Just bought a new carbon Fiber tripod, need help choosing...

Looking to get a ball head or plate. I've been reading here, and looks like they both do different things... So, im confused! I would just like to be able to quickly attatch my camera on and off the tripod, not using the old screw on/off method. If it pans/tilts that would be great too.

Not sure if it matters, but I just bought an Induro CT 114 CF tripod.

Hoping to get away from other's who have gripped camera bodies that have issues mounting cam+ 70-200mm 2.8 IS.

Thanks in advance!

No matter whether you get a great head such as the Markins or Kirk or a cheaper one such as the Benro or PhotoClam, get an RRS or Markins lever quick release and an RRS L bracket. See the L brackets at the Realy Right Stuff website.

The lever release and the L bracket will allow rapid change of camera positions. The L bracket takes the place of a plate for the bottom of the camera body, which will only give you landscape shooting position for the camera.

I believe RRS makes an L bracket for gripped bodies.

marcus769 wrote in post #12037639
Looking to get a ball head or plate. I've been reading here, and looks like they both do different things... So, im confused!

A plate is what you attach onto the bottom of your camera, or in case of a lens with a tripod collar, onto the bottom of the collar. Combined with a quick release equipped tripod head, this allows you to quickly and easily mount and unmount your camera onto the tripod.

marcus769 wrote in post #12037639
Hoping to get away from other's who have gripped camera bodies that have issues mounting cam+ 70-200mm 2.8 IS.

The 70-200/2.8 comes equipped with a tripod collar, so you'll need a lens plate to attach to the collar and mount the camera/lens combo at its center of gravity. For your smaller lenses, you'll also want a camera plate, which attaches to the bottom of your camera so you can mount it onto the tripod head.

The Arca-Swiss style, dovetail shaped plates are generally preferred. Manfrotto has its own plate design and you can't mix and match the two.

I had a Giottos one before and it was nicely built and works very nicely, but I exchanged it for a Manfrotto 494RC2 because of the weight balance on my tripod. The giotto was a lot heavier so my tripod was off balanced.

I would recommend both, but I liked the giottos more in terms of use because it was more accurate and even included a bubble level.

The manfrotto probably wouldn't work for you because of your setup. I hear RRS ones are nice, but really expensive.

Do most people leave the plates on their 70-200mm lenses, requiring mult. plates? Im such a newb (obviously) when it comes to tripods.

Thanks a lot for everyone's input!

Anyone else prefer other equipment?

I saw that Amazon deal too, quite a good pickup. Was like $340 down to $220? Good stuff. If my friend was out of bed I would have told him to pick up the aluminum+head for $100. Seemed like a solid deal.

marcus769 wrote in post #12038197
Do most people leave the plates on their 70-200mm lenses, requiring mult. plates? Im such a newb (obviously) when it comes to tripods.

Usually you'll need a lens plate and a camera plate. They are different.

Some tripod systems allow you to use a plate for the camera and a lens, but I think it's better to get plates for each.

You could use one universal plate for both but in my experience, you REALLY want an anti-twist plate for the lens collar. Otherwise it's very easy for the lens to twist off the plate and loosen.

Like the anti-twist camera-specific plates, those are made specifically for the lens. Manfrotto does make a semi-universal anti-twist plate for their quick release system. You can use it on different lens collars.

tvphotog wrote in post #12037676
... get an ... ... L bracket. ...I believe RRS makes an L bracket for gripped bodies.

At what budget level, or for what uses, would you recommend an L bracket instead of merely tilting the camera into the ballhead's 90° notch?

It's easy to see why a professional portrait photographer would want one, or someone doing panoramic stitching but for most of us it seems like just an extra piece of bling (the way some describe grips). It's bad enough having to remove a regular plate to change batteries. Wouldn't an L bracket also have to be removed every time you want to remove the memory card?

Raylon wrote in post #12038271
I saw that Amazon deal too, quite a good pickup. Was like $340 down to $220? ...

I couldn't help but compare this deal with my recent purchase of theBenro C-358M8 tripod on sale for $230.

The two seemed very similar, and then I found out that Benro and Induro are the same company. Looking at the specifications, it turns out that the tripods are similar, but my Benro C-358M is much taller and almost twice the weight. In the same line, Benro makes the C-158M8 which has almost identical specs to your Induro.

Looking closer, it looks like Induro is the premium line, with a three year warranty instead of one, and higher list prices. The Induro CT-114 lists for $500 while the similar Benro C-158-M8 lists for $410.

Edit: If you're a cheapskate like me, I got the $100 Vanguard SBH-300 ballhead and am very happy with it. (Well, actually I'm happy with the replacement Amazon sent for the first one.) This is a big, sturdy ballhead. For your lighter tripod, the $90 Vanguard SBH-250 might be more appropriate.

cacawcacaw wrote in post #12038590
At what budget level, or for what uses, would you recommend an L bracket instead of merely tilting the camera into the ballhead's 90° notch?

It's easy to see why a professional portrait photographer would want one, or someone doing panoramic stitching but for most of us it seems like just an extra piece of bling (the way some describe grips). It's bad enough having to remove a regular plate to change batteries. Wouldn't an L bracket also have to be removed every time you want to remove the memory card?

L plates are carefully designed so you have full access to any part of the camera you may need. As you can see from this RRS photo, you have full access to the battery compartment, the card bay and the I/O ports.

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cacawcacaw wrote in post #12038590
At what budget level, or for what uses, would you recommend an L bracket instead of merely tilting the camera into the ballhead's 90° notch?

It's easy to see why a professional portrait photographer would want one, or someone doing panoramic stitching but for most of us it seems like just an extra piece of bling (the way some describe grips). It's bad enough having to remove a regular plate to change batteries. Wouldn't an L bracket also have to be removed every time you want to remove the memory card?

As mentioned, the L Bracket shouldn't get in the way of anything.

I recently went through this whole exercise and decided on just getting a regular camera plate. After about a week, I decided I wanted an L bracket. I found using the 90° notch kind of a pain in the ass.

marcus769 wrote in post #12038197
Do most people leave the plates on their 70-200mm lenses, requiring mult. plates? Im such a newb (obviously) when it comes to tripods.

Thanks a lot for everyone's input!

Anyone else prefer other equipment?

I have a plate for each lens that incorporates a tripod ring. I have purchased the plates used on eBay and they were not very expensive.

I also have an L bracket for each of my 30D and 40D cameras which I also bought used on eBay at a greatly reduced price.

Nice thing about buying these items used is that unless they are obviously damaged (which you can detect from a picture) there is nothing that can be wrong with them.

BTW: Look into the Flashpoint line of Arca compatible ball heads. I would say that the F-2 or F-3 would work on a general purpose tripod. BTW: the Flashpoint heads come equipped with plates and are relatively inexpensive.

I use an F-1 on a lightweight travel tripod and it will support my camera with 70-200mm f/4L IS lens even n a relatively brisk breeze.

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