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heavy duty , strong tripod..your experiences?
looking to buy a new (used) tripod that i can carry with me into the back country...something strong and very stable even in windy conditions...and doesnt way a ton so i can backpack it easily..i got a bogen..but even though its a heavy duty one, i am getting torsional twist in the wind...and it weighs a shitload too  i am generally using 1000-1500mm focal length....about 15-18 pounds with the camera body....what are the best pods you guys have used? i am leaning towards a gitzo carbon one.....but they are so friggin expensive.....any thoughts? Mar 15 08 11:12 am Link Believe it or not, I'm using one of the heavyweight tripods from Amvona. It's not terribly heavy and it supports my D100 with 75-300mm lenses easily. Plus,.... it didn't break my wallet. Mar 15 08 11:16 am Link You're asking for a lot ... total weight 18 lbs ... which head are you using with this combination ... you need a sturdy tripod and no, they are not light but you also need a matching head that can handle the load and doesn't give any wobble. How are you triggering the shutter ? Delayed mirror ? I'm using Gitzo, non carbon one ... YMMV, Rudi A Amedeus Mar 15 08 11:18 am Link I've used Gitzo's since I started. Pricey new...better when you can buy a used one in good condition. But they are rock-solid, and the carbon and basalt versions are incredibly lightweight. In my opinion one of the best purchases you can make. Mar 15 08 11:20 am Link Gitzo is one of the best on the market. When on location bring some small sandbags,without the sand, and hang them from the middle of the tripod and then fill with stone,rock,etc. Have done this many times and works well even in bad weather. Mar 15 08 11:26 am Link Paul Oatway wrote: Ditto, whatever tripod you buy...sandbag it....you can make your own or Mar 15 08 11:30 am Link Amedeus wrote: i am using a traditional 3 axis head....the head isnt the problem with twisting in the wind...although its slow to respond to adjustments....am looking to get a wimberly head to replace this one when i can afford it.....but the head isnt the big problem at the moment..its the pod itself....that long of a lens with the shade on it really picks up the wind and the pod flexes a little...if i had jsut a 300 on it...probably wouldnt even notice it...but at long range ...it really shows up a lot....as for triggering...just the on camera shutter release....dont often have the option to frame it and then release as i am shooting moving targets most of the time...once in a while they "pose" for me for a few secs Mar 15 08 11:30 am Link Tilt Photo wrote: which model of gitzo do you use? how much weight you putting on it? Mar 15 08 11:32 am Link Harry Forsythe wrote: not a bad idea....had kinda forgotten about that old trick Mar 15 08 11:33 am Link Most heavy tripods are rated around #26 My Bogen 3046 weighs #9.2 and is rated for a #26.5 load. I use, and swear by a Manfrotto 3421 Gimball head. I would recommend this head regardless of your tripod selection. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1 … _Lens.html The head is inexpensive I picked mine up for $183 at B&H. The head weighs #3.1 which brings the total weight of the support system to #12.3. and drops the camera/lens capacity to around #23. The tripod can be picked up used on ebay with or without the 3047 tripod head for around $100. The assembly with the 3047 head mounted on the 3046 Tripod is listed as a Bogen 3040 Tripod. http://photography.search.ebay.com/Boge … 3046Q22Q29 A carbon fiber tripod might be a better option but you will need to judge the cost/benefit as it applies to your situation. Mar 15 08 11:35 am Link Bogen 3021. It has served me well. Mar 15 08 11:37 am Link We use Bogen with Manfrotto heads....we have about 35 in use on a daily basis, the only problem is from abuse from the photographers, if you take care of your equipment it will take are of you.... Mar 15 08 11:41 am Link Harry Forsythe wrote: Consider that sandbags add to the tripod load. Keep the connection point low and you can probably overload the tripod safely at a 3:1 ratio of actual load to rated load. I doubt anyone will accept responsibility if the tripod fails under an overload. Mar 15 08 11:47 am Link I think it's a difficult trade off. packing it in, but need stability. strong but cheap. Sandbags sound great but there's the weight. If you're going that route, it may be better to take an empty bag and fill it on site. I definately regret my heavy but sturdy Manfroto, now only use it in studio. best of luck finding the right solution! Mar 15 08 11:49 am Link global vision wrote: Definitely go with Carbon Fiber tripod! Mar 15 08 11:53 am Link I use Bogen model 3063, which can handle a 35 lb movie camera in a tornado LOL. I got it in grad school to handle a bolex. It's sturdy as heck and I love it. I say if you're going to use a tripod, go strong and sturdy... wind and clumsy assistants are threats to cameras : ) Mar 15 08 11:59 am Link Highly recommend Giottos MT8170 Carbon Fiber. Heavy duty and stable platform. I use an Acratech V2 ball head (or the Acratech Ultimate ballhead). Easily supports 25lbs. Good for 35mm DSLR and Medium Format. Mar 15 08 12:04 pm Link global vision wrote: I have two Gitzo's that I take on most shoots. One is the Reporter -- for general stability. It's easy to carry and usually enough for general applications without weighting it. The other is a great old Tele Studex with a custom-modified Majestic head (with a side quick-release base welded to the side for quick switching to vertical shooting) that I bought used from a pro shooter liquidating their collection. Usually weighted with 15-30 lbs. Mar 15 08 12:10 pm Link I use the gitzo 1325 and am very happy with it. it holds the weight well - even the bigger tele lenses, and isn't too heavy either. Mar 15 08 01:31 pm Link I also do a lot of backpacking and canoe tripping into remote areas. I use a bunch of Mike Kirk's equipment. It's custom stuff designed with nature and outdoor photographers in mind. Well priced too. You can contact him through his website at www.kirkphoto.com and tell him what you want to do. I'm sure he can make some excellent recommendations from his current products. Mar 15 08 04:02 pm Link If you really want a sturdy tripod, you're also going to have to buy a really sturdy head. My simple Manfrotto rig cost around $325.00 and will support my 4x5 field camera nicely, but it's freakin heavy for hiking more than 10 miles. Think carefully about the weight before buying, and make sure it's what you need, but trying it out in the store with your camera. Make sure the head does what you need it to do, too. Some of those ball heads can be annoying. Mar 15 08 04:05 pm Link Are your legs adjusted correctly? At the top where the legs go into the trunion and where the trunion goes into the body, but the most likely spot is the colomn to the body Mar 15 08 05:42 pm Link C and J Photography wrote: an interesting head...had never seen it before...will it handle the weight ok? the photo b&h has is tiny and doesnt show much....it looks like it could be a bit cumbersome to mount the lens and to get access to the focus ring...whats your experieince in this regard? i do like the price though....$183 vs $600 for a wimberley Mar 16 08 01:22 am Link |
