tripod head for an uninitiated

david1701

david1701

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Right, I've been looking at tripods for a while and decided to bite the bullet and use a real shop instead of online so I can have advice on what I buy.
I'm basically settled on manfrotto 055 legs the ones with the clicky openings not the bolt ones, and a fixed center column as I almost never shoot macro and am unlikely to in the foreseeable future.

So do I go for a 3 way head or a ball head?
Whats a good head in the 50-100 pound price range (already dropping a ton one the legs and 200 pound is a lot to a student)

I am thinking 3 way and have heard good things about geared heads but I don't know how expensive they run to

these are the legs clicky

and this is the head I was looking at but I am very uncertain here clicky

help me i get confuddled
 
Ballheads are good for general stuff and the Redsnapper lives on my "spare" tripod.

3 ways are better for the stuff where you want to take your time like landscapes. I currently have a Redsnapper 3-way and whilst it is good value, its not ideal as it can droop a little.

I'm about to buy a Manfrotto 410 junior geared head for landscape and indoor stuff (About £130)

Paul
 
The 055 is quite a heavy tripod, so factor that in if you plan to carry it about a lot, however it is quite a bit sturdier than the 190, which is lighter, so as always there's a trade off.

Headwise, I've got the 460MG and it seems like quite a good bit of kit. Haven't had much chance to use it of late, but it replaced a 468 RC2 which whilst an excellent head tended to creep when used for product shots and the like, due to the weight distribution of the D300/17-55 combo. With the 70-200 on it and attached to the lens collar there were no issues, although if I was using a ballhead again I'd go for the 488 RC2 as it is better matched to the 055 legs.
 
Devon Camera Centre usually have good stocks of heads and LCE have a Manfrotto display in the middle of the shop. Or, have a look at Mifsuds website and see what they've got in their 2nd hand dept - pretty sure you'll save the bus fare if they've got what you want! They've also (or did last time I was there) got a display of heads (new).
 
oooh forgot misfuds,

yeah it feels heavy but I am trying to get away from lighter tripods that move,

only really looking at it for landscapes and long exposures where I take my time as I can shoot handheld low enough for almost everything else
 
geez I have had more tripods over the years and never used one.........from Hama pro to Manfrotto but just bought a very good redsnapper and head and it is a better made tripod than most costing 3 times as much but the head does need work the tilt lever is angled in a funny way meaning if your shot is lined up but you need to adjust the tilt its hard unless you have ultra skinny fingers and the head has some wobble when all levers a slightly unscrewed for adjusting.....best head I have ever had was a Velbon it was so well designed and just worked proper, no fault at all with it one lever action for every thing................fantastic
 
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