Tripod Suggestions

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 12 Jan 2016 at 12:38

Looking for a new tripod for around £100 to £200. Although it will be mostly used for long-exposure stuff using a shorter lens,on occasion I will be using it an airshow with my D600 with a Sigma 100-300MM F4 with a TC and a gimbal head. The lens with the TC weighs about 1.6KG,the gimbal about 1.4KG and the D600 about one kg. So around 4KG,but lets say around 5KG to 5.5KG to give some margin,if I go for a heavier telephoto lens.

So I am looking for a good mix of rigidity,weight and size as it does need to reasonably portable as I tend to be take the train and walk to the airshows.

I was looking at the 3 Legged Thing EVO3 Punks Vyv.

Any other suggestions?

Steve M · 12 Jan 2016 at 12:52

Will monitor this thread as was going to ask the same thing, after one for my soon to be aquired D750, although won't have as much weight on it as CAT-THE-FIFTH will.

Spleen Sauce · 12 Jan 2016 at 13:06

After a lot of research and testing at the local camera shop, I picked up a MoFoto RoadTrip. Excellent for the money in my opinion and should tick the right boxes.

Steve M · 12 Jan 2016 at 13:32

And how much is that?

Spleen Sauce · 12 Jan 2016 at 13:39

I paid £155.

Jono · 12 Jan 2016 at 14:11

No complaints from my Manfrotto 0x55 pro3 and 498 rc2 head.

Steve M · 12 Jan 2016 at 14:17

Jono said:
No complaints from my Manfrotto 0x55 pro3 and 498 rc2 head.

And how much was yours?

Jono · 12 Jan 2016 at 14:40

More than the £170 they can be had for new, now

Clum · 12 Jan 2016 at 15:36

Spleen Sauce said:
After a lot of research and testing at the local camera shop, I picked up a MoFoto RoadTrip. Excellent for the money in my opinion and should tick the right boxes.

Seconded. The mefoto tripods are great value for money. I have the roadtrip, and the globetrotter. The globetrotter is a lot more sturdy, but also quite a bit bulkier. If you plan on taking it and sort of distance, then Id say go for the roadtrip.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 13 Jan 2016 at 00:20

Thanks for the suggestions - how are the Sirui tripods??

Was reading this too:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/travel-tripods-5-carbon-fiber-kits-reviewed/7

Amp34 · 13 Jan 2016 at 07:15

I have a Mefoto Roadtrip (carbon), Manfrotto 190 CX (carbon) and Manfrotto 055 Pro (aluminium). All used for different things. The Roadtrip is the least stable, but the lightest and smallest when folded up, followed reasonably closely by the 190, which is much sturdier (only 3 sections) with the 055Pro a lot bigger and heavier but significantly sturdier than the others.

I use the roadtrip when travelling and have used it with my 120-300 f/2.8 (3kg). It's pretty sturdy, although there is some wobble and it feels like it's right on the limit. It's most obvious when videoing. If you don't need the absolute portability (which it doesn't look like you do) then I'd choose the 190 over the Roadtrip, the extra weight and size is more than compensated by the extra rigidity. It's what I'd use out of those three for air shows anyway.

If you were doing a lot of nature or travel photography, with lots of hiking with the tripod on your back then I would recommend the Roadtrip over the 190. I only really use the 055 at home now, I just find it excessively long and heavy for most situations (it was my first tripod, used to take it on holiday and hiking before I decided enough was enough and got the 190, which was then "superseded" by the Roadtrip for when the 190 was too big and bulky!).