Tripod advice

Furbs

Furbs

Furbs

Associate
Joined
17 Oct 2002
Posts
2,488
Ok recently got the bug and picked up a 400D and a 10-20 lens.

I have read other threads that advise on a Manfrotto tripod which I had a look at in a high street store yesterday, to feel the weight etc. I would like it to be as light as possible (for carting up and down mountains) while still have a decent build quality.

Is the Manfrotto the best way to go? and also there is quite a selection of available heads which quite honestly baffles me, which is more suited to landscape shots?

Thanks.
 
Manfrotto are indeed the best. Lighter tripods tend to be less stable and therefore worse. Its all about finding a compromise betwen what you can carry and what is more stable.

The only exception to that is to spend a lot more and get a carbon fibre tripod instead of aluminium.

About heads, for landscapes most people will go for a 3-way type rather than a ball head. The strength of a ball head is quick and free re-adjustment, whereas the 3-way is slower to adjust but easier to keep level. Your call.

Once you decide on the type just look for a head that's designed to support about the same weight as the legs you choose.

If you have, or might acquire, more than one camera, remember to get a spare quick release plate.
 
I have a Velbon Ultra Luxi F Tripod, it was fairly cheap and is very light and compact. But to be honest, it is a complete pain to setup I find. The legs have a twist release which I find highly annoying.
 
ScarySquirrel said:
I have a Velbon Ultra Luxi F Tripod, it was fairly cheap and is very light and compact. But to be honest, it is a complete pain to setup I find. The legs have a twist release which I find highly annoying.
Click to expand...
I've got an old Slik compact tripod with the same sort of twist release legs and agree they can be a pain especially if you want to set the tripod up quickly.
 
ScarySquirrel said:
I have a Velbon Ultra Luxi F Tripod, it was fairly cheap and is very light and compact. But to be honest, it is a complete pain to setup I find. The legs have a twist release which I find highly annoying.
Click to expand...

yup, I've got one too and the twist legs are a pain literally. After a full days use , taking it up and down a good few times it can get a bit sore on the hands.

I ended up getting a manfrotto 190 proxb. More weight, but a lot more stable.
 
manfrotto 190 proxb

Nice tripod. In fact my 055 is a bit of an overkill sometimes and I think I should have got the a 190 :)
 
Alex53 said:
manfrotto 190 proxb

Nice tripod. In fact my 055 is a bit of an overkill sometimes and I think I should have got the a 190 :)
Click to expand...

I think the opposite. :p While the 190XProB is very versatile, it doesn't extend tall enough without using the centre column for me. When using the gimbal head and shooting at eye level, or even shooting up I find myself stooping down at an uncomfortable level. Im after a columnless CF Gitzo now though. :)
 
Furbs, I was looking for a tripod with similar requirements to you. Something light yet still sturdy, something that folded to a short length and something that I will be able to take travelling with me abroad and also easy to take with him hiking. Landscapes are the main type of photos I would take.
After lots of research ended up getting a Velbon Sherpa Pro CF545. This is a carbon fibre tripod so light but still fairly strong. It folds up to 41cm and weighs just over 1kg. I managed to get a bargain for this, £120 inc. a velbon PHD 41Q (3 way pan) head, add £10 on top for postage. The cheapest I've seen on other web sites is £140 for the legs only and the head alone is around £40. Email me if you want more details.
Hope this helps.
 
The Gitzo and Arca stuff is expensive but in all honesty you get what you pay for, especially if you use big lenses as aluminium moves all over the place, Gitzos are absolutley rigid.
 
V-Spec said:
The Gitzo and Arca stuff is expensive but in all honesty you get what you pay for, especially if you use big lenses as aluminium moves all over the place, Gitzos are absolutley rigid.
Click to expand...

You use a Gitzo? How do you find the twist lock legs? Im considering a Gitzo GT3540XLS but im not sure how id get on with twist lock.
 
GT5540LS, twist lock legs are great as they're very quiet and you can extend it in a hurry without scaring everything off as they don't drop out with a clunk.
The legs also have rubber seals where they extend which helps keep the sand out, I also have manfrotto tripod which I use for messing around with, I guess its just having a play with one and seeing how you like it, its a lot of money to spend on a tripod, if I were you i'd go to a big camera shop in norwich and try theirs out, its the only way you'll know..
 
ScarySquirrel said:
I have a Velbon Ultra Luxi F Tripod, it was fairly cheap and is very light and compact. But to be honest, it is a complete pain to setup I find. The legs have a twist release which I find highly annoying.
Click to expand...

I bought one of these as a holiday tripod and I've now chucked it out.

Build quality is dire, for the RRP it's quite an expensive tripod

An element on the head supporting the tilt axis snapped thereby rendering the mechanism quite unstable.
 
iGiDK said:
I bought one of these as a holiday tripod and I've now chucked it out.

Build quality is dire, for the RRP it's quite an expensive tripod

An element on the head supporting the tilt axis snapped thereby rendering the mechanism quite unstable.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I cannot affordjustify spending any more on a decent one as I don't go out taking photographs enough (my own fault)

I wouldn't reccomend it to anyone though tbh.
 
Alex53 said:
manfrotto 190 proxb

Nice tripod. In fact my 055 is a bit of an overkill sometimes and I think I should have got the a 190 :)
Click to expand...

I agree with you on that. I have the 055Pro and it's excellent but when I'm cycling and walking miles a 190 seems so tempting.

If you are relatively mobile and don't have that much weight to support then go for the 190XPro instead, even if it isn't long enough.

I'm contemplating getting a smaller lighter tripod, maybe something like the Manfrotto midi for when I don't need all the length and strength of the 055Pro

As for head, it's a bit of a personal preference but if it's landscape you are most interested in I would suggest a 3 way.

Also don't forget a Beanbag, it may sound stupid but they are supposedly (I haven't go one but an going to get one soon) very useful and light.:)
 
Thanks for all the great comments, think you have confirmed my thoughts of the 190. Roll on pay day and I can actually get out there and take some shots :)
 
I use a Manfrotto 190 ProB tripod which I use with a 460MG magnesium 3 way pan + tilt head. I'm quite pleased with this setup as it isn't too heavy to be carried while going on a walk, nor is it too bulky to be strapped to my bicycles rear luggage rack.

My previous tripod was a Manfrotto 781B, however most of the plastic leg locking clamps have snapped rendering the tripod useless. Not sure if any of the recent manfrotto "midi" tripods use similar plastic clamps?
 
Alex53 said:
manfrotto 190 proxb

Nice tripod. In fact my 055 is a bit of an overkill sometimes and I think I should have got the a 190 :)
Click to expand...

I'd agree with the 190 ProXB , i have just ordered one of these with the 322RC2 head, Not sure if it comes with a Carry case though ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom