Help deciding on next lens

[neuroanatomist]

Thanks for the assistance. $1200 is a little more than I was looking to spend on a tripod and head setup. I'm a newbie when it comes to this gear. By clamping system, are you referring to anything more than the head?

The 190CXPRO4 has a lot of good reviews. The 468MG has several options with a "quick release" on it. What do I need too consider when deciding on a model?

The clamp + plate is how you attach your camera to the head.

I'd recommend just the 468MG, no RC anything. Like Rich, I'm not a fan of the Manfrotto clamps. I used the RC2's for a while, but there's some play when they're 'locked' into the clamp, and the other Manfrotto plates are too big (extend beyond the camera base).

The Arca-Swiss system locks robustly, no play, and it's a standard system supported by many vendors.

So, for the 468MG, I'd get a Wimberley C-12 clamp (which is Arca-Swiss type). For the camera, a universal plate like the Wimberley P-5, or a camera-specific plate or L-bracket from RRS or Kirk. For non supertele lenses with a tripod collar 28-300, 100-400, 70-200/2.8), a Wimberley P-20 plate works well.

[Mpieris]

Many thanks for all the info. Didn't know there was so much in tripod and head setup selection. After researching the suggestions you've provided, I think I have underestimated on the budget. Looks like I will need to set it at around $800 - $1000. I'm Canadian and a lot of the places I've checked either don't carry the models/brands mentioned or are priced much higher than what I see on US websites. I guess I can always import, but then I have to consider shipping and duty costs. Any Canadians (Toronto area) out there know where the best place is to get this type of gear for a good price?

[jrw]

Camera gear is not charged duties at the border. Shipping, HST, and any brokerage fees are all that will be on top of US prices. Avoid UPS shipping methods. They charge ridiculous fees for broker and handling. B&H and Adorama are both highly recommended as cross-border shopping friendly.

In the T.O. area I don't know the marketplace as I prefer to avoid the area. Camera Canada in London has a good web site and the people there seem to know what they are talking about. Will order things in for people and may be able to suggest excellent lower cost alternatives. Henry's does carry more items across the chain, but they are way overpriced. Will pricematch according to their policies. Use www.photoprice.ca to compare prices on items and verify stocking before going into one of their stores.

[DavidEccleston]

Check if what you want is listed on photoprice.ca It will give you to your door pricing, including shipping, duty, brokerage, taxes, currency exchange etc. Due to pressure from some stores, due to pressure from camera manufacturers, they have semi-removed the US pricing from the site for certain items. Instead of inter-mixing the results they'll just show where the cheapest US price would fall, and provide a link to their US site where you can see US pricing.

[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]

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

[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?

[Richard Lane]

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?

There is absolutely no difference in quality between the RRS and Wimberley plates. The are both top notch!

The explorer feature looks nice, however the only concern that I would have besides the extra weight, would be the stability of the camera position, as the center column top mounting plate, as it appears to be off to the side of the tripod (so the center of gravity is not over the legs), even when you're not using the horizontal feature.

Also check out the Gitzo Systematic Carbon Series 2 or Series 3; 3 section or 4 section. The prices on the Gitzo website are higher retail prices.

http://www.gitzo.com/news+%26+events...ipods/20183007

Note prices after rebate at B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/846201-REG/Gitzo_GT2532S_GT_2531_Mountaineer_6X_Carbon.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/846212-REG/Gitzo_GT3532S_GT3542LS_6x_4_SECTION_SYSTEMATIC.htm l

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...4_Section.html


Also horizontal adapters are also available separately:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=feisol+horizontal+adapter&N=0&InitialSe arch=yes&sts=ma



I really hope I'm not confusing you or overwhelming you with information, as I'm not trying to talk you into any specific model. All of the models and brands listed are excellent!

I own the previous years model of the Gitzo Carbon Systematic 3 Series with 4 leg sections and I love it.

Rich

[HDNitehawk]

The explorer feature looks nice, however the only concern that I would have besides the extra weight, would be the stability of the camera position, as the center column top mounting plate, as it appears to be off to the side of the tripod (so the center of gravity is not over the legs), even when you're not using the horizontal feature.

It is not a problem and I have never noticed it as an issue, unless of course you are inverting the column then you have the hooks on the bottom of the column for counter balance weights. This tripod is very solid, but you gain weight to have the extra features.