Slik 88 tripod

[mw80]

Hello everyone

Please be patient as i am new to this forum (and photography in general!). I recently bought myself a digital SLR (Canon 400D) and i am having great fun using it.

I really like taking landscape pictures and i have been considering buying a tripod. Someone has offered me their old Slik 88 tripod (FOC) and i just wondered if that was adequate? Do i need a specific head for it to attach it to my 400D? Would i be better to buy something more lightweight as i understand the Slik 88 is quite old and heavy?

Any advice is greatly appreciated

:D

[Sasquatch41]

I would guess by the non response that no one is familiar with that particular piece of equipment. I used Slik U212 tripods for years, still have one around, But I found that Bogen Manfrotto 055xprob is a very much superior piece of equipment. I topped it with the 488 rc2 ballhead, but I still have a Bogen 3 way pan tilt head as an alternative. If I were you, and the equipment offered is free or very cheap, I would take it to try out, learn about using a tripod, then decide whether to upgrade or keep it or go for something altogether different. One thing is for certain, photos taken off of a tripod WILL be sharper than handheld 99 percent of the time. The exception will be panning on moving subjects.

[KirkHMB]

The pix I found of the 88 make it look very similar to the 112 or 212, not sure of scale.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Digital-Camera-Slik-88-Black-Diamond-Tripod-Support_W0QQitemZ290195259071QQihZ019QQcategoryZ33 25QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'd definitely take it, and then decide what you like. I have a 212 (25 yrs old), and a 112 (salvaged 4 years ago), and both still work well. In cold weather, some of the plastic gets brittle.

[mw80]

Thanks both

I now have the tripod and it is very similar to the one in the image (silver and a little older). It seems in good condition so i will take your advice and give it a go keeping an upgrade in mind

[chalkie]

I bought one of these over 20 years ago (the black one shown in that link, aka the Black Diamond) and it's served me well. It is quite heavy but it has some good features, reversible centre column, a separate tripod bush on one of the legs, a pan and tilt head with a spirit level and panorama markings, a geared centre column and quick release head.

I keep thinking whether or not I should treat myself to something like a Manfrotto 190 XPROB, but always come back to how good the Slik 88 is considering its age. I'd be interested to hear how you're getting on with it.

Graham

[SnlpeR]

looks like my old U212

i just noticed today that a few of the flip lever lock things are cracked and they dont squeeze onto the legs anymore

its a shame
im asking slik if they sell just the legs since they look to be removable

[charris]

Hi
I'm a new member & have an old Slik 88. Unfortunately I no longer have the bush that joins the camera to the tripod courtesy of thieves who stole our camper van. The bush was in the camera bag and not with tripod so I still have that. Would you know where I could get a replacement, or is anyone scrapping theor old one. If so can you let me know how much just for the bush part.
Thanks all
carin

[chalkie]

You can generally find them on eBay (search for Slik Quick Release Post) or if you're in the UK you could try here - http://www.eebc.co.uk/productdisplay.aspx?productid=155

[SnlpeR]

slik will sell you anything you need
they gave me part numbers of every peice i needed replaced
theyre real good about it
send them an email

[KirkHMB]

The post for a U212dx, which looks like what chalkie posted, is part number 13-005-2. I have the phone (and fax?) number for the parts guy at home, PM me if you want it, they're down in SoCal.

[charris]

Thanks everone for your replies.
I'm ordering one today.
Fantastic
Thanks
carin

[Bob D.]

looks like my old U212

i just noticed today that a few of the flip lever lock things are cracked and they dont squeeze onto the legs anymore

its a shame
im asking slik if they sell just the legs since they look to be removable

This just happened to me on my old SLIK U102 which is about 25 years old. Nothing lasts forever I guess. It's a decent tripod for the money and I am sorry to have to drop it from my equipment inventory. I did salvage the head and use it elsewhere (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=524652&highlight=how+low+can+you+go).