Moving on to Tripods (attention Scott Merryfield)

I can't recommend anything other than Gitzo / Manfrotto legs and Really Right Stuff or Bogen heads.  I saved up and bought premium stuff first.  It's heavy but will never fail.

http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-055XPROB-Tripod-Legs-Black/dp/B000UMX7FI/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

If you wanted to go Carbon Fiber i'd check these out, but 3x the price...

http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-190CXPRO3-3-Section-Carbon-without/dp/B0015MFTE4/ref=sr_1_16?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1280848129&sr=1-16

I use the BH-55 LR Ball head and absolutely love it.  I will never use a non RRS head or plate.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/ballheads/02.html

Again, this stuff cost about the same as your camera did, but the reason it is so expensive is because it's worth it.

This might be a good alternative at 1/4 the price, dunno:

http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-496RC2-Release-Replaces-486RC2/dp/B002WN212I/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1280848036&sr=1-4

Edit:  just looked at your link, that's not a bad set but if you are thinking of going that route I would go for the 55x legs and the 496 head rather than the combo pack you listed but that may just come down to personal preference.

I've been meaning to get this Giottos ballhead (for my Feisol carbon fiber legs) myself:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/490016-REG/Giottos_MH3300_550C_MH_3300_Pro_Series_II.html

Seems like a very good ballhead for those of us on a modest budget -- you'd probably need to spend at least 2x as much for something better.  Just pair it w/ your choice of quick-release plate system (or go w/ one of Giottos' own options).

I'd pass on the Bogen ballheads as none of them are designed to handle all that much of a load.  Also, I heard that they tend to creep after a while.

_Man_

Ron,

I will need to pull the tripod out tonight to take a look at the ballhead to see how it compares to the one in your link, but that was the main dislike I had for the unit I was offering you as a freebie. I think I paid about $90 for the tripod several years ago.  I do not know if I will be able to find a model number, but I can take a photo of it and post it here. As I said earlier, it is not a great tripod (which is why I no longer use it), but it is much better than the junk that gets included in those big box store camera kits. It would work as a starting point, but you would eventually want something better.

The tripods that Sam recommends above are excellent units, but are quite expensive. I would love to add a Really Right Stuff ballhead to my setup eventually. For now, though,  I went a less expensive route, getting Flashpoint F-1228 carbon fiber legs along with a Giottos MH-1301 ballhead. Flashpoint is the "house brand" tripod sold by Adorama.com, and provides a lot of "bang for the buck", IMO. The combined setup cost me around $300 a few years ago. The carbon fiber legs are light weight, yet provide a very stable base, and the twist leg locks allow for very quick setup and take down. This setup works well for basic landscape and wildlife shooting, which is my primary focus. For more advanced applications, though, this tripod does not have the flexibility needed for specialized positioning.

Here are the Flashpoint legs:

http://www.adorama.com/FPTPF1228.html

Here is the Giottos ballhead:

http://www.adorama.com/GTMH1301656.html

Adorama also sells Flashpoint branded ballheads that look similar for a little less money, and are probably actually made by either Giottos or Gitzo for Adorama.

This is a good read (from Sam's prefered choice of ballhead+QR maker):

http://reallyrightstuff.com/tripods/index.html

There's also a link to Thom Hogan's article on tripods as well -- in fact, IIRC, many folks first heard about RRS several years ago from Thom Hogan.

Also, since Ron has chosen to go w/ Nikon, might want to get familiar w/ Thom Hogan's site (http://bythom.com/index.htm).  Although I've never bought/used one of his manuals for a Nikon camera or speedlight, many seem to swear by his manuals.

Another good site to check out is Luminous Landscape:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/

_Man_

Right on. 

Ron,

The tripod does in fact have a model number printed right on it -- a Manfrotto 725B Digi. It appears that the tripod in your link is the exact replacement model for mine.

Here are links to the item:

http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-725B-Tripod-Integrated-Carrying/dp/B000FFSDCC

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/pid/13131

Ron,

The tripod has been sitting in my closet unused for years. Honestly, I would consider it an entry level tripod. Looking at it today, I do remember the things that frustrated me using it -- mostly related to the ballhead. Trust me -- if you end up using a tripod a lot as part of your photography, you will want to upgrade to something better.

If you are interested, I would be happy to send it to you. The only thing I ask in return is that when you are done using it, pass it along to another beginning photographer.

I guess I haven't been shooting long enough to figure out the benefits of a really expensive tripod. My first one I bought as an impulse purchase at a Best Buy in San Francisco when I brought my DSLR there for the first time. I wanted to go up and take some night shots from Twin Peaks and I can't say I was disappointed at all with the performance of it, even if it has a simple pan-tilt head. That now is my primary travel tripod. I later bought a larger, heavier tripod on closeout--again with a pan-tilt head--that I carry in the back of my car at all times. I haven't been disappointed with that one either. Only thing i wish it had was maybe a hook for hanging some weight for extra stability on a really windy evening. In any case, both tripods together cost me less than $150 and I've used them a lot. I'd have to say I've gotten good value out of them. Maybe a year or two from now I'll figure out why I need a ball head, but for now I'm satisfied with what I've got.

Unfortunately, Ron, the Manfrotto tripod I have does not have a removable ballhead. I cannot see any way to remove it for replacement with a better head. The head has a single adjustment lever that loosens the ball, as opposed to better heads that will have separate knobs to adjust movement, tension and rotation.

The tripod does provide a solid base for support, but the ballhead can get frustrating if you are trying to make position adjustments quickly. I took it to Yellowstone National Park several years ago, and was frustrated trying to use it to photograph wildlife, which requires a ballhead where you can make quick adjustments. For more stationary subjects where you have time to make adjustments, such as landscapes and portraits, it's not as bad, but still not optimal.

The Giottos ballhead I mentioned above provided the functions I needed, and the Flashpoint carbon fiber legs are really an exceptional value, IMO.

The Manfrotto will work for someone starting out, and is much better than the $20 junk tripods you see at Best Buy or Wal-Mart, which do not even provide a solid base of support for a dSLR. , However, if you do decide that you really like photography and want to progress, you will want something better eventually.

Are you sure you can't just twist it off it's base by going reverse of -righty tighty, leftly loosey-?  There won't be a lever or anything to remove a head, they just screw on to a thicker style bolt.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Posten 

Are you sure you can't just twist it off it's base by going reverse of -righty tighty, leftly loosey-?  There won't be a lever or anything to remove a head, they just screw on to a thicker style bolt.

I am positive it will not just twist off -- I tried.  My current tripod / ballhead combo screws on in the manner you describe, so I am very familiar with what you are getting at. In the Manfrotto's case, though, the head sits on a cylinder that appears to be part of the tripod base.

If you look at the description of the unit on Amazon, it does state "It includes a built-in aluminum ball head with a single ratchet locking lever". The Manfrotto website's technical specs also state it is a built-in head.

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/pid/13131

http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-725B-Tripod-Integrated-Carrying/dp/B000FFSDCC

Not familiar with those legs but looks like a good deal.  I use RRS ballheads so can't comment on that one.

No, they are about 3x the price.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/ballheads/02.html

But totally worth it if used often.

The R strap truly is excellent:

http://www.blackrapid.com/product/camera-strap/rs-5/

That strap looks nice. The main problem I'd have with it is that it connects to the tripod socket. If I had a heavy lens with its own tripod connector then maybe it's not an issue, but if I don't, then I constantly have to remove the strap connector in order to mount the camera on a tripod.

I have mine on my D300 with an L bracket permanently attached to it.  It's not a big deal, it screws into the bottom very securely and quickly.

Really Right Stuff makes some of the best ball heads and brackets on the market, Ron, but they are also very pricey. The Giottos head I am using is very functional at a more palatable price. Adorama also sells Flashpoint brand heads that look like they may be clones of the Giottos heads, but at a slightly lower price. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you from experience how well they actually work.

The Giottos head uses Swiss Arca compatible quick release plates, which are very easy to use, IMO. I really disliked the quick release system on my old Manfrotto ball head -- it was quite cumbersome. The Swiss Arca system is much easier to attach and remove from the ball head.

My only criticism of the Giottos is it weighs a little more than I would prefer, but that is a tradeoff based on the cost. For the amount of use it gets, I couldn't justify the higher cost of the RRS head to save a few ounces in my case.

I don't think anyone has mentioned Markins, Kirk or Acratech yet.  All are very good to excellent ball heads but like RRS, they are not cheap.  They'll last forever, though.

http://www.markinsamerica.com/MA5/category.php?req=1

http://www.kirkphoto.com/Ball-Heads.html

http://acratech.net/home.php?cat=1

RRS has already been mentioned.  Right now I'm trying to decide between a Markins and RRS ballhead to go on either Manfrotto or Gitzo CF legs.  This hobby is so damned expensive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronald Epstein 

Scott,

 

So it seems your original recommendation above

(post #15) is probably the best "bang for the buck."

Ron,

Hard to say something like that would be the "best bang for the buck" -- we're not talking about spending 7 figures on a Strad or Del Jesu (or 6 on some other Italian collector's item) vs 5 figures on a contemporary "new" violin from a top current maker afterall.   You should think more in terms of getting the right tool for the right job.

I'm guessing that setup would be fine if you don't plan on using it w/ a big long (likely pro quality) lens or shoot in "difficult" situations or whatever else.  But if you're looking for something that will last you a very long time, be a pleasure to use in most instances and be very serviceable in most any circumstance you'd likely come across, then I suspect that setup will probably fall short.

Also, remember that the shooting process/experience itself counts for a lot IMHO, and better tools, if you can afford them, can make all that more enjoyable, etc. even if they don't necessarily yield better results (at least not w/out proper technique, a good eye, etc).

_Man_

Man has a point. I use a tripod for basic landscape and wildlife photography, so my needs are not very elaborate. The Flashpoint carbon fiber legs and Giottos head provide all the functionality I need, are easy to use, are well-constructed for my needs, and transport well (I do most of my tripod shooting when we travel). It will support any camera/lens load I will ever own as well, since those big white telephoto prime lenses are way out of my price range.

If you need something for more specialized uses or plan on upgrading to some very heavy body/lens combos, then a more advanced ballhead and/or legs may be needed. For basic uses, though, the combo I recommended works very well at a reasonable price.

Having said all that, if those inexpensive Flashpoint legs are good, I guess you can always swap the ballhead to something better/stronger later, if need be.  I'm just not sure how good those legs can be at that price point (and for carbon fiber no less).

RE: the camera/lens load, it might not actually require quite that much camera/lens weight to present a serious load that taxes the limits of these inexpensive tripod rigs for a given circumstance.  For instance, you're probably not always going to be shooting on perfectly flat ground and/or w/ the camera sitting pretty much straight in landscape mode on top -- that would be an easy load to handle.  All it probably takes is if you get one of those 70-200 f/2.8 telezooms (or similar) and set the camera up to be something other than landscape mode or something along those lines and you're probably gonna start taxing the limits of such a rig.  Of course, I'm just guessing based on the price of those legs and the specs available for that ballhead.

I don't know what better legs you can get for a little more, but it may be well worth it to go for the top Giottos ballhead (model 3300) for another $40-50 more instead:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/490016-REG/Giottos_MH3300_550C_MH_3300_Pro_Series_II.html

I mean if you're gonna spend any $ at all on quality filters to protect your lenses -- which I'm not a big fan of doing though I know it's needed sometimes -- then I'd think the few bucks extra for the better/stronger Giottos ballhead should be easily worth it too.

_Man_

Ron,

That price does not include the quick release mechanism, so it's not just $20 more.

_Man_

This is probably the one (w/ comparable QR system) you want for their top model ballhead:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/490971-REG/Giottos_MH3300_658_MH_3300_Pro_Series_II.html

Hmmm... I took a look at the customer reviews for the other one at B&H, and they all like the head, but many don't like the QR system too much:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/490020-REG/Giottos_MH1301_656_MH_1301_Pro_Series_II.html#reviews

So maybe it'd be good to consider a different, better QR system to go w/ either head instead.  Afterall, your tripod rig/setup will only be as good as its weakest link allows.

_Man_