Advice on my next purchase

Gamefreak501

Gamefreak501

Gamefreak501

Soldato
Joined
7 Aug 2003
Posts
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Location
Bedfordshire
Hi everyone,

After realising I am spending *nearly* as much as I possibly can on my driving lessons, I dont think I will be able to afford a Minolta 5D for now. :(

However - I am in the market for a tripod and head. I am looking to spend as close to £100 as possible on the tripod and up to £50 on the head.

I am replacing a cheapy £30 job I got from a local camera dealers. That did it's job fairly well, but I suppose it just wasn't up to scratch if it broke like that. I have also been advised on considering a Monopod by a number of people. I need it to be able to support my lenses and body, which are a little on the heavy side (I think my heaviest lens is 895g, and my body is 495g).

I will be using it for night shots, Motor Racing on the 27th, that kind of stuff.

Anyway, I have been looking at this lot of tripods:


055CL Manfrotto Tripod; £101.95

484 RC2 Ball head Manfrotto head; £39.95

029 Standard Manfrotto 3 Way head; £69.95

190PRO MAnfrotto Tripod; £89.95

Velbon Sherpa 750n Tripod and 3 Way photo head; £87

I don't know much about monopods so I haven't looked at any yet.
 
For a tripod, I'd go for the 055 over the 190 as its taller and more substantial. The 484 head should do you ok too.

I have a 055 series and its great. :)
 
Gamefreak501 said:
Cheers for the help there :) Very close to ordering I am! But I need to order it as soon as I can so it gets here before the 27th.
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I have a similar problem with my 1.4 tc. UPS seem to have lost my parcel, probably in Hong Kong. Fortunately its insured, but it means it will be delayed. :(
 
Joe T said:
I have a similar problem with my 1.4 tc. UPS seem to have lost my parcel, probably in Hong Kong. Fortunately its insured, but it means it will be delayed. :(
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Eek :(

I hope that get's rectified soon! Not sure I will get a tc - may be of use, but I'm not sure, I'm too skint! (well, I will be when I buy the tripod!)
 
Gamefreak501 said:
Eek :(

I hope that get's rectified soon! Not sure I will get a tc - may be of use, but I'm not sure, I'm too skint! (well, I will be when I buy the tripod!)
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Well, I read your post in the "cheap" thread in GD, now I dont know whether to believe you when you say you are skint! lol :p






Just j/k mate :)

Edit: added ya to MSN. :)
 
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Joe T said:
Well, I read your post in the "cheap" thread in GD, now I dont know whether to believe you when you say you are skint! lol :p






Just j/k mate :)
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Haha!

Well....I won't be skint, but tomorrow, I'm paying my whole credit card (before the bill comes in), so I will be skint. Then putting this on it tonight :o So I'll be paying this *huge* purchase back on the 3rd March when I get paid.
 
Just thought I'd throw my own opinion in - I ended up picking the 190 Pro over the 055CL (I had a good deal available on the 055CL, so could have had either for the same money).

The 055CL is undoubtedly more stable, but the 190 Pro is lighter. I do a lot of walking, so that made a difference to me.

If you're more likely to drive somewhere, wander half a mile with your tripod, and fire away, then the 055CL is a better choice :)

Similarly I picked up a 486MG head. Three reasons for this :
I like three way heads
Light
Compact

again, for not much more, you can get something like the 141RC (or 029) which will take more weight, but also be heavier and bigger.

Just for note, I use gear a touch heavier than yours (well, with my heaviest lens) and this setup is rock solid in even windy conditions. Of course a 055CL will be even more rock :D
 
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