3 new (and well overdue) purchases

Hi Guys,


I've been a bit scarce on here lately - I started a new mid-level management role at work so it's been amazingly hectic.


My better half has been telling me for a while that I'm not allowed to buy any more camera gear unless she gets a ring on her finger. She always pretended she was joking but the hints were coming through thick and fast. [;)]SO..... a couple of weeks back Lauren and I got engaged and she finally got that ring (after 8 years [:O]) which is really exciting.


Almost as exciting though is the fact that I can finally buy some new stuff!!!


I'm still really undecided on lens purchases at the moment. Tossing up between the Canon 14mm f/2.8L (holy $$$ batman!), the Sigma 12-24mm or the Sigma 85mm f/1.4. I always loved my Canon 10-22mm for landscapes but I really need a good telephoto fast prime in my kit. So I've left lenses alone for now.


So I went ahead and thought about what frustrates me the most about my kit. Instantly I thought of that horrible bit of play between my camera body plate and the quick release clamp on my cheapo tripod I picked up while travelling through Vietnam. Every time I set the frame with the tripod I have to adjust to allow for the droop and it just annoys the hell out of me. It's been good to me for a while, but it's not handling the weight of my setup these days.


I read a really interesting article that somebody linked to here about buying the right tripod the first time instead of going through multiple iterations and in the end spending twice as much. With that article in mind I went ahead and ordered a Really Right Stuff BH-55 ballhead with lever release clamp, RRS camera body plate and RRS lens plate for the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II. I'm a big fan of really well machined equipment. If anybody's into archery here and knows about Sure-Loc sights - that's where my obsession with very well made gear started.





http://reallyrightstuff.com/mmRRSNET...ery/BH55LR.png http://reallyrightstuff.com/mmRRSNET...llery/BGE4.pnghttp://reallyrightstuff.com/mmRRSNET...allery/L84.png


Anyway, I thought I'd give it a go for a while on the existing tripod legs but that didn't last long.


Today I ordered the Induro CT 414 carbon fibre tripod. I looked at Gitzo's but I can't justify that cost. - which does kind of contradict my previous statement about going all out but for me to get a Gitzo 3541 LS over here would cost me over $2000, no thanks.





http://www.naturescapes.net/store/im...d-ct414-02.jpghttp://blog.outdoorphotogear.com/blo...22-445x700.jpg


http://blog.outdoorphotogear.com/blo...CT414_9330.jpg





I haven't read a bad review of the Induro 8x carbon fibre tripods yet so I took the plunge. I did consider the 3 section tripod but as I'll be travelling with it I wanted something slightly more compact. The induro really looks rock solid, I think it's going to be a much more enjoyable experience dragging the tripod out. I know it's probably overkill for my current gear but I'd rather be certain I've got long lasting, rock solid equipment to put it on.


I haven't found a lot of reviews on this particular induro model yet so I'll be sure to review and get plenty of comparison pics once it all arrives. I'll even throw in a photo of the ring for good measure (come to think of it I might need that Canon 14mm to fit the bloody enormous rock in the frame!!!)


Cheers,


Ben

Congratulations on your new job, your new gear and your engagement! (in random order;))

Congrats, Ben!! [:D]

Congrats on all 3 counts!!


I have the Induro CT213 and have been very pleased with it! Of course for a lens, my vote is for the Sigma 85mm!!!


Denise

AH! Jealous! I have been eyeballing that RRS head for quite some time now.

Awesome! I love my RRS gear. I use it for photo and video

Congrats Ben, another astute investment. Ahh congrats on both investments, I am sure this will bring stability to your relationships.


I

Thanks everyone - I just checked UPS and the ballhead has arrived in the country (not bad after only ordering it Wednesday night). The tripod might be a couple of weeks away.


Denise - I think I'm on the same lines as you, that Sigma 85mm is really sparking my interest. I remember reading that you got the Induro as well, I think it's going to be a good solution for me.


Rocco - Just do it!


Steve - I see what you did there [:D]

I

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Originally Posted by btaylor

Rocco - Just do it!
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You know.. I think I'm going to this next tax season. Although, there are two other purchases in that range that are tempting my wallet into damnation. I suppose I'm going to have a thread on here around that time discussing the moral implications (yes moral) of my next major photographic purchase. Unless, of course, you just want to give me your new tripod. That would certainly make my dilema easier to digest. [:D]

A ring in exchange for gear is a fair deal, lol


What bracket are you using to hold your flash?

How much did it all add up to?


You can nominate a lens of equivalent value if you

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Originally Posted by William

How much did it all add up to?

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It's a amazing what such a tiny piece of metal can cost. But RRS sure scores well in the "fit and finish" category. Don't tell anyone this, but sometimes I like to take all my RRS plates, clamps, rails, ball heads, etc. and play with them.

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Originally Posted by Daniel Browning

It's a amazing what such a tiny piece of metal can cost.

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Sorry I didn't mean the ring, just the camera gear. Yes you are strange, nobody else does that. [:$]





(Nearly all of us do).

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Originally Posted by Rocco

Unless, of course, you just want to give me your new tripod. That would certainly make my dilema easier to digest.[img]/emoticons/emotion-2.gif[/img]

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Hmmm let me see... HELL NO!!! [:D]

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Originally Posted by icanon

A ring in exchange for gear is a fair deal, lol


What bracket are you using to hold your flash?

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That's not actually me in that picture (I wish I had the 500mm f/4L!). It's just an example of the tripod from another site. So I can't answer that for you unfortunately.
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Originally Posted by William

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How much did it all add up to?

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All up it was around $1,250 Australian (so around $5 million US at the moment [:P])


Really Right Stuff BH55 + Lever release clamp = $455


BG-E6 Camera plate = $55


70-200mm lens plate = $55


Shipping $66


Induro CT414 tripod $616 (inc shipping).


So for the price of a Gitzo tripod I got myself a top notch ballhead and a tripod I believe will do a great job for me for a very long time.



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Daniel - I can see myself doing that, don't worry you're not alone.

Ben, Congrats on the engagement and the new gear. I also own the BH 55 and love it--it is rock solid and holds with minimal tightening--I am confident that you will love it as well. That tripod also looks like a good one--I am not familiar with the Induro's, but as you pointed out, I haven't heard anything negative about your model. I was the one that posted the article you spoke about and that is what encouraged me to spend the big bucs on support---I have never regretted it. One thing you might also think about with tha big lens is a gimble head. I chose to go with the Wimberley sidekick because I didn't want to continuously change heads on my one solid tripod. The BH 55/Sidkick combo work flawlessly together and really makes it a joy to use the large lenses on--The sidekick is half the price of a full siz gimbal and easily mounts and dismounts.


Congrats again,


Bob


Edit: Oops, I guess I should have read all of the comments---I thought that was you with the 500---but.....My suggestion about the sidekick still applies when the time comes.

Ben....a promotion, an engagement and new gear! What a hat trick....Congrats on all three.

Hehe indeed, thanks!

Well unfortunately my order on the Induro CT414 fell through - the supplier can

Ben,


I have the Gitzo 3541 LS and I would highly recommend it. It's a nice compromise between heavy duty and compact because it has 4 legs. It's compact for travel, its folded length is 55cm (21.6in.)


It's good that you're thinking about the exact height that you will need at eye level (great for studio work), but keep in mind that this height will only be perfect for shooting straight ahead. There are some advantages of getting a taller tripod than you need.


1) If you're shooting at something in the sky, like a bird or the moon, or fireworks, or using a wimberely head, then you will be tilting the lens upwards which will move the viewfinder downward. If you go too short with the tripod then you will have to bend down to look through the viewfinder, which will cause a backache after a while.


2) If you're standing on a hill, large rock or uneven ground (or stairs for example), then it's nice to have a taller tripod to extend the front leg all the way down to the ground (or down the hill) while the other legs can be shortened to remain on the higher ground that you're standing on.


3) Also consider that sometimes you will be shooting downward like for flowers or macro and in these cases the exact viewfinder height wont matter either.


You could always shorten the legs by not extending them fully, although it is a pain sometimes (I have marked mine with a line on each leg that is ideal for straight ahead shooting). If you do this than don't fully extend the smallest leg since it's the thinnest and weakest, unless you're in mud or sand, because you don't want to have the bottom twisting leg collar too close to the dirt.


Rich

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Originally Posted by btaylor

That leaves me with the CT414, 3541 XLS and the 5541 LS.

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I do not see anything in your kit that requires the 5541LS. I own the 5541LS and it is a beast. You definitely wonthave any drift or movement out of it, because it is rock solid. I use mine with my 500mm with a wimberly head. I would recommend it if you have some supertele's like the 300mm F2.8 or larger, a 70-200mm would seem like overkill to me.


I'm a fan of Gitzo, I do not own the 3541 XLS, I do have the 2541 and it is a great tripod but is smaller than the 3541 XLS. I would vote for the 3541 out of the options you listed.

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Originally Posted by btaylor

Man, I've never had an issue spending money on new toys before. Why is it so difficult now???!!!

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LOL, me either. I'm pretty happy with my Manfrotto CF legs, although I did just get their hydrostatic 468MG ballhead. If I spend more money on support, it will be a Gitzo, probably with a Monoball Z1 or a Kirk head. I like the 3541 of the choices you list, I'd likely opt for the version with the center column. But right now, I'm trying hard to avoid temptation andnot to spend any money....I'm holding out for a bigger stack of bills, waiting for a 1DsIV, or maybe the 500mm f/4L IS II (in which case I'd also need a Gitzo, etc.).

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

probably with a Monoball Z1

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I boughtthe Z1before I left to Yellowstone. It is sweet. Rock solid and works great. Wish I had bought it along time ago.

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

I'm holding out for a bigger stack of bills, waiting for a 1DsIV, or maybe the 500mm f/4L IS II (in which case I'd also need a Gitzo, etc.).

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That's going to be a big stack of bills, especially if they are all ones. I was thinking maybe the 500mm F4/L IS II, but if they have the 1DsIV out the 600mm F4L IS II might be a better choice. Where will the madness stop.

Well, I have the 3530LS with a BH55 and often use it with my 500 and Wimberley sidekick---its rock solid, easy to transport (with case) and is the perfect height for me--I

Thanks guys. I had more of a think about it last night.


Rich - I actually thought about the advantages of the extra height last night so we

Ben,


I like the choices you have left and I think the RRS-TVC-34L is probably an excellent choice too. Iv'e never used it, but I have a few pieces of gear from RRS and their workmanship is second to none. Gitzo of course has a much longer track record.


Keep in mind that:


Gitzo 3541XLS Height 78in. (198cm) and folded is 27.6inches (70cm.) and 4.3lbs. (1970kg.) $900 US $859 with rebate


Gitzo 3541LS Height 57.5in. (146cm) and folded is 21.7inches (55cm) and 3.8lbs (1.7kg) $617 US $577 with rebate


RRS TVC-34L Height 70in. (178cm) and folded is 24.4 inches (62.2cm) and 4.7lbs. (2.2kg) $1045 US


The Gitzo's also have a $40 rebate now.


I think any of these will be great, but keep in mind that the 3541LS will be much lighter and more compact to carry around. Plus look at the price differences. Iv'e tried the XLS in the store, it's freaking very tall. You will need a step ladder to use it from it's highest position. You will be able to shoot over people (I've shot wedding videos over the dance floor with a step ladder and this technique) or over a crowd, or if you want to shoot down on a model, otherwise I think it's too tall, but you know your needs better than I do, so go for the one that you need/want.


Even though the XLS is still very stable when fully extended, keep in mind that as the legs get taller when comparing similar models they do lose some rigidity and stability.


These are all killer tripods!


Rich

Thanks Rich. I really like the price of the 3541LS but I think I

Hey Ben,


I don't want to confuse you more, but after perusing through the RRS website it appears to me that the RRS TVC-34L (Series 3) is competing with the Gitzo 5 Series, and the RRS TVC-24L (Series 2) is competing with the Gitzo 3 Series.





So, I think you should also consider this: RRS TVC-24L Height 66.75 inches (170cm) and folded is 23.25 inches (59cm) and 3.75lbs. (1.7kg) $935


It's 1 lbs. (0.5Kg) lighter. If you're going to eventually use long super-telephotos like the 500mm and 600mm then the RRS-TVC 34L may be better. If you are going to stick to the 300mm f/2..8L and smaller than the RRS TVC-24L may be better.


I also see that you just bought the RRS-BH 55, so that may be better suited for the RRS-TVC 34L I haven't looked into the base plate diameters for the BH 40 versus the BH 55.


Also keep in mind that the larger tripods have larger diameter legs, but more importantly the top plate diameter is bigger, so even though the folded lengths are not that much different, the 34L will take up much more room (area) in a carry-on or backpack.


Also Congratulations on the Engagement! [D]


Rich

G'day Rich, thanks for the congrats mate.


You're right - the 34Lappears to be aimed at the Gitzo 5 series. From what I can make out the TVC-2x tripods are designed around the mid sized BH40 ballhead and the TVC-3x are designed around the full sized BH55.


Have a look at these comparison photos of the Gitzo 5541LS vs the RRS TVC-34L. You'll notice the baseplate on the Gitzo is much larger. Tube diameter is a little larger on the Gitzo, folded length is pretty similar but the TVC is slightly more compact,


www.flickr.com/.../5889840302][img][View:http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5062/5889840302_d5324d8311.jpg][/img][/url]


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6051/...b195e4f8f5.jpg
[www.flickr.com/.../5889840302]Comparison of the Really Right Stuff TVC-34L and the Gitzo GT5541LS[/url] by www.flickr.com/.../grobarek]ScottyG927[/url], on Flickr


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6031/...4355f567b1.jpg



http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/...8b535afb9c.jpg


The price difference is fairly negligible really and 0.5kg doesn't bother me too much. there's only a 3.2cm increase in folded length for the 34L as well so that's not too big a deal.


Anyway, none of this matters now because I ordered the RRS TVC-34L this morning!!! [:D] [:D] [:D] [:D] [:D]


I also ordered the padded tripod bag to suit. I know it's expensive at $85 but I've spent this much on the tripod, I might as well get something decent to protect it. The bag's actually a really nice setup.


There is a backorder but I had an email from RRS before I ordered suggesting that an order today should be shipped before the end of the month. I'm happy to wait that long.


So I've completely blown my budget out of the water but hey, that's why I bust my guts underground every day.


Good times,


Ben


P.S Thanks for everyone's input, it's been an interesting discussion.

So I just unboxed the RRS TVC-34L.... absolutely amazing. Review to come.

Congrats Ben, Can