Archive 2022 · Anyone has the TMA47AXL? and some tripod and head questions.

FrancisAlberto
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Anyone has the TMA47AXL? and some tripod and head questions.

I was looking at some tripods, and TMA47AXLlooks like a decent tripod without breaking the bank, anyone has experience with it? The appeal to me is that I am 6'2 and this tripod can go a little higher than me allowing, looks like a decent tall tripod without going into stratosphere prices, and it's on sale.
I also looked at the Colorado Centenial tripod 4 series, but that thing looks like it's turning into vaporware.
I am currently using a Pentax K1 MK1, and the Pentax FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6. I enjoy landscape photography when the weather is good. When I took photography as an elective I used to be able to take out an induro tripod with some sort of PHQ1 PHQ Series 5-Way Panhead, I really liked that pan head, but it seems like induro might not be a thing anymore and it consolidated with Benro as a single entity. I looked at flm, but their higher tripods are pricier, RRS stuff is out of my range.
Any other recommendations instead?

Other thing would be finding a tripod head.
I looked at
Induro PHQ1 PHQ Series 5-Way Panhead
BENRO GD3WH 3-Way Geared Head (could be close to induro, but more modern)
Sunway gh-pro ii or the plus model (might be more durable than the Benro head but a little less weight capacity).
Used RRS BH-30, or BH-55 (edit)* ball head, would have to source an rss universal mount. Have never used a nice quality ball head in the past. One I used at one point did not like the weight of the camera on vertical orientation, but it was probably cheap and worn from the ones we could borrow.
Any recommendations?

Edited on Dec 30, 2022 at 07:37 PM · View previous versions

Dec 30, 2022 at 03:53 AM

sjms
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Anyone has the TMA47AXL? and some tripod and head questions.

Just for reference in the RRS big to small it’s the BH55, BH40, BH30 and the BH25. The numbers representing the diameter of the balls themselves. i currently use the BH40 and BH30 on 2 of their tripods its been years since i've needed to look at other tripods other than to see they really haven't improved.

Dec 30, 2022 at 10:52 AM

FrancisAlberto
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Anyone has the TMA47AXL? and some tripod and head questions.

sjms wrote:
Just for reference in the RRS big to small it’s the BH55, BH40, BH30 and the BH25. The numbers representing the diameter of the balls themselves. i currently use the BH40 and BH30 on 2 of their tripods its been years since i've needed to look at other tripods other than to see they really haven't improved.

I dunno why I called the BH-55 the BH-50, that's what I get for posting late.

Have the BH-40-30 gotten any loose over the years?

Dec 30, 2022 at 07:42 PM

sjms
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Anyone has the TMA47AXL? and some tripod and head questions.

No, they perform quite well. They are well made. That’s why I have them. They have proven themselves well over time. I tend to get tools I can rely on.

Dec 31, 2022 at 02:31 AM

FrancisAlberto
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Anyone has the TMA47AXL? and some tripod and head questions.

Someone suggested Leofoto tripods to me, what do you guys think of them?

Also has anyone used the Robus RC-5570? I might be able to get a student discount on one of those.

Jan 31, 2023 at 11:19 AM

themb3life
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Anyone has the TMA47AXL? and some tripod and head questions.

FrancisAlberto wrote:
I was looking at some tripods, and TMA47AXLlooks like a decent tripod without breaking the bank, anyone has experience with it? The appeal to me is that I am 6'2 and this tripod can go a little higher than me allowing, looks like a decent tall tripod without going into stratosphere prices, and it's on sale.
I also looked at the Colorado Centenial tripod 4 series, but that thing looks like it's turning into vaporware.
I am currently using a Pentax K1 MK1, and the Pentax FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6. I enjoy landscape photography when the weather is good. When I...Show more →

I have the TMA48XL and the Tortoise R34C +GX35 head. I am 6’4 275lb man so I needed something large and sturdy. I love the 48XL but it’s a beast!! I am not gonna lie, with the Benro G20 head, its a 7lb rig and that gets old hiking in the woods. I got the R34C for walking around and I use the 34C for 85% of my shoots now. Depending on the type of shooting, yes there are times the extra reach has been helpful, if anything its when you are on a ledge and the best support is a lip/ledge further down. It is VERY rare that you need to full extend it.

I did swap out the top plate for a RRS 60mm Q/R level as I have one on the 48XL as well. In hindsite, I should have gotten the TMA-38XL. The 48XL is my studio tripod now.

If you click on my IG page, I actually did a short video on what to look for in a tripod and I showcase these two.

Feb 01, 2023 at 09:43 PM

FrancisAlberto
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Anyone has the TMA47AXL? and some tripod and head questions.

Found the video, thanks for the response.
I only started looking at the leofoto and the robus because they are lighter than the big benro while maintaining height.
I'm probably trying to do something most ppl shouldn't be doing, and it's trying to consolidate tripods into a single one, and trying to find a bang for the buck.

The turtoise looks cool, seems like a streamlined benro with no center column. Kinda wish they sold it without the head. You weren't joking about the other tripod being large in the comparison.

Btw I'm in MASS too. We almost neighbors. I'm in Haverhill.

Feb 01, 2023 at 10:53 PM

themb3life
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Anyone has the TMA47AXL? and some tripod and head questions.

FrancisAlberto wrote:
Found the video, thanks for the response.
I only started looking at the leofoto and the robus because they are lighter than the big benro while maintaining height.
I'm probably trying to do something most ppl shouldn't be doing, and it's trying to consolidate tripods into a single one, and trying to find a bang for the buck.

The turtoise looks cool, seems like a streamlined benro with no center column. Kinda wish they sold it without the head. You weren't joking about the other tripod being large in the comparison.

Btw I'm in MASS too. We almost neighbors. I'm...Show more →

Oh good deal!!! I am over near the Harold Parker SP, if you wanna meet up and check out both tripods since they are hard to find locally, send me a DM and we can connect. More than happy to meet up.

-Mike

Feb 02, 2023 at 09:00 AM

FrancisAlberto
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Anyone has the TMA47AXL? and some tripod and head questions.

Yeah man, I'll pm you.
Thank you for you offer.

Feb 02, 2023 at 11:26 PM

FrancisAlberto
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Anyone has the TMA47AXL? and some tripod and head questions.

Thank themb3life, a true gentleman, showed me some hospitality by meeting up with me in his neck of the woods.
Met up with him, he showed me the turtle and the benro xl carbon fiber tripods.
I underestimated a bit the weight of the TMA48CXL, but man does it really go up high. It's a beast, that thing can be deployed really well in uneven terrain with it's really long legs. The tortoise was about half the weight, but still felt hefty enough and substantial. He also showed me the RSS quick level release, that thing sure made release and attachment an ease.
I think I am now leaning towards the idea of trying to find something lighter, unless I find a deal that I can't refuse, but I can see why people might have multiple tripods. I can also see people more likely walking out with with a lighter tripod instead of leaving a larger one at home.

Feb 13, 2023 at 01:22 AM


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