Gitzo or Manfrotto (Bogen) ?

[ReSpawN]

Starting to build up my camera and Lenses, however i have some questions to ask all the experts out there...

I intended to get the 10d, 50 f/1.4, 17-40 f/4 and 70-200 f/2.8 IS L
which tripod do you all recommend for these lenses?Gitzo or Bogen?
Which one is better?

I currently have a Olympus tripod ,but i find using tripod a bit troublesome as i am into protrait and wedding...do you all recommend monopod ? Would be glad if anyone can give me some tips/suggestions regarding taking protrait/wedding photograpy

Your Suggestions will be greatly appreciated :D

[AJSJones]

I prefer Bogen/Manfrotto simply because I prefer the clamp system that is easy to operate one-handed, compared to the "twist" system in the Gitzos. If you're very tall the extra height issue is not trivial so make sure you get one that "fits" your style! I have both a monopod and tripod, the former for birding/wildlife while hiking and the latter for landscapes, birding while stationary (or near a car) and anything else critical. Both are CF since I put a high value on lightness - some landscape stuff involves significant hikes....

Andy

[abel]

Manfrotto Baggins!!!!

i have a manfrotto monopod with a 484 ballhead, i ordered a Manf 3021pro tripod with a 488 head which should be in tomorrow...

[cmM]

For wedding, I thik a monopod is a better idea. It helps you move around easier and not get into anyone's way. I have a Manfrotto monopod, and I just purchased a head for it, a combination suggested by many (monopod - 681 , head - 3229). I used it mainly for birds (so far)
As far as tripods go, I can't give any suggestion, I don't own one (well, I dp, but it's a cheap one... doesn't count :wink:

[abel]

aslo to be fair, i have never used a gitzo... i started out with manfrotto

[Andy_T]

I think they are both good tripods. I haven't used Gitzo so far.
Try both out in a photo shop - it's a question of how comfortable you feel with the tripod you choose.

What I like with my combo of Manfrotto tripod/monopod is that I can use the Quick release clamp on both.

Best regards,
Andy

[CoolToolGuy]

I am in the Manfrotto camp as well, mostly because that's what my local store sells. I have the 680 monopod with a 484RC2 quick release head. It works well for me so far. If I had a lot of long (heavy) lenses, I would consider the 486RC2 head instead. It is a little beefier.

My tripod is the 444 carbon fiber legs with the 460MG magnesium head. There again, setups heavier than 6 lbs. should use a different head, and the legs can handle up to 11 lbs.

I have done a few weddings a long time ago. The tripod obviously gives you the best stability, and if you have the time to set it up that can work for you. It can also help establish 'The photographer is taking a picture now' environment if that is of value to you (perhaps for the posed shots). Monopod or handheld will be more practical for the candids.

Quick Release heads are important to me in all environments, so if you want that feature it tends to keep you with the same manufacturer for (at least) your heads.

Have Fun,

[Tapeman]

I have a Gitzo 1228 and like it a lot.

It is a little slow to adjust but it is so light and small that I almost allways bring it with me. It is not for big primes (which I don't have) and is expensive.

[robertwgross]

For hiking on a nature photography trail, a monopod makes sense.

However, for a wedding, I think a full tripod makes more sense. When you set up your tripod for formal poses, it marks you as the pro photographer, and everybody else should stay out of your way.

A partner and I shoot weddings (he shoots MF film, I shoot digital), so we set up our tripods side-by-side for the serious wedding shots. Nobody gets in our way until his goes "click" and mine goes "click", but then we are immediately lining up the next group or pose.

---Bob Gross---

[G3]

I do weddings and portraits also, both in digital and film (medium format and 35mm). I use a Bogen Manfrotto 475 Tripod and 3039 Head with the medium format cameras and a Bogen Manfrotto 3021n tripod and 3047 head with the 35mm SLRs and DSLRs.

However, if you ever get out and do any nature photography, these are not the tripods of choice to lug around through the woods. They are big and heavy. I also have an ancient Slik U-212 that I use for that. The only problem is that the head is so worn out, it's difficult now to get it clamped firmly in place and you have to crank the locking handles down so tight that it makes it hard to change it quickly. The thing that I love about that tripod is that it has a place on one of the legs that you can mount the head on and the legs splay out almost completely flat to the ground, so you can have the camera mounted about 3 inches or so off the ground for macro work. It also has problems supporting the weight of my camera, battery grip and Sigma 170-500 lens. I have to replace it, but I'm in a quandry as to what to replace it with...I'm sort of leaning toward a carbon-fiber Bogen with an Arca-Swiss gimbal head, but I hate to give up the low mounting capability...decisions, decisions.

Anyway, I think for weddings and portrait work, a good heavy stout tripod is definitely the way to go.

[sGu]

manfrotto, simply manfrotto, getting the carbon fibre tripod soon, have a monopod at the moment, which is great, very mobile n steady, easy to carry, too :)

[ReSpawN]

manfrotto, simply manfrotto, getting the carbon fibre tripod soon, have a monopod at the moment, which is great, very mobile n steady, easy to carry, too :)

Hi sGu,

Which Manfrotto monopod are you using now?What head?
Which Carbon fibre tripod would you recommend?

Thanks
ReSpawN

[Sendide]

I've been looking at both manfrotto and Gtzo tripods, I went for the gitzo G 2220. really practical for waht I do, lots of oudoors macrophotography. the central axix rotates from vertical to horizental and is very versatile, plus, with independently adjusted legs, it makes some almost imopssible positions so realistic. I use it with the manfrotto ball grip, I love the combination so far.
Just make a choice with confidence depending on what your needs are. most of the time it goes OK.

regards

Khalid

[blackviolet]

i have a manfrotto 679b monopod. i put the tilt head with RC2 quick release before i got a bigma. the qr works very well and is mounted to the lens.

i also have a cheapy manfrotto 190db with a 322 rc2 grip ball head (also with RC2 qr). it replaced a 222 joystick style which can't hold the 10d + big ed and lens. it is fine for the 300d though.

[WestFalcon]

I use Bogan/manfrotto at weddings. Iv'e done weddings for 30 years and I only use a tripod for time exposures during the wedding..no flash allowed in most churches. I used to use tripods on formal pictures but found out many years ago that tripods slow you down and don't help at all for the formal pictures.

[nucki]

I use Bogan/manfrotto at weddings. Iv'e done weddings for 30 years and I only use a tripod for time exposures during the wedding..no flash allowed in most churches. I used to use tripods on formal pictures but found out many years ago that tripods slow you down and don't help at all for the formal pictures.

does anybody uses or know the giottos new MT series? lets say the cabon fiber verision MT-8170? looks pretty good on the website? anybody know this one?

http://www.giottos.com ->pro. series. ->MT series

Peter

[PaulN]

I have a bogen 3021 BPro tripod and an arca swiss B1 ballhead. For me,
despite the weight of this combo, I love the stability; I take this backpacking with me.

-paul

[sGu]

manfrotto, simply manfrotto, getting the carbon fibre tripod soon, have a monopod at the moment, which is great, very mobile n steady, easy to carry, too :)

Hi sGu,

Which Manfrotto monopod are you using now?What head?
Which Carbon fibre tripod would you recommend?

Thanks
ReSpawN

My monopod is Manfrotto 679B + 234RC head, it works great, and pretty light weight, too. If i had the money, i'd probably go for 449, the Carbon fibre one, it's only 520 grams!!! (without head)

About Carbon fibre tripod, I'd probably go with 443, 3 section legs, height from 30 - 172, 1.57kg (without heaad) and supports up to 6kg, and not the most expensive one in the range either, compare to 440 which has 4 section legs, less max height, more weight and less max load.

But i'm not too sure which head i'd get, I'd like some advice on this one, please, which Manfrotto/Bogen tripod head should i go for?