Do you love your tripod?

[shenobie]

Hi all, I'm a newbie. I just got a 40D and now need (want!) a tripod. I thought I'd ask and see if anyone has any recommendations. I want something fairly light weight and sturdy.

thanks! :D

[Bootsie]

I love my new one! It is a Dynatran AT-A105T Carbon Fiber, paired with a Dynatran ATH-A03 ball head. I really like this setup, and it was only about $125.

[cfcRebel]

My setup is similar to Brooke's. I have AT-L105T and ATH-A03 ballhead. I also have a AT-CF994 carbon fiber tripod from Amvona. Love both of them.

[blonde]

i LOVE my tripod and since you are looking for light and sturdy, i can highly recommend it to you. it is a Gitzo GT3530LSV and it is simply the best!!!

[equetefue]

I love my tripod... Carbon Fiber Feisol CT-3401

[Kent Clark]

I love my tripod too, Gitzo GT2530. For me it is the perfect combination of light weight and stability. Canoga Camera still has 10% off on Gitzos until the end of the month:

http://www.canogacamera.com/promotions.aspx

[cdifoto]

I'm neutral about my tripod. But that's only because it's a tripod.

[defi]

Gitzo 3530
Not too heavy and extremely sturdy, watch the feet though they unscrew and get lost all too easily. I had to replace one, now secured with loctite 222 :)

[bkdc]

Gitzo 2540LVL here. Light and sturdy. Love it, especially since I'm not a tall guy and extending 3 segments give me all the height I need. I wish the leveling indicator were more precise.

[StealthLude]

Love mine.

Bogen 3021B Pro

[Nick_C]

My tripod might not be the best around but it serves its purpose well enough.

I love it for indoor shots, macro, product images etc etc.. but outdoors in anything but night I love my IS lenses more than the tripod, I have enough to carry without adding to it.

[gnrlmike]

I love my new one! It is a Dynatran AT-A105T Carbon Fiber, paired with a Dynatran ATH-A03 ball head. I really like this setup, and it was only about $125.

Good catch!
Was it with shipping or without?

[Bootsie]

Good catch!
Was it with shipping or without?

That was both the head and legs shipped! I am very happy.

[Tommy]

I have the Bogen / Manfrotto 3011BN Tripod Legs with 488RC2 Ball Head. I like the setup, but sometimes I wish I would have gotten the carbon fiber legs...

[gnrlmike]

That was both the head and legs shipped! I am very happy.

Now that is something! I was fishing just out of curiosity, but legs alone were close to a 100 without shipping.

I have some other carbon fiber legs and ath-02. The head is great, but with 1D with 100-400 and extender- it's on the limit. I need the 03 head for this setup. My lens almost dipped once.

[Bootsie]

Now that is something! I was fishing just out of curiosity, but legs alone were close to a 100 without shipping.

I have some other carbon fiber legs and ath-02. The head is great, but with 1D with 100-400 and extender- it's on the limit. I need the 03 head for this setup. My lens almost dipped once.

Talk to seajetsea (ebay ID), he sells brand new Dynatran stuff, he has a few sets of legs that he is selling for $85 shipped, that is where I got mine, I think nutsnbolts did as well.

[gnrlmike]

Thanks. I meant I had Dynatran legs, but not the ones you mentioned.
I need your head (Hm, sounds Halloweenish)

[jr_senator]

I am dearly fond of my Bogen 3246 tripod with a Bogen 3275 gear head. I'm not so fond of my Benbo Treakker (just not sturdy enough). I'm going to get another traveling tripod to replace the Benbo (if I were Superman I would just carry the 3246 around).

[_aravena]

I should have got a CF tripod, but this one was cheaper and it's still seen hardly any real use. Dynatran Tripod AT-858B w/ ATH-04H Head

I'm getting a ball head later. I'm getting a lot later, but something else must be purchased first. :D

[Bootsie]

I should have got a CF tripod, but this one was cheaper and it's still seen hardly any real use. Dynatran Tripod AT-858B w/ ATH-04H Head

I'm getting a ball head later. I'm getting a lot later, but something else must be purchased first. :D

I got the 828BL first, but it was heavy and my kit got too heavy for the head so I sold it and got the new one.

[silvex]

Yup! don't leave home without it...;)

Manfrotto 3021BN with joystick Manfrotto 322RC2

[rklepper]

I have a Feisol CT 3401N Carbon Fiber tripod with Manfrotto 488RC2 Ball Head and PB-70 Horizontal Adapter Kit and really like it.

[r.morales]

There are some cheap ones out there - I have been given 5 or 6 - no QR plates . They are good for parts .
I have 2 bogens - a mono-pod and tripod that are like 20+ years old , other than being heavy , they are great . Save / spend a little more on a good one , they seldom break / wear out . Right now I am looking for one I can get extra QR plates for without doing the order thing .
If you only use one camera - no problem - but I have a digital , my XTI , the canon ZR85 a film nikon [ wife claimed when I got the XTI ] - anyway keeping a QR plate on each one and trying to find another lighter travel tripod is proving a little hard .

[OneTime]

Love my 3021B Pro with 488 ball head

[S_Egbert]

Another 3021B Pro with 488 ball head. I changed the stock QR clamp for a Kirk unit. It's not the lightest setup but very sturdy and it's tall enough for me being 6'4". Also it will get very low to the ground.

Steve

[gnrlmike]

I have some other carbon fiber legs and ath-02. The head is great, but with 1D with 100-400 and extender- it's on the limit. I need the 03 head for this setup. My lens almost dipped once.

Actually, I just checked - the one I have is ATH-A01, and got scared. I definitely put too much weight on the head. Time to ebay!

[r.morales]

I should have mentioned that too at 6 feet tall , most tripods seem like they are mounted on fishing polls .

[off]

Gitzo 2531 topped off with a Kirk BH-3. There's also a L-bracket for the camera. For me, tripods are absolutely critical for early morning / evening landscape work.

[Dorman]

Manfrotto 190 legs which have been steady as a rock for me, coupled with simply the BEST ballhead for ease of use and ergonomics, the manfrotto joystick head.

[Glenn NK]

Mine isn't the best there is by a long shot, but I wouldn't leave home without it.

If the subject is sitting still, the tripod is used.

[ChasP505]

I haven't had my new Manfrotto 055XB long enough to say I "love" it... But given enough time, who knows? So far it's behaving nicely and I think it might just be "the one". Mom approves.

[SkipD]

I have been quite satisfied with my Bogen/Manfrotto 3021BPro (055ProB now and outside the U.S.) topped with their 488RC2 ball head.

[sinitry23]

I love my new one! It is a Dynatran AT-A105T Carbon Fiber, paired with a Dynatran ATH-A03 ball head. I really like this setup, and it was only about $125.


http://cgi.ebay.com/PRO-CARBON-FIBER-ALUMINUM-ALLOY-CAMERA-TRIPOD-KIT-CF883_W0QQitemZ200165265190QQihZ010QQcategoryZ3009 4QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

IS that the tripod you have?

[liza]

I love my new one! It is a Dynatran AT-A105T Carbon Fiber, paired with a Dynatran ATH-A03 ball head. I really like this setup, and it was only about $125.

I'm pretty sure I have the same set up, but I got mine for 54 bucks plus $24 shipping.

[liza]

http://cgi.ebay.com/PRO-CARBON-FIBER-ALUMINUM-ALLOY-CAMERA-TRIPOD-KIT-CF883_W0QQitemZ200165265190QQihZ010QQcategoryZ3009 4QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

IS that the tripod you have?

Don't get that one. Get the one with the clips on the legs instead. I have that particular version of the monopod and I don't like the way it extends. It takes too long to adjust it.

[liza]

I think this is the one I have. It's out in the trunk, and I don't feel like going outside to look.

http://cgi.ebay.com/PROFESSIONAL-CAMERA-TRIPOD-KIT-BALL-GRIP-HEAD-AT-858_W0QQitemZ200165297098QQihZ010QQcategoryZ30094Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Bootsie]

http://cgi.ebay.com/PRO-CARBON-FIBER-ALUMINUM-ALLOY-CAMERA-TRIPOD-KIT-CF883_W0QQitemZ200165265190QQihZ010QQcategoryZ3009 4QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

IS that the tripod you have?

No, it is this one....

http://cgi.ebay.com/PRO-PHOTO-CAMERA-CARBON-FIBER-TRIPOD-BASE-LEGS-AT-A105T_W0QQitemZ200075481757QQihZ010QQcategoryZ3009 5QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

It doesn't look like they have any on auction right now, just contact seajetsea (ebay ID) and see if he has any left, that is where I got the legs for $85 shipped. Then I just bid on ebay for the head.

[Bootsie]

I think this is the one I have. It's out in the trunk, and I don't feel like going outside to look.

http://cgi.ebay.com/PROFESSIONAL-CAMERA-TRIPOD-KIT-BALL-GRIP-HEAD-AT-858_W0QQitemZ200165297098QQihZ010QQcategoryZ30094Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I had one very similar to that (828BL), but it was a little heavy, and the head was not strong enough for my kit. I really liked it while I had it though.

[sinitry23]

Guys, I'm stuck between two tripods to choose from. My budget is around $150 for both legs and head (ball preferred).

1.http://cgi.ebay.com/PRO-CARBON-FIBER-ALUMINUM-ALLOY-CAMERA-TRIPOD-KIT-CF883_W0QQitemZ200165265190QQihZ010QQcategoryZ3009 4QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

2.http://cgi.ebay.com/PROFESSIONAL-CAMERA-TRIPOD-KIT-BALL-GRIP-HEAD-AT-858_W0QQitemZ200165297098QQihZ010QQcategoryZ30094Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I don't know much about tripods so please tell me which one is best bang for the bucks. I have a Canon 40D with a 24-70L lens. I need a decent tripod that can support that setup.

I like the first one because of the carbon fiber and ball head, but Liza mentioned that the leg release sucks and I should get clips. Should I go with 1 or 2? Thank you

[primoz]

No... I love my wife, not things like camera, tripod etc. ;) But speaking of tripod, I hate it :) Simply because I don't like too much dragging it around. As far as tripod itself goes, I'm happy with Manfrotto 055pro. It's nothing special, but I don't use it all that often anyway, so it works fine for those few times a year I need it. And it's not really all that expensive.

[DocFrankenstein]

I love my tripod. Tripods are better then sex... especially Italian.

[primoz]

I'm trying to get that picture out of my head now Doc. Life is already scary enough without something like this :p

[RPCrowe]

I have never been able to find one single tripod which suits all of my needs. At one time, I used a Manfrotto 3001P with a manfrotto 488RC2 head for my general use and an older (at least 30 years old) heavyweight tripod for my long lens needs.

The 3001P is a nice tripod and works well with the 488RC2 head but, it is really IMO not light enough for boonie tromping, nor is it tall and sturdy enough to use with a long lens following fast moving subjects such as Hydroplane Racing Boats.

My old Davis and Sanford tripod is a monster in weight and size. It can support a Volkswagen Bug but weighs just slightly less than the Bug.

I decided to bite the bullet and spend some serious bucks on the type of tripods that I desired. I now have replaced my original two tripods with two new ones and each has its place...

I replaced the old and heavy Davis and Sanford with a GIOTTOS MT8180 CF model.

The Giottos MT8180 is a wonderfully adaptable and extremely sturdy tripod. The tripod can be used without an accessory head. However, I will use the GIOTTOS with a Manfrotto 3421 Gimbal Camera Support when I use my 400mm f/5.6L lens and this combination would easily support a larger lens/camera combination.

I will also use the GIOTTOS MT8180 with a Calumet Pan-Tilt head (which accepts the RC-2 Manfrotto camera plates).

Finally, I will use this tripod when I shoot panos using my Panosaurus head which easily allows shooting panos with the camera in the vertical position.

Although the Giottos MT8180 is made of carbon fiber material and is therefore relatively lightweight for its height and stability; I like to carry a lighter tripod when I am doing a lot of walking.

I recently got a good deal on a SLIK 3130 Pro tripod which was on sale at my local Calumet dealer. I carried this tripod as I did the Carlsbad Caverns in late September. Although, I don't think I would use this tripod to support a 400mm or larger lens (especially with the Manfrotto 3421 Gimbal Support); it was great for tromping through the Caverns.

It is also great for other general tripod use when I want a lightweight but, reasonably sturdy unit.

[Big WIll]

I have three tripods.
They all have three legs and all are fairly sturdy. However mine are simple aluminium and this can be quite heavy compared to you Carbon fibre lightweight people!!

1 x Benbo Mk1 Tripod (Very heavy but adjustable)
1 x Manfrotto 055CL which is my main tripod its lightweight and portable :)
1 x SLIK Easi-glide Tripod, its a bit old school but works, i use it as a lightstand most of the time!

[Jason Kim]

I've had 7 tripods last 35 years. As wise man once said that "tripod journey ends with Gitzo, why not get Gitzo and get it done with it?" that was almost 30 years ago. I've got Gitzo now, I am done with tripod shopping. No more tripod envy, period!

[r.morales]

I went in today looking at tripods , seems no one makes a lite one that will take the Bogen hex plate . I want something I can leave in Mexico . I gave away the one I had there , I hate changing the QR's .
Guess I am going ebaying and look for a head , then get a 'pod to fit head .

[amironsi]

i have a manfrotto 190XPROB (Alum. and black) and a 3 axis head (and i am intending to add a ball head from manfrotto too) and i love both of them sepcially i have a nice shaky hand LOL

[GTriever]

Manfrotto 055CLB with 128RC head; great for long lenses/spotting scopes. I'd like to add a short column with a ball head to my kit.

[shenobie]

Thanks Bootsie for the ebay seller recommendation! (Seajetsea). I bought myself a Dynatran AT-CF992 for $86 bucks and it was exactly what I was looking for - lightweight, sturdy, and easy to use.

thanks!!!!!!

[vincewchan]

I have been quite satisfied with my Bogen/Manfrotto 3021BPro (055ProB now and outside the U.S.) topped with their 488RC2 ball head.

x2!

[John_TX]

I really enjoyed using my new setup this week (Feisol CT-3442 & Manfrotto 488RC2). Rock solid legs, lightweight, compact. The 488RC2 head seems very solid and does have some weight to it (1.5 pounds). By far, its great & you can't beat the price.

I snapped a few pictures of the CT-3442 & 488RC2 for those interested in size.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=406696