p.2 #1 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
The flip locks make a lot more noise when used to adjust the leg lengths and so I avoid legs with them.
Start with knowing how tall you need the legs to be without the center column being raised. Then look for legs that will provide that amount of height and yet collapse down to 21 inches (53cm) as it will then easily fit into luggage and airplane bins, etc.
bhphotovido.com is a good place to look for legs and find reviews by people who own and use the actual models. It is a good way to find "red flags" as to customer support and performance or production problems with given manufacturer.
Few people are aware that the best quality machined goods in Asia are produced in Taiwan (where the Feisol legs and heads are made) and that many German products are actually made in Taiwan to what in Asia is referred to as being "German quality". The next quality level down from German quality is termed "Japanese quality". Most of what comes from China to the USA is borax grade (you get your hands dirty just touching it).
p.2 #2 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
As for Gitzo and the comments on LLoyd's website, the opinion seems to be based on data quite a few years back?
Now i only use big Gitzo tripods systematics 5 and they do not disappoint, they are built like tanks and can hold a lot of gear. I mount whole stop motion rigs on them.
However some colleagues use some of the smaller Gitzo tripods and their new ball heads, they do seem more delicate. I never been a fan of Gitzo heads and the new ball heads does not change that opinion.
p.2 #4 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
Flip vs Screw? Screw is far superior. I had a flip years ago and clamped it on the web between thumb and forefinger once. Later the flip snapped in cold weather.
I had a Feisol and later got an RRS. The Feisol was from before they copied the Gitzo and RRS rapid expand system where the legs don't rotate.
I much prefer the RRS but will actually be bringing my Feisol on a Europe trip as it is more compact and I don't expect to need as robust a tripod system (mostly used for family self portraits and occasional landscapes).
Most important is to consider the optimal height. My RRS with ballhead and camera is exactly at eye level with two sections extended. I can extend the third section in uneven terrain or fully to shoot a bit higher than eye level (and then use the Sony tilt screen to help with composition).
p.2 #6 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
Every time I look for a new tripod for myself or my wife and look at the legs from RRS, Gitzo, Feisol, Induro, and other companies my short list ends up with one Gitzo, one Induro, one RRS, and 2 or 3 Feisol tripods. Of these the RRS and Feisol are the best in terms of build quality and the Feisol legs provide the most options by far of any tripod manufacturer.
I currently own a Gitzo, RRS, and Feisol tripods for my use and will be selling the RRS in the coming months and probably the Gitzo as well. I have replaced the RRS with a Feisol that provides more functionality and plan to do the same with my quick leveling Gitzo 2531LVL (replacing with the Feisol CT-3472LV. My wife is using an Oben tripod and it is going to be replaced by the Feisol CT-3441T legs prior to our next trip out of the country.
Feisol legs and accessories (quick level base, add-on center column, etc.) make it easy to get 3 different tripods for the price of one set of legs. Feisol is a Taiwanese manufacturer and companies in this country are the equal of those in Germany or Italy and better than those in Japan.
RRS makes very good tripods but they are limited in functionality and they are extremely expensive, even compared to Gitzo, and they do not even provide a case for the tripod so add $70 to their price to see the true cost.
If I was planning to shoot a lot in the water then the Sirui W-2204 would receive serious consideration.
I avoid if possible a tripod that with the head removed is going to be longer than 22 inches as this makes it much easier to pack inside a checked piece of luggage.
The quick level capability built into a few tripods is very convenient for outdoor shooting. I can move the tripod to a different spot and have it perfectly level in seconds with these tripods and that is great for landscape photography, panos, video, and even still photography when panning to get birds in flight.
p.2 #7 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
Thern wrote:
My wife, my daughters, my grandchildren, my dogs and our health make me happy.
Hopefully this list is reverse sorted in terms of importance 😀. As they say, if you don't believe a dog is a man's best friend lock your dog and your wife in a trunk for 30 minutes and then see who is happy to see you again.
Thern wrote:
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.
Here we disagree. For me there is no longer a quantifiable way in which a Mercedes is better than a Toyota other than name cachet. OK, maybe a comparably appointed Lexus, not a Camry. Reliability is lower, ergonomics suck, repair costs are horrendous, handling is about the same, resale value is poor. You need to read the manual in order to figure out how to program presets on the radio. Every time I need to take my wife's god damn BMW in for routine maintenance it seems to cost at least $1000 if everything is in order. It takes $600 to replace a stupid angel eyes light bulb because to get to it you have to remove a wheel, well liner, and several other parts to get to the bulb, so what should be a 5 minute thing turns into 2 hrs of labor. Recently a balast on the passenger side headlight died and it cost $900 to replace because they had to take the bumper off to get to the thing. Stupid over-engineered machines, that is what a Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, Audi, and to some extent Volkswagen are. There, I got it off my chest.
p.2 #9 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
I find it a major down side to gitzo tripods that Manfroto now owns them and is in charge of the policies. I tried to look up a Gitzo G410 on the manfroto site a few days ago, because I was thinking of buying the beast, and since it's not in their current products, a search said "no products matching that description found". That tells you manfroto's priorities and support practices. I didn't buy it, and will probably skip the over priced brand all together from now on.
p.2 #10 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
Pavel wrote:
The VERY best of the best?
The 42 series tripods by ProMediaGear.
Better thought out and better details than RRS and Gitzo and in the same price range.
ProMediaGear tripods are certainly among the very best. I love my TR424L.
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:05 PM
imagesfromobjects Offline • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #11 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
I almost never use tripods, but I can understand wanting to splurge if you have a need and the means. Buy wisely, buy once.
For my use, a Slik Pro 700DX (80 bucks, solid af) and a few different heads, or the original Manfrotto Pixi (also very solid, does double-duty as a handheld video stabilizer in a pinch) are enough.
runamuck wrote:
Feisol 3372 makes me happy. I can neither afford, nor can I understand RRS and Gitzo pricing.
p.2 #12 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
LightShadow wrote:
ProMediaGear tripods are certainly among the very best. I love my TR424L.
"The" TR424L? Umm, where do you live ... and are you at work every weekday from 9-5 ... and .... ummm, you don't keep any large guard dogs inside of the house, right?
p.2 #13 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
Unless I misunderstand, the ProMediaGear tripods are only available in the medium and larger sizes and with a systematic apex/spider. Sometimes people want smaller, light tripods.
I don't think my hands can take those metal locking collars any more, so I'd have to put something grippy on them. 20-30 years ago I would not have cared about that.
p.2 #14 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
EB-1 wrote:
Unless I misunderstand, the ProMediaGear tripods are only available in the medium and larger sizes and with a systematic apex/spider. Sometimes people want smaller, light tripods.
I don't think my hands can take those metal locking collars any more, so I'd have to put something grippy on them. 20-30 years ago I would not have cared about that.
EBH
Yes, you are right on those two scores. In my self-absorption in regards to what I'm looking for in a tripod, I didn't even factor those other needs in, under the umbrella of "best" tripod, which of course is quite the oversight.
I've not had experience with the aluminum locking collars, but took them as progress over the glued on rubber, as I've had so many rubber rings come off, from the cheaper brands I've dealt with over the years. I suspect that the top end makers use something softer than aluminum (do they?) that lasts, but the aluminum collars are indestructible seeming, though how comfortable they are in use, I don't know.
I guess in my mind now, as a counter reaction to all the mid quality tripods of my past, I'm looking for something stout, heavy (there is no substitute for mass, for better or worse) a large availability of accessories, and no compromise attention to detail and quality. But for my idea of "best" tripod, it will be one for long lenses and a gimbal, only. For hiking, portability and weight savings, which I see as intrinsic compromises, I don't even wonder about the concept of "best". It has seemed like saying best middle of the road, to my mind. Or the best camera in the world, in a point and shoot.
p.2 #15 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
Pavel wrote:
"The" TR424L? Umm, where do you live ... and are you at work every weekday from 9-5 ... and .... ummm, you don't keep any large guard dogs inside of the house, right?
You see, the comparable tripod from RRS is the TVC-44, but that is $218.05 more expensive. Add to that $96.00 for spikes, and the difference is $314.05. But price is not the only differentiator. If the TVC-44 is similarly built to the TVC-33, only taller and larger diameter legs, I can say that the ProMediaGear TR424L is a much better-built tripod.
By the way, I have my TR424L paired with an FLM CB-58FTR ballhead. Not the lightest set, but not the heaviest either. But this is not a travel tripod so...
With the top section at 42mm and the bottom one approximately 30mm, as well as a wide apex, what the TR424L gives you is uncompromised stability.
p.2 #17 · Which brands are the best for tripod, I'm looking for the best of the best!
Pavel wrote:
I find it a major down side to gitzo tripods that Manfroto now owns them and is in charge of the policies. I tried to look up a Gitzo G410 on the manfroto site a few days ago, because I was thinking of buying the beast, and since it's not in their current products, a search said "no products matching that description found". That tells you manfroto's priorities and support practices. I didn't buy it, and will probably skip the over priced brand all together from now on.
Add to this that the current owners do NOT honor lifetime warranties we got with our Gitzo tripods a few decades ago.
