need some tripod help

im looking for a tripod, somthing light and easy to cary, but stable.....

how is this?
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …5B_Digi_Black_T​ripod.html

In my opinion it is impossible to achieve the ultimate dream of a light, easily carried but stable tripod. Simply because weight contributes to the stability. So a compromise must be struck.

Only you know what weight tripod you are prepared to carry. All I would say is go for the best quality and heaviest you are prepared to tolerate. I use the Manfrotto 055PROB, its hardly the most stable, nor is it particularly light. Instead it's where I have chosen to draw my compromise.

Having said that, I think its fair to say that the worst tripod ever made would be better than no tripod at all.

Richard

get the one that will support a little more then your heaviest body and lenses combo. like the above poster already mention most member would recommend the 055XPROB with 488rc2 ballhead.

Bill

You would be well served with the 190 3-section leg set, rather than that one you linked to with the 4-section legs.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …B_Tripod_Legs_B​lack_.html

"The Bogen/Manfrotto 190XDB Tripod Legs with 486RC2 Compact Ballhead builds on the success of the 3001 series, but has been redesigned to offer better ergonomics of the leg-angle release mechanism. The redesigned leg-angle presets allow the camera to be positioned at all intermediate heights, from minimum to maximum extension. Ideal for use with cameras up to SLR size with medium pro zoom lens attached. "

The 3001 was a very widely accepted leg set 15 years ago as the 'minimum' level of quality for a good workable tripod with light weight.

Available with a wide variety of heads...here is one

"The 486RC2 offers a strong die-cast aluminum housing plus an exceptionally hard, tough, phenolic resin ball that moves smoothly into position. It features a single control for complete 360° pan/90° tilt, fast even movement, instantly locked off in any position. Suitable for any 35mm SLR or light medium format camera."

Lowner wrote in post #4993545
In my opinion it is impossible to achieve the ultimate dream of a light, easily carried but stable tripod. Simply because weight contributes to the stability. So a compromise must be struck.

Only you know what weight tripod you are prepared to carry. All I would say is go for the best quality and heaviest you are prepared to tolerate. I use the Manfrotto 055PROB, its hardly the most stable, nor is it particularly light. Instead it's where I have chosen to draw my compromise.

Having said that, I think its fair to say that the worst tripod ever made would be better than no tripod at all.

Richard

Well, you can easily add weight to a tripod but it is really hard, and expensive to take it off.

For what its worth, I did some testing of my Gitzo tripods using 672mm equivalent focal length and a laser pointer. Jumping up and down next to the tripods (two of them) I could not get a measurable difference in them vs standing still. In other words, they did an excellent job in damping any vibration that came up through the feet - the sort of vibration that would most benefit from additional mass. So, I think the idea of mass on a properly design tripod is highly overrated and probably not necessary.

Too, I have a very cheap tripod that in a breeze is worse than hand holding because it will get to vibrating with a mechanical resonance of sorts at 15kn of wind or so. The mechanical design is very important and a tripod is much more than three sticks to which you mount a camera.

Again, there is light, stable and cheap as tripod characteristics. You can pick any two of those but you can't get all three in the same tripod.

Some links that explain much of this:
http://bythom.com/supp​ort.htm
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/t​ripods_&_heads.shtml
http://markins.com/cha​rlie/report4e6.pdf


J.

supra8903 wrote in post #4993118
im looking for a tripod, somthing light and easy to cary, but stable.....

how is this?
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …5B_Digi_Black_T​ripod.html

Tell us what you think "light" means and "easy to carry" means. Also what lenses do you intend to use on this tripod and in what conditions?

J

im using a nikon d40x with a 55-200, its about the size of a rebel xti.
i need a horizonal column, for macro work.....
i would like it to be under 200 usd, i would like to hike with this tripod, but my budget is more important than weight...., also if it could fold to fit in a suitcase for traveling it would be great.


Thanks,

Joe

im thinking a 055XPROB legs, but what head (kit with b&H), also how are these legs

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …B_Tripod_Legs_B​lack_.html

I use the 055xProB with the 804RC2 3-way pan head. It is rock solid, has a horizontal column, supports 8.8 lbs., but weighs 7 lbs. All for $236 at B&H. If you are wanting to go lighter with a horizontal column & support more weight, then you probably will need Carbon Fiber & the price doubles.

how is the 3-way pan head.....

all anyone talks about is ballheads..

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …B_Tripod_Legs_B​lack_.html

i think this might be it... let me know ifs any good

supra8903 wrote in post #4997536
im thinking a 055XPROB legs, but what head (kit with b&H), also how are these legs

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …B_Tripod_Legs_B​lack_.html

That or one of the Feisols and a manfrotto 488RC2 ballhead. Should come in right about $200 maybe a touch over and still be relatively lightweight too.

J.

supra8903 wrote in post #4997699
how is the 3-way pan head.....

all anyone talks about is ballheads..

Yeah that is all I heard about as well when I was in the market for a new tripod. Then I started playing with the ballheads & decided they were too sloppy, especially if you have a long lens on your camera. What I like about a 3-way pan head is if you want to position your camera from horizontal to vertical, you make one adjustment, not multiple as with a ballhead. Plus I wanted to pan head for panoramics which increased the price dramatically for a ballhead w/panning.

I know that there are very few mentions of Velbon tripods here, but the one I picked up about 6 months ago from Amazon is a dream:

http://www.amazon.com …ics&qid=1204085​538&sr=8-7

It has a very good magnesium panhead and all together weighs les than 4 pounds. It says it will hold 25 lbs, and I would not hesitat to put a large view camera on it. I also got a ball head from Amazon, the QHD-51Q which is not listed now.

The carbon fiber leg, magnesium frame tripod is very sturdy, very light, very quick setup and, with quick interchange of the heads, ectremely versatile. The construction quality of the tripod appears, at least to me as a retired Aerospace Quality Engineer, to be excellent and definitely worth the money.

The only thing I might wish different is I had gotten a QH-61D ball head instead of the 51. BUT, the 51 carries the load of my Rebel XT, 430EX and Canon 75-300 quite well and with great stability and security. I just think the larger size of the 61 might feel better in my hands.

Whatever brand you chose, look seriously at Velbon and especially look at Carbon Fiber. Light weight, stronger than steel, vibration damping built in. And lighter than Aluminum. If you can swing the price difference, CF is the ONLY way to go.

YMMV

You don't say how tall you are .
Stewping over to take a picture is bad for you and camera - too easy to lose your balance .
How far are you carrying it ? There is a difference between parking the car , hiking to the top - bottom and going down the grand canyon .