Tripod help

[Galdor]

Hi fellow Minoltians,

Need some advise from you guys. I am looking at getting a tripod but does not know which is more suitable, can big bros here help me please. Please roughly tell me how much does the tripod you recommend cost also. My current set up is as follows:

KM7D + VC-7D + 5600SD + Tamron 28-300mm or Sigma 70-300mm or 400mm

I come across this tripod SteinZeiser SZ6301, but not sure if it's suitable. Please kindly advise.

Thanks in advance

 

[smtan24]

Hi fellow Minoltians,

Need some advise from you guys. I am looking at getting a tripod but does not know which is more suitable, can big bros here help me please. Please roughly tell me how much does the tripod you recommend cost also. My current set up is as follows:

KM7D + VC-7D + 5600SD + Tamron 28-300mm or Sigma 70-300mm or 400mm

I come across this tripod SteinZeiser SZ6301, but not sure if it's suitable. Please kindly advise.

Thanks in advance

The weight of your gear is quite a lot. You will need to get a tripod which can take the weight of your gear. The height of the tripod may be important to you plus the weight of the tripod as you will be carrying it around.

 

[drake336]

Hey Galdor, just to share my experience with you...

If you look at photo forums, many people will actually talk about as solid and heavy a tripod as possible. While that maybe true to get the ultimate in sharpness, blah... you must first consider this, if your tripod setup is 2kg+++, how would you like to lug it around on a full day shoot, or even a holiday?

I used to have a MF190 + 141RC2 head but realized I enjoy shooting less when I am spending most of my energy moving the tripod from point A to B.

I have since "downgraded" my setup to Benro A127 + MF 484RC2, whole thing is about 1.5kg and will probably cost you about $200?

Point is, get the lightest (yet stable) tripod which fits your budget, and with a small tripod, no point throwing $$$ for a carbon fibre one since the difference is not that great and you can use the balance to get yourself another lens / flash...

I am using up to a 500mm zoom on this setup... just try not to leave your gear unattended at anytime, yeah?

 

[drake336]

Just to clarify, I use my tripod as a more stable monopod most of the time... I seldom have the need to leave my whole camera + lens and operate shutter remotely...

 

[Galdor]

Thanks guys for the useful info. I do agree that a light and stable tripod would be very ideal. Just that i am not sure which to get, seems like the Benro A127 + MF 484RC2 fits the bill. Will look out for these. Any other recommendations are welcome. TIA.

 

[Agetan]

My recommendation will be Feisol CT 3401 CF tripod + head of your choice. Markins M10 or M20 is great.

I am using CT-3401 + M20 on my setup, using it almost every week for this setup for the past year or so... very sturdy and light. Roughly you are talking about 2kg or less.

If you are going to spend money on tripod, get the best, as Tripod can be re-use even if you change your equipment.

If you spend $5k on your camera equip, you should at least spend $1k on tripod+head combo.

Once you got it, you won't be dissapointed. Though, I would go for Gitzo if I have more moola...

Hart

 

[satay16]

you should at least spend $1k on tripod+head combo.
Hart

:bigeyes: :bigeyes: :bigeyes: :bigeyes: :bigeyes:

 

[Agetan]

think about it this way, if you think $1k is expensive, if you buy a Manfrotto 190pro + a head, that will cost you $300 or so...

Then sometime down the line, u will buy more gear, hence new tripod because existing tripod won't be able to support your current gear. U sell the first combo, make a loss of $100.

So you buy a second one, this time, Manfrotto 055PRO + heavy duty head, cost around $450-$500?

Then you think it is too expensive, you sell the combo again and loss another $150-200, then decided to go to Carbon fibre + nice head.

Now, at that point of time, you would probably spend well over $1300 including the losses and in the process and not happy with them or worst of all, never actually use it because they are too heavy to bring out.

So saving all these grief and get the best you could afford and don't have to change again...

If you think about it this way, your $800-$1000 investment in the tripod and head combo is well worth it.

U could easily spend $500 on a lens, but not something you could use for many many years to come.

Hart

 

[tankm]

Well said Agetan. :thumbsup:

Save enough $$$ go for the best. There is no such thing as cheap, light and sturdy tripod. There will always be compromise. To get both light and sturdy, Carbon Fiber is one option but do watch out which type of carbon fiber technology they are using. Some carbon fiber are as heavy as normal aluminium type. There are other new composite material as well you can look into.

For carbon fiber other than lighter weight it dampen vibration better than aluminium.

Don't buy a tripod just enough to cater for your current needs, buy one that will meet your future need as well and be done with it. To get a feel why GITZO is so popular, go down to CP. Have a look around, compare the GITZO, MANFROTTO, FEISOL and SLIK. Just press your weight on top of the tripod and you will know why. Compare within the same brand of different size and built and you will know that sturdy tripod are usually heavier for the same material.

Don't forget about the leg lock/release mechanism as well. Select one that you like as this is one part of the tripod that you will operate often.

After the tripod leg, is important to get a good matching head for your needs. Again good head are not cheap and usually not light either. There are some better head and lighter as well, but those cost much more.

 

[Galdor]

Hmmm...:think: Thanks for the advise guys. Think I need to save up more before getting a better tripod.

 

[drake336]

Galdor, think you should really think about what you will be using your tripod for...

I have a friend with a high end gitzo + FOBA head...

Is it rock solid? Yes...
Is it stable enough? Definitely...
Will I bring it out with me on a casual shoot? No chance in hell...

A cheap, light tripod can never be as sturdy as a heavy duty one... the question is, how sturdy do you need and how much inconvenience can you tolerate... I used to believe in those behemoths, but not anymore... but that's just me...

So... if you shoot for a living and really NEED that good tripod go for it... else, why suffer?

Go have a feel... there are flimsy tripods out there but some can be light and stable too... go feel the Benro A127 (or something similar) and see if it meets your requirements, don't condemn it so fast...

Anyway, to be effective, we should shoot handheld when possible anyway...

my 2 cents

 

[drake336]

Hart... you are right... it's a pain to keep changing and losing $$$ in the process... that's how I felt when I "downgraded" my tripod setup...

 

[drake336]

tankm is right, gitzo is good for a reason, that's why I got the clone! =)

 

[Trigger Happy]

i have a 4kg manfrotto that i took on a bird shoot once, and never again after it nearly broke my back carrying it around for hours. even though my old aluminium minolta mx700 is too flimsy to hold the 7d plus accessories steadily, i use that and strip off as much weight as i can, and that's provided i really need a tripod. like drake336, i really use it as a monopod. hart's right, invest in a good one (even if like me you can't imagine using it) which will last through your collection's growth.

 

[Galdor]

Thanks for the helpful and valuable experiences you guys have shared. I really appreciate your sharing and advises. Now I'm really confused as to which to get. Think for the time being, I just need a tripod for normal night shoots. As I don't see myself leaving my gears aside and use the remote. (I'll want to be snapping away happily). So for that, maybe, i'll stick to a lighter one first. But do correct me if i'm wrong. So beside the Benro, any other brands and models that I can look out for and where would be a good place to get the tripod? Please help me cos i really have no knowledge about tripods. TIA guys. You guys are a wonderful & helpful lot.

 

[drake336]

Manfrotto - no small size
Gitzo - very very expensive, but very very good
Slik - small one is too unstable
Feisol - ?have not tried?
Benro - pretty stable, gitzo clone
Giottos - ?have not tried?

Between cathay photo (peninsula plaza) and T.K. photo (shaw tower) you should find most of them... but for Benro I think Jack006 here in clubsnap is selling the cheapest...but don't get the A-128 though, it's more compact but I found the stability to be too poor due to the 4-sections...

Apart from those listed above, don't bother about other brands, most of them fall into the "cannot make it" category, or hard to find in Singapore... as for tripod heads... that will be a different discussion...

 

[Galdor]

Thanks Bro Drake. :thumbsup:

 

[Agetan]

Ah... another point to make...

If you don't need one... don't buy it...

My gear is what put food on table and pay my mortgage... so I use the "cheapest" excellent gear, hence Minolta.

Hunt around B&S if you can't afford brand new one. You will save quite a bit.

Lets face it, if you have a 5Kg tripod set up, unless u could drive from point a to b, you are not going to use it.

2kg for the setup is reasonable I think, which should be able to withstand 5kg to 7kg or load. If you are a birder photographer, no choice, need something more solid that can carry at least 15kg or more. But for most people a 2kg setup and max load of 5-7kg is sufficient.

Oh, I don't feel the weight much as I am using Lowepro Rolling CompuTrekker Plus. Tripod strap onto it. It is as light as nothing when it is on even surface. So the heaviest part is loading into the car and taking it off. Of course, don't try to bring this back on uneven surface.

Regards,

Hart

 

[Galdor]

Thanks Hart,

A kind friend of mine has agreed to give me his Minolta MX777 tripod, so will try to use that first. Like you have said, "If you don't need one... don't buy it..." and "if you have a 5Kg tripod set up, unless u could drive from point a to b, you are not going to use it." It's very true.

Thanks guys for your great help.

Cheers

 

[Agetan]

Thanks Hart,

A kind friend of mine has agreed to give me his Minolta MX777 tripod, so will try to use that first. Like you have said, "If you don't need one... don't buy it..." and "if you have a 5Kg tripod set up, unless u could drive from point a to b, you are not going to use it." It's very true.

Thanks guys for your great help.

Cheers

all the best.

Hart