Need a good tripod & monopod

[BLD_007]

I need a good tripod and monopod. What would be a good tripod that would support my gear "gear in sig"? Also, what would be a good monopod for sports like baseball and football?

Things I want to do with them:
Sports
Portraits, self and other
Time exposer
landscape
ext

also, I want a tripod and mono pod with the snaps, not the turn locks.

Good brands? What kind of weight will by gear be?

my current tripod and monopods are cheap and falling apart.

Also, what are unipods? Are unipods the same as monopods?

 

[pbelarge]

I have a manfrotto tripod and ball head.
I shoot mostly landscape, wildlife and cityscape/architectural shots.

I have the graphic type model, that is very light and solid. I love both the tripod and ease of use of the ball head.


Some people will complain about the weight of both as seen in reviews. I am not a muscle man, but I carry my tripod everywhere...did I tell you I carry it everywhere? and it has not slowed me down for a second. I will go out for many hours and never even think of the tripod as a hindrance.

What I read and now have experienced is, the more solid the tripod and head, the happier you will be with the performance. So, the tripod will be heavier. I do not see the weight as a real disadvantage in regards to the gain in performance.

I cannot remember exactly what I spent, it was in the neighborhood of $550

 

[BLD_007]

I have a manfrotto tripod and ball head.
I shoot mostly landscape, wildlife and cityscape/architectural shots.

I have the graphic type model, that is very light and solid. I love both the tripod and ease of use of the ball head.


Some people will complain about the weight of both as seen in reviews. I am not a muscle man, but I carry my tripod everywhere...did I tell you I carry it everywhere? and it has not slowed me down for a second. I will go out for many hours and never even think of the tripod as a hindrance.

What I read and now have experienced is, the more solid the tripod and head, the happier you will be with the performance. So, the tripod will be heavier. I do not see the weight as a real disadvantage in regards to the gain in performance.

I cannot remember exactly what I spent, it was in the neighborhood of $550

Holy cow, I thought tripods were 100>. 500 would buy me alot more gear lol.

 

[Big Mike]

Like anything, you get what you pay for. You may not need a $500 tripod, but a $50 one probably won't be very good and probably won't last you a lifetime.

I'll second the recommendation for Manfrotto...they make quality gear. But like most companies, they make a whole line of gear, from cheap to over the top expensive.

Choosing a tripod, especially the head, is largely a personal decision. There are many different ones that would meet your needs, but you might prefer one over another. I'd suggest getting into a well stocked camera store so you can get your hands on some different styles.

 

[usayit]

On a budget??? Look for an old "3001 Bogen" on ebay. Cheap now a days, sturdy, and should be well under $100. Not much to be broken so you shouldn't worry.

Here's one:

Bogen 3001 Tripod and 3030 Manfrotto Head - eBay (item 140389274258 end time Mar-10-10 17:20:38 PST)

 

[wiredhernandez]

I got one of these and it does the job pretty well. Its a bit heavy but very secure.. Not soo expensive as other options either...

MTL9251BMH5001 Giottos MTL 9251B Aluminum Tripod Legs, with MH 5001 Quick Release 3-Way Pan Head, Maximum Height 63", Supports 11 lbs.

 

[Browncoat]

I'm a newbie, so take this with a grain of salt...

My old tripod was from Wal-Mart, I think it cost around $20. Yes, it was a serious piece of junk and I didn't like unscrewing 4 different knobs to adjust my camera where I wanted it. After doing a lot of research, two things kept coming up: Ball head and Manfrotto. I wasn't exactly wanting to make a large investment, but I don't regret it. I purchased the Manfrotto 322RC and it's awesome!

My tripod is the Induro AT114, which was a good buy that didn't break the bank, yet still has nice features.

 

[Pure]

From what I can tell, you probably want a heavier tripod. Unless you are hiking you don't need a CF/Carbon Fiber tripod. I have the Manfrotto 055XPROB and while heavy at 5.3 pounds/2.4kg, it feels very solid. As for the head I'd say get a ball head since you're doing portraits, sports, and landscapes. While a 3-way is good for landscapes, it is a pain for certain types of shooting, at least for me. I have the Manfrotto 468MGRC2 and haven't looked back. It's strong and will hold up to 22lbs, so there's no flimsy movement during long exposures.

Manfrotto | 468MGRC2 Magnesium Hydrostatic Ballhead - | 468MGRC2

Manfrotto | 055XPROB Tripod Legs (Black) | 055XPROB | B&H Photo

 

[nsanghani]

Can someone recommend a decent cheaper Manfrotto ballhead than Manfrotto 468MGRC2 Magnesium Hydrostatic Ballhead

Thanks

 

[smyth]

Can someone recommend a decent cheaper Manfrotto ballhead than Manfrotto 468MGRC2 Magnesium Hydrostatic Ballhead

Thanks

I'm not a ballhead expert, but something like this: Manfrotto | 498RC4 Midi Ball Head with RC4 QR Plate | 498RC4 might be something worth looking at.

 

[FrankLamont]

Be prepared to spend for a tripod.

It always depends what you want to use them for.

You mention landscapes - planning on hiking with one? 2-2.5kg is the max for that.

Optimally, you want a carbon fibre/fiber tripod, with sturdiness and lightness - though the price is high.

A sturdy, heavy tripod is probably best for stability, but comes at the weight expense - made of aluminium or similar composite.

Personally, I use a relatively cheap Manfrotto 055proxb with 808CR4 three way head. I rarely use a tripod, though, and although it's heavy it's also sturdy.

 

[table1349]

Read this article. Tripods and Ball Heads by Thom Hogan

You don't need to spend the kind of money that Thom does unless you are using the kind of gear he does, dragging it to the kind of places Thom does.

You can however for $300-$400 get a tripod setup that will last a lifetime. Manfrotto makes some good legs. My choice would be the 055XProB.

As for heads, I personally would suggest that you get something other than a manfrotto ball head, unless you are willing to buy their very best. Giottos makes some good ball heads in the same price range as the Manfrottos that have some distinct advantages. The standard for most from Manfrotto is the 488 head. The 488 and most Manfrotto ball heads do not have a separate friction control knob. Only a ball friction release knob. This allows the ball to move freely, and allows it to flop if you are not holding onto the camera.

The Giottos have a separate friction control knob that allow for minor adjustments without head flop. You can buy one without the attachment plate so you can choose your own quick release system.

For a monopod Manfrotto makes some good models in aluminum. My choice is Gitzo. More expensive, but it is carbon fiber, lighter, sturdier and supports more weight. The twist locks are also very usable and on a monopod I prefer the twist lock legs over lever lock as I can slightly loosen a lock and adjust the height of the monopod without worrying about my 400 f2.8 dropping quickly.