new tripod advice ?

On 10/5/04 7:35 pm, "adam bootle" <adam RemoveThis @REMOVETHISbootle32.freeserve.co.uk>
wrote:

 > Im the happy new owner of an EOS 300D and have noticed that my tripod is
 > unstable (and old £40 one battered and bruised), and was wondering if there
 > are any sites online with tripod reviews or buying advice.

What is you heaviest lens?

Manfrotto are good for legs in your price range. I like their quick release
leg locks, so didn't look at Gitzo, even though they have a higher spec'ed
range.

I personally don't think you get much for your money when you buy carbon
fibre.

I like ball heads (even for landscape), but most other people like three-way
heads for landscape, it seems. The expensive ball heads are much more than
your entire budget, but again the Manfrotto range is popular (I've had a
168- I didn't like it, I now have the 488, and it is much better).

HTH,

Ben<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: new tripod advice ? 

Angry Angel wrote:
 >
 > On 10/5/04 7:35 pm, "adam bootle" <adam.RemoveThis@REMOVETHISbootle32.freeserve.co.uk>
 > wrote:
 >
  > > Im the happy new owner of an EOS 300D and have noticed that my tripod is
  > > unstable (and old £40 one battered and bruised), and was wondering if there
  > > are any sites online with tripod reviews or buying advice.
 >
 > What is you heaviest lens?
 >
 > I personally don't think you get much for your money when you buy carbon
 > fibre.

I disagree. But it depends on your needs. If you have big lenses, like
400mm and up, especially with TCs, you need a very steady tripod.
If it's not carbon fiber, it will be MUCH heavier. E.g, I found a
bogen 3021 insufficient for a 500 mm f/4, and a gitzo 1328 carbon
fiber is lighter but much sturdier and damps vibrations well.
If I didn't have a carbon fiber, I probably could not lift the 500mm lens
plus tripod for very long distances, due to 30+ pound tripod needed.

For landscape work with short lenses, almost any tripod will work
if you can use mirror lockup (does the 300D have mirror lockup?).

Roger<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: new tripod advice ? 

"Roger N. Clark"
 > I disagree. But it depends on your needs. If you have big lenses, like
 > 400mm and up, especially with TCs, you need a very steady tripod.
 > If it's not carbon fiber, it will be MUCH heavier. E.g, I found a
 > bogen 3021 insufficient for a 500 mm f/4, and a gitzo 1328 carbon
 > fiber is lighter but much sturdier and damps vibrations well.
 > If I didn't have a carbon fiber, I probably could not lift the 500mm lens
 > plus tripod for very long distances, due to 30+ pound tripod needed.
 >
 > For landscape work with short lenses, almost any tripod will work
 > if you can use mirror lockup (does the 300D have mirror lockup?).
 >
 > Roger

??? Don't Borgen and Gitzo say Carbon is 20% lighter,
how does that translate into "MUCH" heavier aluminium
(traditional) tripods. ;o)-max-<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: new tripod advice ? 

";o)-max-" wrote:
 >
 > "Roger N. Clark"
  > > I disagree. But it depends on your needs. If you have big lenses, like
  > > 400mm and up, especially with TCs, you need a very steady tripod.
  > > If it's not carbon fiber, it will be MUCH heavier. E.g, I found a
  > > bogen 3021 insufficient for a 500 mm f/4, and a gitzo 1328 carbon
  > > fiber is lighter but much sturdier and damps vibrations well.
  > > If I didn't have a carbon fiber, I probably could not lift the 500mm lens
  > > plus tripod for very long distances, due to 30+ pound tripod needed.
  > >
  > > For landscape work with short lenses, almost any tripod will work
  > > if you can use mirror lockup (does the 300D have mirror lockup?).
  > >
  > > Roger
 >
 > ??? Don't Borgen and Gitzo say Carbon is 20% lighter,
 > how does that translate into "MUCH" heavier aluminium
 > (traditional) tripods. ;o)-max-

Example:
A bogen 3021 weighs 9.8 pounds,
Gitzo 1325 is 4.5 pounds (a 1328 without center column), but the
1325 is much sturdier than the bogen 3021. You would need a much
heavier tripod if aluminum for the same stability.

Roger<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: new tripod advice ? 

"Roger N. Clark"
 > ";o)-max-" wrote:
  > > ??? Don't Borgen and Gitzo say Carbon is 20% lighter,
  > > how does that translate into "MUCH" heavier aluminium
  > > (traditional) tripods. ;o)-max-
 >
 > Example:
 > A bogen 3021 weighs 9.8 pounds,
 > Gitzo 1325 is 4.5 pounds (a 1328 without center column), but the
 > 1325 is much sturdier than the bogen 3021. You would need a much
 > heavier tripod if aluminum for the same stability.
 >
 > Roger

Gitzo writes 20-30% on their site, you'd think +50% would
make better marketing of the high priced carbon tripods, I'm
confused.. ;o)-max-<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: new tripod advice ? 

";o)-max-" wrote:
 >
 > "Roger N. Clark"
  > > ";o)-max-" wrote:
   > > > ??? Don't Borgen and Gitzo say Carbon is 20% lighter,
   > > > how does that translate into "MUCH" heavier aluminium
   > > > (traditional) tripods. ;o)-max-
  > >
  > > Example:
  > > A bogen 3021 weighs 9.8 pounds,
  > > Gitzo 1325 is 4.5 pounds (a 1328 without center column), but the
  > > 1325 is much sturdier than the bogen 3021. You would need a much
  > > heavier tripod if aluminum for the same stability.
  > >
  > > Roger
 >
 > Gitzo writes 20-30% on their site, you'd think +50% would
 > make better marketing of the high priced carbon tripods, I'm
 > confused.. ;o)-max-

Yeah, I see what you mean. This is from the gitzo web site:
"20% lighter than normal tripods and even more stable."

The key there is "even more stable." About 15 years ago I had
cheap velbon $40 tripod (which was actually pretty good for the
money), but as I got bigger lenses I upgraded tripods, up to
the bogen 3021 (I have two of them) for use up to 400mm. It seemed
pretty solid, but I traced some blurry telephoto images to tripod
vibration. Then I got the gitzo 1328 carbon fiber. MUCH steadier.
I tried a 500 mm f/4 on the bogen 3021 for a while, with a 329 head
(the highest load to head weight ratio in Bogens line). The bogen
wasn't awful, but clearly a more sturdy tripod was needed. The same
head on the carbon fiber did very well. Examples:
All 20032 and 20003 images on this page (birds) were done with the
gitzo 1328 and bogen 329 head:
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.clarkvision.com/galleries/gallery.bird" target="_blank">http://www.clarkvision.com/galleries/gallery.bird</a>
For all 2004 images, I upgraded to a wimberly head. I still use the 329
head for landscapes and my 4x5 camera.

The big difference between aluminum and carbon fiber is damping
vibrations and the frequency of the vibrations. The bogen,
with its aluminum legs, like many similar
tripods, vibrates a long time with greater frequency compared to
the carbon fiber. (Wood would do well in this regard too but would be
much heavier. I then went on to stuff a wooden dowel down the
smelliest tripod leg in a tight fit. That helped the bogen some, but
still not as good as the carbon fiber.

I will buy another carbon fiber for backpacking with my 4x5 to save a
little weight over the 1328. The weight savings plus better stability
can be worth it in those situations. I would also like to get a 1548
gitzo carbon fiber for even better stability than the 1328 with the 500
but I just can't bring myself to spend that kind of money.

Roger<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: new tripod advice ? 

Thanks for all the advice guys, I'm finding myself veering towards the
Manfrotto 190DB tripod with the 486RC2 head at the moment. I'll take a
trip up London and try to see them in person before I take any money out of
my pockets .

Cheers........Adam


"Greg Campbell" <nospam DeleteThis @null.net> wrote in message
news:AdWnc.17603$k24.15712@fed1read01...
 > adam bootle wrote:
 >
  > > Hi all,
  > >
  > > Im the happy new owner of an EOS 300D and have noticed that my
tripod is
  > > unstable (and old £40 one battered and bruised), and was wondering if
there
  > > are any sites online with tripod reviews or buying advice.
  > >
  > > I have looked but can't seem to find much help. I don't even know
what
  > > kind of head I would be better off with!
 >
 > I've got a Slik 700DX with 3 way head.
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.birdnet.co.uk/images/slik-tri1.jpg</font" target="_blank">http://www.birdnet.co.uk/images/slik-tri1.jpg</font</a>>
 >
 > The 'pod is OK, although the longish center post sets an occasionaly
 > irritating minimum height limit. In that regard, a benbo or standard
 > tripod with a short center post would be better. I've resisted taking a
 > hack saw to mine, but may well give it the snip.
 >
 > The more I use the head, the more I dislike it. Macro flower pics are a
 > royal pain to set up. Loosen one axis, tweak, overshoot, back, OK.
 > Repeat for the other axis ad nauseum. A higher quality, 'liquid' head
 > might be better, but IMO 3 axis heads are not well suited to nature type
 > pics; ball heads are the way to go.
 >
 > I've borrowed a friend's Bogen 3265 (ball grip) and it was fantastic.
 > The new side-mounted grip ball head
 >
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://db.manfrotto.com/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=8&itemid=2013" target="_blank">http://db.manfrotto.com/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=8&itemid=2013</a>
 >
 > looks even better.
 >
 > Take a tour of the local camera stores and compare. If they have a
 > halfway decent price, give 'em some business.
 >
 > -Greg<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: new tripod advice ? 

"Roger N. Clark" <rnclark DeleteThis @qwest.net> wrote in message
news:409FE6CA.598CF72E@qwest.net...
<snip>
 > For landscape work with short lenses, almost any tripod will work
 > if you can use mirror lockup (does the 300D have mirror lockup?).
No mirror lockup on 300D
JB
 > Roger<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: new tripod advice ? 

Kibo informs me that "spook" <jbaro@!N!O!S!P!A!M!iprimus.com.au> stated
that:

 >"Roger N. Clark" <rnclark RemoveThis @qwest.net> wrote in message
 >news:409FE6CA.598CF72E@qwest.net...
 ><snip>
  >> For landscape work with short lenses, almost any tripod will work
  >> if you can use mirror lockup (does the 300D have mirror lockup?).

 >No mirror lockup on 300D

Use at own risk, etc:
<http://www.bahneman.com/liem/photos/tricks/digital-rebel-tricks.html>

--
W
. | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because
\|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est
---^----^---------------------------------------------------------------<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: new tripod advice ?