Wife Took My Tripod. Help Me Get Revenge.

[the.ronin]

Ok maybe "revenge" is a strong word. But basically, (i.e., being a married male), I thought maybe I could make best use of this situation to get an even BETTER tripod lol. 😀

Short of it is, my wife started taking photography classes. We are both into photography though so I also picked up my own film camera. (Ok, I picked up three but that's another story.) I had a lower end "digi" Manfrotto tripod that is now essentially, exclusively hers. 😡 I forget the model # but it was one of those with the 8lb load capacity, came with screw head (not ball head), and came with bag. It is not lite for its size but very sturdy and that is her primary reason for not giving it back to its rightful owner.

What I'm looking for

So ... I WAS thinking CF but that is just out of my budget. I wanted to keep this (new or used) to $180-ish max (I also have this wierd thing where I'd really like the original bag). I know this is a pittance compared to the $500, $1K+ tripods out there, but at most, I'd need this to support a Nikon D90 with a 200mm VR lens for example or my Fuji GSW 690II medium format. As such, I don't think I need any more than the "digi" type of tripod my wife has pried from my not-even cold hands. I'd like to stick to Manfrotto because my stolen Manfrotto had never once given me any problems. If possible I would like to go much lighter so I can run past my wife as she lugs around the heavy Manfrotto on photo hikes. :angel:


Bogen

I am looking at the Bogen 3001 with a 3028 or 3025 ball head. I understand Bogen is a precursor to Manfrotto. I've also read good reviews about the strength and leightweight nature of the 3001. Also, the ones I'm looking at come with a bag. 😀


Manfrotto

Also looking at a Manfrotto 715B equipped with a ball head. Although a "digi" model, this one seems to have a slightly lower load capacity of 6.6lb vs. my stolen Manfrotto of 8.8 lb. Still, it looks a lot more upgraded than my stolen Manfrotto (and also comes with a bag 😀 ).


So those are the ones I am looking at. Any advice or feedback on these particular models or very similar models (in terms of price and, yes, whether it includes a bag 😀 ) would be very appreciated.

 

[Tom hicks]

you might check out the vanguard line of tripod at B&H

 

[sepiareverb]

Go Carbon Fiber, that'll teach her.

 

[Aristophanes]

The title to this thread is wrong on so many levels...

 

[ruby.monkey]

Get a UNI-LOC Major System. No way will your wife ever run off with it.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Get a UNI-LOC Major System. No way will your wife ever run off with it.

How do you know? She might have a fetish for three-legged octopuses (or octopi).

Cheers,

R.

 

[TheGodParticle]

Ok maybe "revenge" is a strong word. But basically, (i.e., being a married male), I thought maybe I could make best use of this situation to get an even BETTER tripod lol. 😀

Short of it is, my wife started taking photography classes. We are both into photography though so I also picked up my own film camera. (Ok, I picked up three but that's another story.) I had a lower end "digi" Manfrotto tripod that is now essentially, exclusively hers. 😡 I forget the model # but it was one of those with the 8lb load capacity, came with screw head (not ball head), and came with bag. It is not lite for its size but very sturdy and that is her primary reason for not giving it back to its rightful owner.

What I'm looking for

So ... I WAS thinking CF but that is just out of my budget. I wanted to keep this (new or used) to $180-ish max (I also have this wierd thing where I'd really like the original bag). I know this is a pittance compared to the $500, $1K+ tripods out there, but at most, I'd need this to support a Nikon D90 with a 200mm VR lens for example or my Fuji GSW 690II medium format. As such, I don't think I need any more than the "digi" type of tripod my wife has pried from my not-even cold hands. I'd like to stick to Manfrotto because my stolen Manfrotto had never once given me any problems. If possible I would like to go much lighter so I can run past my wife as she lugs around the heavy Manfrotto on photo hikes. :angel:


Bogen

I am looking at the Bogen 3001 with a 3028 or 3025 ball head. I understand Bogen is a precursor to Manfrotto. I've also read good reviews about the strength and leightweight nature of the 3001. Also, the ones I'm looking at come with a bag. 😀


Manfrotto

Also looking at a Manfrotto 715B equipped with a ball head. Although a "digi" model, this one seems to have a slightly lower load capacity of 6.6lb vs. my stolen Manfrotto of 8.8 lb. Still, it looks a lot more upgraded than my stolen Manfrotto (and also comes with a bag 😀 ).


So those are the ones I am looking at. Any advice or feedback on these particular models or very similar models (in terms of price and, yes, whether it includes a bag 😀 ) would be very appreciated.

I have nothing of value to add here but your bag fixation had me rolling on the floor 😀

I also like how you lovingly call it "my stolen manfrotto"

 

[the.ronin]

LOL thanks for the responses, all. I don't mean to come off too jokingly here it's that I was actually quite pee oh'ed going through fleasbay to replace my tripod.

you might check out the vanguard line of tripod at B&H

Thanks Tom. I have checked out the Vanguard line as well. Will give them a second look based on your feedback.

Go Carbon Fiber, that'll teach her.

If it were up to me, I'd go gold plated carbon fiber, friend. Unfortunately, it's more up to my bank account which laughed at me before I could even type it into google. Now I did come across a Vivitar CF tripod but did not see any reputable reviews on it at all.

The title to this thread is wrong on so many levels...

Oh wow - I so did not mean it that way. I'm known to be a little slow on the uptake though so apologies all around.

I have nothing of value to add here but your bag fixation had me rolling on the floor

I also like how you lovingly call it "my stolen manfrotto"

It is fact - one day it is mine, next day it is not. That's *stolen* in my book. As for the bag ... yeah, it can be tough being me that's for sure lol. Sorry, I'd hide these sorts of OCD behavior before but y'know, whatever. So I like matching OEM bags!! There, I admitted it!!! 😀

Back on topic regarding my pilferred (plundered?) Manfrotto, I really think I'm leaning towards that Bogen 3001. I like the load capacity, I like the weight, and I like the compactness. I also don't mind the retro chic thing it has going on. (I will not mention that I laso get a Bogen bag. 😀)

If you can contain yourself from my dark humor, I would appreciate any more feedback particularly arguments *against* the 3001.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Bogen and Manfrotto are the same product. Bogen is an American importer of photo gear. They also import Gossen meters. For some reason, when they began importing Manfrotto equipment many years ago, they rebranded them as "Bogen." I have one made about 22 yrs ago that says Bogen by Manfrotto Italy on it. Later, Bogen stopped putting their name on the stuff they imported from Manfrotto.

 

[kbg32]

I'd tell her, "I have a headache" for a week. Then tell her she has to buy you a tripod and/or bag of your choice. If she refuses you'll have to find someone else with "the load capacity, weight, compactness, and retro chic thing."

 

[Vics]

I have the 3021PRO with a 3262QR ball head. Weighs a ton. Does the job. I hardly ever use it, but it's nice when I do.

 

[Thardy]

Good tripods are hard to find. Well, those that are light, rigid, compact, have a high load capacity and inexpensive. I'll be watching to see what you come up with.

 

[kxl]

Get the latest Gitzo CF tripod.

 

[KenD]

Go out an buy 3 or 4 Leica M's, with Leitz glass. Let her keep the tripod, you won't need one! Ah, sweet revenge.

 

[Rob-F]

I have the Bogen/Manfrotto 3001 and the 3021. I also have a Gitzo Totalux. The Bogen 3001 is the most used of the three. Not too heavy, not too light, and quick and easy to set up. I've come to prefer ball heads. I splurged on an Acratech Ultimate for the 3001. It takes the Arca-Swiss compatible quick release plates, the Chinese versions of which are plentiful on eBay. Speaking of Chinese brands, I also have and use Fancier, and can recommend it; and I'm trying out a small Benro head that also takes Arca-Swiss plates.

 

[MISH]

the reason the were renamed Bogen was because the owners name was Lester Bogen.
In the late 80's early 90's you could not open a photo magazine without finding a ad with Lester sitting on a tripod. There was much speculation on whether Lester was
1/4-20 or if he had to use a adapter

 

[sepiareverb]

I dislike the Gitzo as the leg locks require one to have good grip strength around the rather slender legs, something I don't have due to some arthritis. Bogen all the way for me, 3021 and what is now the 058B, (3058?). Easily repaired & adjusted if needed using common tools too.

My 3021 has been all over and was in daily use for at least ten years. Still works like a charm.

 

[kuvvy]

I bought a nice tripod last June. Never used it yet🙁

 

[ottluuk]

I started out with Manfrotto 190-series legs and a low-end Manfrotto ballhead, then lucked out on a photo competition (with a tripod-mounted shot, of course 🙂 ) and won a set of 055 series legs and 141RC 3-way head. That was 10-12 years ago. I sold the 190-something set to a friend and have been using the 055 series kit ever since. The 055 is quite heavy (definitely overkill for a 35mm rangefinder) and not really as refined as a Gitzo but functional, rugged, stable, reasonably inexpensive and simple to tear apart for cleaning. It is stable enough for my DSLR+400mm combo and I would expect it to do well with most medium format sets and lighter weight 4x5 field cameras.

I found the 190 to be too prone to vibration and too easy to move inadvertently while adjusting the camera. Sometimes there is no substitute for sheer weight: on mossy turf, deep snow or in flowing water, lightweight tripods become problematic.

Some of the American members can correct me but I believe the Manfrotto 190 and 055 series correspond to Bogen 3001 and 3021 in the US.

There are more expensive brands (Gitzo, the new RRS stuff, etc) with more refined design and manufacture but remember that from all of your photo gear, your tripod is the one thing that you are likely to stick into mud, sand or salt water, throw into a car trunk or the back of a pickup truck... Sh** happens to tripods.

 

[Pablito]

If you are patient you get get an excellent condition Tiltall on ebay. For the way I like to work this is simply the best. Just don't get the later copies as the machining was awful. Original Tiltall still the best, made in NJ. Second best was the Leitz Tiltall. After that, there was a plethora of copies (I don't know if they were licensed or not but they were junk)