what tripod to buy

[JP_Kroon]

Hello everybody,

I am working with a 10D with battery pack, combined with a 17-35 2.8-4 sigma or 70-200 2.8 is usm.
Currently I am looking for a tripod. Preferably a manfrotto. But I am unsure which type of tripod / head would best fit with my tools.
Weight is not the primary issue, stablity (obviously) is. Most of the time I shoot portraits.

Thanks for your reactions.

[Danny Boy]

If people could also give opinions about monopods, I would appreciate it since I am shopping for one. Thanks.

[scottbergerphoto]

I use a Gitzo Reporter Mountaineer G1228 with an Ultimate Ballhead by www.acratech.net . The Gitzo is light, sturdy, and relatively compact. Very stable.
Scott

[Chako]

I have an old Manfrotto 055 tripod that I like. They still make it...a nice workhorse. I have the Manfrotto 3D head on it..and find it fantastic for my needs.

Just got myself a monopod as well. I bought a Manfrotto 681 3 sectional monopod with 235RC quick release head.

http://db.manfrotto.com/product/itemlist.php3?manufid=1&sectionid=14

[ohenry]

I have a set of Bogen 3001N legs with a 3way pan QR head. Not a bad setup, but I replaced it with a Gitzo 1325 and Arcatech ballhead with RRS QR plates. Thinking about selling it, since I probably won't use it anymore.

[drisley]

So, when you buy a monopod, you then buy the ballhead seperately?

[Chako]

That is correct. Most good tripods as well...do not come with a head either, that is an extra cost.

Not sure why you would want a ball head on a monopod. If you want to turn the camera, simply turn the pod. Go for a swivel mount...makes more sense to me.

[DaveG]

So, when you buy a monopod, you then buy the ballhead seperately?

I see by your gear that you have the 70-200 f4. If you have the tripod collar then you won't need a ball head when you use this lens on a monopod. The whole thing actually works better WITHOUT a head in this case. You can quickly rotate the lens/camera with the tripod collar and the weight of the setup stays directly over the centre of the monopod.

If you do have a ball head then you'd pretty much have to lock it down, otherwise you introduce an extra pivot point, kind of like having a trick knee, and then the whole thing would be unstable when you losen things to adjust your vertical/horizontal composition.

I use the monopod only on heavy lenses with tripod collars (70-200 f2.8 & 300 f2.8 ) where I'm trying to shoot action and I need at least some freedon of movement. If I'm working with shorter lenses and still trying to shoot action I'll just handhold the camera. If it's a shorter lens and I want the best results I can get, then I use a tripod. With my workflow a ball head (or any kind of head for that matter) isn't needed on my monopod.

[drisley]

Ok, thanks so much!

[CyberDyneSystems]

I use a simple tilt only head on a monopod... sucks not to have the tilt if you need to aim up or down :?

[dn7elson]

sucks not to have the tilt if you need to aim up or down :?

That's why they put the swivel point at the base of the monopod :lol:

It doesn't have to be held normal to the center of the earth :shock:

There are some situations, such as sitting in a confined space, that the tilt head makes a lot of sense.

[DaveG]

I use a simple tilt only head on a monopod... sucks not to have the tilt if you need to aim up or down :?

I just tilt the monopod forwards or backwards. It's so naturally intuitive that I can't imagine anyone NOT using a monopod this way; which in turn, kind of makes the tilt head redundant.