Comments on: What’s a good tripod? http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/ Samplings from the World Wide Web by C.K. Sample III Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:28:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Unlimited PSP Downloads http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-46115 Unlimited PSP Downloads Thu, 31 May 2007 02:39:16 +0000 http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-46115 <strong>Unlimited PSP Downloads...</strong> Learn how to gain instant access to the latest PSP games, movies, music and more. No per download or monthly fee.... Unlimited PSP Downloads…

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]]> By: sizer http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-3274 sizer Sat, 07 Jan 2006 21:28:06 +0000 http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-3274 A good tripod is almost more important than a good camera. The single best 'secret' for making great landscape/interior pictures, in my opinion, is to have a good solid tripod. You really don't want to use flash if you can avoid it unless you're going for a specific effect or fix (almost imperceptible fill flash is nice). And with landscape flash often is useless anyhow. So put down your big steady tripod, put your camera on top, set your aperture to f/22, and it doesn't really matter how long the shot has to be. You might even get some neat effects from the length of the exposure, like creamy water. For best results use remote release. Of course you may like taking pictures at high ISO for the grainy effect, or you might like large aperture effects (I tend to shoot very large or very small) or it may not be possible in some situtations, so you do what you have to without the tripod. But otherwise bring it everywhere. Never get lazy and just leave it in the trunk because you probably won't need it. That bit me in the ass too often. Make sure your tripod is nice and solid, has three leg sections rather than four, and a small built in level might be nice. I use used to have a cheapo Vanguard tripod (which was pretty nice for what it was) but finally upgraded to a Manfrotto 3021 BRPO and a medium ball head for about $160, and what a world of difference! One final suggestion - if you're using a large lens like the Nikon 70-400mm VR, then you almost /must/ use the lens tripod mount to balance your camera and lens over the center of the tripod. If you get lazy and try to just put the camera on the tripod and have that huge heavy lens hanging out you will get far more blur. I have some pictures of far away birds on joshua trees that demonstrate this quite effectively. A good tripod is almost more important than a good camera. The single best ’secret’ for making great landscape/interior pictures, in my opinion, is to have a good solid tripod. You really don’t want to use flash if you can avoid it unless you’re going for a specific effect or fix (almost imperceptible fill flash is nice). And with landscape flash often is useless anyhow. So put down your big steady tripod, put your camera on top, set your aperture to f/22, and it doesn’t really matter how long the shot has to be. You might even get some neat effects from the length of the exposure, like creamy water. For best results use remote release.

Of course you may like taking pictures at high ISO for the grainy effect, or you might like large aperture effects (I tend to shoot very large or very small) or it may not be possible in some situtations, so you do what you have to without the tripod. But otherwise bring it everywhere. Never get lazy and just leave it in the trunk because you probably won’t need it. That bit me in the ass too often.

Make sure your tripod is nice and solid, has three leg sections rather than four, and a small built in level might be nice. I use used to have a cheapo Vanguard tripod (which was pretty nice for what it was) but finally upgraded to a Manfrotto 3021 BRPO and a medium ball head for about $160, and what a world of difference!

One final suggestion - if you’re using a large lens like the Nikon 70-400mm VR, then you almost /must/ use the lens tripod mount to balance your camera and lens over the center of the tripod. If you get lazy and try to just put the camera on the tripod and have that huge heavy lens hanging out you will get far more blur. I have some pictures of far away birds on joshua trees that demonstrate this quite effectively.

]]> By: Sample the Web » This is what I like about the Internet… http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-3271 Sample the Web » This is what I like about the Internet… Fri, 06 Jan 2006 20:35:25 +0000 http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-3271 [...] …or at least, it’s what I like about being read on the Internet: I pose a question and people give useful answers in the comments and then someone else reblogs it in a more relevant forum. [...] [...] …or at least, it’s what I like about being read on the Internet: I pose a question and people give useful answers in the comments and then someone else reblogs it in a more relevant forum. [...]

]]> By: Jay http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-3269 Jay Fri, 06 Jan 2006 16:34:12 +0000 http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-3269 If you have the money (it doesn't sound like you do), you can't really go wrong with Gitzo. They pioneered carbon fiber tripods, and the 6X series is amazing. For a C-note or two, I'd look at the Manfroto 7XXX "Digi" series. This is probably what Matt and David are talking about, too. As far as I know, "Bogen" tripods are just rebranded Manfrotos and Gitzos; they don't do any fabrications themselves. You can save some money if you buy a kit instead of buying the tripod and head individually. If you can, spend a couple extra bucks for carbon fiber (the 7XXX series is pretty affordable) instead of the 3XXX series aluminum models. The price has really come down in the last couple of years, and they're more durable: slamming the trunk on a carbon fiber pole won't make the whole setup list to one side. Swing by www.bogenimaging.us to see what's available, but I'd also head down to B&H to see a couple in person, too. You can debate tripod specs all day but, like buying a camera, once you settle on a range it's a pretty personal choice that depens on what you're comfortable with, and how you're going to use it. Here's another idea, though: sink your money into the best, heaviest, stablist tilt/swivel or ball head you can afford, and forget the tripod. Build a nice sturdy bracket out of threaded steel or lead pipe; Home Depot or your local hardware store should be able to cut it to order. It'll be practically earthquake proof for the stop motion work, fully customizable (want to add a boom for overhead work? Just throw on a 14" length of pipe. Try that with a tripod), and you can probably get out the door for $25. If you have the money (it doesn’t sound like you do), you can’t really go wrong with Gitzo. They pioneered carbon fiber tripods, and the 6X series is amazing. For a C-note or two, I’d look at the Manfroto 7XXX “Digi” series. This is probably what Matt and David are talking about, too. As far as I know, “Bogen” tripods are just rebranded Manfrotos and Gitzos; they don’t do any fabrications themselves. You can save some money if you buy a kit instead of buying the tripod and head individually. If you can, spend a couple extra bucks for carbon fiber (the 7XXX series is pretty affordable) instead of the 3XXX series aluminum models. The price has really come down in the last couple of years, and they’re more durable: slamming the trunk on a carbon fiber pole won’t make the whole setup list to one side.

Swing by http://www.bogenimaging.us to see what’s available, but I’d also head down to B&H to see a couple in person, too. You can debate tripod specs all day but, like buying a camera, once you settle on a range it’s a pretty personal choice that depens on what you’re comfortable with, and how you’re going to use it.

Here’s another idea, though: sink your money into the best, heaviest, stablist tilt/swivel or ball head you can afford, and forget the tripod. Build a nice sturdy bracket out of threaded steel or lead pipe; Home Depot or your local hardware store should be able to cut it to order. It’ll be practically earthquake proof for the stop motion work, fully customizable (want to add a boom for overhead work? Just throw on a 14″ length of pipe. Try that with a tripod), and you can probably get out the door for $25.

]]> By: c.k. http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-3268 c.k. Fri, 06 Jan 2006 14:18:51 +0000 http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-3268 Cool, Matt. Thanks. Cool, Matt. Thanks.

]]> By: Matt Croydon http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-3267 Matt Croydon Fri, 06 Jan 2006 13:46:57 +0000 http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-3267 Hey C.K.! Bogen is definitely the way to go in that price range. I have 3221W legs and a 3030 head that I've used with everything from a midsize Canon film camera to a Hasselblad and a small 4x5 camera without problems. It's probably a little outside of that range, a little heavy, and they might not even make it anymore. I'll try to check out their catalog and see what they're up to though, they definitely make (er import, Manfrotto in Italy makes the stuff) good tripods. Hey C.K.!

Bogen is definitely the way to go in that price range. I have 3221W legs and a 3030 head that I’ve used with everything from a midsize Canon film camera to a Hasselblad and a small 4×5 camera without problems. It’s probably a little outside of that range, a little heavy, and they might not even make it anymore.

I’ll try to check out their catalog and see what they’re up to though, they definitely make (er import, Manfrotto in Italy makes the stuff) good tripods.

]]> By: c.k. http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-3266 c.k. Fri, 06 Jan 2006 13:02:42 +0000 http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-3266 Bogen. Cool. Can you elaborate on why they're the best or what I should be looking for in choosing a model? My budget is probably in the $100-200 range for this. Bogen. Cool. Can you elaborate on why they’re the best or what I should be looking for in choosing a model? My budget is probably in the $100-200 range for this.

]]> By: david parmet http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-3265 david parmet Fri, 06 Jan 2006 12:48:20 +0000 http://www.sampletheweb.com/2006/01/05/whats-a-good-tripod/#comment-3265 Anything by Bogen. They generally start around the low $100s and they are worth every penny. Anything by Bogen. They generally start around the low $100s and they are worth every penny.

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