tripod for 20D

I got Bogen/Manfrotto 3001 with 3030 head.


Terry wrote:
> I have a 20D with 420EX flash and 17-85 IS lens. I'll be adding the NEW
> 70-300 IS. I need to upgrade my tripod. I want to stay in the $300 range
> for the legs, so about $400 with head. I want the best combination of light
> weight, strength, ease of use. What's the best value? Recommendations
> appreciated. How about gripaction heads? They sure look convenient. Do
> they work?
>
> --
> Terry
> Remove the rodent from my email address to reply directly.
 >> Stay informed about: tripod for 20D 

what did you end up with? CJ above ended up with good stuff that's pricey.
I was thinking of the Manfrotto 055 Magfiber legs. They run $300. Still
confused as to which head to go with.

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Terry
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"Jeremy Nixon" <jeremy RemoveThis @exit109.com> wrote in message
news:11oktn1bk5ff7e3@corp.supernews.com...
> Terry <ratcafepolier RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> I have a 20D with 420EX flash and 17-85 IS lens. I'll be adding the NEW
>> 70-300 IS. I need to upgrade my tripod. I want to stay in the $300
>> range
>> for the legs, so about $400 with head. I want the best combination of
>> light
>> weight, strength, ease of use. What's the best value? Recommendations
>> appreciated. How about gripaction heads? They sure look convenient. Do
>> they work?
>
> Grip heads are fast to use, but not anywhere near as stable as a regular
> head. I wouldn't use one for normal work. I use one on a monopod
> sometimes, though, where the extra stability isn't necessary.
>
> Within your budget I'd go the Bogen/Manfrotto route; they seem to have the
> best "don't want to spend crazy money" stuff. The 3021BN legs aren't the
> lightest or smallest things around, but it's worth noting that you can
> reduce the weight by removing the center column if you make use of that
> as little as I do (which is to say, never).
>
> It's also worth noting that you will probably end up wanting something
> better (and smaller and lighter) in the future, and it might make more
> sense from a financial perspective to just spend the crazy money now
> and be done with it, as opposed to going through the incremental-upgrade
> cycle and ending up spending twice as much to end up with the same thing.
> I wish I'd done that, actually.
>
> --
> Jeremy | jeremy RemoveThis @exit109.com
 >> Stay informed about: tripod for 20D 

Terry asks: >> How about gripaction heads? They sure look convenient.
Do they work?

Bob Hatch replies: >> I really like the new style grip heads, and with
the smaller, lighter tripod it works well with the 20D. <<

Jeremy Nixon responds: >>Grip heads are fast to use, but not anywhere
near as stable as a regular
head. <<

I agree with Jeremy. Many years ago Bogen started to offer the grip
head, and I examined it at several stores. 'Several stores' simply
because when I tried to deflect the head on the first sample without
squeezing, it deflected much too easily. I tried to tighten the grip,
but it still deflected. So I tried examples at other stores. Same
problem. Later I happened across a trigger grip unit by Slik, found
that it did not deflect and bought it.

Ultimately I sold the Slik and bought myself a ballhead which would
well support my medium format camera as well as serve my 35mm outfit,
but the Slik was entirely satisfactory for 35mm alone and had a quick
release which could not permit the camera to fall onto the ground if
the release lever was accidentally bumped -- a problem with quick
releases that do not have safety retainer like some Bogen heads did.
 >> Stay informed about: tripod for 20D 

"Terry" <ratcafepolier.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:pJqdnVhPCL-TSBTeRVn-hw@comcast.com...
> I have a 20D with 420EX flash and 17-85 IS lens. I'll be adding the NEW
> 70-300 IS. I need to upgrade my tripod. I want to stay in the $300 range
> for the legs, so about $400 with head. I want the best combination of
light
> weight, strength, ease of use. What's the best value? Recommendations
> appreciated. How about gripaction heads? They sure look convenient. Do
> they work?

Take a look at www.reallyrightstuff.com
 >> Stay informed about: tripod for 20D 

Looks great and I have tremendous respect for Luminous Landscape. The BH-55
is more than my total budget for tripod and head combined.

--
Terry
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"C J Southern" <spamreport RemoveThis @xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
news:AGsif.4050$vH5.228967@news.xtra.co.nz...
>
> "Terry" <ratcafepolier RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:pJqdnVhPCL-TSBTeRVn-hw@comcast.com...
>> I have a 20D with 420EX flash and 17-85 IS lens. I'll be adding the NEW
>> 70-300 IS. I need to upgrade my tripod. I want to stay in the $300
>> range
>> for the legs, so about $400 with head. I want the best combination of
> light
>> weight, strength, ease of use. What's the best value? Recommendations
>> appreciated. How about gripaction heads? They sure look convenient. Do
>> they work?
>
> Take a look at www.reallyrightstuff.com
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: tripod for 20D 

The new model RC2 that I have pretty much solved that problem. I use
it with a 70-200mm 2.8 IS and the 100-400 5.6 IS and a 20D sometimes
even with a 580EX flash using the 70-200 on birds within 50 feet or so.
It has never flinched on me yet. I agree that the older grips were
loose but the lastest are much better.

Brian
 >> Stay informed about: tripod for 20D 

"Terry" <ratcafepolier RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:lvCdnUm9F_pcwxfeRVn-rw@comcast.com...
> Looks great and I have tremendous respect for Luminous Landscape. The
> BH-55 is more than my total budget for tripod and head combined.

Off memory I think they recommend the BH-40 for the 20D (although I use a
BH-55), I must apologise - I misread your original post, and thought you
meant $300 for the tripod and $400 for the head.

Having said that, I've always "bought first" and "justified later" (somehow
it always seems easier to justify investing in a quality product once you
already have it ) - keeping in mind also that - looked after - it should
outlast many cameras over the coming years. For what it's worth, I
eventually went for the BH-55 attached to a Gitzo 1548 - I think it
redefines the meaning of "solid platform" for the 20D.
 >> Stay informed about: tripod for 20D 

Nice set up. You don't have to worry about upgrading later.

--
Terry
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"C J Southern" <spamreport.TakeThisOut@xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
news:W4Aif.4156$vH5.233159@news.xtra.co.nz...
>
> "Terry" <ratcafepolier.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:lvCdnUm9F_pcwxfeRVn-rw@comcast.com...
>> Looks great and I have tremendous respect for Luminous Landscape. The
>> BH-55 is more than my total budget for tripod and head combined.
>
> Off memory I think they recommend the BH-40 for the 20D (although I use a
> BH-55), I must apologise - I misread your original post, and thought you
> meant $300 for the tripod and $400 for the head.
>
> Having said that, I've always "bought first" and "justified later"
> (somehow it always seems easier to justify investing in a quality product
> once you already have it ) - keeping in mind also that - looked after - it
> should outlast many cameras over the coming years. For what it's worth, I
> eventually went for the BH-55 attached to a Gitzo 1548 - I think it
> redefines the meaning of "solid platform" for the 20D.
>
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: tripod for 20D 

In article <W4Aif.4156$vH5.233159@news.xtra.co.nz>,
"C J Southern" <spamreport.RemoveThis@xtra.co.nz> wrote:

> Having said that, I've always "bought first" and "justified later" (somehow
> it always seems easier to justify investing in a quality product once you
> already have it ) - keeping in mind also that - looked after - it should
> outlast many...

Bravo! [jumping to my feet] <g>

I have NEVER regretted the purchase of my Bogen 3040a YEARS ago. It still
serves me well to this day. Bogen himself was seen in a small print ad
sitting ATOP this very tripod touting the quality of the product.

It's no lightweight by ANY definition, probably far from it. So, taking it on
a three-mile hike is no fun. But it's a GREAT, solid platform for which I
paid DEARLY. <$igh>


JR
 >> Stay informed about: tripod for 20D 

I remember those old Bogen ads! Seeing him (Bogen) sitting atop a tripod
seemed like a very effective way of conveying their strength.

I've had a Manfrotto ART 055B (same as a Bogen 3021 in the U.S.?) for twenty
years, and wouldn't dream of replacing it. I'd love a better ballhead, but
the legs are still fine.

Rob

--------------------

"Jim Redelfs" wrote ...

> I have NEVER regretted the purchase of my Bogen 3040a YEARS ago. It still
> serves me well to this day. Bogen himself was seen in a small print ad
> sitting ATOP this very tripod touting the quality of the product.
 >> Stay informed about: tripod for 20D