Tripod /w Pistol Grip?

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dancook

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Selling a carbon fibre bike at the moment, if I clear £1k I'm trying to decide what to buy!

A decent tripod might be in order but I don't know enough about what's good and what's bad.

It would be for mostly outdoor use, out and about so maybe something light might be nice - since my camera bag weighs a ton already. 5dm2 /w grip + 85mm L and Zeiss 35mm 1.4 distagon.

Headwise I've seen pistol grips and thought they seem much quicker/easier to tweak than my last tripod, so opinions on that would be good - and I mentioned my gear in case pistol grips have any issues with weight.

I saw that panoramic is one thing people look for, I wonder what else people look for - maybe how low it will go for macro? I want to know these things, I don't want to have to buy a different tripod when I realise this one isn't suitable for something...

I might be expecting a lot, but any help would be appreciated. Thanks
 
Carbon fibre tripods are considerably lighter than aluminium ones but also more expensive. Pistol/joystick heads are quicker to use than more traditional ball heads (though not a lot) and a little lighter than some 3-ways.

Best bet is to visit a decent retailer and have a play with some legs and heads to see what you like (and is light enough for you).

My current support system is a Manfrotto 190 ProB (which has a 2 part column so can be shortened for low level work and allows the column to be horizontally mounted), a 190XProCF (which has a clever system to allow the column to be made horizontal for low level work and allows the column to be but in upside down), a Giottos Vetruvian CF which is small and light for travel and one leg can be unscrewed and attached to the (removeable and invertable) centre column to convert it to a monopod. I also have a Manfrotto monopod for when weight isn't an issue.

The 190ProB has a Manfrotto 410 geared head fitted - not light and a little slower to set up than the ball heads, the 190XCF has a Manfrotto 322 Joystick head - quick to point on the general direction but a little fiddly to aim precisely and the little Giottos has the standard Giottos ball head - not too slow to aim accurately and the lightest head I own. The monopod has a simple tilt head (Manfrotto 234) which allows quick changes from landscape orientation to portrait when using lenses without collars.

Apart from the Giottos, all the heads accept the Manfrotto RC2 type QR system (the 410 head has an adaptor plate bolted on to its standard plate) to avoid faffing with different plates. The Giottos uses its own QR system and I have a couple of plates so travel kit shares that system.

HTH and doesn't confuse too much!
 
If you're considering a pistol grip then the Vanguard GH-200 is well worth a look.

The GH-200 is an upgrade to the multi award winning GH-100.

It's hard to explain the head but there are quite a few you tube clips of both the 100 and 200.
 
It depends on what you're going to shoot.

If landscapes I heartily recommend a geared head, I use both a 410 (on my Gitzo carbon fibre legs for travelling) and a 405 (on my 055XProB which I keep in the car, it is very sturdy but a bit heavy for trekking about with).

They take more time to set up but if it is landscapes you're shooting that works in your favour, you take more time to compose the shot and make it perfect. They also save lots of messing about straightening horizons on seascapes.
 
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