Tripod Stress..!
I’m in the market for a new tripod…my Vanguard has served me well for a short time since I destroyed my Frotto but the gripped D800 beast with heavy lenses has me wanting something more solid…It’s doing my head in with all the research….Benro, Sirui, Feisol, RRS, Gitzo..I’ve researched and researched. I think I’ve read every available review of every available tripod out there, watched all the utube vids and googled it to the enth degree…to the point I’m loosing sleep over it..I know that’s a bit OCD…but aaaarrhhh…!! I think I’m heading towards the Benro C2580T with a B2 head…they come in a kit on ebay but my thoughts are that I need a more substantial ballhead.(wanting the G3)..I know that if I put it out there everyone will have an opinion as it all depends on personal criteria and preference..The Benro seems good value for the price and I know it’s no Gitzo..
Has anybody had experience with them…? Fiesol seems awesome as well…but I just can’t bring myself to spending that much on something that I end up working to death after a few years with all the treatment I give it…Any thoughts appreciated..
cheers, Rob…
ps; crikey it’s quiet on here..!!
Comments
Yeah, it is quiet! I can’t even begin to guess what’d be right for you, knowing how much weight you carry already….I wish you luck in choosing the right one!
I think you need 2 mate. One for short distance and one for long.
Thats what I need, just wish I could afford what I want, and wish I thought I could carry the heavy one 10km without getting sick of it.
Hey there Garth…well funny you should mention that…yes, I plan on getting another before our big trek..there’s a heap of traveler tripods out there that do the job nicely, pack up tiny and weigh bugger all..I do have my eye on one…again, either Benro or the Sirui looks great..I had a play in my local shop with my camera on it and it was surprisingly solid for it’s size…but, no way would it be my all purpose pod..in fact I’d only use it for overnight treks where every gram counts and for o/seas travel. It’s another reason I can’t justify spending $1g+ on something…The Benro I’ve been looking at is about 700g lighter than my current tripod which is hasn’t been too bad for the longer day treks, mainly cos I’ve got a good bag for it….I’ve had so many tripods over the years…I still have 3 frotto’s and the Vanguard – being the lightest of them…I dunnoh, still researching…there’s so many dam options…
Have a look at this one…http://www.feisol.com/index1.html
Love that leveling center column…just a bit heavy…not to mention a bit expensive…
– Robert Mullner
Hi Rob, T recently acquired a Sirui M3204 ($400) atter reading very good reviews about it. It supports about 18 kg and weighs 2.2 kg. It is a carbon fibre tripod and I find it very solid. I also acquired the ball head K30X ($139) which will support 30 kg or if you need a bigger head the K40X is huge and supports 35 kg. The head comes with an arca swiss plate which is very good and the head locks very solidly with no movement in vertical orientation. I took a chance and very pleased with the Sirui tripod and head. You can also consider the aluminium Sirui tripod but it is difficult to get it in Australia. By the way here is the link of the place I got my Sirui from http://www.mainlinephoto.com.au/prod328.htm
Any tips about sensor cleaning as I am climbing up the wall trying to clean the sensor on my 5D Mk II
Hi Mi….I was actually looking at that particular tripod, also the N series with the k20x head, although I reckon the 30 would be better…A couple things that I’m bothered by with Sirui…although an advantage that the legs fold all the way up, from what I can tell, this is how it’s packed to fit in the bag…I’m always on the move so packing up the tripod, then setting up again and I’m just used to collapsing the legs and chucking it in the bag..can you tell me if this is the case. I also can’t see a bubble level on the tripod at all..something I need for pano’s although a leveling base would be so much better….As far as sensor cleaning…I tried to clean mine, purchased the arctic butterfly (electrostatic brush)…all I ended up doing was smearing some internal oily residue all over the sensor. I ended up having it professionally cleaned, didn’t cost much although I would try again in the future but with the wet swab kits that you can buy online.
Thanks for the feedback….cheers, Rob..
– Robert Mullner
Have you seen/heard of the Three Legged Thing? Its a fairly new tripod from the UK (available from Protog in Mitcham) I don’t know if it’s quite what you’re looking for but I thought I’d send you a link. I am trying to find time to see one in person before making a decision on getting one myself. I can read the specs all day and still not get a grip on what something is really like, I need to touch and play first :)
Hi Rob
If you have already opened the link which I sent, you will note that the Sirui M3204 has the twist and turn locks for the legs and it has retractable spikes (twist and turn as well) at the bottom of the legs. The spikes are for unstable surfaces or slippery surfaces. Therefore packing up the tripod is just a matter of retracting the legs with a quick twist and turn, in fact just like the Gitzo which costs almost three times the price of a Sirui. Did you know that at a Photo fair in Germany that the Sirui M3204 was rated ahead of the Gitzo although it costs a hell of a lot less.
As for the spirit level, there are a couple of spirit levels on the ball head. I am not sure whether there is one on the tripod itself but cannot check now as I am at work. I will check for you tonight.
The tripod can also be folded 180 ° and therefore made more compact with the ball head attached. A carrier bag (quite good quality and very functional) comes with the tripod. If you need more Arca Swiss plates (Sirui plates) I recommend that you get them too.
By the way one of the N series S-2204N (display model) is on sale at Mainline and it is a very good tripod too and very cheap. The S-2204N is usually at least over $300. I am in Sydney but I think the shipping cost to Melbourne should be quite reasonable.
Let me know if you need more info. You can contact Scot at Mainline as well, I find him very helpful.
Hi Mi…yes, I’ve got the whole arca swift set up currently with various camera and lens plates on my ball head. Love those twist locks too, they’re so quick. My concern around the folding was that to fit in the bag, one has to extend the center column and fold the legs up…probably not a big deal but just a consideration for me as I’m just used to collapsing the legs and throwing it in the bag. I’ve had a look at the S series…not convinced I need a flat pod..!! but it does look interesting..If I was to go Sirui then yep, the M3204 looks like the one… here’s a good deal on ebay I think…
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/261021925715?ssPageN...
At least I’m narrowing it down to 1 of 3 options….thanks for your input – much appreciated…
cheers, Rob…
– Robert Mullner
You won’t like this, but……get the heaviest one (generally cheap too), something that you can shove hard into beach sand, with simple leg operations, with the Manfrotto 468MG ball. Like mine (Manfrotto 055XPROB..$279 from Cameras Direct, I think it was). I love it, its heavy, 3.2 kgs, and durable, and makes one confident of getting stability when you need it. Also doubles as a wet daks and socks hanger, and, on bad days, everything else you’ve got on!! Makes a good tent too. Other than that, get a sock, fill it with beach sand in a Coles bag, tie a good knot, and toss it hard on the ground/post/bonnet etc etc (I’m sure you won’t take this option LOL)
…and I forgot this….at that price, if you wreck it its not too costly to replace, whereas the light ones, at $1,000 plus, are.
Hey there Murph…I’m with you on the price bit…and yes, heavy is good until your shoulder aches on a long hike. It’s a compromise for sure although from what I’ve found, it seems that heavy is not necessarily proportional to stability as the carbon pods are definitely more rigid and less prone to vibration. When overnight trekking, my pack weighs in up around 30kg so every gram counts. Like I mentioned to Garth, I tried one of those travel pods and was bloody surprised how steady it was and they weigh in at around 1.2 kg with the head on it…but that’s a seperate issue… this time round, I’m looking at my all purpose pod and will end up going for a more solid unit as the weight is not my major consideration..I do love those twist locks – also, so want a leveling base..so very handy for pano work…
cheers mate..
– Robert Mullner
I’m with Murph, I’d be thinking of camera stability first and foremost and convenience of lighter weight/personal comfort on a hike second… If the tripod is too light, a decent gust of wind or a decent wave is gunna knock it A** over and there goes your Gripped D800!!
Hi Simone…yeah, I reckon your right…but.. those carbon fiber pods are so very solid…more so than any alloy out there..so for the same weight as the tripod I’ve been using, they are a lot more stable vibration wise..for an all purpose pod which is what I’m looking for, weight is not my major consideration at the moment.. different story when you’ve got 30kg on your back though for overnight trekking – solid 3 kilo tripods are just way too much…luckily these days there’s heaps of options for awesome travel pods…in fact, there’s so many options is the reason for my post..I’ll get there in the end, about to order one I think….and no – I’ve told myself my Nikon is not going over or going for a swim…but yes, reality is it happens so got to be careful out there for sure…
cheers mate..
– Robert Mullner
Rob, I definitely suggest you go with a carbon fiber tripod for starters. I have done a lot of walking in the field with my tripod and carrying a heavy one just does not make sense to me. If you want high quality and the top of the line, then go with Gitzo. They are the best and will last a very long time. That is if money is not an object as they are expensive and you will pay $600 plus for the legs alone.
I use a Slik Pro 813 CF II and have been very happy with it. It came with a three way pan head and the whole thing cost me a little over $400. That was about 6 years ago and it is still going strong. If I were to do it over again, I would have bought a tripod with flip locks instead of the screw locks on the legs. They are starting to wear out I think and I have to tighten harder now to keep them from slipping. And as far as the head, I think people tend to scoff at the pan head types of heads. To be honest, I’m not completely happy with it because when I do macro work at certain angles the tightening handle sticks out about 6 inches and tends to poke me in the throat. But it is very solid. The head never slips. Never! I only wish they made ball heads with a more horizontal level. The circular level does not seem logical to me and it seems all ball heads have them. In fact, there is not a ball head out there that I like because of that reason. And I like to make sure my horizons are level and not have to screw around with it in Photoshop. Check the reviews on www.photographyreview.com and let me know what you think. You probably have been on there already is my guess, but see what people say about Slik. It is one of the best websites for real people reviews. Good Luck!