Tripod Upgrade?

I bought a standard 53" Dynex Tripod back when I first got my t1i.

http://www.bestbuy.com …6&loc=01&id=119​6470448706

I've used it to shoot with the kit lens and 50mm f/1.8 with great results. I recently purchased the 70-200mm f/4L and want to know if simply buying a tripod mount ring and using this tripod would work...or if i should get a more sturdy tripod to support the weight? if you think i should upgrade, can you give me recommendations on what to get without breaking the bank? thanks!

Actually you would benefit from both a tripod ring and a better tripod. You can buy the chinese knockoff rings cheap on ebay but do spend an appropriate amount to get a decent tripod. I don't know how to say this nicely, but your current tripod is in the "junk" category. It's primarily designed for home videos and consume video cameras.

While Canon doesn't supply a ring standard on the lens, it's just a much better idea to balance the camera and lens mass on the tripod rather than cantilever it out from the tripod mount on the camera body. I always shoot mine (f/4 IS) from either a monopod or a tripod using a ring.

Here's some tripod reading for you:

http://bythom.com/supp​ort.htm
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/t​ripods_&_heads.shtml
http://markins.com/cha​rlie/report4e6.pdf

Both that 70-200 f/4 and the 50mm will perform very well when you give them a good stable base.

J.

thanks john for the reply. i couldnt make out what you were saying from your middle paragraph...i should upgrade with a better tripod and also get the tripod mount ring for the lens...

yea the tripod i have is as basic as it gets and its given me exactly what i paid for it, but im just not an expert in tripods, so i wouldnt know what tripod really is the best bang for the buck...

thanks again for your help!

Tripods are tough. There are no industry standards or common testing methods. There are also a lot of knockoffs that look great but have less than stellar performance. Gitzo's top of the Line, Feisol is a good cheaper alternative. Manfrotto is a solid manufacturer of tripods although typically not light weight. In general, expect to pay what you'd pay for a decent lens for the tripod/head combination especially if light weight is a concern.

What I was saying up above is that if you mount your camera and lens by the base of the camera - you are hanging all that weight out on the end of a big lever. That's going to be more prone to problems with vibration (i.e. softness) than is the whole thing mounted by a tripod ring.

J.

thanks john. yea i need a tripod ring for sure...im looking at the optika ring off amazon for the 70-200 f4. dont want an ebay knockoff to malfunction and my 70-200 and t1i end up on the ground...

for an amateur shooter whos just getting to know the ropes of photography, i dont think i can justify paying 200-300 for a tripod, but i do know that i need one that can deliver images with great quality

ayee007 wrote in post #10234097
thanks john. yea i need a tripod ring for sure...im looking at the optika ring off amazon for the 70-200 f4. dont want an ebay knockoff to malfunction and my 70-200 and t1i end up on the ground...

for an amateur shooter whos just getting to know the ropes of photography, i dont think i can justify paying 200-300 for a tripod, but i do know that i need one that can deliver images with great quality

In that case, get an inexpensive Manfrotto aluminum tripod and the 496RC2 head. Check them at B&H online.

THe Manfrotto Aluminum is a good suggestion. The rule of thumb is that tripods can be cheap, stable and lightweight - pick any two but you can't get all three. Stable, heavy and inexpensive means Aluminum and will perform great. I think it's the Manfrotto 3021 (or there might be a new model number for that).

J.

ayee007 wrote in post #10234097
thanks john. yea i need a tripod ring for sure...im looking at the optika ring off amazon for the 70-200 f4. dont want an ebay knockoff to malfunction and my 70-200 and t1i end up on the ground...

for an amateur shooter whos just getting to know the ropes of photography, i dont think i can justify paying 200-300 for a tripod, but i do know that i need one that can deliver images with great quality

stay away from those knockoffs

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yea i will...i cant afford a canon ring, but is the optika a good replacement? i figure i go with a brand that actually makes canon product replacements...

I went with this one...

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ro_780DX_Tripod​_with.html

I mean, tripod rings aren't exactly rocket science. It's really not worth a lot of thought.

J.

JohnJ80 wrote in post #10245093
I mean, tripod rings aren't exactly rocket science. It's really not worth a lot of thought.

J.

very true, but get a bad one and 1K worth of gear is smashed!

ayee007 wrote in post #10233853
I bought a standard 53" Dynex Tripod back when I first got my t1i.

http://www.bestbuy.com …6&loc=01&id=119​6470448706

I've used it to shoot with the kit lens and 50mm f/1.8 with great results. I recently purchased the 70-200mm f/4L and want to know if simply buying a tripod mount ring and using this tripod would work...or if i should get a more sturdy tripod to support the weight? if you think i should upgrade, can you give me recommendations on what to get without breaking the bank? thanks!

this thread helped me a lot,good info from smart people here.
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=872250
I ended up spending $275,but in the long run and investment in lenses,it's good with me.

ayee007 wrote in post #10245126
very true, but get a bad one and 1K worth of gear is smashed!

It's pretty obvious if it's a good one or a bad one. It's just a metal ring with a nut on it. Definitely can overthink this one.

J.

tattooDan wrote in post #10245159
this thread helped me a lot,good info from smart people here.
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=872250
I ended up spending $275,but in the long run and investment in lenses,it's good with me.

thanks for the ideas!