CCColtsicehockey

Looking to get a new tripod. Looking for a really light one. I have been looking at Manfrotto Carbon Fiber once just wondering what model designs of manfrotto people have. I want to get one that can be opened pretty flat and low on the ground it that is possible at all but still have a pretty decent size overall height.

Billiam

If you're willing to fork out for a CF tripod then you have a pretty large selection at your disposal. What kind of weight would you be putting on the legs and what kind of head would you be using?

I have Gitzo G-1227 legs and a Kirk BH-3 ball head and find the combination to be a great blend of stability and light weight. There hasn't been a single time I've gone out shooting when I ever said to myself "I don't feel like carrying the tripod." The 1227 will not get you down low though as the center column is about 10-12" long. Matter of fact, I just a ordered a short column from Kirk earlier this morning.

CCColtsicehockey

so with the short column with you be able to get down low like 6 inches or so off the ground.

CCColtsicehockey

this is the current tripod i have. http://www.amvona.com/v7/shop/?page=...roduct_id=1838. I picked it up on ebay for $59 shipped about 8 months ago and really like the tripod and head as a whole but the thing weights a ton. the head is made of all metal and the legs are also fully metal. its doesnt even feel like its made of almuminum. i dread taking it to anything other then car shoots where I dont carry it around and just take it out of the car and use it.

I am going to SEMA this year and want a tripod that I can carry around and is extremely light. I dont might forking up the money for CF cause my main goal is to buy a set of legs now and keep them forever basically. I like the head on the ebay tripod I got but I looked at the head you have and it appears to be the same concept of a call head just with a screw locking mechanism instead. I assume that it is also shorter in height than the head i currently have.

About the type of camera that will be going on it. I have a Nikon D200 with a battery grip on it. I guess I could remove the battery grip if I needed to to have a lighter load but in all honesty I have not removed the battery grip form the camera since the day I put it on when I bought the camera. I aslo sometimes have a 70-200mm lense with a tripod mount on on that I use on the tripod occasionally too.

I dont know anything about Gitzo but I assume they are a great brand. I have only ever heard of Manfrotto.

Another question is I know with my heavy metal tripod I can set the camear at a 90 degree angle to take portrait shots and I dont have to worry about the tripod tiping over. is this possible at all with a lightweight carbon fiber tripod.

Dan Martin

Gitzo and Manfroto make excellent tripods. Gitzos use a twist-lock for the leg segments and Manfroto uses a cam-lock. Both styles work fine, it's just a matter of preference. Try them out in the store to see what you like best. I think Manfrotto also just released a different type of lock where they use a single central lock instead of a lock on each leg. I'll have to look that up...

The Gitzo Explorer tripods have a swinging center column that lets it get into positions that would make a porn director proud.
You can swing the column so that it runs parallel with the ground, then spread the legs so it won't tip over. You'll only be a couple inches from the ground at that point. If you need to get lower than that, you might as well just get a beanbag mount and a normal tripod. You can also stand the tripod up normally then extend the center column out and over a car for example. There's a hook on the other end of the center column that you can hang some weight to balance the weight of the camera.

The other decision you need to make is if you want 3 or 4 leg segments. 3 segments will set up faster, but they don't pack as small and don't extend as much. 4 segments take longer to set up, but they extend farther and pack smaller.

There are several good knock-off manufacturers too. Benro makes Gitzo clones that look like they might even be made by Gitzo and just sold under a different name. Whatever tripod you go with, you'll want to get a ballhead for maximum mobility and easy set up.

Check out this good article on the topic: http://bythom.com/support.htm

CCColtsicehockey

I am looking at a manfrotto carbon fiber tripod that only weights 3.5 lbs but it says it only supports 8.8 lbs. to me that doesnt sound like a lot of weight which means it probabaly wouldnt support a nikon 70-200mm VR lense with my d200 and battery grip. I am thinking it probably that something that holds like 11-15lbs is probably a better idea.

Billiam

I think this really depends on the manufacturer or even their specific product line. In the Gitzo lineup I have ("reporter" series) the model with the 3 segment legs extends a bit over 2" higher than the model with the four segment legs. The 4 segment leg version is about 4.5" shorter when collapsed. Both wiegh the same. What your trading off with the 4 segment legs is a bit of leg rigidity for a smaller size to transport. How much rigidity I don't know as I have no experience with the four segment legs.

A few FWIW items:

1) Manfrotto and Gitzo are the same company. Gitzo is theoretically the higher end product line but as with anything some of that difference is quality and functionality and some is marketing. Even so, you're talking good/better here and not bad/good.

2) I've had a two cam lock collars break on older tripods. These were Bogen legs though so the design may have been improved over the years and/or when Manfrotto acquired Bogen.

3) CF legs have the added benefit of being MUCH easier on the hands when the weather is cold.

4) If you get a Gitzo, don't be surprised when the leg hinges are very stiff. It took me two months before I finally and realized this is by design.

5) Here is what my setup will look like after I get my short center column.

Dan Martin

You're probably up to 6lbs with your body + grip + lens so you'll be fine. The bigger model will be more stable though, especially on windy days.

CCColtsicehockey

should I assume also the bigger model will help when i put the camera at a 90 degree angle.

I am currently looking at the the Manfrotto Mag Fiber Tripods model 055MF4
http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/...lsf=69&child=2

I am not set it yet at all as I am going to do atleast a week or two research before dropping this amount of money into a tripod.

Billiam

That 055MF in either the three or four section legs looks like a pretty sweet choice. Looking at the picture though, I'm sort of puzzled as to how it's possible to get down to the 11cm listed minimum height. The center column looks like it's sectioned so you'll get a "shorty" verssion right off the bat. I guess the leg stops just bump up against the large rounded part of the center section?

CCColtsicehockey

Damn tripod shit is expensive. I mean I had planed on spending 300 or so for legs and about 100 for a header. However now I am afraid of using a CF tripod with a ball head at 90 degrees and having it fall over. so now I am looking at L brackets which in my opinion are extremely over priced for the piece of metal that they are. I mean 170 for an L bracket for a D200 with a battery grip. then its another 250 or so for the kirk bh-3 head to go with it. I mean I hadnt planned on spending $700 for my tripod setup all though if I do buy it I will be done and never need another one.

Dan Martin

Go to a store and try it out. They're not as unstable as you think. So long as the center of gravity is somewhere within the three legs, it's not going to fall over.

I shoot with a battery grip, 70-200, and flash without worry.

CCColtsicehockey

do you turn it onto a 90 degree angle like that minus the flash.

Dan Martin

It's fine at any angle with or without the flash.

Billiam

Any lens that's heavy enough to cause concern about your tripod tipping over is going to either come with a ring mount or at least have one available.

Dan Martin

Colts, doesn't your 70-200 VR have a tripod ring?

CCColtsicehockey

ok cool i was just unsure that the tripod being only either 3.5 lbs or 4.4lbs it might tip over so thats why i asked. glad to here it shouldnt.

CCColtsicehockey

yes

I am not worried of it tiping forward at all just when you put it off to the side, when it wont be directly over the center of the tripod. that is why i started looking at L brackets but stopped when i realised my head and L bracket would cost more than my tripod legs.

Dan Martin

The point billiam was trying to make is you can just losen the knob on the side of your tripod ring and turn the camera... no need to tilt the ballhead 90 degrees.

CCColtsicehockey

now just between the 190MF4 and 055MF4

the two main things I am debating about now is hegith without center column raised

190MF4 - 44.7 open w/o center column closed 18

190MF3 - 46 open w/o center column closed 22

055MF4 - 51.4 open w/o center column closed 21.3


is there any stability issues with 3 piece legs vs 4 piece legs.

what height do you normally use a tripod at or around.

CCColtsicehockey

totally forgot about that. and then there isnt any reason really the kit lense and the cam should tip the tripod at a 90 degree angle i would think.

Dan Martin

I'm 6'5" so I'll take the tallest tripod they make thank you.

Actually, it's not your total height that matters, but the height to the center of your eye. It's ~73" to the center of my eye when I'm wearing shoes.

Measure the height of the ballhead and height of your camera (to the viewfinder) and add that to the max height of your tripod.

I haven't had any stability issues with my 4-segment piece, but I would like a 3-segment the next time for faster setup...

Billiam

The answer to this question mostly depends on what you shoot. I almost always extend my legs fully to begin with unless my subject is blatantly down low. IMO, you should never count on raising the center column to get to your normal working height.

My advice for tripod height is that with the legs at full extension and cetner column lowered, the camera viewfider needs to be high enough that you can comfortably and sably look through it while you're hunched down. Sound like I'm painting with broad brush when I say that but I think that's really the extent you need to worry about it.

CCColtsicehockey

Well I finally decided on a tripod and also picked up a new backpack for my gear.



Manfrotto 488RC2 Ball Head








Manfrotto 055MF4 Magnifiber Tripod










Lowprowe CompuRover AW

Mizouse

how many bones did that set you back?

CCColtsicehockey

legs $350
head $110
backpack $190

Dan Martin

Nice pod!