Tripods

Corey Thompson wrote in post #15823611
I've been using Phil Wood tenacious oil for awhile now and haven't had any problems with it. Which lubes have you tried?

http://www.philwood.co​m/products/gohc/oilngr​ease.php

different greases and lubes but nothing really worked well, Just ordered a tube of the tenacious oil.

Thanks for the info..

I started with a free flimsy tripod that almost dropped my camera into the river on the 1st use. Then I switched to Benro travel tripods + BH-0 ball head which did well for one year but then it was no turning back to Gitzo GT2531 + RRS BH-40.

Benro does fine for light setups but somehow it really didn't work well for me on my travels + hiking.

I use the Sirui with my 5D Mark III on travels. It is light, small, and gets the job done. I would give it 10/10 for both form, function, and value for money. If a small footprint is important to you for backpacking, look into it.

Sirrith wrote in post #15720079
I use a Feisol 3441T.

I got the Feisol too for a trip initially but now it is the only tripod I use. I got a Photo Clam ballhead to go with it.

I also have a Manfrotto 055xPROB and 498RC2 which work well but it is a larger and bulkier setup. I feel I have more control with the Feisol but since it is so lightweight I usually put my backpack on the hook.

Getting a L bracket is key, I just got mine and it is great for panoramas.

I have the RRS TVC-34L Tripod with RRS BH-55-Pro Ballhead & a Feisol CT-3441T and Manfrotto Magnesium MH054M0-Q2 Ballhead. The RRS is far superior in build, ruggedness, sturdiness, accessories, and customer support. Down side is it's bigger and it just costs too damn much (I live in CA so + $135 tax too, ouch - we gotta fund the Bullet Train to nowhere out here :P ). I bought the Feisol CT-3441T mainly because I was going to Maui last May and it folded up to less than 18" with a Ball head on it so it fit inside my carry-on bag (I wasn't sure they'd let me on the plane with a "loose" tripod in just it's Fiesol bag... they would/did... ).

I recently bought the RRS gear after using one my friend had it is was just so good I had to have it... sold a few lenses I didn't use much and now I'm selling my Feisol CT-3441T tripod and Manfrotto Mg MH054M0-Q2 Ballhead also... PM me if you're interested before it goes on local CL tomorrow.

Gitzo GT1541T when I have to carry it myself. RRS TVC-34L when someone/something else is carrying it for me.

Gitzo 3531s legs and an Acratech GV2. Love this setup. Fits in luggage diagonally with head on, and I love that the head is indestructible - I'm very hard on my tripods. Love that I don't need to worry about lubes and greases, etc,.. Just hose the thing off.

Used an old Slik square leg with a generic ballhead for years, then got an Induro aluminum AT313 with an Acratech GP ballhead on the advice of POTN member Ben Jacobsen. The setup works great, and has more than enough height for 6' + users.

RRS TVC-24L. I went with the 24L because the 34L really seemed like overkill for a landscape-oriented setup.

I also have a Gitzo 1541T for times when I really need to keep size or weight to an absolute minimum.

Over the 13 years I've been a fotografer, I've had a couple Gitzo CF legsets, a couple Velbon CFs, and a few much-less-expensive models. The Velbons were fabulous for sort-of-normal-weight bodies and lenses (and my friend and his sweetheart still own and love them), but when I bought a Canon 200/1.8 and an articulated arm for it, I bought a Gitzo 1349 (? model #), a tallish 3-leg-section, 1.1"-tube-diameter legset and a full-size Kirk BH-1 BH. That combination was tall enough and strong enough for anything I put on it.

IMAGE LINK: http://s89.photobucket​.com …Other/Dicksofme​2.jpg.html

bpark42 wrote in post #15935179
RRS TVC-24L. I went with the 24L because the 34L really seemed like overkill for a landscape-oriented setup.

I also have a Gitzo 1541T for times when I really need to keep size or weight to an absolute minimum.

There's no such thing as overkill for a landscape photography tripod!

When you're dealing with exposures lasting minutes or hours, you want every bit of stability you can get, up to and including hanging bags of rocks from the tripod hook.

When you're shooting in even a light breeze, or the tripod is standing in a creek or stream, you want every bit of stability you can get.

Shadowblade wrote in post #15935791
There's no such thing as overkill for a landscape photography tripod!

When you're dealing with exposures lasting minutes or hours, you want every bit of stability you can get, up to and including hanging bags of rocks from the tripod hook.

When you're shooting in even a light breeze, or the tripod is standing in a creek or stream, you want every bit of stability you can get.

The 24L is rock solid with anything I put on it, and has performed in high wind, running water, etc. When hiking long distances with a 30 lb. pack, I am happier for having saved the size and weight. To date, there have been exactly zero shots that I failed to capture due to the 24L not being up to the task. If I did less hiking or used medium/large format, I would have gone with the 34L.

bpark42 wrote in post #15935966
The 24L is rock solid with anything I put on it, and has performed in high wind, running water, etc. When hiking long distances with a 30 lb. pack, I am happier for having saved the size and weight. To date, there have been exactly zero shots that I failed to capture due to the 24L not being up to the task. If I did less hiking or used medium/large format, I would have gone with the 34L.

That's why I carry a 1541T for use during the day and load the TVC-34L onto the yaks, mules, porters or support vehicles to use in the evening and morning close to camp!

My TVC-34L showed up last week. I couldn't be happier. I don't have a yak or a Sherpa but so far, so good.

I have a manfrotto 055XProB that is probably the most durable tripod out there. I looked at carbon fibre, but I would have destroyed that long ago.

So the 055 is not light, and there are things I don't really like about it, but the trade offs are worth it. I use the tripod as a hiking stick (too big to put into my pack), depth finder in the ocean or river/creeks, a stabilizer when I am decending or climbing up talus/scree slopes. Plus it doesn't get battered by the water when shooting. I don't have to baby it.

It is not pretty to look at, but I don't know anyone harder on their gear than I - so until I know for a fact that CF can withstand the abuse ( i don't think it can), I will stick with this beast