Ok, I'm looking for a tripod and have a budget of about £200 for legs and head. I've looked around and think I've narrowed it down to the either the Manfrotto 055XPROB or the 190XPROB legs with either the 322RC2 or the 804RC2 heads.

What are peoples opinions of the above and what do you use head wise (ball or 3 way) and why?

Any other suggestions and possibilites before I go splashing the cash?

TIA
Paul

Ive got 055Pro legs with a 488RC4 head. This is a ball head but with independent pan. Plus the quick release plate is huge.

This is the head

tripods, heads, monopods, light stands, camera supports, lighting supports, professional tripod 488RC4 - MIDI BALL HEAD W/RC4 R.C.SYST. (http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/cache/offonce/pid/2308)

If you want to get down and dirty, the new 190ProXB would be my choice, with 3-way 804RC2 head. If I only had one tripod, that would be it.

But tripods are not that easy to choose - lots of different choices, especially when it comes to heads. It's quite personal, and trying stuff in the shop is not the same as in the field.

Canvas advice on here, then go try. Make the right choice and you'll not need to buy another tripod ever again.

Richard.

I was in Jacobs in Nottingham over the weekend playing with the stuff.. This is how I narrowed it down a bit, I'm trying now to canvass opinions but I want to order one, you know like a kid with a new toy....

I really like how quickly the centre column becomes horizontal on the XproB tripods, I think that's one of the main reasons why I want those. Does your height affect your tripod choice? Being well over 6ft, I like the idea of the extra height that the 055 gives.

So, does the 488 head give me the best of both worlds? The conveniance and speed of a ball but the ability to lock it and still pan horizontally without moving the camera in other directions? That's what I read into it anyway... Maybe this is the way to go if that is the case..

If you're tall, and really need the extra height, you need the 055 range from Manfotto, basically the same as 190 rane but a bit bigger.

Alternatively, the 222 joy-stick head gives extra height and might be be the job for you. Many love it (I do). Some don't.

Test: stick it on a 1090ProXB with colum horizontal. See how you get on with a heavy camera. Remember you can adjust the head friction.

Try the Gitzo with tilting centre column. Gitzo are very good indeed and you can pretty much fit any head to any tripod.

Richard.

If you're tall, and really need the extra height, you need the 055 range from Manfotto, basically the same as 190 rane but a bit bigger.

Alternatively, the 222 joy-stick head gives extra height and might be be the job for you. Many love it (I do). Some don't.

Test: stick it on a 1090ProXB with colum horizontal. See how you get on with a heavy camera. Remember you can adjust the head friction.

Try the Gitzo with tilting centre column. Gitzo are very good indeed and you can pretty much fit any head to any tripod.

Richard.

What he said and I think you might need all the height you can get!

I personally love the 322RC2 head :thumb:

Does it allow you to pan horizontally though without losing the vertical composition for panoramics Chris?

Yay! Love the 322RC2 - sold my 222 purely to get a 322RC2 - it's a great piece of kit, and if you want (or need to) you can relocate the mounting point to either side of the 'handle' (for left or right handed operation) - or indeed to the end of the grip for that 222 look and feel.

As I often use it with a 1Ds and pretty heavy lenses, the advantage of having the mount point almost over the ball-head was the big plus for me on the 322 over the 222. With a heavy camera on the 222 it droops... whereas the 322 takes it and holds it without problems.

Easy to swap from landscape to portrait, easy to move anywhere and lock in place really. Wouldn't be without mine.... (Have I wibbled on enough about this great product yet??)

So - 322RC2 all the way.... and I'd blow your budget and heartily recommend a Manfrotto Neotec tripod as well. Another superbly useful bit of kit where <cough> speed of erection is useful!

Shades

It's probably not the best for a pure panoramic scan if you want everything lined up, but I'd use my old fluid head Sony video tripod for that.

For other panning, eg sports, it's great if you have things balanced although dificult to position under the 100-400. But once gripped it will hold everything nice & steady.

Just bought the Manfrotto 055XPROB to accompany my 322RC2 head :)

It's on offer from Warehouse Express for £140 at the mo :D I nearly went for the MF3 Magfibre Version for only £60 extra, but it's a bit shorter and only 300g lighter :wonder:

Hopefully it will be a little more sturdy than my Benbo's plastic bits with the bigger lenses on it.

Meant to say...

I ended up getting the 190XProB legs and the 488RC4 head after another play in Jacobs. £150 all in from Warehouse Express, only thing is mum said she'd get it for my birthday so I've got to wait 4 more weeks for it :( at least I can 'borrow' it if need be and looking at this months comp, I think I might be needing it..

Well it arrived yesterday and it's a brute :D Plenty high enough for me without extending the centre column and built like a tank!:thumb:

Only downside is I spotted it on Amazon today for only £119, DOH! :brickwall