i have been having a problem with this decision, on which tripod or monopod i should get, i dont want to spend over 200 bucks but i want something that will be decent and light... does anyone have any in mind that they could help me out with? please provide links, thanks so much guys

joel

I have gotten excellent results with the Bogen/Manfrotto 3021.

thanks man! how much is that pod?

my main problem is that when you buy a tripod you have to buy a fricken head also which costs like 200 bucks, and i really cant spend more than 200 all together... any ideas?

Unless you spend the money on a decent ballhead like the Arca Swiss B1 or the Kirk BH1 the Bogen 3021 is not sufficient to support a 1D and the 170-500mm with any type of stability. I own both Gitzo Pro Studex and the 3021 and the 3021 will not support a 10D with 300/2.8 without using the AS B1 - the standard Bogen head is a joke. You would be better to look for an older used Gitzo Studex or Pro Studex - last longer and support more weight.

Duncan

keep in mind that it has to hold up a canon EOS 1D and a 170-500mm sigma lense... heh

what about these legs

http://www.canogacamera.com/e/env/0001SQSVNp9kiiAXWA0a0q2/price_list/grp063bogen_list.html?link=-DD-/info_pages/cam_info.html&item=invnew:74059

with this head

http://www.canogacamera.com/e/env/0001SQSVNp9kiiAXWA2L318/info_pages/cam_info.html?link=/info_pages/cam_info.html&item=invnew:35608

would that be alright for my cam?

Joel thanks guys

crap those links suck

legs

head

crap those links suck

legs

head

You know there is an edit button?

-JR

You'll need to get the next level on the legs.
the basic ones aren't sturdy enough for anything over 12lbs....

Bottom line is, if you want something under $200
Buy a monopod for now.....bogen makes for $55.

I just bought a set of 3033 legs (holds up to 26 lbs) and the manfrotto head shown below....
It was $350 for both, but so sturdy and less expensive than Gitzo legs and Winberly.
It's holds my 1D, 400 2.8L (15lbs) and extenders...just nicely and i dont' have to hold it up on the beach....

do i really need that big of a rig for my dinky 500mm sigma lense... it only weighs like 4 pounds... + my EOS 1D

this is a link to my lense. then you tell me if i need such a big rig tripod...
LENSE

joel

I use a set of 055 legs, not sure what the head is it's in the boot of my car, You don't want a stupid three way head you only want a pan tilt head with a RRS plate mounted to your lens foot, one of those ones that lock into place, even if you forget to tighten it it wont slide off, If you got plenty of cash I;d recomend a CF tripod to eliminate rust and corrosion.

Joel to get a decent New Tripod for your surfing shots you are going to up for the best part of $500 even here in Oz but kurt is right even with your 500 mm Sigma you NEED stability, but hey if you want blury shots that aren't worth looking at and maybe drop your camera in the crud then go cheap.

Similar to kurts setup that I use here in the snow for the Half pipe competitions. but instead of a mono pod I use my 190 Manfrotto.


There's no doubt that Kurts is a serious setup he has some damn serious hardware hanging on top of it and by the looks is well balanced and needs to be, but, even his is weak when compared to what my telescope is mounted on.

Horses for courses mate. up to a point you buy cheap your your photos are gunna be cheap.



Edited by MozzMann on Dec 21, 2003 at 08:15 PM GMT (Reason: Added a manfrotto image)

Edited by MozzMann on Dec 21, 2003 at 08:18 PM GMT

Edited by MozzMann on Dec 21, 2003 at 08:20 PM GMT

Mozz is right my line of thinking when I chuck my 600 on a pod is why do I want to save a few hundred quid when i just dropped thousands on the lens and a few thousand more on the body. A few more hundred seems like a drop in the ocean.

Currently, I'm using a 300 f4 and 1.4x TC, But I do plan on getting a 500mm soon.

Is this the head I'm looking for? I see in the picture it's mounted on a monopod which is what I normally use on the beach anyway, only currently I have one of the bogen pistal grip ball heads attached, which doesn't totally suck, but doesn't seem like the most practical combo.

that and $150 isn't bad for a tripod head.


thanks in advance,
john

That Manfrotto 3421 head works amazingly good.
I don't use it on a monopod, but on Manf. 3033 legs.
The photo above, I just don't understand.
I would NOT under sling the lens as this photo from the Bogen catalog says.
It doens't stay up well and you have to hold the weight of the camera.
Kind of a waste as you want the HEAD to hold it....

See the first page and you can see how Big Glass rests really nicely on this particular head.......

that pistol grip ball head won't cut it with a 500mmL lens though....

kj

I do not under sling either Kurt, but that was the only photo I could find quickly to illistrate both your and my point of not being cheap when it comes to supporting $10 G's plus of camera and lens, it just aint worth it.

Manfrotto site isn't exactly flus with good graphics.

Cheer's

yeah, I have no idea why they would illustrate it that way.....

crazy.........

kj

That picture is nuts! I can't imagine an easier way to bang up your lens or have it end up on the ground. They've been using that same picture for a few years now.

I had thought of using the 3421 since I first saw it a few years back, but thought the reason they mounted it as in the picture was because of the thickness of the metal, and mounting as shown on the first page of this post might cause the bracket to fold in on itself. Now that I've seen close ups, I can't image what they were thinking.