Toronto Photography Meetup Group

I'm looking for decent tripod legs and have this criteria:

1. Weighs less than 3.5 lbs
2. Max height with center column at least 160 cm
3. Max load at least 6kg
4. Center column must easily adjust to work horizontally
5. Less than $400

Is there anything out there that meets this criteria or at least comes close?

Hey James............
Buy 055 Carbon fiber tirpod ...

http://vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoTripods/ ... ripod.aspx

I am sure its not in ur budget ......
But trust me........ u will appreciate it sometime down the lane..
Its like investing on a 2.8 ..U never go wrong in it.............

cheers
Yeshwanth

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4 ... CF_II.html

Slik 714 tripod is the one i am looking at right now. Vistek can order it for you but for twice the price of B&H with shipping. I am just going to do a weekend trip down to get all the neat little goodies I am after. I suggest you do as well or just order online.

or go way over the budget and just get the Gitzo for everything you need and more.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5 ... l#features

if you're going to splurge for carbon fibre get the Gitzo's - their cf is of a much higher quality than that offered by manfrotto and in a different class altogether from the benro stuff...

if you don't want to spend the money for a cf tripod, then consider the Basalt tripods offered by Gitzo - 1/3 cheaper than cf, not quite as light but almost as strong and significantly lighter and stronger than aluminum (and it doesn't conduct heat/cold the way aluminum does)...

don't forget to budge for a good head... a great set of legs mounted with an inadequate head is quite a waste... good luck...

if you don't absolute need a horizontal centre column and want to save a ton of money on legs consider the Manfrotto 055 pro that I'm selling ($100)...

I've been looking for a Gitzo (as Ken suggests) since my old digi Manfrotto tripod (which served me well over the past 4-5 years) bit the dust (one of the clippy things that keeps the legs in place broke.. and it wasn't from me banging it or such.. go figure)

Any suggestions on which Gitzo though... I've been eyeing the 2531:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5 ... arbon.html

It's uber spendy but I think this one wouldn't break...

Cheers,
Dave

(p.s. don't mean to hijack .. sorry)

no experience with that one in particular, but I splurged on a three segment basalt gitzo (older series one) that I got for 35% off from headshosts because it was old stock... speak to Andrew at headshots and he may be able to find something a bit older but new...

even if the Gitzo breaks (and you'd have to beat the crap out of it) it'll likely be repaired/replaced under warranty... good luck

I believe there are a few folks(Jamesy, Many) that use the Gitzo2531 tripod. It is a damn great tripod but personally it is too expensive for my intermittent landscape excursions.

I use Manfrotto 190 XPROB, never had any problems, except for weight, sometimes wish it was 055

i picked up a used gitzo travel model, i figured light weight is more important to me than easier functionality. i think travel models are cheaper than the regular counterparts as well.

I have a Benro C-069M8. I was about to get the Gitzo 1550T, but came across this model and bought it, as it is shorter, lighter, goes up to a similar height and is rated for a heavier load. Here's a comparison review between the Benro C-069M8 & Gitzo 1550T:

http://www.naviquan.com/page/benro/1

The reviewer also has a VERY useful specs-comparison chart that should help anyone looking for a light tripod:

http://www.naviquan.com/page/tripods

Cheers,

Sabesh.

How about a Feisol tripod

http://www.feisol.net/tripods-standard-tripods-c-1_12.html

I actually own one of these and they are quite decent (the legs do rotate around when you twist the leg locks - but gitzo's of a few years ago did the same thing in the carbon fibre versions as well). I have the 3401 - but there are a couple of other model numbers that might suit you better (centre post is an optional extra, so its a horizontal adapter) But still under your $400 price point.

My only real complaint with it so far is the plate that you attach the ball head too. Because it can be removed (to insert a centre post) I have found it tends to loosen a bit over time, requiring tightening - not a big deal, until it becomes loose while your out in the field and your ball head is a bit wobbly (and you forget the allen key to tighten it!!) So as long as you bring the included allan key with you - your fine.

Overall a great little tripod that very affordable for what you get.


Cheers,

Jordan

Question about the Manfrotto with horizontal column .. does it go only from vertical to horizontal or any degree in between?

Vertical to horizontal only - at least that's how the 190 series are...

Thanks.

is there really a point in having a column that can be adjusted to any degree between vertical and horizontal? (like some gitzo's do) i mean the head takes care of that much easier and faster... or am i missing something?

Can't say if there's much advantage but it sure looks flexible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snWplwyYVh0

I don't really see a point of angled center column, unless it is very very stable and doesn't move under the weight of the camera. When I put the center column up all the way it's a bit flimsy in strong winds (Man190)
You can also reverse the center column on XPRO series, not sure about non PRO

I used to have a Gitzo Balsalt tripod I think it was the GT2941 but it was too tall for me so I switched to a Gitzo GT3530s Carbon Fibre which I find to be about the similar weigh but I like the GT3530 because it does not have a centre column which I find not very useful and just add to the weigh. The GT3530s is much sturdier, solid like a rock.

+1

I've had to weight it down with my gear bag.

I sold my Manfrotto 055ProB and 488RC2 combo a while back and got a Benro A169 - I wanted to go Carbon fibre like my Benro monopod but it was a difference of .21kg and the price was 50% more so I stuck with the Aluminium version and I gotta admit, it folds into a very small foot print and is relatively light. No regrets here. I thought the ball head that came with it would be flimsy. Looks like I didn't bother getting the Markins ballhead after all.

I also like the arca swiss plates over manfrotto's quick release system, it's less lumpy and you can fit L brackets which I currently use (RRS) and I love it.

I use the Gitzo 3530LS now and would highly recommend it (notwithstanding the absence of a centre column).

I used a Gitzo 2 series with a centre column previously (I still have it)- (cf) and a Manfrotto 055 previously. I always found the 2 series to be okay- nice and light etc.- but found it a little bit unsteady at times- like it wasn't quite heavy enough for my kit- or too upright or something... (I shoot medium format and DSLR with grip)- like the whole rig was a bit top heavy. It has a lower center of gravity I think- and it is a bigger tripod (though still not really heavy)- so I find the 3530LS to be to be a lot more steady- like a rock- I feel very comfortable with this tripod. It's also pretty tall (mind you I'm not terribly tall), so I don't find the absence of a centre column to be a problem at all- though centre columns are also available as an add on.

I know it is outside your proposed price range, but it might be worth checking out if you are thinking of going a bit nuts.

Thanks everyone for the feedback and advice. I've decided to go with this tripod - it's super sturdy but not that portable.

Not to thread jack or anything but..

I also now need another set of legs, but for height, as in I need one that will got upwards of 80+ inches and preferably closer to the 100 inch plus range.

I have been using my old manfrotto steel tank of a tripod for a few years and just cannot stand the weight but i really do not know much about what else out thereand if it is worth it.

So: [a] I need something just as strong and [b] hopefully at least half the weight and [c] not over the $1200 range.

I have taken a look at the Gizto GT-5561SGT and The Slik Pro 4 online. Both seem great but i wonder about the sturdiness compared to my massive Manfrotto. With cutting that much weight but keeping the height extended fully as i need it will i be creating a dangerous situation for my gear?

Any suggestions for this are very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Scott

Scott, I'd suggest checking it out at Vistek or someplace (Vistek has a pretty good range of tripods on display at the Queen Street Store) and actually load some kit on it- I think that's the only way to be sure that it will meet your needs/get a feel for it. Keep in mind, you can also hook the camera bag onto the tripod for added stability.

I found out about the induro series that can be extended horizontally. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it

This is a newer version of the one I have:
http://vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoInduro/2 ... ripod.aspx

manfrotto and gitzo both have legs with columns that can be adjusted for vertical and horizontal shooting

I have a Feisol tripod and I'm very harpy with it.

I was at Amazing Photo the other day and he had a carbon fiber tripod with a smart feature. One of the legs screws off and becomes a monopod. Didn't catch the brand name other than it was $300 and designed after the Gitzo (similar twist lock for the legs). It was about the same height as the Manfrotto 190. Didn't check it for stability.

that sounds like an interesting idea, but wouldn't that make the legs flimsy? i mean if you look at manfrotto/gitzo legs they're connected with some heavy screws/clamps to the base, but if it's just 1 small screw holding it in place...