My First Tripod. Recommendations please.

[patham]

I recently bought a Manfrotto 055XPROB with the 804RC2 head. It easily supports a 500D with a 70-200 f/4, has a pretty good height and is rock solid. It was for 220€ on Amazon.fr, probably you could find similar prices in the UK

[ham]

A very detailed Manfrotto 055XPROB and 488RC2 (new version would be 498RC2) is available here.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=529785

I had this setup given to me for my birthday and it seems very solid.

Dave

Looking at Jessops for some costs, here's what I'd recommend as a starter set:

• Manfrotto 055XPROB = £105
• Manfrotto 498RC2 = £87
• TOTAL = £192

You might want to read this article, which advises just getting the best from the start, and makes some good points. But take a rational approach (and keep in mind that the author just assumes you'll chuck the gear you don't want anymore into the bin, instead of selling it to recoup some of the loss).

One more suggestion - go into a shop and try some out. Manfrotto uses lever-locks for the legs, other brands use twist-locks. Play with the heads. See how easy it is to extend/collapse the legs. Find something that's comfortable for you to use.

Hope that helps...

That set-up looks like it'll do what I need.

I completely understand the necessity not to go cheap, and I don't want to, but equally I don't want to throw money at something when it'll be overkill for how much I'll actually use it. To me, £200 (would £50 more get me anything extra/better/lighter that's worth having?) is a good price, but I'd go a bit higher if it was worth it VfM-wise.

That review is very good, I'm only 5'10, so I assume I just wouldn't extend the legs fully? How does the extending neck swing? Through the gaps in two of the legs?

(Edit: looking at this, he uses a grip, I don't, that'll make it about my height. Lovely)

I recently bought a Manfrotto 055XPROB with the 804RC2 head. It easily supports a 500D with a 70-200 f/4, has a pretty good height and is rock solid. It was for 220€ on Amazon.fr, probably you could find similar prices in the UK

What differences are there with that head and the 498RC2?

Thanks for your help all, seems like an absolute minefield fo letters and numbers, and that clarifies it a bit.

[Dave Throgmartin]

How does the extending neck swing? Through the gaps in two of the legs?

I can probably best answer this with a video (time 2:05). You push a button and pull it through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmenklsAZX8

Dave

[ham]

I can probably best answer this with a video (time 2:05). You push a button and pull it through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmenklsAZX8

Dave

Dave, Excellent video.

I'm really beginning to like this set-up, but I've read some reviews which say it's a little on the heavy-side, which makes me think perhaps that's what I should spend a bit more to reduce? How much more am I looking at for an equivalent that's CF or some other more lightweight material?

It's also tall, I'm unlikely to need one that tall, will that get me something lighter? Or even cheaper?

btaylor, you're not wrong about there being millions of options. I might just pop into my local Jacobs and Jessops on Friday and see what they recommend, but I'm always wary of shops either not having practical knowledge, or being influenced by the company to push certain products.

Denise, you mentioned the short column for macro-work, would the moving column on the manfrotto have solved that for you without an extra purchase. It looks an excellent addition for me, as macro is something I could well be looking at in the future.

[ddt0725]

Dave, Excellent video.

Denise, you mentioned the short column for macro-work, would the moving column on the manfrotto have solved that for you without an extra purchase. It looks an excellent addition for me, as macro is something I could well be looking at in the future.

That video helped me out also! A few months back, I posted a thread asking which tripod to get that had the moving center column ...

http://community.the-digital-picture...ghlight=tripod

I still haven't purchased one but am taking a closer look at the Manfrotto as a future purchase. At the time that I bought my first legs, I did not know this existed. I was such a newbie that I probably wouldn't have seen the benefit of it at the time. But now, it would come so in handy with tabletop photography and shooting in my flower gardens. In fact, I was about to buy a gorillapod for tabletop instead just the other day.

[Dave Throgmartin]

Dave, Excellent video.

I'm really beginning to like this set-up, but I've read some reviews which say it's a little on the heavy-side, which makes me think perhaps that's what I should spend a bit more to reduce? How much more am I looking at for an equivalent that's CF or some other more lightweight material?

It's also tall, I'm unlikely to need one that tall, will that get me something lighter? Or even cheaper?

btaylor, you're not wrong about there being millions of options. I might just pop into my local Jacobs and Jessops on Friday and see what they recommend, but I'm always wary of shops either not having practical knowledge, or being influenced by the company to push certain products.

Denise, you mentioned the short column for macro-work, would the moving column on the manfrotto have solved that for you without an extra purchase. It looks an excellent addition for me, as macro is something I could well be looking at in the future.

Ham,

Carbon fiber from Manfrotto would appear to be about twice as expensive. There may be other options though. Different brands may have something or you could look at the 190 series. Something like the 190XPROB could work, but it will be 7" shorter without the center extension. That may mean you'd need to extend it frequently and then may not have a stable a setup.

Dave

[cls]

Hi, I have the 055XPROB/498RC2 combo and I'm quite happy with it. It's not too expensive, it's quite steady, but it's not what you would consider lightweight. If light weight isn't high priority, this is a reasonable (and very popular) way to go.

[btaylor]

I'm pretty sure one of our regular members Denise uses an induro CT313 (?) so maybe see if she can give you an opinon.

BTW - the Induros are much less costly than the Gitzos and RRS's.

[ddt0725]

I'm pretty sure one of our regular members Denise uses an induro CT313 (?) so maybe see if she can give you an opinon.

BTW - the Induros are much less costly than the Gitzos and RRS's.

Actually, I have the CT213 which is a step below the CT313 for height and load capacity. Both are carbon fiber. I chose the CT213 mainly for the price. It along with the BHD2 ballhead that I bought at the same time fit perfectly in my price range. I knew I definitely wanted carbon fiber and most can get pretty costly. Also, with my being 5'5", it was all I needed for height. The weight of it is perfect for me to carry around and its folded length is only 25". In fact, I was surprised how long I can go on a hike carrying it! I also wanted something that had 3-section legs and a very minimal height when using a short column (purchased seperately) for macro work, this one is about 7 inches.

I do not have any experience with other tripod brands and I am sure there are much better out there but I bought mine in 2009 and it has held up very, very well! For me, it has been money well spent!

Good luck with finding what will work best for you!

Denise

[btaylor]

I use a RRS TVC-34L and RRS BH55 LR ballhead. However this is very expensive for a first tripod. (think ~$2000). In saying that, I will never need another tripod... EVER.

If I was in your position, I'd probably look at induro tripods. The traveller series tripods are nice and compact and the carbon fibre pods also look really nice. I did a lot of research into tripods prior to purchasing the RRS and I actually pulled the trigger on an induro ct414 however they didn't have stock in Australia at the time. While researching the Induros I couldn't find a bad review on them.