Tripods

[skilsaw]

I'm looking at tripods and have come to the conclusion that there are 3 main factors... Portable, Stable, Low Cost.

Which two would you like?

Seriously though:
What do you look for in a tripod?
What do you look for in a tripod head?

If I can afford it, is a carbon fibre tripod good value for the money?

How do you tell the difference between ball heads?
What is the benefit of a more expensive vs less expensive ball head?

Thanks in advance for your feedback and advice.

[Jediboy]

Hi, out of your three points I'd be prepared to let go of portable. The reason for this is that I don't tend to carry my tripod very far,so the fact that's its heavy isn't an issue for me. If I was carrying over a long distance, then I'd consider a lighter tripod, maybe a carbon fibre one.
I own a Slik 700DX pro which is very heavy, but very sturdy.

Ball, pan/tilt and pistol are the heads available. There's arguments for and against each, and often it's a personal choice, so go for the one that's best for you.

It worth mentioning that you should get me that will carry the weight of your kit. My old Velbon was fine at first, but as a bought better/heavier kit the tripod just wouldn't support the weight. So I'd suggest that its worth future proofing your tripod by getting a decent one, maybe better than you need at present, because as you buy bigger and heavier kit, you'll need the tripod to go with it.

Hope this helps,

Chris

[wave01]

i have a giottos vitruvian sturdy and portable

[2Beers]

I have the Manfrotto X55PROB with a 327RC2 quick release grip head, Quite Heavy but you can always get the CX (carbon fibre version)

[donoreo]

I will hit carbon fibre first. I do not see the value in it (except in the bodies of supercars, but that is another subject!). Comparing the weight of metal to CF on essentially the same models, it is not enough of a difference to justify the price. CF is still WAY overpriced for the difference.

Stable is the most important feature to me. If it is not stable, why are using it?

[gbryce]

Stability and build quality are the most important factors for me. I agree with donoreo about CF tripods, the extra cost for a small saving in weight just doesn't cut it, for my needs anyway. Of course if you're mainly shooting landscapes then carrying as little weight as possible might be a deciding factor.

Things I look for in a tripod are clever features like pivoting centre column, multi angle legs & centre column that can be split/ low angle adapter. Only consider these things if it suits your needs ( no point having features you don't need )

When it comes to ball heads get one that will not only meet but slightly exceed the load of your heaviest lens/body combo, that way it will have no problems coping with weight/sagging.

[skilsaw]

Thanks all, for your insight and suggestions.

There are now only 2 real dedicated photography shops in my city. Then there's the Drugstore that also has a camera section and of course Future Shop.

Manfrotto is the most common brand in town. I went to the photo shop with the best selection.
First I ruled out tripods and heads that could only carry 5 kg or less. Then I went through the limited selection (even though it is the best selection in town)

Chose a Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 tripod and 468MGRC2 ball head. I liked the load capacity of 8 and 10 kgs respectively, the height and stability. Cost was a surprise but I like to indulge myself. Either that or I was in a manic buying frenzy.

I could have purchased a similar kit off the Manfrotto website that was less expensive, but if we do that all the time, the shops will close.

All in all, I'm pleased with my choices. If I upgrade my camera or get a telephoto lens I won't be overloading the tripod. It is reasonably portable. I'll use it indoors and in the city. I don't see myself taking the SLR on my wilderness outings.

Now a walk and capture some pictures along the waterfront. I can try some night lights in the city too.

[gbryce]

Kudos to you skilsaw for supporting your local stores & not going down the online route. It's always a good idea to actually get your hands on gear like this before buying as you can then get a feel for the quality of build & materials used in the leg locks etc.

You may well have indulged yourself with regard to the price of product but I wouldn't beat myself up over this. You've got a very well specified piece of kit, made by a quality manufacturer that as long as you don't throw it off the side of a mountain should last you a lifetime.

[wavemachine]

Manfrotto is an excellent choice IMHO, I have a 190XPROB which has served me well for the last 6 years and is showing no signs of wear.

I try to support my local camera shop whereever possible, in fact when I bought my 7D, Spare Battery, Memory Cards, Battery grip they were all bought from my local shop. Basically I got prices from the cheapest reputable online source, went in with the list with the prices and said if you can match this you have a deal. In the end they came about a fiver under. The only time I haven't bought off them is if they are way more expensive or cannot get what I want in a reasonable time frame.

[gbryce]

Originally Posted by wavemachine

I try to support my local camera shop whereever possible, in fact when I bought my 7D, Spare Battery, Memory Cards, Battery grip they were all bought from my local shop. Basically I got prices from the cheapest reputable online source, went in with the list with the prices and said if you can match this you have a deal. In the end they came about a fiver under.

Thanks for this interesting little nugget of info wavemachine. I would never have thought of trying something like that. The temptation for all of us is to simply scour the internet for the cheapest price but this isn't always necessarily the best way