Requin
Established
Forget the ball head - buy a decent two-way head with a camera plate to qick fix your camera. And don't extend the elevating column if you have one. It guarantees wobble when extended and even it's not.
oftheherd
Veteran
Avotius - If you've been posting more lately I've missed it. Good to see you back and posting here again anyway.
I'm with Sparrow on ball heads. I also generally prefer one adjustment at a time, but can more easily handle two with a long twist handle.
I purchased a Velbon tripod nearly 40 years ago, that had channel lock legs. I have found I can use it up to 4x5, although the latter is with great care. But believe it or not, of two channel lock Velbons, I feel comfortable using either one up to 4x5 as long as there is not a lot of wind. Even then, anything below gale force isn't bad.
I'm with Sparrow on ball heads. I also generally prefer one adjustment at a time, but can more easily handle two with a long twist handle.
I purchased a Velbon tripod nearly 40 years ago, that had channel lock legs. I have found I can use it up to 4x5, although the latter is with great care. But believe it or not, of two channel lock Velbons, I feel comfortable using either one up to 4x5 as long as there is not a lot of wind. Even then, anything below gale force isn't bad.
photomoof
Fischli & Weiss Sculpture
Geared heads are wonderful too! I've been meaning to acquire one for years for my tabletop and similar kinds of work where precise positioning is more important than weight and speed.
It just never seems to be top priority. Perhaps I'll remedy that this Summer; I've just about run out of cameras*and lenses that I'm interested in enough to purchase.
G
I use a geared Monfrotto 3275, it is amazingly nice to use.
I use mine with a Monfrotto 475B tripod, heavy but needed where I live, since there are trucks 50 feet outside my studio.
Sparrow -- I too find ball heads frustrating, they seem like an accident waiting to happen.
RichC
Well-known
I guess it comes down to personal preference... Most of my photography is studio still lifes, and you'll find me nudging the camera to adjust the framing by millimetres. So, you'd think geared heads would suit me - but I just get frustrated by their fiddlyness!
I find a ballhead more natural and intuitive. If you get a decent one, like a Sirui or RRS, and set the friction control properly, you don't need to lock the ballhead, nor is there any danger of the camera dropping violently; instead, you can move the camera freely in any direction with a gentle touch, and simply let go when the framing's right.
I find a ballhead more natural and intuitive. If you get a decent one, like a Sirui or RRS, and set the friction control properly, you don't need to lock the ballhead, nor is there any danger of the camera dropping violently; instead, you can move the camera freely in any direction with a gentle touch, and simply let go when the framing's right.
BillBingham2
Registered User
+1 on this sort of head. I really liked it as I could mount it to the bottom my the center leg, flip the arms around a bit and shot just above the ground with the camera facing the regular way. Mine was a bogen but that was years ago.
B2 (;->
Pioneer
Veteran
I have several tripods available including some very nice Gitzo equipment that will hold up to just about anything. I use it whenever I am using some heavy cameras or very long telephoto lenses where the tripod and head are necessary to stabilize them.
But to be honest, my most used tripod is a simple Slik Pro 330DX magnesium unit with a nice little tilt/pan head. I have modified it slightly with a hook underneath where I can suspend some weight if needed for additional stability. It easily supports everything from my tiny little Pentax Q through my Canon 5Ds Mark 1 or Fuji GA645Zi.
I know it isn't what you are considering but I really like the Slik because it is small and light, but very sturdy. It was also inexpensive to purchase, less than $100 off Amazon. I use it not only to support my cameras, I have also used it to support myself when fording some fast moving mountain streams.
But to be honest, my most used tripod is a simple Slik Pro 330DX magnesium unit with a nice little tilt/pan head. I have modified it slightly with a hook underneath where I can suspend some weight if needed for additional stability. It easily supports everything from my tiny little Pentax Q through my Canon 5Ds Mark 1 or Fuji GA645Zi.
I know it isn't what you are considering but I really like the Slik because it is small and light, but very sturdy. It was also inexpensive to purchase, less than $100 off Amazon. I use it not only to support my cameras, I have also used it to support myself when fording some fast moving mountain streams.
Avotius
Some guy
I am lurking around a bit. Been pretty busy the last few years, had to give up a lot of my RF and street gear for commercial studio equipment so haven't been hanging around much.
css9450
Veteran
Ball heads do take some getting used to. I used a big, old Bogen 3-way head for probably 20+ years before I made the move to a Kirk BH-1 ball head. I used to regard ball heads as akin to trying to make a drunk man stand up straight, but now that I'm used to them I think they're great. Actually, I made the switch because I wanted to get L-brackets for my cameras and I did not see a way to do it while keeping my old 3-way.
MCTuomey
Veteran
I have an older gitzo aluminum set of legs paired with an RRS levelling base and ballhead & AS clamp. Wonderful set-up, but heavy, with the friction dialed-in, very fast and stable and smooth in use. Have a ultra-light carbon gitzo with a sunwayfoto head & clamp. Bit hard to get the sunwayfoto head to behave, its friction controls go from full lock to free spin in just a few mm. I'd like to try a geared head for my GX680 and the Hassy kit I've recently inherited, though.
Anyone have any experience with the Sunwayfoto GH-Pro geared head as an alt to the Manfrotto 410? GH-Pro comes with an AS-type clamp, priced new around $500, not bad for a geared head, although maybe too low a price ...
An excellent time to have brought the 'pod with you
Anyone have any experience with the Sunwayfoto GH-Pro geared head as an alt to the Manfrotto 410? GH-Pro comes with an AS-type clamp, priced new around $500, not bad for a geared head, although maybe too low a price ...
An excellent time to have brought the 'pod with you
giganova
Well-known
I have three Gitzo and one Sachter, and one Gitzo monopod.
My oldest Gitzo (heavy!) are 35 years old that I bought to support my Leica R4 and 600mm Novoflex lens. The tripod and ball head work just like the day I bought it -- unlike many other tripos that I bought over the years that failed sooner than later.
My oldest Gitzo (heavy!) are 35 years old that I bought to support my Leica R4 and 600mm Novoflex lens. The tripod and ball head work just like the day I bought it -- unlike many other tripos that I bought over the years that failed sooner than later.
RFH
rfhansen.wordpress.com
After much research and price comparing I went for the Induro AT114 with a Hähnel BH-40 ball head. €140 total on Amazon.
The ball head is fine for my needs, but nothing impressive. Build quality good, and locking strength is ample for holding a Mamiya 7 with a 150mm lens, which is my heaviest setup.
The Induro tripod is very high quality, has a beautiful finish, and is easy to use and rock solid when extended. Recommended.
The ball head is fine for my needs, but nothing impressive. Build quality good, and locking strength is ample for holding a Mamiya 7 with a 150mm lens, which is my heaviest setup.
The Induro tripod is very high quality, has a beautiful finish, and is easy to use and rock solid when extended. Recommended.
peter_n
Veteran
Sorry to hear you've had problems with Benro, it makes me wonder if they make one product for the mainland and another for export like the Soviet Union used to.
I have Acratech, RRS and Arca-Swiss ballheads & Benro and Gitzo tripods. I use three Acratech heads and they are excellent particularly in extreme conditions such as on the beach, rain, snow, dust & wind, below freezing temps. etc. Their open designs mean that they require virtually no maintenance except perhaps running under a faucet if they get too mucky. For heavier equipment I use a RRS BH-55 and an Arca-Swiss Z1, both excellent heads but the RRS is likely the more durable product.
Benro/Induro tripods are Gitzo copies and I use Benro parts on my Gitzo and vice versa. I've had no problems with my Benros in over 5 years of use - they have been excellent. I would not recommend buying a Gitzo now that you're back in the US. The tripods are great but the customer service is abysmal, in Gitzo's case it's Manfrotto Distribution that's the culprit. They are just pathetic as you absolutely and positively can't get spare parts out of them. I'll probably never buy another Gitzo, I really like my 3-series systematic but I have basically a whole set of parts for it that I've built up over the past three years or so. Don't buy a Gitzo. If you want to buy at the top end of the market get a RRS tripod.
Good question. I've been in the big B&H store in NYC where they have every conceivable product on display. They had three of the K-**X series ballheads there, the K-20X, K-30X & K-40X and all of them had clearly got a lot of use as they were distinctly used looking. They were great, worked well and very smooth and even though they looked terrible they're clearly durable. I'm less impressed with the smaller Sirui tripods as they were flimsy, I've not seen or handled their larger tripods though so I can't comment on those.
If you're on a budget I would recommend a Sirui K-**X head and not any other Sirui head. For a tripod Induro is a good choice. They are gussied up Benros made for the US and European markets and they are well made and very durable. They share some components with regular Benros like carbon fiber and aluminum tubing but they are finished better than regular Benros.
If you have a decent budget get an Acratech or RRS head and a RRS tripod. Not cheap but you only have to buy once. And the customer service at Acratech and RRS is excellent.
pjetter
Member
I've got a Benbo 1 with a Kaiser ball head.
Benbos are i.m.o. most versatile as you can mount your camera from eye level all the way to ground level and they're dead easy to set up with just one lever to lock everything.
They are waterproof up to about 50cm in water.
It's a bit heavy to take on a hike, but they have a smaller model.
Benbos are i.m.o. most versatile as you can mount your camera from eye level all the way to ground level and they're dead easy to set up with just one lever to lock everything.
They are waterproof up to about 50cm in water.
It's a bit heavy to take on a hike, but they have a smaller model.
JChrome
Street Worker
@Avotius what did you end up with?
I have some oben legs (bought used for $250). The price for the Gitzo would have been at least double.
They are light and nice. The only problem I see is that the rubber grip rings around the locking mechanism on the legs aren't secured strongly enough to the legs. So when you try and lock the legs, if you don't grip the rubber hard enough, it will just spin without actuating the lock. A poor design. But one that could be remedied with some super glue.
I have some oben legs (bought used for $250). The price for the Gitzo would have been at least double.
They are light and nice. The only problem I see is that the rubber grip rings around the locking mechanism on the legs aren't secured strongly enough to the legs. So when you try and lock the legs, if you don't grip the rubber hard enough, it will just spin without actuating the lock. A poor design. But one that could be remedied with some super glue.