Tripod help needed please

[joeted]

Hello again everyone
Just to let everyone know that helped me choose my camera....Im loving it and taking hundreds of pics. Im really happy with alot of them but obviously Ive taken some rubbish too but who hasnt right ?
Ive ordered the lowepro slingshot 200aw bag which looks great but now Im after a tripod and was wondering if you could help me again.
I have the Nikon D60 with the standard 18-55mm lens and I also purchased the sigma 70-300mm lens so it will have to be strong enough to handle all that.I'd also like it to be light and not a massive hassle to carry around.
I wont have a massive budget so I know its a big ask for all those features at a lowish price but I thought I'd ask anyway.I could probably stretch to £100 at the moment.
Thanks alot again in advance.
Joe

[this_is_gav]

Nothing matches a Redsnapper tripod and head combo for value at that level. Nothing. £83 including postage for the tripod and 3-way head kit. £108 for the tripod and head of your choice (there are a couple of ball-heads that many prefer).

I've got a Manfrotto 055XPROB myself, but one with a decent head is £150 or so. I'm considering adding the carbon fibre Redsnapper to my kit at some point though (£130). I could use a 2nd tripod so I'm not continually ferrying them between work and home.

As you already seem to know, don't bother buying a cheapy tripod, as you will replace it further down the line. Just buy once and make it decent one.

[RavenNight]

I have almost the exact same setup as you, I use a Manfrotto 785B

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/prod...px?sku=1014517

It's cheap, light, folds up small and holds the camera with the tele lens perfectly, can't fault it for the money!

[Gazza]

Red Snapper are fantastic value for money and you should get something for around your budget. "budget" and "decent camera equipment" don't usually go together but they do seem to be the exception to the rule.

Like this is gav I too use the Manfrotto 055XPROB but mine is coupled with the Manfrotto 322RC2 Grip Action Ball Head and it's possibly the best piece of kit I have ever purchased. If you're using it for telescopic work it is so fast to adjust and just perfect. I use the Sigma 500mm "Bigma" and it has no problems with the weight.
Trouble is something like that will set you back about £180.

Don't buy anything from Jessops..they are bloody awful.

What sort of photography are you into? I'm just curious because if for instance it's telephoto work where you have to adjust quickly then don't overlook how useful a monopod can be either.

[brammers]

There's a company called Benro who are worth a look. They're Chinese and they basically rip off Gitzo/Arca swiss etc designs.

The quality is what you'd expect considering the fact that you're getting cheap copies - it's really not up to the real stuff and I'm regretting buying mine a little. But you're going to be using it with much lighter gear and I'd say that it's worth what I paid for it - I just should have spent a little more.

I've got the M-128 number 6 legs and the KB-0A head.

[this_is_gav]

Red Snapper are fantastic value for money and you should get something for around your budget. "budget" and "decent camera equipment" don't usually go together but they do seem to be the exception to the rule.

Lencarta is the only one that immediately springs to mind - not far off the quality of the likes of Elinchrom, but far better value - though on the other hand, dedicated-strobe portraiture can't really be classed under the 'budget' umbrella (I'm certainly glad the school paid for my lighting gear!).

Like this is gav I too use the Manfrotto 055XPROB but mine is coupled with the Manfrotto 322RC2 Grip Action Ball Head and it's possibly the best piece of kit I have ever purchased.

Nope, snap on that one too.

I've also got a Manfrotto 804RC2 3-way head, but I'm finding myself using the ball head more - previously I'd only really been comfortable with 3-ways, but they're just not fast enough. Necessary for most macro work though, especially for the more extreme, I find.

[kopite]

I have a redsnapper tripod as well and the built is immense

[Clunk]

I have a Giottos one, it's been brilliant - It's not unlike the redsnapper ones really.

[Blastuk]

I have almost the exact same setup as you, I use a Manfrotto 785B

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/prod...px?sku=1014517

It's cheap, light, folds up small and holds the camera with the tele lens perfectly, can't fault it for the money!

i was tempted by that price but it says it only takes up to 1kg weight?

[joeted]

Red Snapper are fantastic value for money and you should get something for around your budget. "budget" and "decent camera equipment" don't usually go together but they do seem to be the exception to the rule.

Like this is gav I too use the Manfrotto 055XPROB but mine is coupled with the Manfrotto 322RC2 Grip Action Ball Head and it's possibly the best piece of kit I have ever purchased. If you're using it for telescopic work it is so fast to adjust and just perfect. I use the Sigma 500mm "Bigma" and it has no problems with the weight.
Trouble is something like that will set you back about £180.

Don't buy anything from Jessops..they are bloody awful.

What sort of photography are you into? I'm just curious because if for instance it's telephoto work where you have to adjust quickly then don't overlook how useful a monopod can be either.

I agree with you about jessops buddy.they are so expensive its silly.
What are the different kind of ball heads ? are the ball heads the things that are used to swivel the camera in all directions ? sorry for the dumb question lol.
Im into wildlife mate.Im taking alot of animal and flower pics at the moment.I was actually wondering if the monopods were useful

[joeted]

Thanks so much lads for the replys so far they are really helpful.
I must admit the redsnapper is looking likely.
Can anyone explain the different ball heads a little further please ?
thanks

[Gazza]

Sorry Joeted, I would have replied earlier but I was away for most of the weekend.
Ballheads are popular because they are generally quicker to adjust than a standard pan-tilt head, with all the range of movement you get with your shoulder socket.

An explanation of Ball heads vs Pan-tilt heads can be seen here :-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snMEHqu4gSs

The locking mechanism for the ball can vary between makes. The reason I love my Manfrotto 322RC2 is the grip action - Squeeze the grip to move & simply release to lock - Like a bike brake in reverse, see here :-

http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/Product...ctID~4112.html

A lot of other ball heads lock by a some variation on twisting a knob/screw, and i'm sure there are several other locking methods & adaptations too...but they they are all pretty quick to use.

Monopods I find brilliant for wildlife photography with a big lens. The bigger the lens you get (and believe me you'll always want bigger..lol) the harder it is to hand hold. A mono provides enough stability to get a crisp shot. but gives you enough freedom of movement to follow the action. It's easy to follow the flight of a bird with a mono for example as you just kind of "pirouette" around the axis with the camera. The truth is that once you have purchased your head & tripod then adding a monopod to your collection doesn't cost much more, because you can use the head from your tripod on your monopod too. (This is easier if they are all the same brand & thread size)

I hope this helps.

The best thing to do is to find a camera shop & ask to try things out. get a feel for what is comfortable for you.

[idimmu]

ive got a manfrotto 190XDB, with a 486RC2 ball head, and for what i do its perfect. easy enough to carry around (i strap it my backpack) and works well, sturdy enough and adjustable enough. i use a sigma 24-70 on it with no problems whatsoever. i paid about £90 or so for both legs and head from a company on ebay.

[RavenNight]

i was tempted by that price but it says it only takes up to 1kg weight?

I have the same camera with you and the Tamron version of that lens and it can hold it no problem! I've hung my photo bag off it as well as ballast and it takes that fine, it's surprisingly strong!

[joeted]

Sorry Joeted, I would have replied earlier but I was away for most of the weekend.
Ballheads are popular because they are generally quicker to adjust than a standard pan-tilt head, with all the range of movement you get with your shoulder socket.

An explanation of Ball heads vs Pan-tilt heads can be seen here :-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snMEHqu4gSs

The locking mechanism for the ball can vary between makes. The reason I love my Manfrotto 322RC2 is the grip action - Squeeze the grip to move & simply release to lock - Like a bike brake in reverse, see here :-

http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/Product...ctID~4112.html

A lot of other ball heads lock by a some variation on twisting a knob/screw, and i'm sure there are several other locking methods & adaptations too...but they they are all pretty quick to use.

Monopods I find brilliant for wildlife photography with a big lens. The bigger the lens you get (and believe me you'll always want bigger..lol) the harder it is to hand hold. A mono provides enough stability to get a crisp shot. but gives you enough freedom of movement to follow the action. It's easy to follow the flight of a bird with a mono for example as you just kind of "pirouette" around the axis with the camera. The truth is that once you have purchased your head & tripod then adding a monopod to your collection doesn't cost much more, because you can use the head from your tripod on your monopod too. (This is easier if they are all the same brand & thread size)

I hope this helps.

The best thing to do is to find a camera shop & ask to try things out. get a feel for what is comfortable for you.

Thanks Gazza thats a big help mate.I havnt ordered the head and tripod yet as im waiting for my 800 items to sell on ebay to get the money for it lol.This photography lark is an expensive game but well worth it.Only thing is from now on Im going to have to save up for lenses and accessories etc as Ive run out of stuff to sell

[joeted]

Hello lads
Right i may of found a good tripod and head but thought i'd ask your opinions first so here it is
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=120407783466

would this be light enough/heavy enough etc ?
also if i got the redsnapper could i also get a different brand head ?