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Duke
0
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2005
- Messages
- 4,820
- Reaction score
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- Location
- Saint Johns, FL (Woden, TX)
- First Name
- Duke
I took delivery today of a new Tripod legs and a Tripod Head. I will also try to explain how I came to purchase a new setup as well.
I am embarrassed to admit just how many tripods I have purchased so far since I bought my DSLR, 3 of them.
Did I need 3, NO. Did I try and save a few bucks and purchase what I thought was satisfactory on the cheap, yes.
The first one I purchased was from Best Buy, a Sunpak (Dynex) 6200DX. I believe I paid in the 60 dollar neighborhood. I used it for a little bit, and even took it on a trip over seas. It is light weight aluminum (which is easily bent) with a bunch of plastic that is now brittle and breaking. Not even a year old too.
Upon my return from the overseas trip, I knew I did not like that tripod at all, and it would have to be replaced. So after tens of thousands of threads on the internet, which was sensory overload who's net result told me nothing, I went shopping. I ended up back at Best Buy and purchased a considerably more expensive tripod, a Manfrotto 7301YB, for 140 bucks or so. (They are now selling a bit cheaper). This is a nice tripod, comes as a unit, head and legs packaged together. It is lightweight an compact and works well for what it is intended for. However as I am getting more nerdy in my photo taking I am realizing it too has some drawbacks. It is too light for long exposure work, and when I have my camera+lens, battery grip, and flash all mounted to it, I am afraid it will fall over unless squatted real low. Which hinders my photo ops. I will continue to use this tripod as my travel tripod, as it is perfect for strapping to the back of the bike and works well when shooting daylight stuff.
But, after all of that was still not satisfied. I wanted a tripod that was more sturdy and would support my bigger lenses (50-500mm Sigma). So I went back online and searched again in the too many to count Tripod Threads out there, but a little more educated this time. I ended up selecting these...
Manfrotto 498RC2 Ball Head - $120 through Amazon - Free Shipping.
Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Tripod Legs $150 through Amazon - Free Shipping.
I know it may be pretentious to show what I paid, but I do have a point that I hope may help others. Had I saved my money and did more research I would not have already spend nearly 200 dollars on tripods that I am not satisfied with.
Now I am not saying that these are the end all be all Head & Legs combination, as there are literally hundreds if not thousands of choices out there. But I am so much more pleased with this set up than the other two that I have. This combination is HEAVY, tall, and very sturdy. I have no doubts that it will support my camera fully outfitted with even my biggest lens that I have to date, and will still be available as I grow my lens selection.
As with everything we do, the choice is yours to make. I was just wanted to share my experience thus far.
For comparison, here are my 3 tripods....
L-R, 055XB+498RC2, 7301YB, Dynex
I am embarrassed to admit just how many tripods I have purchased so far since I bought my DSLR, 3 of them.
Did I need 3, NO. Did I try and save a few bucks and purchase what I thought was satisfactory on the cheap, yes.
The first one I purchased was from Best Buy, a Sunpak (Dynex) 6200DX. I believe I paid in the 60 dollar neighborhood. I used it for a little bit, and even took it on a trip over seas. It is light weight aluminum (which is easily bent) with a bunch of plastic that is now brittle and breaking. Not even a year old too.
Upon my return from the overseas trip, I knew I did not like that tripod at all, and it would have to be replaced. So after tens of thousands of threads on the internet, which was sensory overload who's net result told me nothing, I went shopping. I ended up back at Best Buy and purchased a considerably more expensive tripod, a Manfrotto 7301YB, for 140 bucks or so. (They are now selling a bit cheaper). This is a nice tripod, comes as a unit, head and legs packaged together. It is lightweight an compact and works well for what it is intended for. However as I am getting more nerdy in my photo taking I am realizing it too has some drawbacks. It is too light for long exposure work, and when I have my camera+lens, battery grip, and flash all mounted to it, I am afraid it will fall over unless squatted real low. Which hinders my photo ops. I will continue to use this tripod as my travel tripod, as it is perfect for strapping to the back of the bike and works well when shooting daylight stuff.
But, after all of that was still not satisfied. I wanted a tripod that was more sturdy and would support my bigger lenses (50-500mm Sigma). So I went back online and searched again in the too many to count Tripod Threads out there, but a little more educated this time. I ended up selecting these...
Manfrotto 498RC2 Ball Head - $120 through Amazon - Free Shipping.
Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Tripod Legs $150 through Amazon - Free Shipping.
I know it may be pretentious to show what I paid, but I do have a point that I hope may help others. Had I saved my money and did more research I would not have already spend nearly 200 dollars on tripods that I am not satisfied with.
Now I am not saying that these are the end all be all Head & Legs combination, as there are literally hundreds if not thousands of choices out there. But I am so much more pleased with this set up than the other two that I have. This combination is HEAVY, tall, and very sturdy. I have no doubts that it will support my camera fully outfitted with even my biggest lens that I have to date, and will still be available as I grow my lens selection.
As with everything we do, the choice is yours to make. I was just wanted to share my experience thus far.
For comparison, here are my 3 tripods....
L-R, 055XB+498RC2, 7301YB, Dynex
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I know exactly what you mean.
