Tripods - use and brand
I don't use my tripod very much - but I know I should it more often. So, why don't I? One reason might be that I find the quick release plate anything but; and another will be that the 3-piece legs are extended by turning the old style butterfly style clasps [like turning a can opener]. Quite slow and cumbersome. I am researching and learning, but from no-one better than fellow photographers. If you would be so kind, I have four questions: 1 - How often do you use a tripod? 2 - What type do you have? 3 - Would you recommend it? 4 - What would you buy if you were upgrading today? Many thanks in anticipation
tigg Thank you for this helpful reply
tigg Forgot to say I have a Manfrotto pixi which I do use quite a lot.
Joost van Halm Aha, I know that one. Not the right one for me though, because I wish to have a head that i can put in portrait orientation. Suggestions for a small sturdy tripod with the option for a ballhead (included or excluded) are very welcome
Jule Hi, I have one by Cullmann, I'm afraid I don't know the model name, anyways I mostly use it for selfies (maybe twice a week) because I take lots of pictures of me holding things and stuff. I am very content with it, but I would also buy another tripod that I can wrap around a railing or something (like a GorillaPod)
tigg Thanks - that is a brand I have never heard of!
jewels I do have a gorilla pod, which I use a lot for long exposures in places where setting up a standard tripod would not necessarily be easy. I like it because it's fun, light, easy to carry and you can basically wrap it everywhere. Putting it on your camera is a breeze. Apart from that, I have a Gitzo traveller, but I find it cumbersome as well, in particular the "quick" release, which is not quick at all, and quite frankly a pain to use...
Grace I use mine a lot more now than I used to, for taking long exposure/night photos. I have a manfrotto that I got from my sister when she decided she didn't want to do photography any more. I think it is just a basic entry level one though, I know with the more expensive ones the tripod legs and head are bought separately. However I like it because it is a nice weight, so that it feels steady when set up. I sometimes find the quick release plate a bit fiddly to put on when in the dark, but I have a feeling that's just me being clumsy because my husband says he has no trouble with it at all. I have been looking into panoramic heads because I have a feeling that would make putting panoramic shots together a lot simpler, and have seen that some people have made their own, so have asked my husband if he wants to maybe make me one hehe. Curious what tripod it is you have? mine has clip locks on the legs which I like, I recently saw someone else's had a twist lock mechanism, which I feel might be annoying to use though they look nice. I've heard MeFoto tripods are nice but they have that twist lock so I'm not sure. but they fold up really small.
tigg I have a Manfrotto too, but I find it very cumbersome. The catches drive me mad! I've read that the twist locks are fab unless you get some salt water or grit in them, but I don't do that kind of photography. Not me, setting my camera up in the middle of a fast moving river. In the 5 years I have been doing daily photo journals I think I have only take the tripod out, away from home, twice. Now that's bad, and surely an indication I need to upgrade it.
Joost van Halm The catches are upgraded on a lot of models, so that's worth checking out. On the other hand, maybe it's just not your brand... If you need an upgrade really depends on missing a tripod of frequently wishing you brought a light and easy to handle tripod with you if you had one.
tigg Very true words. It is just too much effort at the moment ....
Jola
Recently I bought the Triopo MT-3230 with B-2, I have it shortly. The most common use for macro and long exposure (not I did with him pictures at night). Checked on the Lake in the sand and very strong winds (stable). Most often I'm taking with me a monopod, because shaking me hands. The leg is twisted. Breaking-up and Assembly is quick as wprawisz. I have a lightweight camera so I stand to test the neighbor with the Canon EOS 5 d Mark III with a large lens. Neighbor has a tripod such as Joost and said that if he had to buy an additional tripod would have bought Triopo.
I bought a tripod because of the price (used in warranty). Also has met my requirements-durable, lightweight and small when folded.
Joost van Halm Today I bought a nice small tripod, just the type I was looking for. Just so happens to be a dutch brand. You don't come across a lot of Dutch photo gear ;-) This did not influence my opinion when buying though. It's a REDGED TCA-522K. Packs, very very small, has an Arca-Swiss type Ballhead and is quick and easy to set-up or pack away. Best thing in my opinion is that it is sturdy, looks professional but is by no means intimidating, which is a good thing when taking portraits, it also has a very wide range in that it is usable in a very small way as well as a long set-up (about 140cm). So very usable under a wide range of types of photography.
tigg Yet another brand I have never heard of - will certainly look it up. This talk has proved far more interesting than I ever hoped it would!
tigg It certainly has some good reviews on amazon
Jola Interesting . Small, lightweight, perfect for travel.
Joost van Halm I think so too, thank you for starting it! Also I feel that the discussions on Tookapic are more focused and useful than on general photo-sites. Anyway I hope this will help you @tigg
Satoshi T
My answer for your questions.
1 - I must use tripod except daytime city photos.
2 - For walking, Gitzo G1228 "Mountaineer" 20 years old. For studio Gitzo G320.
3 - If you use a recent camera with IS, I think that lightweight one is better than the large and heavy tripod which I have. I think the best for carry everyday is Gorrilapod. and if you tolerate more large, REDGED TCA-522K which @Joost introduced has great flexibilty I think.
4 - Now I think to try Olympus Pen-F without tripod for city photos. But For studio work, I want GT4552LS for supporting heavy large format camera more freely than G320.
tigg Thank you Satoshi. You are clearly a Gitzo man through and through if you have had one for 20 years. Which does say a lot about the quality and manufacture. They are expensive though
Luke I use my father's old tripod, I'll have to get back and edit this comment when I figure out what the brand is, but I mostly use it for timelapse photos and macro photography. It probably isn't for sale (he would've bought it in the 80s, so over 20 years ago now o.O) but it still works great with my Nikon D5300.
tigg I think if you get a good tripod they can last for years. He obviously bought wisely; and probably bought as good as he could at the time. I just want to make the right choice now; and the more I research the harder the decision is! I want to use mine for more than time-lapse etc. Thanks for reply
Luke I know, it's a hard thing to research beforehand. I do remember when I was first looking at tripods, the reviews were very confusing, because there were always people who had bad experiences, so every tripod I came across had a few bad reviews. It was a bit paralyzing, but I would try (if possible) going to a camera store that sells tripods and see what models work for you there. At least there you can try them out, see how sturdy, they are, that sort of thing.
tigg You are right. Trouble is camera shops are not so easy to find these days, and they may be an agent for one or two brands at the most. Are you lucky - do you have a camera shop near to you?
Luke Unfortunately I don't. However, the big box stores like best buy have camera sections with different gear like tripods, carrying cases, etc.
tigg What country are you in?
Luke I'm in the US.
Joost van Halm Hi @1monthfreetrial, you are right about all brands and tripod having some bad side. Difficulty is also good brands selling bad stuff under their own brandname, which makes is even harder to qualify a brand as a good brand. Best thing to do is find out what is important for you in a tripod and order one that you can sent back if not to your liking and try another one, or ask about a specific tripod on this forum. We are all honest here and don't have anything to gain from selling a tripod!
Luke Definitely! A good return policy is a must for a tripod.
tigg If anyone is interested I have bought a new tripod! I had a file of research, went into my favourite camera shop in London (special trip to do that) and bought something completely different. Sirui T 025 X. Carbon fibre, packs up very small, weighs less than 1kg. And not too expensive. So I will use this over the next few months and see if I am now using a tripod more. Thank you so much for everyone's comments- I have found each and every comment helpful.
Tomasz Wiśniewski
I recently purchased MeFoto Roadtrip tripod, which competes with manfrotto befree tripod. I wanted something compact and quite lightweight, so that I don't need to take it of my backpack or think about it while hiking. I've read some reviews on the internet and decided to go for MeFoto. If you have similar needs I recommend reading about it.
Answering your questions:
1. I use my tripod few times in a week, with daily shooting I will probably use it one or two times in a week. Besides the 365 project I love shooting landscapes - that's when it comes in handy.
2. MeFoto Roadtrip - compact, lightweight. It can carry up to 8kg and has a ballhead.
3. I recommend buying one, you can do better with bigger budget. I got mine for 700zł
4. I would buy something equally small and compact but lighter (carbon fiber) and maybe with a better head.
tigg Thank you Tomasz - the comments left by everyone have been very helpful and interesting. You obviously use yours quite a lot already; I hope to be in that situation soon!
Daniel Zaleski I know this is a very old topic. First, did you buy new tripod? I currently use Sirui T-2204X with Sirui arca swiss ballhead (K-30x I think). Lightweight, reliable, easily adjustable. I also use a lot of Peak Design products and therofore I have the arca plate always attached to my camera and do not have to waste time attaching it to the camera. I always try to have the tripod with me, if only possible. I use it for landscape and cityscape photos, + of course for product photography.
tigg Yes - I have a Sirui but not sure which one [without looking]
tzachmost Someone have Manfrotto 190 GO! and can share their opinion? Seems fairly compact and solid, I'd use it with MVH500AH (mainly video, but I'll probably buy another head for photography).
Eric Tirado I have a $200 tripod, but Always take my joby gorillapod for all my outdoor shoots even to weddings and my tripod just sits at home for product shots and portraits. I baught an extra joby head mount and put it on my tripod so the camera plate works on both my gorilla pod and my tripod.
Joby gorillapod is one i actually take on every trip and i use it everytime. I do have a smaller mirrorless camera. Make sure to get the pro head and plate for big bulky cameras, but it works great.
See Jan 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th photos on my profile. They were all shot on it. The first one It was a 9 exposure hdr shot from it. I love it for outdoor photography.
It may not be for you, but it's irreplaceable to me.
Grace I've been thinking i want to get a gorillapod, what is the extra head mount like? I wonder if I can put it on my current tripod
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Joost van Halm NIce subject, Tigg. I use my tripod for three things: fine adjustments that are hard to keep steady (macro, product, landscape and architecture, HDR /panorama) when I use a long lens (portraiture) with slow shutter speeds. I have a Manfrotto 055XPROB with an Arca-Swiss type ballhead. You can't buy the exact same version anymore, but I like the brand so definitely recommended. I would buy it again. If I was to buy a second tripod, it would be one I could use on a table opposite of someone I want to take a portrait of in available light. Small but steady with a good ballhead.