Choosing a tripod

[joey]

I have been looking for a monopod once. The guys on this forum recommended Manfrotto 680 and Manfrotto 3232 head. It was a good buy, I have been carrying it with me everywhere. But it’s not suitable for some shots so I am looking for a tripod.

Any recommendations?

My budget is $350; I am 185cm tall. I will buy a zoom telephoto lens and probably D200 or D300.

Thanks!

[AndyL]

Joey, Check the bargains section. With a slight stretching of your budget you could make it to a Benro setup.

Cheers

[robert]

might be able to get some ideas on tripod on this thread..
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=31075

Benro carbon are basically the same as a gitzo which are pretty much as good as it gets (so i hear), so my next one will be a benro.

Robert

[joey]

Two Benro models listed in the Bargain section have maxim height of 177cm. With the camera fitted on one of these tripods, the viewfinder would be just reaching my eyes. It’d be ideal to have a tripod which is a little bit higher than 177cm. No?

[AndyL]

177cm + height of head (say 10cm) + height to viewfinder (say 8cm) = a VF height above my head - I am 186cm with an eye line at approximately 175cm.

It would be better to get the VF to a comfortable eye level with absolutely minimal use of the centre column. A 155cm (+ column) tripod is usually plenty for all but the tallest. How tall are you?

Cheers

[joey]

185cm tall; I indicated this in my original post.

I've seen photographers standing up on a chair to take some shots. I had to stand up on a bench a couple times myself when I could not fit the top of a building in frame.

I was not suggesting you will need to use the maximum height of the tripod every time you take a picture. However, when the greater height is needed, it's good to have this option. $450 for a 177cm tripod? I'd consider other models too.

Anymore more suggestions on tripods other than those listed in the bargain section?

[AndyL]

There is the Manfrotto 055. Similar pricing for AL but more for CF (~$200 more).

[joey]

In case if anyone else is looking for information on tripods:
http://www.nikonians.org/tripods/

[libertyterran]

Two Benro models listed in the Bargain section have maxim height of 177cm. With the camera fitted on one of these tripods, the viewfinder would be just reaching my eyes. It’d be ideal to have a tripod which is a little bit higher than 177cm. No?

Have you taken into account the ballhead height + the QR mount & plate height? That would be well more than 177cm.