What tripod and head (ballhead or otherwise) do you own/use?

Keith, I have a fairly similar setup to what you've just bought and have been very happy with it for the many years I've had it: Gitzo 2258, RRS BH-40 ball head and L-plate. Sturdy, and considering its size, lightweight.

Enjoy your new tripod!
 
lynnb said:
Keith, I have a fairly similar setup to what you've just bought and have been very happy with it for the many years I've had it: Gitzo 2258, RRS BH-40 ball head and L-plate. Sturdy, and considering its size, lightweight.

Enjoy your new tripod!
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Thanks Lynn - I looked at the Gitzo 2 and 3 series but they were just beyond my budget. Wrt ballhead, I've been told I can't go wrong with the any of the A/S, RRS or Kirk. I decided on the RRS L bracket but I guess the Kirk would have been just as good.
 
I might be the only guy in the world to use a Leica on a tripod. I use my M9 for landscape work and have an Induro and a Vanguard aluminum with Vanguard ball heads on both, as they are on my little ultra light Sunpak carbonfibre tripods. I also have a great huge Giottos with the great huge Giottos ball head for when I might use my DSLR and a long lens.
 
Darthfeeble said:
I might be the only guy in the world to use a Leica on a tripod. .....
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And I may be one of the few left to use a Leica tripod, a 35 year old Leitz Tiltall. I am from the old school of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". It has always worked for me in those occasions when I needed a tripod. Even with my Mamiya 7 or a Speed Graphic.
 
i have a Gitzo 1542 and a Markins Q3T. I have found with the 6D and a 70-300L that this setup is not sturdy enough. for larger DSLRs and lenses, I would at least prefer a heavier head and maybe some sturdier legs.
 
In addition to a large fluid head video tripod, I have a Bogen 3001 with a 3025 head and though I love it's sturdiness and stability I hate how heavy and unfriendly it is to use.

I keep talking myself out of buying a new one but one day fairly soon I'll break down and get one. I just haven't justified the expense yet.
 
I have several but the ones I use the most are...
Bogen/Manfrotto 3228W with 3030 head...Overkill but I can trust it won't move with whatever I mount on it.
Bogen/Manfrotto 3001 with 3262QR head...I use this one more for hiking...it's smaller than the 3228 but still sturdy enough...
Prinz 430-59...it's an older tripod, it has a decent size platform head, it's compact, semi-light and easy to use...
I like all the tripods I currently have and use...I also like the fact that I'm not looking for any other tripod...that must mean I have enough and they work for me...
 
I have a Gitzo G1228 tripod and a Markins M10 ballhead. I bought both of them used and have been very happy with both of them. I have a RRS plate for my Leica (bought here on RFF) and RRS L-plates for use with my DSLRs. I only rarely use my Leica with my tripod. I mainly use my DSLRs with my tripod but I do use my Mamiya 6 sometimes with it and have a RRS plate for that, too.

I also have a Manfrotto 679B Monopod, I use a RRS MH-02 Monopod Head with that. I find the monopod works well, especially where tripods either aren't allowed or can't easily be used.

Ellen
 
My tripod is a Benro C2680T w acratech GP-ss ball head.
the tripod has 4 leg segments - generally I use 3 and don't elevate the center post - seems to work well
 
Well, after talking to a friend of mine, I decided to take his suggestion to "Go BIG or Go Home!" I canceled my order for the Gitzo 1542T and instead ordered a bigger and beefier Gitzo GT3532. :)
 
40 yr old aluminum legs Ponder and Best tripod with RRS clamp attached to head plate.
On a whim bought a cheap carbon fiber tripod I could pack in my luggage "24 inches folded " replaced ballhead with RRS BH40 with clamp, and last a Velbon monopod with RSS BH25 ballhead and RRS L and flat plates for all my bodies and telephoto lenses.
Wish I had more time to get out and use this stuff :bang:
 
I use a hefty/solid Bogen/Manfrotto 3022, which has the larger 3D pan/tilt head. I think I bought it back in the eighties. I most often mount a TLR to this and sling it over my shoulder, though I haven't carried it over long distance. I got a ball head for this tripod, too, but I have never used it.

- Murray
 
I use my tripod a lot, since I'm usually doing either a) long tele work in daylight or b) shooting at night with a wide angle. I have an old Bogen 3011 (maybe its a 3021?) that's probably 20 years old. I've broken a few of the leg clamps and no longer have a source to buy replacements locally. Currently one is cracked and has been so for several years (I think they get brittle in extreme cold).

I switched to a ball head (Kirk BH3) 6-7 yards ago specifically because I wanted to get L-plates for my cameras, and the old Bogen 3-way head didn't have provisions for the Arca-Swiss style clamps. I love, love, LOVE L-plates!

I'm debating making the move to a RSS tripod. Yeah, I know they're pricey.
 
Darthfeeble said:
I might be the only guy in the world to use a Leica on a tripod. I use my M9 for landscape work and have an Induro and a Vanguard aluminum with Vanguard ball heads on both, as they are on my little ultra light Sunpak carbonfibre tripods. I also have a great huge Giottos with the great huge Giottos ball head for when I might use my DSLR and a long lens.
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No, you're not. :)


Leica M9 + M-Rokkor 40mm f/2

1:1 Detail:
M9-det.jpg

Can't get that level of detail without a tripod, IMO.

G
 
Godfrey said:
Can't get that level of detail without a tripod, IMO.

G
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This is actually my primary reason for going all in on a high-end tripod and ballhead. I'm trying to squeeze every nugget of detail from a D800e and Nikon AFS lenses, or an A7R and a 55/1.8 FE to make very large prints.
 
kxl said:
Well, after talking to a friend of mine, I decided to take his suggestion to "Go BIG or Go Home!" I canceled my order for the Gitzo 1542T and instead ordered a bigger and beefier Gitzo GT3532. :)
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I think that's a good choice with the D800e especially if you're using longer / heavier lenses. The 1542T is better for lighter cameras or short prime lenses.
 
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