Tripods Alloy VS Carbon Fiber

A couple of days ago, I got to play with the newer version of Manfrotto's 055 CF tripod. Having owned the aluminum version for years, I was sold. Not really since I don't have $600 plus but I was amazed in all ways by it.

It weighs less than my Manfrotto 190 (alum) and seemed sturdier than my older 055. I would choose it simply based on the height advantage vs the 190 and still get the weight savings.

Since I don't drive, I carry everything with me, weight is important and I try to save on it where I can.

Farley121 wrote in post #14106499
A couple of days ago, I got to play with the newer version of Manfrotto's 055 CF tripod. Having owned the aluminum version for years, I was sold. Not really since I don't have $600 plus but I was amazed in all ways by it.

It weighs less than my Manfrotto 190 (alum) and seemed sturdier than my older 055. I would choose it simply based on the height advantage vs the 190 and still get the weight savings.

Since I don't drive, I carry everything with me, weight is important and I try to save on it where I can.

I've been using the 055CXPRO3 for a while now and love it.

I have Vanguard Alta legs, aluminum, and while it's quite a bit heavier than the same tripod in CF, it was also half the cost. I needed a tall one because I'm 6'2" and don't like hunching over when I use the tripod. I don't carry it on hikes.... just trust to IS and hope that that one in a million shot doesn't pop up unexpectedly.

I do have a heavy duty GorillaPod with a small Vanguard QC ball head which uses the same plates as my big tripod. I use the small pod when I need portability.

Lowner wrote in post #14101983
Apparently carbon is better at damping vibration. I say apparently because I might just be being led up the garden path by marketing rubbish.

Here's a 10 second exposure made on an aluminum tripod. I'm standing on a concrete overpass on the interstate. I can feel the vibrations under my feet as each car passes approximately two feet behind me at 50 mph. Still a crisp, sharp image. I can't imagine the extent of vibrations it would require to have a blurry image because you used an aluminum tripod instead of a carbon fiber one. Perhaps an earthquake?

Nice example Mark! What's the weight of that aluminum tripod?

Phrasikleia wrote in post #14104134
Carbon fiber is also a lot nicer to handle in the cold. Aluminum legs can be downright frigid if they don't have padded legwarmers on them.

This - my CF legs feel pretty cold but once I complained to a friend and touched her aluminum ones and somehow, hers seemed 1000 degrees colder.

peter_n wrote in post #14354913
Nice example Mark! What's the weight of that aluminum tripod?

The one I'm buying is the Induro AT213 (4.4 pounds) with an Induro BHD2 ball head (1.3 pounds). I am very tempted to get the carbon fiber model instead (CT213), but they are $250 more and only 1 pound lighter. I want the tripod by the weekend, so I'll make my decision tonight.

My other tripod is an aluminum Benro Travel Angel. I bought the 0 series which is the lightest, most compact model they make - it's 2.4 pounds with the ball head attached. I've been using this tripod for 2 years and absolutely love it. The longest exposure I've done with that one is 4 minutes. No problems from vibrations there either.

Mark-B wrote in post #14355076
The one I'm buying is the Induro AT213 (4.4 pounds) with an Induro BHD2 ball head (1.3 pounds). I am very tempted to get the carbon fiber model instead (CT213), but they are $250 more and only 1 pound lighter. I want the tripod by the weekend, so I'll make my decision tonight.

My other tripod is an aluminum Benro Travel Angel. I bought the 0 series which is the lightest, most compact model they make - it's 2.4 pounds with the ball head attached. I've been using this tripod for 2 years and absolutely love it. The longest exposure I've done with that one is 4 minutes. No problems from vibrations there either.

Hi Mark.

Don't discount the 1 pound difference. Do you hike or travel with a tripod? 3.4 pounds is light, but 4.4 is relatively heavy. However, $250 is no small difference either. I came to a similar crossroads when purchasing a Gitzo Explorer. I elected to go with the Aluminum version, at a savings of $300 for about the same weight difference. 6 months and numerous hikes down the road, I've just purchased a CF tripod because carrying the Gitzo for anything more than a short walk proved to be quite tiring. I wish now that I had saved the hassle about bought the CF Gitzo. However, I'm quite happy with the new CF tripod, a Photoclam PT124, so I suppose no harm done.

Why not consider either the tripod I mentioned above, or something like a Feisol CT-3442 Rapid? You'll have the significant weight savings, but it is a bit more affordable than the Induro.

From the photos you've posted, it appears you photograph urban areas. Perhaps, then, you're taking your tripod with you in a car, in which case by all means, don't waste your $250 just to save a pound. On the other hand, if you're lugging the tripod around with you for extended periods of time, consider shaving off that extra pound.

Out of curiosity, have you tried your Benro with your 70-200mm? How did it fare?

Nice photo, by the way!

EthanFrank wrote in post #14355237
Don't discount the 1 pound difference. Do you hike or travel with a tripod? 3.4 pounds is light, but 4.4 is relatively heavy.

I do sometimes hike, but that is why I have the Benro Travel Angel. I bought it 2 years ago for a trip to the Smoky Mountains. 14" folded and 2.4 pounds makes it incredibly easy to carry. You do sacrifice a bit of stability for such a small tripod, but it has worked out very well so far. I'm always willing to carry it anywhere.

I looked at a few Feisol models and also seriously considered Sirui. There are so many choices and so many quality products that it gets hard to make a decision. I know Gitzo is the standard, but I'm not sure that it's really the best - I think RRS takes that category. Anyway, it seems I can hardly read a Gitzo review lately without finding at least one person who switched to Induro and likes it better. I started to consider the brand after reading enough reviews from people who made the switch and eventually decided to give it a try.

Yes, mostly urban photography with some nature and landscape mixed in. The weight isn't really an issue - the tripod I'm looking at now is lighter than the other two I've owned over the last few years, so I already know what it's like to carry it.

I have a 70-200 f/4, not the f/2.8. The Benro 0 series legs and B-00 ball head are each rated for 13 pounds. I get a little creep when I mount a 5D II & 70-200 f/4 by the tripod mount on the body, but I'm sure it would be fine if I used a tripod collar. I think it would also work for the f/2.8 version if I used a tripod collar, but I would probably want to step up to the next size if that was a lens I used often.

Mark-B wrote in post #14354846
Here's a 10 second exposure made on an aluminum tripod. I'm standing on a concrete overpass on the interstate. I can feel the vibrations under my feet as each car passes approximately two feet behind me at 50 mph. Still a crisp, sharp image. I can't imagine the extent of vibrations it would require to have a blurry image because you used an aluminum tripod instead of a carbon fiber one. Perhaps an earthquake?

I found my way to this thread because I have two items in my shopping cart right now - the carbon fiber and aluminum versions of the same tripod - and I'm just double checking my decision to buy the aluminum one. The obvious differences between the two models are .8 pounds in weight, 4 pounds in load capacity, and $250 in price. Increased vibration dampening will not play any part in my decision, although I've read that it can be relevant at super telephoto ranges. It certainly is not relevant at ultra wide to normal ranges where I do almost all of my shooting.

Vibrations tend to be more of a problem in the 1 sec. range, where your exposure is short enough that a 10-30 Hz vibration will be noticeable.

Mark-B wrote in post #14355699
Anyway, it seems I can hardly read a Gitzo review lately without finding at least one person who switched to Induro and likes it better. I started to consider the brand after reading enough reviews from people who made the switch and eventually decided to give it a try.

Mark, you know Induro is manufactured by Benro, right? They badge engineer for the US market. If you look on the Chinese Benro web site you'll probably a very similarly specced model to the Induros you're considering. The best Benro tripods are not sold in the US it seems to me. You can get them through eBay Benro dealers who can get the tripod to you in a couple days. The prices are much better if you source in mainland China.

peter_n wrote in post #14356351
Mark, you know Induro is manufactured by Benro, right? They badge engineer for the US market. If you look on the Chinese Benro web site you'll probably a very similarly specced model to the Induros you're considering.

Yes, I knew Benro manufactured both brands, and they are both distributed by the Mac Group in the US. When looking at the classic model tripods (not travel angels) on the Benro USA site, they only show ones with lever locks. That's why I wasn't considering them.

I see that there are comparable models on the Chinese site and on eBay with twist locks. The Benro C2570T seems to be very similar to the Induro CT213 I was looking at. I found a kit with the C2770T and B2 ball head for $380. That's about $180 less than the Induro CT213 & BHD2 combination.

Despite both being manufactured by the same company, there are differences such as different style twist locks, different leg locks, a smaller center column lock on the Benro, and foam on only one leg instead of all three. The spider, legs, feet, and spikes seem to be very similar.

Mark I use a Benro C2680T travel tripod. The 2570T has similar construction in the spider area. If you want to take a look at the build quality (up to Gitzo standards IMHO) I break it down here. See the second and third set of pictures.

peter_n wrote in post #14357052
Mark I use a Benro C2680T travel tripod. The 2570T has similar construction in the spider area. If you want to take a look at the build quality (up to Gitzo standards IMHO) I break it down here. See the second and third set of pictures.

I've seen your review a few times before - very well done. I've had my Benro TRAB069 for nearly 2 years now and have no problems with it. It is well constructed and very durable.

You can see a couple of shots of the Induro spider here and here. I wish they showed a little more.

I wonder why you can't get Induro on Ebay?

Yes I see they're very similar in ways, but styled and finished differently. More modern looking than the Benros which look like the previous generation Gitzos to be honest. Personally I don't mind that as I use Gitzos as well but this is the first time I've seen an Induro in some detail. They're a bit expensive at $600 though I think, but then that price includes advertising & distribution costs in the US. When you source from China you eliminate those costs.