Looking to buy a tripod - advice needed

So...Hi!

After I finally saved some money (by eating a lot of instant noodles and mooching from my parents) I saved some money to buy a tripod. Yeah! Now, saving money is one thing, making the final decision as to which one I'd like to get is a whole different thing and (for me at least) the hardest part.

I've been looking around Amazon(.co.uk) and have found the following models so far to be attractive. I know already most of you people will tell me to go with the 055xprob, but I'm really tall (6"5/198cm) so I want a long tripod, and the xprob 'only' extends to 178cm, a bit longer would be preferred.

Choices so far:
-Slik Pro 700dx. It looks like a nice tripod and comes with a 3-way head that looks good. This review on youtube makes it look really nice anyway. Don't be fooled by the weight: that's including the head. The legs only weigh 2.7kg, similar to any other alu tripod. The specs of the tripod can be found here.
- Manfrotto 055xdb. This one is similar to the xprob which everyone knows, though it doesn't let you get close to the ground (which I would really much like to have) and doesn't let the center column to the side. The specs of the tripod can be found here.
- Manfrotto 055xprob. This would probably be the best tripod, but is also the most expensive one. Lets you do with the center column whatever you want and drops all the way to the ground. The specs of the tripod can be found here.
- Some Konig tripod. No fancy name or anything, but all the reviews are really good. From what I understand I can throw away the ballhead instantly, but the tripod is top notch quality. Reviews, apart from the ones in that auction, can also be found here (for some reason there's more reviews on the more expensive one. It's the same tripod though.
- Giottos MTL 9251. Looks to be good tripod by a well known brand. Thing I don't like about this one is that it's 140cm without the center column and 200cm with it. That means there would be 60cm of center column, and I really doubt it will be stable extend that far... Specs for this tripod can be found here (MTL9 series)


I'd like to be able to get the tripod close to the ground and the movable center column (as on the xprob) is a nice extra too of course. Of some tripods I don't know how close they can get to the ground though and I can't seem to figure it out.
Also the height of the tripod is important considering my length. I don't really care much about weight, I'm strong enough to carry a 'heavy' tripod

Any help, insights and tips will be appreciated. If you got another good suggestion, be my guest.

I have the 055xprob with the 496RC2....love the combo

I am 6'4" and am a happy owner of an 055xprob tripod. At its full height I'm struggling to see through the viewfinder while on tiptoes so I don't think you'll have any problems with the height.

Don't forget you need to factor in the height of the head and the distance between the base of the camera and the viewfinder - you're adding a good 20-30cm on the total length with those factors included and your eyes are lower down than 198cm.

bckane wrote in post #12042823
I have the 055xprob with the 496RC2....love the combo

Ok, one vouch for the 055xprob (as expected). What about the 496? I've heard people say they MUCH prefer the 498 over the 496? Whipping out another 70 quid for a ball head (on top of the 115 for the tripod itself), it's getting pretty pricey...

Mike wrote in post #12042835
I am 6'4" and am a happy owner of an 055xprob tripod. At its full height I'm struggling to see through the viewfinder while on tiptoes so I don't think you'll have any problems with the height.

Don't forget you need to factor in the height of the head and the distance between the base of the camera and the viewfinder - you're adding a good 20-30cm on the total length with those factors included and your eyes are lower down than 198cm.

Ah good call! I never though about that!

I just received my Slik Pro 700dx from B & H Photo yesterday. It's a very sturdy and solid built tripod. Without the center column extended it's still six feet high. I had my 7D/Grip on it and the head seemed to be of equal high quality build and design. I'm really happy I went with this particular model after talking to a few other POTNers.

TijmenDal wrote in post #12042873
Ok, one vouch for the 055xprob (as expected). What about the 496? I've heard people say they MUCH prefer the 498 over the 496? Whipping out another 70 quid for a ball head (on top of the 115 for the tripod itself), it's getting pretty pricey...

Ah good call! I never though about that!

It's all about the release plate - the 498 is a much better and safer system to keep the plate attached.

the 055xprob is really tall. I'm almost 6 feet tall and when mine is fully extended, the top of the ball head is taller than me. Add the camera to that and you will be standing straight.

However, this is the least stable configuration for the tripod. You may need to get used to stooping over if there is any wind, or shell out more money for a heavier tripod - just a thought.

You're forgetting that a head and the camera mounted on the 055prob will add another 10" or so. I am 6'7" (haha got ya beat!) and use the 055 with NO problems. I like it much more than my old Slik 500dx.

I don't have any experience with the 055, but I have the Slik Pro 700dx and love it. I will say the head is a little bulky, but holds a gripped t1i with a 55-250 lens with no problem. People always mention the weight, but I lugged mine around for two hours straight on campus taking pictures and it didn't bother me one bit. I just collapsed it and threw it over my shoulder. The padded legs make it comfortable to carry this way.

I'm 6'6" and use a 055 with no real problems. The only thing I'll say is that the 055 is a heavy beast and not small enough to travel with easily. On the flip side it's tall, stable and well built.

i'm going to be purchasing the Slik 700 pro DX here soon

I just bought a Giottos. I started with the MTL 9251, only to return it when I learned that I was confused by the marketing material. What I really wanted (what led me to Giottos in the first place) was the 3 way tripod (Where the center column can be removed, then used as a lateral arm). There were not any reasonably priced 3-way MTLs (with levers) available, so I went with the MT-9360. I am very glad I did. I love having the lateral arm feature and the quality of the MT seems better than the MTL -- though I liked the levers. The MT-9360 also comes with some additional features: very nice padded carrying bag, a shoulder stap (for use with the bag or just the tripod) and an additional short column for very low level work.

I paired this with MH-1300 ball head that came with the MH-657 quick release system.

My only gripe is that with the MH-1300 ball head, the bag is a very tight fit*. I wanted the 1300 because of the load it can handle, but the 1301 might be better if you don't need that.

*It all fits, but, because it is so tight, it takes a little longer to get the tripod in and out of the bag (e.g., pinching the sides of the zipper together with my fingers so that I can zip it closed).

cannonballgsu wrote in post #12042963
I don't have any experience with the 055, but I have the Slik Pro 700dx and love it. I will say the head is a little bulky, but holds a gripped t1i with a 55-250 lens with no problem. People always mention the weight, but I lugged mine around for two hours straight on campus taking pictures and it didn't bother me one bit. I just collapsed it and threw it over my shoulder. The padded legs make it comfortable to carry this way.

Ok, that's good to know! Does it have a lateral arm though?

hairy_moth wrote in post #12043642
I just bought a Giottos. I started with the MTL 9251, only to return it when I learned that I was confused by the marketing material. What I really wanted (what led me to Giottos in the first place) was the 3 way tripod (Where the center column can be removed, then used as a lateral arm). There were not any reasonably priced 3-way MTLs (with levers) available, so I went with the MT-9360. I am very glad I did. I love having the lateral arm feature and the quality of the MT seems better than the MTL -- though I liked the levers. The MT-9360 also comes with some additional features: very nice padded carrying bag, a shoulder stap (for use with the bag or just the tripod) and an additional short column for very low level work.

That's really helpful, thanks! So, if I'm understanding correctly: the mtl 9251 does only extend 'normally'. Would you know if it allows you to put the center column upside down though? How did you like the 9251 the time you had it? How was the build, quality, locking system? I just checked youtube where there's a vid for both the 9251b and 9351b. The 9351b DOES have a lateral arm, a feature I think I would really like (no experience with this whatsoever). If anyone can give me some information about the lateral arm, that'd be great. Like, how does it function, what are the best uses for it, and how sturdy are the locks.

Right now it looks like everyone has either the 700dx or 055xprob. Now, between the two I'm more inclined towards the 700dx: It's slightly cheaper and comes with a pan&tilt head, which is always nice to have. The thing I like about the 055xprob are the lateral arm and that it is has black legs, which is a really important! ( )

Any thoughts on the 40 quid 'no-name' tripod? The tripod itself looks really sturdy I gotta say...and saving a lot of money never hurts. I could spend that money buying a good ballhead

TijmenDal wrote in post #12045152
Ok, that's good to know! Does it have a lateral arm though?

That's really helpful, thanks! So, if I'm understanding correctly: the mtl 9251 does only extend 'normally'. Would you know if it allows you to put the center column upside down though? How did you like the 9251 the time you had it? How was the build, quality, locking system? I just checked youtube where there's a vid for both the 9251b and 9351b. The 9351b DOES have a lateral arm, a feature I think I would really like (no experience with this whatsoever). If anyone can give me some information about the lateral arm, that'd be great. Like, how does it function, what are the best uses for it, and how sturdy are the locks.

Right now it looks like everyone has either the 700dx or 055xprob. Now, between the two I'm more inclined towards the 700dx: It's slightly cheaper and comes with a pan&tilt head, which is always nice to have. The thing I like about the 055xprob are the lateral arm and that it is has black legs, which is a really important! ( )

Any thoughts on the 40 quid 'no-name' tripod? The tripod itself looks really sturdy I gotta say...and saving a lot of money never hurts. I could spend that money buying a good ballhead

I believe you can order the 700DX legs and head separately in which case you can buy the black legs, but it will cost an additional $20 so it would be $160 vs $140 from B & H Photo.

I was not stoked on the pan and tilt head nor the quick release mechanism with my 500dx. Manfrottos setup is much nicer IMO.