Help deciding on next lens

[Richard Lane]

It's taking me a while to research the right tripod, head, and clamp options for my needs. Rich, do you or anyone else have any experience with Feisol (tripod and/or head) or Best Ballhead? I checked B&H and Amazon, but couldn't find any user reviews on any of the products. For Feisol, I think any of the 3301, 3401, or 3402 legs look to meet the specs I'm looking for. It also fits within my original budget (although I'd still spend more to avoid a piece of junk that I'd have to replace in a year or two. From a ballhead perspective, the CB-40 looks like it would be ok. The main hesitation I have is because it doesn't seem to be as popular as some of the other brands. It's tough to see what the feedback is from actual people that made the investment. The other option I've been looking at is the Manfrotto 190cxpro3, but not sure on the head.

I don't own the Feisol (I have a Gitzo GT3541LS Systematic Carbon Series 3, with 4 leg sections), but Feisol is actually a well respected product and I have read some very positive comments over the past few years on many different forums that suggest people are very happy with these. Feisol also offers quite a few different models as well as accessories to use with their tripods. Whatever tripod you select, I would go with either a carbon 3 leg for greatest stability, or a 4 leg section for the more compact version, depending on what your needs are, as well as your height, and travel needs.

Personally, I don't like the Manfrotto Ballheads. However, I think that their Video heads are better than their ballheads.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=10651451

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/756837/

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1032452

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/735088

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1019&message=16823128&changemod e=1

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/readf...ssage=16650287

http://www.carbonfibertripodreviews.com/Reviews


Do a search on Fred Miranda for Feisol and "Photo Clam"! If you searched Best Ballhead brand there is no such brand.

The ball head is made by Photo Clam and is sold on a website called Best Ballhead (California). The other popular website that sells Photo Clam Ballheads is called reallybigcameras.com: I've actually heard their name more often (reallybigcameras.com) and they also sell Feisol, I guess that's also why fiesol and Photo Clam are a popular combination. However, depending on where you live, one website may be better, and Feisol.net also sells direct. I would also like to mention that center columns reduce stability, however they sometimes do serve a purpose.

http://www.reallybigcameras.com/


The newer Feisols (since some of the reviews listed above) are also available in Carbon Fiber, and they also have the newer anti-twisting and locking legs now, which is a plus.


Don't rule out the Manfrotto either. But, if you go for the big bucks, then consider the Gitzo or Really Right Stuff.

Rich

[Richard Lane]

For Feisol, I think any of the 3301, 3401, or 3402 legs look to meet the specs I'm looking for. It also fits within my original budget (although I'd still spend more to avoid a piece of junk that I'd have to replace in a year or two.

Just to be clear, I was recommending the Feisol "Tournament Series" in my initial post. I'm less familiar with the "Classic Series" that you're looking at. But, you should also try to stay within your budget.

http://www.feisol.net/rapid-tripods-...ds-c-1_14.html


http://www.feisol.net/manuals/FEISOL...nt_Version.pdf


After you do some more research and narrow things down, then post again.


Rich

[Mpieris]

Just to be clear, I was recommending the Feisol "Tournament Series" in my initial post. I'm less familiar with the "Classic Series" that you're looking at. But, you should also try to stay within your budget.

http://www.feisol.net/rapid-tripods-...ds-c-1_14.html


http://www.feisol.net/manuals/FEISOL...nt_Version.pdf


After you do some more research and narrow things down, then post again.


Rich

Rich, thanks once again for all the information and links. You've been extremely generous with your advice and info. After going through them all, I'm starting to zero in on a direction. I've read a lot of people's feedback on paying a premium upfront to avoid paying more afterwards because of poor quality or poor performance. Based on this, my new thinking is to go with the following setup:

- Gitzo 2531
- Kirk BH-1 (comes with arca swiss style clamp)
- Wimberley P5 (for my 5D2)
- Wimberley P20 (for my 70-200 f2.8L)

This will run me about $1200 with shipping and taxes. It's more than I planned as a budget. But I'd rather spend this once than get something cheaper and eventually upgrade to a setup like this later. Let me know what you think of this setup and if I should consider something else given my planned budget just increased. Thanks again!

[Richard Lane]

Mpieris,

My pleasure, I love talking about this stuff!

The Package that you have selected above is excellent! I am also going to give you an alternative, since you upped your budget.

The Really Right Stuff (RRS), is just as good as the Gitzo. The only reason that I didn't buy the RRS, was because a few years ago, they were back-ordered for a few months at a time, as they couldn't keep up with the demand.

I don't think that the brand, Gitzo or RRS, will matter that much, as long as you get the right model within each company.

As stated earlier, the center column is a nice convenience, but it does decrease stability. The center column also adds extra weight and it may prevent the tripod from going all the way down to the ground depending on its implemenatation, while splayed on 3 legs, because the center column may hit the ground. I think adding a 4th leg section would be better than adding a center column, afterall, if you want to lower the height of the tripod, then you can just splay the legs individually at different leg height settings or different angle settings. The center column is quicker for composition, and 3 legs are faster to set-up (quicker to extend 3 legs than 4 legs) and/or minor height adjustments. The 4 section tripods are more compact for traveling and for attaching to a backpack.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/WebsiteInfo.aspx?fc=67


http://reallyrightstuff.com/mmrrs/Images/library/versausers/ImageGrid.html


http://reallyrightstuff.com/mmrrs/Images/gallery/choose_a_tripod.jpg


RRS also sells Series 2 and Series 3 packages with ballhead and clamp included, so you can save some money, RRS claims that their Series 2 is comparable to the Gitzo Series 3, and that the RRS Series 3 is comparable to the Gitzo Series 5 regarding specifications.

These are the RRS Series 2 packages, which comes with the ballhead and camera clamp:

http://reallyrightstuff.com/Items.aspx?code=TripodsRRSPkgs&key=cat

As far as the ballhead clamp, I prefer the lever type, because as you're looking through the viewfinder, you may want to adjust the ballhead without looking, and since most ballheads have 2 to 3 knobs on it already, I like the lever release so that I wont un-tighten the camera clamp by accident. The quick release (QR) Lever holds very securely, as it's either fully closed or fully open and never half way tightened, like the clamp knob can be.

As far as camera plates and lens plates are concerned. I have both wimberley and RRS plates. I prefer the RRS plates. They are both very well made and my RRS plates are a little lighter. However, the new RRS camera plate has a slot for a Hand Strap (below) and the RRS camera and lens plates also have an extra hole on the bottom, to screw in a Black Rapid Shoulder strap adapter if needed.


http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=B5D2&type=0&eq=&desc=B5D2%3a-Plate-for-5D-MkII-without-BG-E6-&key=it


You will have to decide between an L-Plate or flat camera plate. The L-plate allows you to change from landscape position to portrait position without altering composition, and it also leaves the cameras center of gravity over the tripod, as opposed to the side, as in over the ballhead cutout slot. You also have to decide between camera plate with or without the Camera Grip.

Here is the RRS Lens plate:

http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=L84&type=0&eq=B86-006&desc=L84%3a-For-Canon-EF-70-200mm%2ff2.8L-


I also like all of the other accessories that RRS sells and I feel that a lot of the combos and attachments work very well together, like macro rails, flash brackets, leveling bases, pano gear, they also offer center columns.

The RRS BH-40 (18 oz.) is also much lighter than the Kirk B1 (30 oz.)

http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductD...f-LR-II&key=it


I'm off to work now, so I will check in with you later.

Good Luck,
Rich

[Richard Lane]

Here's a nice review btaylor (Ben) did on the larger RRS TVC-34L Combo:

http://community.the-digital-picture...ighlight=stuff

One more thing about the tripod height. If you are planning on shooting up in the sky frequently for birds in flight, fireworks, planes, the moon and things like that, then sometimes it's nicer to have a slightly taller tripod, because as you tilt the lens upward on the tripod, the eye-piece on the camera gets tilted downward, requiriring you to bend down a bit more.

Rich

[HDNitehawk]

Of the Gitzo 2531's this one would be the most versatile; Gitzo GT2531EX 6X Carbon Fiber Explorer Tripod Legs http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...bon_Fiber.html


The legs are much more adjustable, and the column can be set at any angle. Also noitce the lock down for the leg position, it can be set at any angle where many tripods have set positions.

[Kombi]

. It's more than I planned as a budget. But I'd rather spend this once than get something cheaper and eventually upgrade to a setup like this later. Let me know what you think of this setup and if I should consider something else given my planned budget just increased. Thanks again!

This is really the right way to go.
I have 2 tripods- one I bought used about 20 yrs ago Solid build Manfrotto with 3 way pan head- so heavy that it only gets used around the house (as base for a laser level) or driven close to where I'm taking a picture, the second I bought last year ($150ish), light but flimsy and short never used it.
Not out much right now- but as I get better and have a need for a tripod I want one I can use.

Thanks to all who share in these posts I have learnt the importance of a good tripod.

[Mpieris]

Rich, glad you enjoy sharing as much as I love learning ��. So more options to consider... I checked out the RRS options. Looks like the cost for this setup would end up costing me closer to $1500 with freight, duties, and taxes. The biggest difference is in the cost of the legs. They are rated at a higher load capacity than the Gitzo I am considering. Going up to the 3 series in Gitzo would match the RRS 2 series and still cost less. But the RRS ballhead has a lower load capacity than the Kirk. Thanks for the feedback on the plates. But if I go with the Gitzo and Kirk setup, I will probably go with the wimberleys because I can get everything from B&H. Ideally I can get my things from one store to minimize my shipping charges to Canada. Or are the RRS plates that much better that I should pony up for the extra shipping charges?

[Mpieris]

Of the Gitzo 2531's this one would be the most versatile; Gitzo GT2531EX 6X Carbon Fiber Explorer Tripod Legs http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...bon_Fiber.html


The legs are much more adjustable, and the column can be set at any angle. Also noitce the lock down for the leg position, it can be set at any angle where many tripods have set positions.

Thanks for the tip. Didn't realize this was not standard on the mountaineer. I noticed that the explorer version is 1 lb heavier than the mountaineer. Not having used a tripod before, I don't know what is more valuable - 1 lb weight savings or ability to set at any angle? I'm using it mostly as a travel tripod so I'm very sensitive to the weight. It gets tiring lugging all the gear around so anywhere that I can save on weight without a significant compromise, I'd like to.

[HDNitehawk]

Thanks for the tip. Didn't realize this was not standard on the mountaineer. I noticed that the explorer version is 1 lb heavier than the mountaineer. Not having used a tripod before, I don't know what is more valuable - 1 lb weight savings or ability to set at any angle? I'm using it mostly as a travel tripod so I'm very sensitive to the weight. It gets tiring lugging all the gear around so anywhere that I can save on weight without a significant compromise, I'd like to.

That version is excellent for macro work; you can position your camera in some really odd positions. If all you need is three stable legs that are easy to carry one of the other versions might serve you better. I own a version of this tripod, and while for almost every application it works great, I have thought about buying another tripod to carry backpacking because of the weight. You lose some of the versatility, but if I were just planning on taking mostly landscape shots I could give the versatility up to save a pound or two.