Tripods and Ball heads ???

[snap]

I have owned a couple of cheap tripods (now on the way to the scrap heap) and am looking for a good, light tripod and good ball head. I am overwhelmed by the products available and am seeking advice on product quality. The combinations seem endless. All manufacturers claim superior products. When I read reviews on Gitzo, Manfrotto (Bogen), Arca Swiss, Kirk, Markins, and Really Right Stuff (I'm sure that I have missed many more brands), they are all the "best."

My main use for a tripod will be landscapes, flowers and bugs. I will not have a very heavy load on the tripod and since I will be hiking at times light weight is important. (Maybe I should consider a monopod, too.)

It seems to me that most ball heads are similar: Gitzo B1, Kirk B-1, Markins
M10, so on and so forth, although several models of ball heads include the quick release connection. Are the differences only subtle, and all the ball heads work well, or are their important differences?

The ball heads seems to have, or come with at extra charge, a quick release connection device. I guess it is also necessary to have a body plate specific to my camera. It this correct?

Price, of course, is important, but I don't want to low ball it. On the other hand, I don't need the best. I guess there's a lot of room in the middle!

[DonSchap]

The Bogen/Manfrotto 488RC2 is a quick release system ball head that offers the answer you appear to seek... for about $90.00.

The included 3157N quick release camera plate screws right into the bottom of your camera's 1/4" threaded hole with no special adapter necessary. Then, bayonet the plate to the QR base and you are hooked up to your ball head. I love mine... and feel it does provide the bang for the buck.

Good luck :)

[snap]

Thanks for the information. I suppose this is a rhetorical question, since you like your set up, but does the all head allow you to achieve, and maintain, fine adjustments? I'm thinking here of macro shots.

[erichlund]

I have owned a couple of cheap tripods (now on the way to the scrap heap) and am looking for a good, light tripod and good ball head. I am overwhelmed by the products available and am seeking advice on product quality. The combinations seem endless. All manufacturers claim superior products. When I read reviews on Gitzo, Manfrotto (Bogen), Arca Swiss, Kirk, Markins, and Really Right Stuff (I'm sure that I have missed many more brands), they are all the "best."

My main use for a tripod will be landscapes, flowers and bugs. I will not have a very heavy load on the tripod and since I will be hiking at times light weight is important. (Maybe I should consider a monopod, too.)

It seems to me that most ball heads are similar: Gitzo B1, Kirk B-1, Markins
M10, so on and so forth, although several models of ball heads include the quick release connection. Are the differences only subtle, and all the ball heads work well, or are their important differences?

The ball heads seems to have, or come with at extra charge, a quick release connection device. I guess it is also necessary to have a body plate specific to my camera. It this correct?

Price, of course, is important, but I don't want to low ball it. On the other hand, I don't need the best. I guess there's a lot of room in the middle!
If you are looking at light weight as your primary concern, then a carbon fiber tripod and an Acratech Ballhead are in order. Acratech specializes in light weight while retaining adequate weight bearing capability. Some people will say don't get 4 leg segment tripods, but for backpacking, it's not an unreasonable choice, as they are both light and reduct to a fairly small package.

OK, they all claim to be the best, but for those that use them, the RRS stuff is "the best". Perhaps more than necessary. I would not describe the RRS BH55 LR, which I have as "light". Over engineered? Yes. So pretty that you really use the neoprene sack they ship with it to keep it from getting scratched? Yes (but it's really pretty tough, as it's anodized aluminum). Really, incredibly, smooth, oversized, easy to use controls? Yes. VERY high price? Check. Built like a tank and able to hold one steady? Yup.

For tripods, there's Gitzo, Manfrotto, and Bogen. Well, they're all really the same company. Then there's Giottos. There are a bunch of Oriental hacks of the Gitzo/Manfrotto stuff that some people swear by. Stay away from the consumer brands like Velbon (Hakuba) and SLIK, unless you just want to go through this process again. There are some other, lesser known, or at lesser sold brands that are good, like Benbo.

General Caution: If it has a great price and the head is included, there's a good chance it's not top quality (or even close).

[ReF]

manfrotto 488RC2 ball head is 1.5 lbs, holds 17.6 lbs, and costs about $100

acratech ultimate ball head is 1 lbs, holds 25 lbs, and costs about $300

manfrotto 3021Pro tripod is 5.3 lbs, and costs about $150

gitzo carbon fiber tripods cost around $400+ but you probably wouldn't want one lighter than 5 lbs anyways

are the more expensive models better in quality and function? i wouldn't doubt it for a second, and if you've got the $$$ then go for it. but i don't think most people would need more than the manfrottos. dynatran tripods and heads are supposed to copies of the manfrottos for about 1/3 or 1/4 of the price (on ebay). some members here have them and are very happy, but i've never used one myself so i can't make any comparisons for ya.

[TheObiJuan]

it will help to get a tripod with a reversible center column so the camera can be supported when fliped upside down and only inches from the ground.
They dynatran at-12t tripod is very cheap, well built and can do this.

[ryan112ryan]

anyone have opinions on the "joystick type" ball heads

Bogen - Manfrotto 3265 Grip Action Ball Head with Quick Release supports 5.6 lb:
http://www.manfrotto.com/webdav/site/manfrotto/shared/_images/Manfrotto/product_images/222.jpg
Bogen - Manfrotto Improved Grip Action Ball Head with Quick Release - Supports 11 lb:
http://www.adorama.com/images/large/BG322RC2.jpg

the only thing i really hate about ball heads is that its a bit of a pain to get it back to being level and plum

with these, especially the top one pictured, its sooooo tall

[cspratt]

I have a gimbal head and it is really great. Manfrotto and Wimberley make the pricier ones. I have a Mongoose 262 which uses Wimberley type mounting plates. It can handle the Canon 100-400 and a couple of heavier telescopes I have with ease. In my opinion ballheads suck.

Chris. Spratt
Victoria, BC

[DonSchap]

on either my 3021N tripod and the 682 monopod (w/hidden tripod foot). I usually keep it on the monopod, though, so I can easily lean the monopod back, without drastically changing the horizontal angle of view. Believe me, it has its place.

In fact, not too long ago, I had gotten into a rather lengthy discussion with another photographer about how to effectively use it and believe it or not, the monopod wound up being the best place for it. I normally use the Manfrotto 488 tilt-ball on the tripod, because the angles don't change quite as sharply between the tripod and the camera base.

That's my double penny's worth... :)

[cwphoto]

anyone have opinions on the "joystick type" ball heads

Bogen - Manfrotto 3265 Grip Action Ball Head with Quick Release supports 5.6 lb:

the only thing i really hate about ball heads is that its a bit of a pain to get it back to being level and plum

with these, especially the top one pictured, its sooooo tall

Not really a fan of those "generic" heads (that top one especially is prone to slippage with a heavy lens and neither have custom brackets available meaning the base can slip too). If you're serious about your work the answer is here (note the spirit level for levelling):

[erichlund]

I have a gimbal head and it is really great. Manfrotto and Wimberley make the pricier ones. I have a Mongoose 262 which uses Wimberley type mounting plates. It can handle the Canon 100-400 and a couple of heavier telescopes I have with ease. In my opinion ballheads suck.

Chris. Spratt
Victoria, BC
It really depends on what you are trying to do. Heads that provide precise control are useful in the studio and for work where you need to control camera movement between shots, such as a series of shots. But a quality ballhead is better for free form shooting. I can set the tension on my RRS BH55 so that when I let go of the camera it stays where I put it, yet while holding the camera, I can reorient freely with very little tension on the camera. And, with a single twist, I can lock the camera down so I'm certain it stays in place.

[erichlund]

Not really a fan of those "generic" heads (that top one especially is prone to slippage with a heavy lens and neither have custom brackets available meaning the base can slip too). If you're serious about your work the answer is here (note the spirit level for levelling):
Yup, that's the one. In case anyone is wondering, that big knob on the right is truly massive. I had no idea how large this thing was until it showed up on my doorstep.

The problem with the pistol grip heads I've seen is that the makers seem to feel they are building a gimmick, so why build in true quality. I've never seen one that looked like the engineer took the job seriously. Of course, any tripod fanatic will tell you that you should: 1) buy a tripod without a center column, and 2) if you do have one with a center column, leave it all the way down. The theory being that a center column is little more than a monopod on a tripod. (I didn't originate this, I'm just repeating what I've been told countless times.) However, another issue with pistol grip heads is that they extend the column even further, increasing camera instability.

[ryan112ryan]

Not really a fan of those "generic" heads (that top one especially is prone to slippage with a heavy lens and neither have custom brackets available meaning the base can slip too). If you're serious about your work the answer is here (note the spirit level for levelling):

the handgrip ones have the level too and the one of them is rated at 11lbs, my heaviest setup right now is 3lbs. im not profesional so i won't ever own any really big glass. the ball heads aren't my favorite, but they are compact compared to the other options.

what are the custom brackets? :confused:

is what is pictured here with all the screw mounts what you mean if not what?:
http://www.manfrotto.com/webdav/site/manfrotto/shared/_images/Manfrotto/product_images/zoom/468MGRC3.jpg

[Rhys]

I looked into tripods and debated them intensely with others a while ago on another forum.

There were several (predictable results)
1. The gear-heads got hot under their collers trying to justify their purchases.
2. Nobody much liked the cheaper tripods.
3. The gear heads derided all but their or equally costly gear.
4. Very few people liked pan-tilt heads.
5. The main choice has to be made between cost/stability/lightweight.

You can have lightweight tripods but they're not going to be wind resistant.
You can have heavyweight tripods but they're an abomination to carry.
You can have mid-weight and try to be happy.

The main point is to get something that won't have legs flexing or vibrating.

As far as heads go, you won't go far wrong with a ball head or a 3D head.

Personally, I quite like the pan-tilt heads but I don't like the 3D pan-tilt heads as they seem most unstable.

Generally it works out:
Wooden tripods - very good (probably the best) but very heavy.
Aluminium-alloy - wide weight range from flimsy to very heavy.
Carbon fibre tripods - very expensive.
Basalt tripods - not quite as expensive as carbon fibre nor quite as lightweight.
Plastic tripods - generally very poor.

People make a lot of milage out of the debate of whether you buy an expensive tripod and keep it for life or buy another tripod and possibly have it break at some point. This is a silly argument as anything can happen to a tripod. What normally kills them is the leg locks weakening, slackening or breaking. Most of them have the same standard of leg locks too.

Some advise big names, some advise small manufacturers. The one thing that comes out of it all is... Don't be lazy. Go to the shop, try a few fully extended. Prod. poke and shake them to see if they're stable. Then look for a head and see if that can be bent, shaken or vibrated.

Mail order/internet ordering is for the bird-brains - you need to try before you buy.

[erichlund]

the handgrip ones have the level too and the one of them is rated at 11lbs, my heaviest setup right now is 3lbs. im not profesional so i won't ever own any really big glass. the ball heads aren't my favorite, but they are compact compared to the other options.

what are the custom brackets? :confused:

is what is pictured here with all the screw mounts what you mean if not what?:
http://www.manfrotto.com/webdav/site/manfrotto/shared/_images/Manfrotto/product_images/zoom/468MGRC3.jpg
I'm not even sure what that fits. An example of a custom plate can be seen here: RRS (http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/body_plates/nikon/index.html)

You'll notice that it has turned up flanges on the long edges that wrap the body just a bit. This prevents the body from rotating on the plate. Another nice thing about the custom plates is they fit the camera so well you hardly see any reason to take them off. Mine's been on the camera now for about a month. The L plate is nice because you don't have to tilt the ball head for a vertical shot. You just insert the side portion of the L on the camera's plate into the ball head clamp.

[cwphoto]

the handgrip ones have the level too and the one of them is rated at 11lbs, my heaviest setup right now is 3lbs. im not profesional so i won't ever own any really big glass. the ball heads aren't my favorite, but they are compact compared to the other options.

what are the custom brackets? :confused:

is what is pictured here with all the screw mounts what you mean if not what?:
http://www.manfrotto.com/webdav/site/manfrotto/shared/_images/Manfrotto/product_images/zoom/468MGRC3.jpg

As Eric said it's a bracket that is custom designed to fit your camera.

Those pistol grip heads don't do a great job of vertical shooting, and the brackets (being generic) don't do a good job of avoiding slippage.

I had one for a while. Changing to an RRS setup was like night and day - it's that good.

The L-bracket means you can mount your camera ina vertical format on top of the head.

[Cricketer]

[QUOTE=snap]I have owned a couple of cheap tripods (now on the way to the scrap heap) and am looking for a good, light tripod and good ball head.

[SIZE="7"]A carbon fibre tripod with a short centre column that permits the legs to be lowered close to ground level for your flower and bug shots[This is accomplished via a push button or other mechanism at top of each leg. I also like the lightweight and excellent quality Acratech ball head with detachable camera plate. You should go to your local camera store and try two or three carbon fibre tripods to see how well they handle.
cricketer

[cwphoto]

Cricketer - based on your handle alone I like you already.:)

Howzatt!?:D

[cosmo]

it will help to get a tripod with a reversible center column so the camera can be supported when fliped upside down and only inches from the ground.
They dynatran at-12t tripod is very cheap, well built and can do this.

I have a serious hobbyist. I dont make my living with photography. I am looking for a solid, no wobble tripod for indoor portrait shooting. I also like shooting flowers up close. I dont expect to carry it around much. The dynatran tripods on ebay are interesting. I could not find the AT-12t. Need more guidance here?

Camra: D-reb with kit lens and an undecided future zoom lens