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professorgb
Joined: 27 Feb 2006
Posts: 146
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Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 11:55 am
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All the talk about tripods has made me look closely at mine. It's junk and, yes, it's better than nothing. But, I want more than junk.
Here's the question: With a budget of around $400 for pod and head, what would you guys and gals recommend? I'm thinking either Bogen or Gitzo, and I'd really like a ball head for the adjustment versatility and speed.
Any suggestions? |
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mayangsari
Joined: 06 Aug 2005
Posts: 2614
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Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:06 pm
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Manfrotto 190CLB
Manfrotto ball head 486rc2
Will hold up to 5kg in weight. |
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professorgb
Joined: 27 Feb 2006
Posts: 146
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Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 2:04 pm
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These look like a good combination. How stable is the pod--does it do a good job with damping vibrations? How is the quick-release mount--does it hold well, and is it easy to use in a hurry?
BTW, absolutely beautiful portfolio. I aspire to something similar when I grow up.
| mayangsari wrote: | Manfrotto 190CLB
Manfrotto ball head 486rc2
Will hold up to 5kg in weight. |
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mayangsari
Joined: 06 Aug 2005
Posts: 2614
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Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 2:36 pm
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It looked pretty simple at the shop *grin*. The salesperson (lady) demonstrated it very well. I admit, I've only had it 2 weeks and no chance of using it yet. |
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rinder99
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 32270
Location: Stock,food,portrait books www.rindersmithphotography.com
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Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 3:59 pm
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Trust me , dont get a quick release plate. I've to many cameras hit the ground. velbon makes a pretty darn good ballhead for not to much money. |
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lilcrazyfuzzy
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 12926
Location: 50°46′31″N 6°4′58″E
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enjoylife25
Joined: 09 May 2006
Posts: 102
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:52 am
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| rinder99 wrote: | | Trust me , dont get a quick release plate. I've to many cameras hit the ground. velbon makes a pretty darn good ballhead for not to much money. |
I lost a D70 that way. Fell on concrete...
Had to buy a new one :-(
I still have a quick release plate but being extra extra careful. |
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varius
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 5564
Location: Bietigheim - Bissingen, Germany
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:01 am
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The Manfrotto quick-release systems have a locking mechanism. If you take the same care adjusting the quick-lock as you would attaching a lens to your camera, there's no way a camera could come off of the (Manfrotto) quick-lock. The chances of someone bumping into your tripod and knocking it over are higher.
I know a lot of people who just use the quick-lock to SLAM their gear into it and never care about the locking "It has to be quick after all, right?" WRONG. It has to be stable, safe and locked. It's still quicker that screwing it all together. But it's not just click and done.
One serious word of advice for all who have quick-lock systems or consider having one: RTFM! (*) They print that for a reason, and that's not just to be save from jaw-suit-happy, dumb-as-shit wanna-be photographers.
(*) RTFM -> Read the f... abulous manual.
DISCLAIMER: I don't know what systems Laurin's friends use/have used. There might be systems out there that simple are not worth the money (i.e. are not safe even when handled correctly). |
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professorgb
Joined: 27 Feb 2006
Posts: 146
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:29 am
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What about the Acratech system?
| rinder99 wrote: | | Trust me , dont get a quick release plate. I've to many cameras hit the ground. velbon makes a pretty darn good ballhead for not to much money. |
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rinder99
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 32270
Location: Stock,food,portrait books www.rindersmithphotography.com
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:48 am
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| varius wrote: | The Manfrotto quick-release systems have a locking mechanism. If you take the same care adjusting the quick-lock as you would attaching a lens to your camera, there's no way a camera could come off of the (Manfrotto) quick-lock. The chances of someone bumping into your tripod and knocking it over are higher.
I know a lot of people who just use the quick-lock to SLAM their gear into it and never care about the locking "It has to be quick after all, right?" WRONG. It has to be stable, safe and locked. It's still quicker that screwing it all together. But it's not just click and done.
One serious word of advice for all who have quick-lock systems or consider having one: RTFM! (*) They print that for a reason, and that's not just to be save from jaw-suit-happy, dumb-as-shit wanna-be photographers.
(*) RTFM -> Read the f... abulous manual.
DISCLAIMER: I don't know what systems Laurin's friends use/have used. There might be systems out there that simple are not worth the money (i.e. are not safe even when handled correctly). |
Thats the one I used! dont do it guys. How much longer does it take to screw it in? what 30 seconds. cant be that lazy? Once it's screwed in to a strong ballhead, you can just carry the tripod with your camera over your shoulder. cant do that with any quick release plate. Dont get dumb. trust me on this. Or not. i do this everyday , not once a month.Wouldn't trust any of them, PERIOD.But, hey it's your camera, not mine. |
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rinder99
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 32270
Location: Stock,food,portrait books www.rindersmithphotography.com
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:52 am
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| professorgb wrote: | What about the Acratech system?
| rinder99 wrote: | | Trust me , dont get a quick release plate. I've to many cameras hit the ground. velbon makes a pretty darn good ballhead for not to much money. |
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see above post. |
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lessthanempty
Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 1046
Location: планета земля
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:33 am
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Regardless if my tripod can hold 40 lbs., if it can make breakfast or make gold out of yarn, I ALWAYS WEAR THE NECK STRAP. Yeah, it's stupid because my tripod has a quick-release plate, screws, and all sorts of other reinforced materials I don't want to pronounce.
Or is it? Just ask anyone that's lost a camera using the quick-release plate. I don't carry the tripod with the camera attached. This is just personal preference. The cameras stay with me at all times. |
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Captured Nuance
Joined: 24 Feb 2005
Posts: 1670
Location: So Cal
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rinder99
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 32270
Location: Stock,food,portrait books www.rindersmithphotography.com
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:05 pm
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I have that one, Nice. with a big Kirk ballhead.and it looks good also. thats important!! Ha |
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varius
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 5564
Location: Bietigheim - Bissingen, Germany
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:45 pm
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| rinder99 wrote: |
Once it's screwed in to a strong ballhead, you can just carry the tripod with your camera over your shoulder. cant do that with any quick release plate. |
That's what I meant - RTFM. Obviously you can break many rules in photography, but breaking this on might break your camera.
The only accidents I ever had with cameras (in 30 years, I might add) was with screw in. First time didn't screw in hard enough, carried the camera attached to the tripod - crash. Took me years to save enough to buy a new camera. Second time screwed in too hard and broke off the part of the camera that holds the screw (whatever that is called). I still had the camera belt around my neck or that one would have fallen some 800m. The camera has thus survived, but it will never again be fixed to a tripod.
What's so bad about taking the camera off the tripod when you want to carry that tripod around? How long will it take? 4 seconds? Can't be that lazy... |
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