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View Full Version : Help me decide on a better Tripod!

Vicky
08-17-2009, 01:23 PM
Hi Guys,

As you know, I love slapping on the 2x TC on the 400L for Moonshots, however, on my current tripod, at 1280mm with live view magnified at 10x the whole image is shaking with vibrations... even without touching the assembly! And when i do touch the focus ring to manually adjust the focus, then the screen just goes crazy with vibrations and oscillations:eek:

It's clear that I need a better tripod and ball head:cool:

I don't want to skimp now and repent later! Hence, I want to buy stuff that would be comfortable even with 500 f/4 L down the line:)

I've set a budget of around 15~20k for the legs and the ball head.

Presently I'm thinking of the Manfrotto 055X Pro B with the Manfrotto 488RC2 Ball head.

The weight of my current my current combo is as follows:

50D - 1.6 lb
400L- 2.8 lb
bge2- 0.8 lb
2x TC- 0.4 lb

Total - 5.6 lb

Whereas the above Tripod / Ballhead combo is rated for a max load of 15+ lbs, Which is almost three times my current weight.

So, would this setup be good enough for my needs?

Any Gitzo / Markins recommendations? Any other recommendations / suggestions?

Vicky

P.S. NOT interested in Carbon Fiber Tripods!
KrishnenduKes
08-17-2009, 07:52 PM
Query Approved

Vicky is asking for help. Now that is what I call an oxymoron.

I own a 055XDB with a 804RC2. You can check that out. I got it for a modicum amount of 11K. Pretty happy with it. But I have not put stuff like 400 yet on it!
Xavier
08-18-2009, 07:05 AM
I want to buy stuff that would be comfortable even with 500 f/4 L down the line

:D:D:D

This^ is all I had to say since I know nothing about Manfrotto and the likes :p
srikeerthi
08-18-2009, 10:13 AM
Get an RRS head :)
Vicky
08-19-2009, 02:09 PM
Finally made the purchase:)

Went with a Cullmann Magnesit 35 Ballhead (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/511750-REG/Cullmann_CU_40200_Magnesit_35_Nm_Ballhead.html) on a set of Giottos MT-9371 Legs (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/483925-REG/Giottos_MT9371_MT_9371_Aluminum_Tripod_Legs.html)

Ended up spending a lot more than I had originally planned:o

The stuff is expected to reach me within 7days!:)
Xavier
08-19-2009, 02:18 PM
Ended up spending a lot more than I had originally planned:o

Congrats!
And how much?
Vicky
08-19-2009, 02:26 PM
Congrats!
And how much?

Expecting to pay another 30% duty on this:o:(
Bibudesh
08-19-2009, 03:10 PM
Expecting to pay another 30% duty on this:o:(

m sure you are upto something.. some news is in queue I guess. Coz I'll go for this pricing iff I have potential assignments in backend.

Congrats !.
Xavier
08-19-2009, 03:20 PM
Expecting to pay another 30% duty on this:o:(

WTF?! :eek:
KrishnenduKes
08-19-2009, 08:16 PM
That is nearly 25K! Plus Customs duty!!! What do you do for a living?
synn
08-29-2009, 08:08 PM
Didn't want to make another thread for this, so posting in this one:

Got myself one of these today:

Priced at S$75, it's fantastic VFM. The ballhead is smooth as butter, the clasps all work perfectly and the built-in monopod is a cool little addition.
Xavier
08-29-2009, 09:52 PM
It's raining tripods, and I got the cheapest one for myself :P
I know what people think about pan and tilt heads, but I liked the make and build quality of this particular one. Got it for 2000 INR and I couldn't afford to spend more on one anyway.

http://images.orkut.com/orkut/photos/OgAAALx9dT9TFWKCNCA2hOTMorGiddNm-grItfd-z8yefDD5xXAyvCH4-Y0cykd8AyJaAh5vs5VbEveGSAEQaSFFuikAm1T1UBtppqCP2Zx TpH8_xLIEOOttgYfi.jpg
synn
08-29-2009, 11:02 PM
That's a neat tripod, Xavier.

There's nothing really "Wrong" with a pan/tilt, per se. It's just that a ballhead is more easily manageable.

That said, it looks to me that your tripod allows the head to be replaced. If so, add a ballhead to your arsenal ASAP! :)
Xavier
08-29-2009, 11:19 PM
That's a neat tripod, Xavier.

There's nothing really "Wrong" with a pan/tilt, per se. It's just that a ballhead is more easily manageable.

That said, it looks to me that your tripod allows the head to be replaced. If so, add a ballhead to your arsenal ASAP! :)

Thanks Synn, I totally agree with the 'manageability' part of ballheads. I'd love to have a single knob to do everything. Anyway, I've also heard that p/ts are better when it comes to video? And I'll check the user manual ASAP to see if I can replace the head later!
synn
08-29-2009, 11:22 PM
Indeed. Pan/ Tilts are the only way to do video right. We won't even dream of using ballheads for our videoshoots.
AravindTeki
09-01-2009, 10:59 AM
You also need a good dedicated shutter release to take such images of moon with long tele/zoom lenses.
All the best:cool:
Vicky
09-06-2009, 04:32 PM
Got it:)

And just to give you an idea of how massive this thing really is, I put my Panasonic FZ5 Super Zoom on it...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/3891828107_2b72b49d3f.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2584/3891828187_e1b8987968.jpg

review coming up soon....
Xavier
09-06-2009, 04:52 PM
Its a Monster! :eek:

Weight?
shutterbug
10-27-2009, 08:25 PM
Synn, thats a cool tripod. And decent price for a ball head with that integrated monopod feature!
Xavier, me too in the market for something like what you have. What is the max height it comes up to?
Xavier
10-30-2009, 10:18 PM
Xavier, me too in the market for something like what you have. What is the max height it comes up to?

A little more than 5 feet.
Devaiah PA
12-26-2009, 08:50 AM
This is for those who work with their tripod on uneven surfaces
http://www.propix.in/images/UNI-LOC%20tripod%20in%20water.png



also take a look at The UNI-LOC DuoPod in the same page(click on a different tab)
http://www.propix.in/resources/UNI-LOC%20monopod%20and%20UNI-LOC%20DuoPod.jpg

It is available in bangalore...

http://www.propix.in/uniloc-tripods.html