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Hi guys.

I'm currently looking for the best tripod and ballhead I can get for about 300 to 400 dollars. I'm aware of the advice to spend big at the start, and save later, but this is certainly as far as I can stretch, as I'm about to become a poor uni student. Also this sum is fairly significant, as I'm yet to expand my camera gear past the D70 body and Kit lens and a 1gb Card. I'm looking to add some other stuff, so spending more on a tripod will just hinder me.

Now as for choice:
I see the Manfrotto gear as probably the best for my price range. Maybe the 190Pro B legs? I have no real idea on which ball head to choose, as this is new territory for me (I only just recently put my mind to it and grasped the blindingly obvious reason for using a ballhead rather than a 3 axis head). Weight is not a huge concideration, as I'm a reasonable size and strength, but obviously lugging around one with lead inserts in is not going to be fun.

So:
Any real lemons to avoid?
Any low price ballheads around other than the Manfrottos?
What should I really be looking for?

Also, an recommended shops for this sort of thing (well, Birddog doesn't carry tripods in this range, so you've gotta go somewhere right :p )
Suggestions and Tips very much appreciated.

PM huynhie, he has a near new Manfrotto 055 for sale around $200.00, he mentioned it last Saturday, cos he just got the G1325, I saw his tripod (Man 055), it's look new to me, then looking for a head at Vanbar store.

Pippin,

I have a Manfrotto 486RC2 ball head and a couple of plates if you are interested.

They are near new, as I should have listened to Birddog in the first place and purchased the Markins, which I now have.

Cheers,

Darryl.

What sort of price are you looking for plukaduck? And what plates do you have?

I don't see myself quickly outstripping 6kgs of support.

Why do you find you need the Markins (very nice looking piece of gear)? The weight and size of the 70-200VR?

pippin88 wrote:What sort of price are you looking for plukaduck? And what plates do you have?

I don't see myself quickly outstripping 6kgs of support.

you better have look at those by real eye, don't settle anything less!

Why do you find you need the Markins (very nice looking piece of gear)? The weight of the 70-200VR?

That's why you need come to the workshop or mini meet.

Could not tell you why untill you touch and try them.

Birddog114 wrote:

pippin88 wrote:What sort of price are you looking for plukaduck? And what plates do you have?

I don't see myself quickly outstripping 6kgs of support.

you better have look at those by real eye, don't settle anything less!

I don't quite understand. Do you mean I need to inspect plukaduck's actually tripod head, or simply the 486 in general to see what the quality / usefullness really is?

Edit: Ok, will endevour to make one of the meets. It's a bit hard as a fair bit of the time I get with my girlfriend is on Saturdays.

No, cos you haven't seen these heads: Markins, RRS, Arcratech and The one from pluckaduck, you don't need the other first three heads, but you may have the understanding why I and other members got the Markin or Arcratech or RRS BH55, No shop in Australia wide carry them and none of them know what are you talking about if happens you ask them.

pippin88
But the the 486CR2 may suit you in money talk and your requirements.
It's a nice head from Manfrotto and will work well with 055B.
"Never try you never know"

Pippin,

What Birddog is telling you is, that you will not buy a Manfrotto brand head if you are to experience using the other brands. There is nothing wrong with the head I have and in fact it is brand new.

I have 2 x 200 self locking plates for the ball head.

The problem is with the quality of the Manfrotto brand when compared to the Markins and others.

What you need to decide is the money you are paying for the other brands warranted. In my opinion, it is, hence my decision to purchase the Markins and retire the Manfrotto.

Cheers,

Darryl.

Pippin,

I have the Manfrotto C190 tripod with h/duty Manfrotto ball head (left over from a previous outfit), also the "Video" head. I think its a good combo but nowhere near the quality of what is being recommended to you.

However, if ever you intend upgrading to a VR or similar lens this rig is simiply not up to it as a stable easy to use platform. I have seen Plucka's outfit (VR Lens lust) and can understand why he had to upgrade. Take Birdys advice, before you do anything attend a meet and let him show you the difference before you make a decision or buy anything.

My 2 cents worth......

Regards,

Andy

Pippin, what you're looking to get is really middle ground in terms of tripod/head combo's.

You will read of everyone's near universal recommendations to buy it right the first time (ie. go top shelf stuff). This advice of many with experience may still be difficult to convince you, or fall of deaf ears... But understand the intentions are honourable, we really are trying to do you a favour - to save you money in the long run! I sometimes think it's a rite of passage for nearly all amateur photographers to have to experience this and learn from it.

If this is your first tripod, I would suggest with your impending 'poor student' status, buy a cheapie Slik or Velbon that's under $100 which will serve you adequately currently, and use it thoroughly. You'll learn and identify the issues and problems of the cheapie generic tripod, and then you'll stand to better understand what you need from a tripod support system. This is alot cheaper than finding out what you thought was your 'ultimate' manfrotto setup falls short in 1 or 2 areas which will cost considerably to rectify. I know from experience that it is a fallacy to think a decent mid-range manfrotto setup will be all that you need.

(NB: it's not so much the need for heavy support, but rather the inherent stability offered by a setup that's capable of supporting a ridiculous mass)

plukaduck wrote:Pippin,

What Birddog is telling you is, that you will not buy a Manfrotto brand head if you are to experience using the other brands. There is nothing wrong with the head I have and in fact it is brand new.

I have 2 x 200 self locking plates for the ball head.

The problem is with the quality of the Manfrotto brand when compared to the Markins and others.

What you need to decide is the money you are paying for the other brands warranted. In my opinion, it is, hence my decision to purchase the Markins and retire the Manfrotto.

Cheers,

Darryl.

Darryl & pippin88,
What I have said is: pippin88's budget is around $400.00 to spend on the leg and head, the Man 486CRC2 is the one stay within his budget + the leg 055 from Hyunhie if he wants to contact him to see, is it still available.
Then come to the meet on the 12/2, while he's seeing all of those legs and heads on show, he'll understand and get more ideas why people switched to other brand of heads as RRS BH55Pro, Markin and Arcratech.

The Man 486CRC2 is perfect for what's he after and stay within his budget, I knew Darryl got it before Xmas 04 and he hardly use it same as the leg from huynhie. Good oppotunity to buy at a special prices, check prices from Vanbar or other outlets and you'll see.

To choose heads and legs, I'm not going to convince anyone have to get the same gears I did, cos monies are an object, and perhaps it's overkilled with your current camera kit so a good chance to see all of them at the meet and build yourself a good knowledges of the gadgets.

Pippin,

I have just PM you back.

Just to let you know, I basically out grew this 055ProB and the 168 head. When I first got into photography this setup was more than adequate for my needs untill I started buying bigger cameras and lenses. Once you place more stress on your tripod head and leg you will notice the shortcomming of Manfrotto, hense my upgrade to the Gitzo 1325 and Arca Swiss B1.

If you budget is tight and you know that you not going to get a bigger camera then the D70 and not bigger lense then the 70-200 VR then by all means go and get the Manfrotto, But as most prople have said if you have a deep wallet and know that your interest in photography is going to become serious then dont waste your money with the Manfrotto setup, head straight to the top and get a Gitzo, the difference is like black and white.

Pippin,

as Birddog has also said, it is best to look at the leg and head combo for your self and then make your judgement. Do not read too much into the specs of the tripod as they can be abit misleading.

Come along to the meet and see for your self the difference and why people eventually go to Gitzo, RRS, Arca swiss, and Markins etc. I'll also bring along the 055prob and 168 head for you to compare.

I currently have a cheapish tripod (around $100) that has a 3 axis head. When holding only the D70 and kit lens (about 1kg) it dips severly towards one side. Consequently I have to alter the leg settings many times to get the level each time I move the tripod. So I have used a cheap tripod and it did severly limit me.

I know I won't be moving into big heavy camera gear for years, and I don't think I'll atain anything like the 70-200VR soon either. So I don't think I'll outgrow a decent setup soon.

I'll likely be at Birddogs this saturday to have a look at various setups.