Tripod and ball head suggestions

[clandrm]

Hi.
I'm just starting out in nature photography and need to get a tripod.

I'd like something light enough to take on hikes and something that can support my Nikon D-50 and a 18-200 vr lens. Eventually, I want to get some faster lens, so I'd want the tripod to be able to handle that extra weight.

Also, I'd like to be able to shoot macro with the tripod as well.

I'd like to keep it in the $300-400 price range, if I can.

Thanks for your help.

Cindy

[Photobiologist]

Tripods are so "personal" and so much depends on how you use it, that it is hard for me to make recommendation. I guess I own 6 "good" tripods and 8 tripod heads use 4 of the tripods and 4 of the heads somewhat regularly.

For what you are saying, I'd take a look at a mid-range Bogen/Manfrotto (analagous to the OLD 190) that lets the legs spread at different angles and has a short (or no) center column as the tripod and some sort of ball head (like the Bogen/Manfrotto 3265 squeeze-grip ball head - or the one where you squeeze on the side). Neither of those is the "current" model number - both of those have been replaced by something newer and better, but a similar combination should serve you well. You should be able to find something like that used and stay in that price range.

If you shop really hard, maybe you can get a better tripod and really good ballhead in your price range...

Hopefully, some other folks will chime in with better words of wisdom...

[mdaphoto]

two words, carbon fiber. most of what you hear about carbon fiber is the reduced weight. but they are also much stiffer than an aluminum trypod. i was amazed when i got my first one. well worth the extra money.

you are buying this to steady your camera, that is what anybody buys a trypod for. a trypod with three leg extentions will be more solid than one made with four leg extentions, it will be a bit longer when folded up, but a small price to pay for the extra ridgidity.

you mentioned doing macros so you problay want one with a reversable center colum, one where you can reverse the center colum so the camera is under the trypod. this realy helps when tring to get down low to the ground. most upper end trypos have legs that can be spread out to lower the head, but this will still leave your camera lens up off the ground several inches. whith the center colum reverse you can get the camera to touch the ground if you want to.

make sure you get a set of legs tall enough to get to your eye level or slightl above it without extending the center colum. extending the center colum starts to give the camera leverage to shake the trypod (not what you are after)

purchasing a tryod is probaly the best thing anybody can do to improve thier photography (as long as it is not left in the trunk of your car). with the light weight rig you now have i think you would be best off getting the best set of legs that you can posibly aford and scimping on the ball head (just make sure it is rated for double what your rig weighs now, something in the 6-8 lb range should do. later if you get bigger glass you can upgrade your ball head, but your legs will be able to take it.

[chandsa]

Like someone else had mentioned earlier choosing a tripod is quite personal. When I was looking for a tripod, I considered the Gitzo (more expensive because of the carbon fiber technology they use) and the Bogen/Manfrotto. Ultimately I ended up buying the Manfrotto 3021BPRO. The one thing I dislike about this tripod is its weight. Having said that, the 3021BPRO comes with a center column (that I rarely find useful) that can be completely disconnected to enable the tripod to go absolutely flat on the ground! There is a screw in mechanism at the bottom of the center column and you can rotate this till the center column is disengaged and put it away.

Now talking about the weight, the 3021BPRO is good to build some serious biceps! I shoot with a D200 and a BH-55 ball head. Sometimes when hiking the total weight of the system drives me crazy, but when I use it I forget about the weight..:) Its about half the price of the carbon-fiber Gitzo models. I used the $$$ saved to get myself another lens.

Coming to the ball head, hands down the BH-55 (quite expensive though) from Really Right Stuff is a winner! I wanted to buy one ball head that will last me probably for the next 5-6 years, and this one fit the bill perfectly. I am very happy with the performance of this combination. However, I will once again repeat that if weight is your primary concern, the 3021BPRO tripod is not what you would want. I'd consider the Gitzo 1325 or whatever its replacement is. You can probably find a used 1325 for a lot less than what you will pay for a new one. I'd probably check on eBay or maybe even the Buy/Sell forums on this website to see if anyone is selling a used 1325.

Cheers!

[clandrm]

Thanks for your input. Let the search begin.

Cindy

[SkipP]

Take a look at the Induro brand of Carbon Fiber tripods. They have all the benifits of C-F plus, the legs don't rotate when the locks are applied. One of the benifits of C-F not mentioned yet is cold weather use. Here on the coast, it's not that big a deal but in colder climes, aluminum will suck all the heat out of your hands and still remain cold. C-F warms much quicker. Big plus in my book!

If you are looking at seperate heads, the Kirk BH-3 is well up to the equipment you currently own and has a lot of capacity for future growth. It holds my Sigma 100-300 f4 and Canon 20D with no problem.

Not sure where you live but one of the most frustrating things to me is the lack of stores where you can "play" with quality tripods, heads and other stuff to see what suits you.

Best of luck!

Skip Pudney