Tripods

[RacingHistorian]

I'd like to get some opinions from people who have experience with various tripods.  I have a nice monopod, A Bogen / Manfrotto 685B NeoTec Deluxe with a Manfrotto 3265 Grip Action Ballhead (Quick Release) - but I don't use it a whole lot.  I'd like to get a "good" tripod.  I was looking at purchasing a Bogen / Manfrotto  055XPROB - but at $360 I'm not sure I can really justify it because I doubt I would use it a whole lot and may be overkill.  I don't want to go 'cheap', as I'd rather have something that works well when I do use it.  It really needs to be something that adjusts well to 6ft or so and can hold at least 5lbs, preferably 7lbs.   Although weight is 'important', I doubt very much I'll be hiking any time soon where I'm lugging this thing up and down paths a whole lot.  At the same time, I don't want a boat anchor to drag around with me either. 

Any suggestions and/or recommendations?

[Yammer77]

My wife went cheap with my tripod.....you can get a nice bogen though for around 200.00 with a nice head....
I don't like tripods.....even for portraits I like handheld....Must be my add cause I don't like staying in one spot too long.

[leelf62]

My bogen/manfrotto is a 190xprob with a 486rc2 ballhead.  It can hold even Ric's big lens!!   AND it has a quick release, Anthony.  So, you can wander, wander, wander away.  I'll bring it on the 20th for you to try.  I think it was about $300.  I ordered it from B&H in NYC.

[Yammer77]

Thanks..

[Ric]

This is my Tripod and I got it for about $200.00. It holds up to 20lbs and I have had no problems with it. I will have it on the 20th also...

This is the Smith-Victor ProPod III



Link to it is here Smith-Victor

[Beth Schmoyer]

Outdoor Photographer magazine has a article about tripods this month

[geekninja]

I was all ready to plop down for a manfrotto something or other, my buddy had a bright shiny new one. Saw some reviews, took a flyer on Amvona - Chinese made knockoffs. Got a Nomad 02T travel tripod legs and a ATH-A01 ball head. Lists for a little over a C-note but only suckers pay list  . Off of eBay, 20 bucks for the legs, 10 for the ball head, 25 for shipping (the guy kinda gouges on shipping). Around 50 bucks for the deal. It's not a Manfrotto, but it's not bad, and it's 25% of the price. Comparing them side by side it's difficult to see a lot of places where corners were cut. The screws for the leg locks had to be tightened and loctited, I wish the bottom of the column had a hook, and I wish I had bought a model with leg spikes. Other than that, no issues. Arca Swiss Type B quick release. The travel combo I bought will handle an 9 lbs camera, comes in under 5 lbs total (not carbon but not a boulder either) and brings my camera up to eye height (I'm 6'1") without bending. Here's a shot taken on it:

10 second exposure, couple of feet away from traffic, with no additional weight on it and the SR off.

[Yammer77]

Bogen / Manfrotto 190XPROB Tripod Legs (Black) with 486RC2 Compact Ballhead (Quick Release) - Supports 10 lbs (4.5 kg)
B&H# BO190XPR486R

This is what I want, but how do I know which extra plate to get, the 1/4" or the 3/8" I think the 1/4", but I think it comes with 3/8"
can anyone help?

[leelf62]

I use the plate that came with the ballhead for my E510.  Works perfectly.  It depends on the size of the "tripod mount hole" (or whatever it's called) on the bottom of the camera.

[Yammer77]

I ordered it from BH and it should have shipped by now but with Passover around the corner it may be delayed ugh!!!

[Yammer77]

Yeah!! My tripod came....

[leelf62]

wooooo hoooo!  great...have fun.