Tripod Selection Help

I have Manfrotto 055cxpro3 legs, with a Markins Q10 ballhead. I like the combination - it's tall enough for me (I'm 6'3") to use without raising the centre column, stable and relatively light (about 1.6kg without the ballhead). I like the centre column that can be deployed horizontally (the "pro" part of the name), as it allows me versatility in getting low and sideways for macro shots.

However, it is not small when collapsed - 65 cm without the ballhead, 75cm with the Q10.

In other words, it's light enough to carry to your shoot (but maybe not all day), but too bulky to be a useful travel tripod.

mnphotos wrote in post #14919080
Anyone have an opinion on the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 tripod legs? It gets very good reviews on B&H.

Ed

It is a good tripod no doubt, but I do have a rather negative take on it as will be explained below.


At 1.6kg, the manfrotto weighs almost as much for the legs alone as my Feisol 3441T with head. For a CF tripod with the Manfrotto's specs, that is heavy; it is shorter when extended (W/O centre column) and longer when folded, than the Feisol, it is also only rated for 8kg (whatever that means, since in practice I've found the 055 to be very stable, but in any case its lower than most other mid-high end CF tripods, and much lower than expected given the weight). It also has flip locks (mostly personal preference I know, but I dislike them, and as has been stated many-a-time, there's a reason the higher end mfg's only offer twist locks).

The reason for the increased weight is no doubt the result of the horizontal column feature; it requires a lot of extra metal and plastic to implement, and the flip locks are probably heavier than twist locks as well.

With a head added, you'll be looking at around 2.2kg or close to 5lbs. IMO that is not a lightweight tripod, and if you think about it, its only 200g or not even half a pound lighter than your current tripod setup, making it rather pointless to buy as a lightweight alternative.

Sirrith wrote in post #14919452
It is a good tripod no doubt, but I do have a rather negative take on it as will be explained below.


At 1.6kg, the manfrotto weighs almost as much for the legs alone as my Feisol 3441T with head. For a CF tripod with the Manfrotto's specs, that is heavy; it is shorter when extended (W/O centre column) and longer when folded, than the Feisol, it is also only rated for 8kg (whatever that means, since in practice I've found the 055 to be very stable, but in any case its lower than most other mid-high end CF tripods, and much lower than expected given the weight). It also has flip locks (mostly personal preference I know, but I dislike them, and as has been stated many-a-time, there's a reason the higher end mfg's only offer twist locks).

The reason for the increased weight is no doubt the result of the horizontal column feature; it requires a lot of extra metal and plastic to implement, and the flip locks are probably heavier than twist locks as well.

With a head added, you'll be looking at around 2.2kg or close to 5lbs. IMO that is not a lightweight tripod, and if you think about it, its only 200g or not even half a pound lighter than your current tripod setup, making it rather pointless to buy as a lightweight alternative.

Good points. I definitely want to get the weight down. I'm not as concerned about folded size as I am about total weight. I'll keep looking.

Thanks,
Ed

mnphotos wrote in post #14919497
Good points. I definitely want to get the weight down. I'm not as concerned about folded size as I am about total weight. I'll keep looking.

Thanks,
Ed

I actually just helped my friend buy a lightweight tripod; he had a strict budget, so Feisol was out of the question, but I helped him settle on the Benro C2682tb1 which he is very happy with. Its not quite as sturdy as my Feisol, nor as light, but its a very good compromise in terms of weight, stability, and price. You could look into that too, just for the sake of having more options.

How about this one: Oben CT-2320.
Specs look good.

Ed

HazChem wrote in post #14898627
Look at Photoclam 36NS. It is in your budget and is very comparable to the Q3T. I have it mated to the 3441S and the legs fold down perfectly. I ended up upgrading the shoe to an RRS but only because I preferred a lever than a screw clamp.

I have this exact same setup, and am very pleased with the results. The combo provides a lightweight and solid platform. The Feisol is compact enough to easily fit in my luggage, and the Photoclam ballhead is an improvement over my old Giottos head, as it does not droop at all when you lock it down. I prefer the screw clamps over a lever, too.

This is what I'm thinking of getting after reading all of the suggestions and doing a lot of research.

Photo Clam Pro Gold II QR

http://reallybigcamera​s.com/PhotoClam/Pro_Go​ld_II.htm

FEISOL CT-3342

http://reallybigcamera​s.com/Feisol/Tournamen​t_Class.htm

Comments welcome.

Thanks,
Ed

No idea about the head, but get the RAL version of the legs; its more expensive but worth it. IMO they shouldn't really offer the non-RAL legs anymore (perhaps they're just getting rid of old stock now?)

Sirrith wrote in post #14923732
No idea about the head, but get the RAL version of the legs; its more expensive but worth it. IMO they shouldn't really offer the non-RAL legs anymore (perhaps they're just getting rid of old stock now?)

Can you please elaborate on what you mean by the "RAL version of the legs"?

Thanks,
Ed

EDIT: never mind, I found the answer and the tripod I linked to does have the RAL (Rapid Action Legs) feature.

mnphotos wrote in post #14923721
This is what I'm thinking of getting after reading all of the suggestions and doing a lot of research.

Photo Clam Pro Gold II QR

http://reallybigcamera​s.com/PhotoClam/Pro_Go​ld_II.htm

FEISOL CT-3342

http://reallybigcamera​s.com/Feisol/Tournamen​t_Class.htm

Comments welcome.

Thanks,
Ed

mnphotos wrote in post #14923788
Can you please elaborate on what you mean by the "RAL version of the legs"?

Thanks,
Ed

EDIT: never mind, I found the answer and the tripod I linked to does have the RAL (Rapid Action Legs) feature.

The 3342 you linked to at RBC is the same one that Ben Jacobsen reviewed at B&H. He's a member here as well (jacobsen1). The RAL version is $388 at RBC. You should also know that Kerry at RBC hasn't been responding to people's emails. I don't know if he ever cleared the air, but lots of people complained that he wouldn't reply to emails for weeks. I was considering buying another Feisol, but he never responded to me and so I didn't buy one.

mnphotos wrote in post #14923788
Can you please elaborate on what you mean by the "RAL version of the legs"?

Thanks,
Ed

Equally puzzled, I had to Google 'tripod' and 'RAL' to learn:
"At the recent PMA photo industry trade show, Feisol announced their new Rapid Tripod and Monopod models with RAL (Rapid Action Legs) anti-rotation legs. "

klr.b wrote in post #14924278
The 3342 you linked to at RBC is the same one that Ben Jacobsen reviewed at B&H. He's a member here as well (jacobsen1). The RAL version is $388 at RBC. You should also know that Kerry at RBC hasn't been responding to people's emails. I don't know if he ever cleared the air, but lots of people complained that he wouldn't reply to emails for weeks. I was considering buying another Feisol, but he never responded to me and so I didn't buy one.

I'm not necessarily going to buy from RBC. I just used the links to show the product.

I'll likely buy from B&H since that's where I buy most of my photography equipment. Thanks for the comments though.

Ed

EDIT: I read the review of the 3342 on B&H and have decided to cross it off of my list. Now I'm thinking of the Induro CT213 or Oben CT-2320 along with the Pro Gold II QR Ballhead.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …rbon_8X_CT213_T​ripod.html

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Section_Carbon_​Fiber.html

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …PG2QR_Pro_Gold_​II_QR.html

My list keeps changing but these are the tripods I've narrowed it down to.

FEISOL CT-3442
Induro CT213
Induro CT214
Oben CT-2320

The ball head of choice is still the Photo Clam Pro Gold II QR.

Sorry to bore you with all of this.

Ed

mnphotos wrote in post #14928111
My list keeps changing but these are the tripods I've narrowed it down to.

FEISOL CT-3442
Induro CT213
Induro CT214
Oben CT-2320

The ball head of choice is still the Photo Clam Pro Gold II QR.

Sorry to bore you with all of this.

Ed

If the 3-section Feisol 3342 got a 2 out of 5 review from Ben, I don't think the 4-section 3442 will be any better.

My personal opinion is that Feisol charges way too much for their tripods. I think it has to do with the perception of value. For instance Benro charges a fraction of Gitzo, but they're perceived as cheap tripods. Feisol charges about half of Gitzo, and they're perceived as better quality than Benro. Yet I feel Benro tripods are designed much better than the Feisols.

I haven't tried an Oben tripod yet, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Induro over the Feisol.

klr.b wrote in post #14928374
If the 3-section Feisol 3342 got a 2 out of 5 review from Ben, I don't think the 4-section 3442 will be any better.

I wondered about that also but found this review of the CT-3442 which says it's a decent tripod.

http://www.dentonimage​s.com …Anti-Rotation_Legs_Review

The Indura is at the top of my list so I think we are in agreement with that one anyway.

Thanks for your comments.

Ed