TRIPODS

[beagle]

Ok, looking at a tripod for new Nikon. Ok you will besaying, get a real good one, yes if my budget was unlimited but the Noel Leeming catalogue came in the mail and they have a Marumi TD-1931 for 1/2 price.
Have read other pages to see people reccomend that the avaliable weight is say 3 times the weight of your camera.
Anyone got any good advice, apart from buying a $500 Manfrotto

[fyl]

Hey Beags,
Here's my 2c..
For every good thing said about such'n such tripod, you'll find someone who says the opposite..
Really comes down to what you're going to use it for and yes, the budget!!

Yes, Manfrotto are good... :-)
But any tripod will hold a camera steady...if you're using it on a flat hard surface (if you're careful :-) )

With the cheap ones you generally need to watch out for flimsy legs (especially when extended) and dodgy locking mechanisms (legs and tripod head..if they break then game over!).
They can also be fairly short (not much fun doing lots of photography if you're constantly stooping to look through the eyepiece).

If you're out and about with it, especially NZ outdoors (parks, hiking, muddy sports fields, airport run-off areas), then something more stable might serve you better..
Benbo do some good tripods..
www.photowarehouse.co.nz/benbo-ben107-trekker-111-tripod/
which let you put the camera in nearly any position.

Was in a camera shop the other day and there were tripods there for $1800...

Best thing would be to get 'hands-on' with them in the shop...extend them fully, check the stability, leg flex, locking lever strength etc

There are also some things you can do to help stabilize a tripod e.g. hanging a weight (camera bag) off the tripod head, use a camera remote to activate the shutter etc etc..

Hope this is of some use...
Cheers
Phil

[shamus]

Don't overlook the monopod. I use one, especially when i'm shooting video. They are lighter than a tripod to carry and although not quite as stable as the tripod, do provide a solid base with the ground. So no up or down movement that often occurs when you press the shutter button.

[Dave Homewood]

With a monopod you can also get an extension for the camera's trigger and hold the monopod up high to take photos over the fence. I have seen a number of great shots taken like that by English photogs, PeteA being one of them. He takes a lot of high monopod shots at aircraft line-ups at airshows and the angle looks really impressive.

[beagle]

Thanks guys. Apparantely height wise, I am supossed to look for something that is the same height as me before extending the centre pole for better stability when shooting.
I have seen one that the middle pole can be used as a monopod so getting 2 devices in one.
Not too worried about weight as after lifting bread crates all day I am quite strong.....
(thursday nite humour)
might just have to wait for my EQC cheque to arrive

[Kereru]

If you haven't a remote camera release you can use the self timer for still subjects or panning with a short time to fire. Monopods are very useful and portable. Another option maybe for future purchase is a Gorillapod as long as there is something to attach it too. joby.com/gorillapod/slrzoom/

Cheers
PS Gorillapods are not cheap.

[beagle]

Birthday on Friday so have given the mrs the specs for my tripod present. A fancier 532.
place in hornby have them for only $99, down from $169, plus he said he would give me quite a good discount on some UV lenses as well.
I love birthdays...

[flyjoe180]

Doing well Beags, look forward to some really awesome photography!

[beagle]

Actually haven't fired off any images in a few weeks now, not since the snow.
When you have a boss that won't hire anybody or the people he does hire are either so hopeless or leave after a few days, it gets quite hard to go out when you are doing 12-15 hour days every day.
summer is soon.......................

[Deleted]

Hi Beagle

The Fancier tripods are not too bad, they are chinese copies on Manfrotto, the one you are looking at has a head that is more suited to video, so maybe you might want to rethink that.

I don't use a tripod that often but I got a Fancier that had a ball head. The legs are great nice and sturdy and well made, I sold the ball head because it was too small on trade me and got a better head from John Thomson ... he is a photographic accessory supplie in Auckland ... google him ... John Thomson Photography and look under studio accessories ... I got the Model QH-J903YT ball head, you can buy the legs you want and then a head to suit your needs.

All the best

[beagle]

cheers Ralph. oops, too late, box has been un gift wrapped and set up already.
Yes I was reading up on ball heads. I might just see how this goes for now and upgrade later on.