Tripod/Ballhead

[jenbeat1]

I know this has been asked before, but it's not letting me do a search....

I'm looking to get a new tripod/ballhead and was wondering what everyone uses or recommends?

Thanks!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

That's about as open ended as asking what kind of camera people use.

The tripod you need depends on many different factors. How heavy is your camera? How long is your longest lens? How important is cost to you? How important is weight to you? How tall do you want it? Will you use it on relatively flat surfaces, or do you need to open the legs at weird angles a lot? Do you shoot panoramas? Do you prefer twist legs or flip locks.

I like Gitzo tripods. I think that they are the best engineered designs, but they are also quite costly compared to relatively similar competitors. Manfrotto/Bogen is probably the most popular maker for most photogs. Slik is another popular maker. There is some Chinese company, Benro or something, that is making Gitzo knockoffs that some people like.

 

[mabas9395]

When it comes to tripods, they say the factors are weight, stability and cost. But you only get to choose two out of the three. You can get something at Wal-Mart that is light and cheap, but it will not be very stable (it may be stable enough, depending on your needs). Or you can get something from a pro camera shop that is light and sturdy, but it won't be very cheap (again, that is relative). Or you can go to the brick yard and get a dozen brick and stack them up and put your camera on top. It will be cheap and very sturdy but it will weigh a ton.

That being said, I chose the Manfrotto 3021bPro tripod with the 488RC2 ball head. It is plenty sturdy, but it could have been lighter and could have been cheaper. But it is light enough and cheap enough for my needs.

 

[Gdad]

I just got this kit from B&H- I have only tried it out a few times so far but it seems well built for the money.

 

[handicap18]

I recently got the Manfotto/Bogen 055XB tripod and Bogen-Manfrotto 484RC2 Mini Ball Head. The tripod is rated to hold up to 15lbs and the ball head is rated to hold 8.8lbs. Which is WAY more than I'll need. With my heaviest lens (which also has VR so I wont use it much if at all on the tripod) I'm at 3.4lbs, so I think I'm safe. It also goes up pretty high. Raises to about 6' high when fully extended with the camera mounted to the ballhead. The 055XBPRO is about $20 or so more and goes about 2 inches higher. It can also lower to about 6 or 7 inches off the ground in the full open position with the center column out.

This combo cost me about $220.

 

[mabas9395]

Thats basically the same one I have. In 2007 they updated the 3001 series legs and now call them the 190x's or something (better legs and neck). Some people say that the 486 ballhead can slip under a heavy load so if you have a big camera, grip and long heavy lens you may want the 488. Other people think it fine.

What kind of set up do you have and when/where do you want to use your tripod?

 

[boBQuincy]

I am totally sold on Really Right Stuff's ballheads and quick releases. From what I have seen nothing comes close. And it is made in the USA!

For legs, Gitzo is hard to beat but very expensive, others (like Velbon and Slik) may be almost as good for a lot less $$$.

 

[Groucho]

I'm very, very happy with my Slik Pro 713 CF II carbon fiber tripod. Seems to have the strength of the more expensive ones while being slightly lighter and cheaper to boot (just over $200)... for the ball head, I use the Bogen/Manfrotto 484RC2. I like the combination.

But again, it all depends on your needs... I needed something with height (I'm 6'2"), otherwise I might have gone cheaper and picked up a Bogen aluminum tripod that didn't go as high.

 

[woj68]

I recently got the Manfotto/Bogen 055XB tripod and Bogen-Manfrotto 484RC2 Mini Ball Head.

Here's another vote for this combo.

 

[dmccarty]

Depends on what you want to do, your budget, equipment, and your strength.

I like Bengo tripods. Mine is heavy but stable. Due to the way the legs are held togather the tripod can be configured to take shots right on the ground, great for micro/macro or used like at "normal" height. I have had it in swamp water with no problems.

My came with a Benbo head which is not the greatest. Puts a heavy lense and try to take portrait aka vertical photos and the head will slip just a bit. I'm used to it so I just adjust. Keep swearing I'll buy a Really Right Stuff head but never do. Works fine shooting landscape(horizontal).

 

[GSD4ME]

I have the Bogen / Manfrotto 055XWNB Tripod Legs with 488RC2 Midi Ballhead (Quick Release). It supports 14 lbs, and works great for me! I mostly use it for portrait work, but will also use it when I'm doing night shots. The kit from B&H runs about $290 (plus S&H).

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I am totally sold on Really Right Stuff's ballheads and quick releases. From what I have seen nothing comes close. And it is made in the USA!

For legs, Gitzo is hard to beat but very expensive, others (like Velbon and Slik) may be almost as good for a lot less $$$.

While I am also a big fan of Really Right Stuff, I think that the Acratech ball heads are the equal to the equivalent RRS heads in their general categories. I've used both numerous times and prefer the Acratech. Other friends prefer the RRS. I do like the RRS quick release better, though.

Gitzo is definitely pricey. In a direct comparison, you'll quickly see that you get diminishing returns on tripods over $200. Once you buy something stable enough for your gear, the extra costs are high and the benefits fairly small. On the other hand, there is probably no piece of photography gear that you will use for a longer period of time. An extra $100 spent on a camera body better justify itself in a few years. If you save a $100 to get a marginally inferior tripod, you may be putting up with the deficiency for 20 years.

I would also caution you about the weight limits on tripods. There is no standard for measuring them and they make no provision for how off center the load is. Holding up a lightweight camera with a relatively heavy lens is much harder than holding up the same weight in a heavy camera with a lightweight lens. When determining the limits of your tripod, be very conservative.

 

[mabas9395]

A note on the weight thing, most heads I have used or heard about are weaker when used in the portrait position (i.e. camera on its side) and the camera is more likely to droop. So if you do a lot of tripod shooting in that orientation, it might be a good idea to get a stronger one than you think you need.

 

[boBQuincy]

A note on the weight thing, most heads I have used or heard about are weaker when used in the portrait position (i.e. camera on its side) and the camera is more likely to droop. So if you do a lot of tripod shooting in that orientation, it might be a good idea to get a stronger one than you think you need.

Good point! Back to Really Right Stuff, their angle mounting plates turn the camera in portrait mode so the mass stays directly over the ballhead.

And what Mark said about weight limits (for tripods and ballheads) is really true, some manufacturers rate their stuff conservatively, others have spent way too much time in Fantasyland.