Advice of Tripod purchase

Someone at work is offering me the below trippod kit. Is this a good tripod and a good deal on it?

Each piece is made by Bogen/Manfrotto. Links are to the B&H Photo page for each piece.

Bogen 3221 Tripod Legs: MSRP: $232 / B&H: $164 <http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …&Q=&sku=217266&​is=REG>;

Bogen 3063 Fluid Head: MSRP: $195 / B&H: $135 <http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …&Q=&sku=162660&​is=REG>;
* 3063 is discontinued, replaced by the 3433 shown

Bogen 3280 Tripod Bag: MSRP: $53.50 / B&H $41.95 <http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ls&Q=&sku=5570&​is=REG>;

Bogen 3048 Quick Release Plate: MSRP $34.00 / B&H $28.50 <http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …&Q=&sku=150529&​is=REG>;

Bogen 3117 Pan Handle: MSRP $21.00 / B&H $21.95 <http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ls&Q=&sku=5372&​is=REG>;

Total for the pieces: MSRP: $535.50 / B&H $391.40

B&H typically knocks off 15% for a kit: $332.69

My asking price for the whole lot: $220

Seems pretty good to me. If your not intersted and want to hook me up with your co-worker, that would be great!

This looks like a setup for video - a fluid head provides smooth panning while using video - nice, but not required for still photography. And video tripod heads are 2-way, which means you can pan and tilt up & down, but you cannot turn the camera to vertical without loosening the body from the head.

Sorry, with Manfrotto it is so difficult to trace the model numbers - USA, non-USA - but the quick release system seems to be for video as well.

It looks like good stuff, and the price seems to be good, but keep in mind the limitations of the head.

Have Fun,

You can find all Manfrotto / Bogen tripods, heads and other accessories on the Manfrotto website, with US and non-US part numbers.

The legs are good (3221)

But I would not want that head (fluid head) for camera work ...

I like the legs a lot - but they are big and heavy. They're more suited to big lenses rather small lenadscape lenses and/or hiking.

Yes, I know, and most of my camera support gear comes from them. But I just can't do all of that research and cross-checking to post a response in a thread. Sorry.

I ended up buying it all for $140

Why is this head not suited for still photography?

How'd you like to make a profit? I'll give you $150!

Mike330R wrote:
I ended up buying it all for $140

Why is this head not suited for still photography?

That's a pretty good price, and you will be able to use it with your camera, but you will not be able to tilt the camera vertically to take a vertical shot easily. As I mentioned above, the head will allow you to tilt the camera up and down, and you will be able to pan from side to side. Since it would be unusual to turn a camcorder on its side while taping, the heads designed for video don't provide a hinge that lets you do it. A 3-way head does.

As far as the quick release plate, it is long (like a camcorder) and it has pins that insert into the bottom of the camcorder so that it won't swivel when you pan. The pins can probably be removed if they get in the way of the bottom of your camera. It might be a little cumbersome with that long plate attached to the bottom of the camera, but that is up to you.

The fluid head is designed to pan smoothly, without jerky motions, which makes for a nicer video shot when you pan from side to side. It is a nice feature for video, but you will rarely need it for still photography since the short shutter speeds freeze the action.

Use it for a while and see how you like it. If you decide you don't, you can buy a new head of the type you want and you can probably sell the fluid head (maybe trade it in).

Have Fun,

Thanks for the info. I mounted my camera to it to try it and did not notice those pins you mentioned. I will look closer later tonight.