p.1 #1 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
Hello,
I'm doing photo since more than 20 years. (professionally only for a quick time)
Every few years I had other needs in a tripod and the more years went by the more I spent money but I must confess that I am still not satisfied, we are now many tripods later ahaha ( for example, my last in carbon has the finest section which is not thick enough, I made a mistake of debutant in this choice )
So I would like to take the time to think very slowly for a long time about buying a new tripod that would be the last one. So, I want to know which are the most upmarket brands that make the most durable material (I will go one more time for a Carbon Tripod)
I do not want heads; I'm Only speaking about the best of the best Tripods Brands.
Thanks a lot in advance, and thanks to this forum to exist, it's a mine of information and discovery for me !
p.1 #2 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
If you believe compromise is possible, then you can pay a lot more than what a Feisol tripod costs, but it's probably not much better.
If you don't believe in compromise, then you're going to have to define your requirements. A few things to consider are: budget; value of light weight vs. solid & steady; min. tripod extended height (with centre column or not); max. tripod closed length (do you have to put it in luggage?); weight; type of base (spider vs bowl; video?); ...
p.1 #3 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
I have a few tripods and they are good for their intended function. My travel tripod which is a FEISOL 3442 excels for my travel needs because it fits into my checked luggage with head attached, it is relatively light and can handle up to a 300mm f4 lens ( which is my largest lens ) without problems. Paying anything more for a tripod would be a waste for me.
Now I also have a old Manfrotto 3021 aluminum tripod with a large Kirk head for my 4x5 camera and that holds my heavy camera outfit very nicely. Entire tripod and head cost me $200 and it is rock steady...but weighs a ton.
I guess what I'm trying to say is there is no one best tripod and thinking by spending over $1,000 you'll get the best tripod, you'll be sorry. I'd look at your needs for a tripod and buy for those needs, sometimes 2 or 3 tripods that better matches the different scenarios you shoot under.
p.1 #4 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
Really Right Stuff and Gitzo are the top known quality brands.
I have found that my needs require having a few tripods (ok, at least two!) in the cabinet, not including a studio camera stand.
RRS TVC-34, very stable CF tripod, but a bit heavy for hiking around.
RRS TVC-24, stable CF tripod, can handle most things. Good for travel/hiking.
Novoflex CF Trio. Light and compact---great travel/hiking tripod.
It all depends on your photographic needs and physical requirements. Nothing that a good sized wallet can't address. : ) But it is an investment, and all of the top brand name tripods are durable and worthwhile.
p.1 #6 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
immortalblue wrote:
Hello,
I'm doing photo since more than 20 years. (professionally only for a quick time)
Every few years I had other needs in a tripod and the more years went by the more I spent money but I must confess that I am still not satisfied, we are now many tripods later ahaha ( for example, my last in carbon has the finest section which is not thick enough, I made a mistake of debutant in this choice )
So I would like to take the time to think very slowly for a long time about buying a new tripod that would be the last one. So, I want to know which are the most upmarket brands that make the most durable material (I will go one more time for a Carbon Tripod)
I do not want heads; I'm Only speaking about the best of the best Tripods Brands.
Thanks a lot in advance, and thanks to this forum to exist, it's a mine of information and discovery for me !...Show more →
First question
What do you shoot?
Second
Which system do you use?
Third
Which FLs do you (plan to) use?
Fourth
How tall are you?
Fifth
Do you want to hike with it?
Sixth
Do you want to travel by plane with it?
Seventh
Would be budget, but if you want best of the best I assume you don't mind prices.
Topbrands are Gitzo and RRS for carbon.
Promediagear is allso a superior brand but they have/had an issue with the stance not being wide enough.
Feisol, Sirui, Benro, Manfrotto are better bang for the buck but not best of the best.
p.1 #7 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
A simple question with a simple answer:
Best of best tripods are RRS and Gitzo.
In your geographical area, I would guess Gitzo is more available. I like RRS.
The mid-level tripods, in no particular order, like Feisol, Benro, Induro, Sirui, 3LT, Manfrotto, Leophoto, etc. are precisely that - mid-level tripods. They are perfectly fine, but not the best of the best which was the question.
p.1 #8 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
RRS or Gitzo. Depends on the features you are looking for. I have had many Gitzo's over the past 30 years, and all have been great, although some think RRS is even better made lately. I think Gitzo has more options. I've also had other brands already mentioned and all were much lower quality and don't hold up under serious long term use on location.
p.1 #12 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
runamuck wrote:
Feisol 3372 makes me happy. I can neither afford, nor can I understand RRS and Gitzo pricing.
My wife, my daughters, my grandchildren, my dogs and our health make me happy.
The rest is not important.
Pricing is simple to understand, you have the established names with the best quality asking topdollar and nonetheless bought by pretty much every professional photog (at least overhere)
Than you find the companies wanting to get in that league with a more agressive pricing.
Nonetheless if you want or need or think you need it there's still no alternative for a friggin heavy expensive Gitzo series 5 tripod.
Being able or willing to spend the money involved is another matter.
It's like driving a Mercedes or a Toyota.
The Mercedes is way more expensive and is a bit better but not as much as the price difference would suggest or demand.
p.1 #13 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
Not knowing what type of photography you prefer makes this a difficult suggestion. But if you are looking for the best of the best no price limit, check the Sachtler Flowtech 75 and 100. The 75 is in the same price range as the higher end RRS and Gitzo pods. The 100 will make the others look cheap. I find myself using my Sachtler setup as much or more than my Gitzo. But, all my pods from a Bogen 3011 to a Sachtler DA100 hd or Gitzo giant get used depending on the situation. To me, there is no perfect all doing tripod.
p.1 #14 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
immortalblue wrote:
I am still not satisfied, we are now many tripods later ahaha ( for example, my last in carbon has the finest section which is not thick enough, I made a mistake of debutant in this choice )
Well, one of the first rules I teach in my photography courses is not to use - if possible - the tripod at its maximum height, unless for less critical photos (e.g. with wideangles).
immortalblue wrote:
I would like to take the time to think very slowly for a long time about buying a new tripod that would be the last one.
I own three tripods (1 series-3 Gitzo, 1 series-2 Gitzo, and 1 cheap Manfrotto 190 for "easy" tasks).
The selection of the tripod depends on assignment. There is no definitive choice.
You can't use a series-5 Gitzo for hiking; neither you can use a Manfrotto 190 to shoot with a 500/4.
The head is important too, and I wonder why you are not considering this quite important part of the camera support.
immortalblue wrote:
I'm Only speaking about the best of the best Tripods Brands.
There are many good brands out there. Gitzo, Manfrotto, Velbon, RRS, etc.
It much depends on the use, the kind of photography, the gear you own, how large is your wallet.
My preferred brand is Gitzo, but this suggestion is limited by my personal experience (I have not used all tripods ...).
In conclusion, please specify your photographic needs in detail. Only then one can give you proper suggestions.
P.S.: sometimes (i.e. very often) blurred photos come from improper technique and/or vibrations originating inside the camera (e.g. mirror, shutter shock).
p.1 #15 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
I have tripods from RRS, Feisol, and Gitzo with different specs and features. My favorite is the Feisol CT-3472 that is as well made as the RRS and Gitzo tripod but cost be about half as much. I have added a removable leveling base and a center column for the Feisol so I can change its capabilities in a couple minutes.
Key for me was getting the height I wanted but having legs that would collapse to 21 inches or less so they could go into an overhead bin with no problems. The CT-3472 legs can fold up over the head to get a 19" total length which makes packing a great deal easier. Feisol also includes a top notch carry case. With RRS and Gitzo all I got was the cardboard box.
I will say that after testing many tripods before buying my last one, the Feisol, that many tripods have a load rating that does not accurately reflect their true capabilities. In particular when using a large telephoto lens I was seeing tangential flexing of the spider assembly at the top of the tripod. More than a few legs I tried had significant leg flexing with far less than the rated load. I have found that RRS, Feisol, and Gitzo legs do live up to their ratings.
p.1 #16 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
Gitzo or Gorillapod.
I've been using Gitzo GT2331 for the last 12 years or so. This is my heavy duty tripod. For walking around the city or hiking/camping when I want something really light, small and fit inside my camera bag, I have a Joby Gorillapod Zoom.
p.1 #17 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
Gitzo, RRS, Promedia
I have Gitzo and Sirui, the Sirui works very well, it's not on the same level as the one mentioned above though. So if you I was to haul my tripods on trips in various weather conditions Sirui would not be the tripod i'd pick up.
For Europe Gitzo makes the most sense as they are so widely available, however, both RRS and Promedia are available at reputable dealers in Europe.
p.1 #18 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
So what happened to the original poster? Sorry, but it's pet peeve of mine when people start a topic asking for advice and then don't bother to respond to the people trying to help.
p.1 #20 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
Hello
thanks a lot for all this help, as usually this forum is the best one=)
Let me define a bit better my needs :
I'm not hurry with all this and As I'm tired to do bad choices all the time I will take time to avoid one more time to do one error, so If I do have doubts about a product I will just forget the direction of it.
I do not know If I will travel or not with the tripod, answer to this will be at the end when I will have a final list of top choices.
About compromise, again this will depend of the final choices on the list, and the product I will managed to see (certainly in 2 months I will travel In a country where I will be able to see models in real life)
Yes I do agree Chez & howatthunter, differents tripods for differents goals and to have one heavy tripod is interesting (I do have one allready)
Really Right Stuff : didnt knew this brand, seems really interesting
Ripolini, I do agree, a good head is vital, I allready have one
Feisol and Benro seems interesting too, and Promediagear is also a suggestion.
I think the answers on my side that I'm going to have to think about are :
- which size do I really need?
- must the fasteners after folding have to be clipped or turned ?
I thought well and I also think that the lowest section should be wide, because on my manfrotto carbon the finest section is too thin, and I did not think about it before my purchase: serious mistake!
you need it there's still no alternative for a friggin heavy expensive Gitzo series 5 tripod.