Tripod and head recommendation

[devilla101]

Hey folks

Looking into getting a better, sturdier tripod for my type of shooting which is mainly portraiture. I own a Velbon Sherpa (190 I think) and was kinda fed up with putting my gripped Canon 5D and 70-200 since it was flimsy and tend to tilt slightly forward whenever I let go.

Regarding weight, I don't do any long bushwalks. I tend to drive, walk a few meters then setup

My tripod picks are

Manfrotto 058B Triaut Tripod Black = Height and sturdier (6kg) + One push system but $$$
Manfrotto 055PROB Pro = Light (2.4kg. Not as tall as above


For the Heads I have zero knowledge but I was recommended:
Manfrotto 804RC2
Manfrotto 488RC4 Quick Release Midi Ball Head


Any help appreciated. I'm planning on purchasing the tripods at Quality Camera Sales

Thanks

[bouyant_clown]

Hi mate,
have you checked out the benro branded options available in the bargains section through HK Supplies? These are probably around a similar price but you would end up with a CF tripod rather than Aluminium (or you can ask for the price for the aluminium benro option and hope to save some $$$). There also a copy of the manfrotto 'joystick' style head available at considerable price saving.
cheers,

[Kris]

Ron, I get the same issue with the ballhead tilting forward with my 85L its VERY annoying. Is this because the ballhead can't support the weight? My 5D/85L combo doesnt weigh anywhere near the limit of the ballhead...

Im using a Slik 340DX leg support with a Manfrotto head, the one with the seperate adjustment knob for pano, I believe it has a 8kg ballhead load.

[Trieu]

Buddy, I recommend Benro.... quality is great, price is even better for what you get and I reckon it is the best value for your dollar.

Check out the ones from Gary or at the next meet you can check out mine.

[who]

Buddy, I recommend Benro.... quality is great, price is even better for what you get and I reckon it is the best value for your dollar.

Check out the ones from Gary or at the next meet you can check out mine.

How high is the Benro? That is the advantage with the 055PRO from my research, it it tall enough for 6'3" people to use without stooping.

I am currently looking and shopping around at present.

I am very tempted by the 055PROB and 488RC2 personally.

[Trieu]

Buddy, I recommend Benro.... quality is great, price is even better for what you get and I reckon it is the best value for your dollar.

Check out the ones from Gary or at the next meet you can check out mine.

How high is the Benro? That is the advantage with the 055PRO from my research, it it tall enough for 6'3" people to use without stooping.

I am currently looking and shopping around at present.

I am very tempted by the 055PROB and 488RC2 personally.

I am 178cm and I have to tippie toe to reach the top when it is extended, but then there is the middle section that is still yet to be extended, probably another 30-40cm easy.. I'd have to check when I get home.

[ATJ]

I love my Bogen 3021 with 3047 head. I think that is the same as the Manfrotto 055CL with 029 Head. It is rock solid, although too heavy to carry around too much.

I'm 180cm and fully extended it is just the right height for me although could probably be a couple of centimetres higher and not cause me problems. For someone 10cm taller, you would have to stoop a little. Extending the centre column is not a good idea unless you are remote triggering as you get a bit of movement through the column.

[gstark]

Extending the centre column is not a good idea unless you are remote triggering as you get a bit of movement through the column.

Unless ???

You should always be using some sort of remote or the self timer) hen using a camera on a tripod.

[dviv]

I love my Bogen 3021 with 3047 head. I think that is the same as the Manfrotto 055CL with 029 Head. It is rock solid, although too heavy to carry around too much.

I'm 180cm and fully extended it is just the right height for me although could probably be a couple of centimetres higher and not cause me problems. For someone 10cm taller, you would have to stoop a little. Extending the centre column is not a good idea unless you are remote triggering as you get a bit of movement through the column.

I'll second that. I have the US equivalent of the 055ProB and it's great.

Because my camera is quite light I only got the 486RC2 - It's very solid and doesn't sag even with the 70-200F/4IS

[Trieu]

I also forgot to mention the ballhead adds some extra height also....

[ATJ]

Extending the centre column is not a good idea unless you are remote triggering as you get a bit of movement through the column.

Unless ???

You should always be using some sort of remote or the self timer) hen using a camera on a tripod.

I don't agree. Shooting moving targets, such as cars, birds, etc. requires normal firing of the camera but a tripod can still be used to provide added stability of the camera.

[moz]

I am 178cm and I have to tippie toe to reach the top when it is extended

I'm 185cm and have a 3 section benro with Benro ball head, that's comfy for me to use on flat ground when fully extended. I suspect even someone 10cm taller would have few to no issues. That's without the centre column extended at all.

What I have done is drill 3mm holes through the feet on the tripod to make it easier to extend and retract the legs (they're almost airtight). This means that when i put them in water they fill up a bit more, but I mostly put the pointy metal feet on then anyway (I drilled the rubber tipped feet).

[MarkW]

You need to consider the legs, the ball head and QR plate as three items which in the end must to some degree match each other.

The 055PRO-B is a good set of legs and about the only thing I would buy from Manfrotto had I known this at the time I purchased mine. Don't be swayed by thinking carbon fibre - big price, must be good. CF is good in rough or corrosive environments (outdoors) but it is springy and flexible which means camera shake. Stay with alloy if you can. Cheaper and far more stable.

The 488 ball head is about the minimum you can have with long glass. I use an 80-400mm which is smaller than the 80-200mm in physical size and the ball head just manages that lens.

When you ask for a 488 with the RC4 QR plate Manfrotto really screwed things up. The plate is attached with a 6mm countersunk screw which screws through the plate and into the stub of the ball head. This stops you from using virtually every product on the market in terms of brackets and fixtures as they all require a male 1/4" UNC thread coming out of the ball head. I had to drill my Kirk QR plate out to fit the Manfrotto system - never again.

If you've got the cash go for a BH1 or BH3 Kirk ball head or similar. It will fit the Manfrotto legs as they haven't managed to screw this up yet. Big is better but they cost and they're heavy. Don't waste money on Manfrotto.

For a quick release plate I use the Kirks Arca Swiss style plates as they then easily matched to the Kirks L Bracket. I never use a ball head in the flopped down "portrait" position as it changes the height of camera to subject and is a PITA to get back to the original position.

The Kirk's equipment is the same quality as the RRS equipment but you dont pay for sub components ie you need an L bracket and plate to get an L bracket system, in Kirk's all you need is the bracket.

[devilla101]

Thanks for the reply everyone. Seems to be a lot of opinions.

Seetocentric has been helpful. In fact after he sent me a pic of the Manfrotto 058 I'm thinking of getting the 055.

Not too sure of the benro brand. Can people really vouch for their products?

Arca swiss are just to $$$ and no idea where to get those Kirk heads.

http://www.pro-digital-koblenz.de/shop/media/images/manfotto_ma058_thb.jpg

[glamy]

I am happy with my Manfrotto 055PRO-B. I went the Benro way for the ballhead but soon regretted. I would get either a Markins or a Really Right Stuff ( I got the latter).

[devilla101]

I am happy with my Manfrotto 055PRO-B. I went the Benro way for the ballhead but soon regretted. I would get either a Markins or a Really Right Stuff ( I got the latter).

So are Manfrotto heads crap? Seems to nothing positive about them has been mentioned?

[radar]

Arca swiss are just to $$$ and no idea where to get those Kirk heads.

That would be at:

http://www.kirkphoto.com/Welcome.html

Cheers,

André

[glamy]

When you start building your system you may want to go with some standards. Manfrotto does not allow the use of L brackets or Arca Swiss style quick release plates which are pretty much the "Standard" every where else. The Arca Swiss style is very versatile from L brackets to lens plates to side kicks, I would not spend my money on a Manfrotto head.
Cheers,
Gerard

[devilla101]

Arca swiss are just to $$$ and no idea where to get those Kirk heads.

That would be at:

http://www.kirkphoto.com/Welcome.html

Cheers,

André

Hot damn! Thats expensive. I thought the manfrotto heads come with QR plates? Might do some more research on heads then.

[MarkW]

Arca swiss are just to $$$ and no idea where to get those Kirk heads.

Most people try google first - anyway:

http://www.kirkphoto.com/ballheads.html

[MarkW]

Hot damn! Thats expensive. I thought the manfrotto heads come with QR plates? Might do some more research on heads then.

They do, but you order the ball head with a particular QR plate, ie 488 Ball head with RC2 or RC4 plate. There are a lot of plate options you can get through Manfrotto but the RC series seams to be the one most pushed over here. It the standard version and the one that doesn't fit anything else. Australia seems to be a dumping ground for the crap that doesn't fit anything else for a lot of manufacturers and not just the photographic industry.

In the US everthing has to be compatible with everthing else where as over in Aus your told " thats all we got - take it or leave it". Now with world wide purchasing through the net you can tell these lazy worthless companies the shove it.

[ATJ]

So are Manfrotto heads crap? Seems to nothing positive about them has been mentioned?

As already mentioned, I am very happy with mine. I can't fault it. So here is something positive being mentioned.

[ATJ]

I thought the manfrotto heads come with QR plates?

Mine did. Did I mention that I am happy with it?

[Bugeyes]

I do believe you can retro fit RRS quick release clamps to Manfrotto heads.... link

[devilla101]

Arca swiss are just to $$$ and no idea where to get those Kirk heads.

Most people try google first - anyway:

http://www.kirkphoto.com/ballheads.html

Ahh crap, sorry, I should have mentioned where to get them locally. my Sony.

Mine did. Did I mention that I am happy with it?

Alright ATJ, I hear ya loud and clear

I think I'll keep mine simple. I really just want a sturdier tripod that I can confidently leave my camera on and won't tilt forward when I've set up the shot.

[dviv]

Arca swiss are just to $$$ and no idea where to get those Kirk heads.

Most people try google first - anyway:

http://www.kirkphoto.com/ballheads.html

Ahh crap, sorry, I should have mentioned where to get them locally. my Sony.

Mine did. Did I mention that I am happy with it?

Alright ATJ, I hear ya loud and clear

I think I'll keep mine simple. I really just want a sturdier tripod that I can confidently leave my camera on and won't tilt forward when I've set up the shot.

I very happy with the 055ProB and the 486RC2!

[MarkW]

I do believe you can retro fit RRS quick release clamps to Manfrotto heads.... link

If you looked at that link you would find that the 488RC4 is NOT shown as this setup is different to a 488RC2 or 488RC0. In the RC0 + RC2 a stub with a male 1/4" UNC thread protrudes from the ball head to mount the plate on. The RC4 has a stub with a 6mm female thread - hence it is incompatible with every product around the world.

[MarkW]

[quote="devilla101] I really just want a sturdier tripod that I can confidently leave my camera on and won't tilt forward when I've set up the shot.[/quote]

From your original starting thread it sounds more like you could use a better ball head on your sherpa than actually changing the whole assembly. Unfortunately its the ball head which can get real expensive once you start looking at quality gear. The smaller of the Kirk heads is $255 USD (only 2 sizes large or small and small should be OK for your weight range) and $375 USD for the mid size RRS head.

[Yi-P]

Hey Ron,

I got the 055PROB + 488RC2 head, it holds the D2H + 300mm or 70-200VR and a SB800 pretty well. Its quite a heavy thing to lug around and not so pleasant when travelling or trekking far distances.

If you want to demo or play around with it, I'm happy to let you try it out. Just let me know