Tripod Recommendations Please

[joeychitwood]

After using the same cheap, wobbly tripod for almost 20 years, it is time to purchase a new one, and I'd appreciate some advice.

I most often shoot with a Nikon D70 and a Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.3~5.6G IF-ED lens. I also occasionally use my Nikon FE2 with a bulky motor drive and several long lenses. I also use a Nikon SB-600 flash unit, so the entire setup can be somewhat heavy.

I want a tripod that is quick and easy to set up and take down and is stable on many different surfaces. I don't use one often, but I'd like to make this my LAST tripod purchase.

Please suggest a decent, fairly lightweight, stable tripod in the $300-400 range.

[beerguy]

There are 3 desirable attributes that determine the quality of a tripod

Lightweight
Stable
inexpensive

In practice you can only pick two at at time. For example, if you want a very lightweight and very stable tripod it will not be inexpensive. You can get inexpensive and stable but it's going to weigh a ton. That might be okay depending on whether or not you plan on traveling with it and how you shoot.

I do primarily landscape work so nearly every shot that I take is from a tripod. My setup cost me ~$1200. While that's probably overkill for your needs its important to understand that this is one of those situations where it's cheaper to buy "the right one" first rather than buying several cheaper ones that don't do the job and then have to buy the right one.

Things to look for.

• You want one that you an look through, standing up, without extending the center column. An inch or two isn't a big deal but if you've got to fully extend the column it's not going to be stable.
  
• The fewer the number of joints in the legs, the better. That does extend the collapsed length so you have to decide which is more important.
  
• A ball head is easier to use than a "pan and tilt" head.

Manfrotto makes zsome very stable, fairly inexpensive tripods. Depending on your height, the 3001 or 3021 might fit the bill.

Cheers

[joeychitwood]

Thanks, Doug. I value your opinion regarding photography (among other things.)

Here is a list of Bogen/Manfrotto 3021 tripods from B&H Photo. Can you scan the list and recommend one ot two of them based on your own personal criteria of what you value in a tripod? Thanks.

[joeychitwood]

I corrected my link to include the first page of tripods not on the original link. Once again, here is the corrected link.

[beerguy]

Sure. How tall are you?

[joeychitwood]

Originally posted by beerguy
Sure. How tall are you?

Between 5'11" and 6'0" without shoes.

[beerguy]

This one would work pretty well. It's not quite as tall, with the center column down, as I'd normally recommend but it's close.

[joeychitwood]

Thanks. It looks good. It's out of stock now, but hopefully will be in soon.

[jacksonimaging]

I love my Bogen Tripod with my Bogen head. I love the Ball head to go from portrait to landscape in 1/2 a second and to adjust in any angle by squeezing the handle and twisting. Also it has removable plates to you can switch bodies really fast if you need to. I have one on my camera and one on my video camera. I love it!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._Ballhead.html

[joeychitwood]

Originally posted by beerguy
This one would work pretty well. It's not quite as tall, with the center column down, as I'd normally recommend but it's close.

Since that particular tripod is out of stock, what do you think of this one? It has the same type of head and is 60" tall without the extension.

[sscherin]

You can also get the Bogen/Manfrotto equipment from Amazon

Here's the same one you picked but $50 less and includes a case
http://www.amazon.com/Bogen-Manfrott...8699850&sr=1-7

Or with the lay down 322RC2 grip head
http://www.amazon.com/Bogen-Manfrott...8699850&sr=1-4

[beerguy]

Originally posted by joeychitwood
Since that particular tripod is out of stock, what do you think of this one? It has the same type of head and is 60" tall without the extension.

Even better.

[sscherin]

Just noticed that that combo I linked to included the 484 head and not the 488 head.. I don't know if that will make a big difference to you but it does explain the $50 price diff..