replacing sooner.

The manfrotto range is quite good for the money. The likes of red snapper, Giottos, benro, induro are worth looking into.itoo would recommend looking second hand, even the older models are worth looking at as tripod design hasn't really changed much in decades unless you believe manufacturers marketing departments.

The old saying 'lightweight, cheap and stable, choose 2' is applicable with tripods. Your £100 budget will get you a good set of legs, you may need to add a further £50-75 get a good head for it too. Remember is a purchase that with last years, if it lasts you 5-10 years it would work out to be only £17.50-£35 per year, pretty good considering how important a tripod would be to allow you to get the images you want to.

The combo sets for £60 in places like currys are worth staying away from. If it sounds cheap then it's cheap for a reason. Also most higher end tripods don't have the horizontal supports between the legs (look at gitzo!), their designs are very stable because the top leg joints are built better and it also allows legs to angled independtly which is a very useful feature.
 
Thanks all. I'm going to look out for a used model and get something better quality. Your advice is appreciated.
 
Used Induro tripods good value or Giottos tripods I have been looking for a new tripod ended up buying a Induro from E Bay its over my original budget of £150 but I looking at as a long term investment if you are going to add a ball head to the tripod my brother bought one of the pig iron ball heads really good quality with 5 year warranty

http://pigiron.eu/Heads.html

couple to watch of flea bay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322421661239?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222407764017?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222407764017?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
 
Can anyone comment on the suitability of the Manfrotto 055CL for my needs please?
 
With weight not being an issue, and as a budget option, could one of the large, amateur video camera type tripods from a few years ago work for you? If so, would something like this fit the bill? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Velbon-D700-Tripod-/302150609475?hash=item4659946a43:g:jsgAAOSwA3dYMbQv&nma=true&si=32zEgLUrqWMhB2Rsm5YeaK%2B58iM%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 (scroll down to see the sold item).

If so, bide your time and you should be able to pick one up in very good to excellent condition for around £30 to £50; I have a couple of these Velbon D700s that I use regularly in the summer months with digital night vision cameras/binoculars and they don't seem to creep when locked down (so no need to overtighten the locking 'wing bolts' and risk cracking the plastic head casing!). The D700 is large enough to give eye level camera height without extending the centre column much (if any, depending on how tall you are) and I find them to be a good, big, solid platform.

For the price they tend to go for, if you find you don't get on with it, you can always put it back on eBay and you should get your money back plus or minus a few pounds either way. Just make sure it has the quick release camera mounting plate included with it, or allow around £6 for a new replacement QR plate when considering a bid! Oh, and make sure it's the D700, as the D7000 is a different model! Hope this is useful and perhaps gives you an alternative (and cheaper) option to consider. (y)
 
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There is a 488rc2 also in the classifieds, must have missed that, not a bad combo for the kit your using. Yes there are much lighter options but with budget considered and weight not huge issue and kit listed, don't think you'd go far wrong.
 
There is a 488rc2 also in the classifieds,

I've bought the tripod you highlighted (thanks) but I'm thinking I would prefer a pan head over a ball, as I've read you get a more precise movement.
Do you have an opinion on which is better for birds? I understand ball heads are quicker to adjust but less precise...
 
For precise aiming, a geared head such as the Manfrotto 410 is hard to beat. For birds, especially those in flight, a gimbal head is probably the best option.
 
To be honest Ive never used a pan head for still photography. I've always used ball heads and just invested in a gimbal. I think a gimbal would be overkill for a 70-300 but never tried. Decent ball heads do the job well.
 
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