Edcase

After months using a very cheap jessops tripod, my birthday next month gives me a perfect excuse to get something 'proper'.

I'm 5'9 and fairly strong, but I don't want anything really heavy as I want to be able to take snowboarding / mountain biking etc. eventually I will buy a second lightweight tripod especially for this.

basically I need the classic all-rounder - middleweight, fast to use, flexible and hard wearing.

currently looking at Manfrotto 322RC2 trigger grip head

http://www.acecameras.co.uk/asp/web/.../1/product.asp

with a Manfrotto 055 Pro tripod (does overhead shots etc.)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...99863&tc=photo

Anyone have any comments or bright ideas???

STi-Frenchie

Both the head and 'pod look good Ed. I use the pistol grip head shown here which is slightly cheaper but I think the one you are looking at may be even better. The only thing about the 'pod is that it weighs 2.4kg which might become a bit on the heavy side if you are carting it around for a while. Have you tried looking at the carbon fibre tripods?

Edcase

Is the head going to cope with my biggest payload, an sb800 and 70-200 f2.8???

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Depends how heavy that stuff is I guess. The site says that your chosen head can only support 2.5kg in the vertical orientation, which doesn't sound like much to me.

I use a Manfrotto 468RC2 which is a heavy lump but copes admirably with my heaviest load (1D + 100-400L IS). My tripod is a Manfrotto 443 (carbon fibre) - rigid legs, but there's a little bit of flex somewhere (in the hinges, I think) which means it's not quite as rock solid as I'd like. It's much better than most, though, but I'd take a look at the nearest equivalent Gitzo too - they seemed that bit more solid but I didn't get on well with the twist type leg locks.

My best advice is to seek out the biggest camera shop you can find and try a few - I really struggled to get to try any of them properly, and if anything, I think tripods are even harder to choose than cameras without handling them for yourself.

Geezer

I have a Giottos MT170 Innovator (ithink anyway). Built like a tank, very sturdy, a tad heavy though (3. something kg). Have a crappy head for it, but birthday coming soon........

Geezer

STi-Frenchie

Yes. I used this regularly with my old F5, 70-200 f2.8 AF-S IFED D, and SB-28 and now use it with my D2H, 70-200 f2.8 AF-S IFED D, and SB-800. Just make sure you mount the rig using the tripod mount on the lens and not the camera body.

Edcase

Ah yes, of course.

my only concern with that pistol grip is doing panning shots IE motorsport.

any problems?

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

I always pan hand-held - I keep my head fairly still and move/rotate the camera. The pivot point is my neck.

With a tripod, the pivot point iseither on the body or the lens barrel, and that means moving your head the opposite way. I find that distracting and less easy to do smoothly.

STi-Frenchie

Not that I've noticed. There is a tensioning spring on the grip which you can adjust. Mind you, I haven't used it for motorsport...mostly fashion shows where the models weren't moving that quick ! The motorsport shots I've taken have been hand-held. Nowhere near springbok's standards yet...

Edcase

Ta chaps....I always pan handheld too, but I guess only cos I had a sh1te tripod.

I need to put some of my motorsport shots online *

(*also nowhere near as good as my fellow Plymothian Grahame!)

STi-Frenchie

A wee bit more info on the pistol grip head Ed in case you are still undecided...best to go to a shop and take a look at it. Nikonians "review"

IWatkins

I like my Giottos MT8170 very much. I've tried Manfrotto and Gitzo in my time but never been happy with them (or their price).

Anyway, Focus On Imaging is on at the NEC starting this weekend. Best place to ever see all the tripods (and everything else) available in one place.

Cheers

Ian

Edcase

Ian,will take a look.

Sadly I'm in London this weekend

swiss scooby

I have the Gitzo G1325, Carbon Fiber version with a Arca Swiss B1 (Quick Release) Monoball head. This combination plus a 'www.reallyrightstuff.com' - Camera adapter for quick release makes it all perfect and sturdy for my needs. I buy most of my photo accessories at 'www.bhphotovideo.com' (New York). They ship very fast!! BTW, I searched very long for this great setup.