Recommendations for a Tripod

[callmesteve]

I'm having a blast with my new digital slr, but found that there are many instances when I need a tripod. Which one should I get?

I'm currently eye-ing the Bogen Manfrotto 190XPROB.

Amazon is actually telling me to get the Bogen-Manfrotto 486RC2 Compact Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System with it, but I have no idea what that is...

Anyways, I'm holding off on my wide angle lens so I can buy this thing, so please suggest away

Thanks AT!

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: callmesteve
I'm having a blast with my new digital slr, but found that there are many instances when I need a tripod. Which one should I get?

I'm currently eye-ing the Bogen Manfrotto 190XPROB.

Amazon is actually telling me to get the Bogen-Manfrotto 486RC2 Compact Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System with it, but I have no idea what that is...

Anyways, I'm holding off on my wide angle lens so I can buy this thing, so please suggest away

Thanks AT!

I don't have any input on what tripod to buy as I don't yet own one myself, but the ball head will let you swivel the camera from a vertical to a horizontal position while the rapid connect system will allow you to easily remove the camera from the tripod (so you don't have to unscrew the tripod from the camera.

 

[callmesteve]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: callmesteve
I'm having a blast with my new digital slr, but found that there are many instances when I need a tripod. Which one should I get?

I'm currently eye-ing the Bogen Manfrotto 190XPROB.

Amazon is actually telling me to get the Bogen-Manfrotto 486RC2 Compact Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System with it, but I have no idea what that is...

Anyways, I'm holding off on my wide angle lens so I can buy this thing, so please suggest away

Thanks AT!

I don't have any input on what tripod to buy as I don't yet own one myself, but the ball head will let you swivel the camera from a vertical to a horizontal position while the rapid connect system will allow you to easily remove the camera from the tripod (so you don't have to unscrew the tripod from the camera.

Awesome. Now all I need is a recommendation

 

[soydios]

:thumbsup: on Bogen/Manfrotto tripods and heads, they're built very solid (no distracting shiny bling soaking up your dollars: it all goes to die-cast parts).

I have exactly what Amazon is telling you to get, surprisingly enough. The 190XPRO tripod and 486RC2 tripod work very well together. The 190XPRO is an excellent tripod: just the right blend of strength, size, weight, features, and price for me. The 486RC2 is also at the same point for me: it's a ball head, which is all I need (a ball head has one lever to lock a ball. release the ball, and it becomes totally freewheeling). RC2 means that you attach a plate to the camera, then just put the camera+plate on the head and it locks in place; it's nifty, and works very well.

A word of warning: the 190XPRO is a moderately heavy tripod, which is necessary for stability and strength. If you backpack a lot, first of all ask fuzzybabybunny (resident backpacking photographer, and a good one at that) for advice, but you will sacrifice stability to lose weight, and have to pay more to keep the strength with a carbon tripod.

 

[callmesteve]

Originally posted by: soydios
:thumbsup: on Bogen/Manfrotto tripods and heads, they're built very solid (no distracting shiny bling soaking up your dollars: it all goes to die-cast parts).

I have exactly what Amazon is telling you to get, surprisingly enough. The 190XPRO tripod and 486RC2 tripod work very well together. The 190XPRO is an excellent tripod: just the right blend of strength, size, weight, features, and price for me. The 486RC2 is also at the same point for me: it's a ball head, which is all I need (a ball head has one lever to lock a ball. release the ball, and it becomes totally freewheeling). RC2 means that you attach a plate to the camera, then just put the camera+plate on the head and it locks in place; it's nifty, and works very well.

A word of warning: the 190XPRO is a moderately heavy tripod, which is necessary for stability and strength. If you backpack a lot, first of all ask fuzzybabybunny (resident backpacking photographer, and a good one at that) for advice, but you will sacrifice stability to lose weight, and have to pay more to keep the strength with a carbon tripod.

Thanks for the tip soydios. I sent him a PM for his suggestions / advice. Thanks a lot!

 

[GarfieldtheCat]

Tripod Primer by Thom Hogan

 

[randomlinh]

I have that ball head. It is extremely versatile, I love it. It's sitting on a manfrotto 3001, very well built stuff.

edit: heh, I just noticed the tripod you've picked out is the 3001 replacement, haha.

 

[soydios]

Originally posted by: GarfieldtheCat
Tripod Primer by Thom Hogan

an excellent set of tips from one of the most respected photographers out there. I did notice, however, that he tended to recommend some overkill on equipment. for a hobbyist, my 190XPRO+486RC2 has worked fine.

anecdotal evidence: I have taken pictures of the moon with a 400mm f/2.8 AF-S (first version, not the AF-S II or AF-S VR), 2x teleconverter, and my D50. yeah, my D50 looked pretty small on the end of such a huge lens, but the ball head held, and so did the tripod. I did have to set the camera self-timer to ten seconds, however, because it took about eight seconds each time for the vibrations from my finger pushing the shutter to die out. the pictures were actually decently in focus, but I would love to use a D300 + 600mm f/5.6 + TC20E to get live-view focusing at 1800mm equivalent! and yes, although the moon moves fast, ISO400 will get you a fast enough shutter speed (call it 1/250 or 1/320s) to stop it.

 

[callmesteve]

I couldn't wait for fuzzybabybunny's answer, and just went ahead and pulled the trigger. It shipped and I'm expecting it sometime this week or early next week. Bought the tripod and the 486RC2.

Thanks for all the tips guys!

 

[Brainonska511]

Do you mind posting a short update or review when you get it? I'm interested in getting a tripod and a local store carries that model and has a 15% off coupon (which would bring down cost to below Amazon's).

 

[soydios]

@Brainonska511
I already have what callmesteve ordered. It's worth it. Overkill for a point-and-shoot, but a very sturdy tripod for an SLR that will last you a long time (many camera and lens upgrades).

 

[callmesteve]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Do you mind posting a short update or review when you get it? I'm interested in getting a tripod and a local store carries that model and has a 15% off coupon (which would bring down cost to below Amazon's).

I'll make sure to post my findings as soon as I properly test this bad boy. Still waiting for the 486RC2 ball. Once I have both parts, I'll let you know what I think.

 

[Brainonska511]

Well, to update on my own situation, I ended up with the 190XDB instead of the 190XPROB; I did get the 486RC2 ballhead. My local camera shop didn't have the latter, and the former can hold up to 11lbs (the 190XPROB could hold 11lbs as well); anyway, the 190XDB was cheaper than the 190XPROB and I had a coupon for the store to cut the cost. I could have probably saved a few bucks by getting the setup I have online, but I didn't want to wait for shipping as I'm going back to school on 1/6. It is a sturdy tripod and will definitely suffice for my immediate and future needs.