Tripod Suggestions Needed

[OGsPhotography]

Im looking for a tripod.

Preliminary preferences; carbon, tall, quick release not Arca ( seems not quick?). Two legs should come off to make monopod. Legs should be independantly moving. Hook for weight. Needs to support a 70d and 70-200. 1.7 + 3.3 = 5 lbs.

Budget, 250$ Canadian

Prefer to buy off amazon.ca or best buy.ca

What would you get and why?

 

[AKUK]

How tall is "tall" exactly? Tall plus carbon fibre either means a lot of vibrations or a very expensive tripod, way more than $250 Canadian. I have Manfrotto RC2 and RC4 type plates, as well as Arca. I prefer the RC4 for the size of plate and use it with my 405 geared head, but I love the convenience and speed of the Arca clamps, mainly because I can use my Peak Design plates with it, enabling me to carry the camera on the Capture Pro to keep the weight off my shoulders/neck and move it to my hips. I can then remove the camera from the Capture Pro and put it on my tripod with gimbal, or ball head.

I have a Q777 tripod. It was actually labelled as Q666 at the time and cost me £50. Excellent bang for the buck. Now it's been rebranded as Q777 and sells for £100! It's not carbon fibre but, it is still very lightweight, sturdy, compact and converts into a monopod too. It looks identical to the MeFoto tripods that sell for $250. You can get a Koolehaoda Q777 on Amazon.ca for $160, or the exact same one on eBay for $130.

I've used it with a gimbal head, D800 + Grip + 2 batteries, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary +1.4x TC. For the money, build quality and versatility, nothing beats it. I have a manfrotto 055 XPROB which is a rock solid tripod but very big and heavy in comparison, and a 3 Leg Thing Rick, which is carbon fibre, very compact and slightly lighter than the Q777. It does tends to vibrate very easily when fully extended though. The Q777 is like the best of both. Folds down very small. Comes with it's own bag. Is lightweight. Is reasonably tall (I'm 6ft and don't have a problem using it). The centre column can be inverted for extra low level work. Can become a monopod. Is sturdy in use and has impressive build quality for the price point.

What I would highly recommend is using your $250 budget on the Q777 and a Peak Design Capture Pro. The two will work seemlessly together and you can add to the Capture Pro with their excellent slide straps too, which having tried god knows how many over the years, I can honestly say are the best system out there bar none.https://www.peakdesign.com/product/clips/capturepro/?acc=62

 

[chuasam]

Hahhaa at your budget. And you want carbon fibre! Get a fotoPro c5i, which exceeds that by a bit then stick on carbon fibre decals and suck it up about the arca Swiss plate.

 

[tirediron]

Why do you want carbon? I have one carbon fiber tripod, and if you asked me where it was, I probably couldn't find it. Yes, they're light, but unless you specifically need that light weight, or have a big, big budget, you're going to sacrifice. Check your local Used.ca 'site. I get most of my tripods there, and at bargain prices.

 

[OGsPhotography]

Thanks for the info,

@AKUK that one 777 looks great and under budget!
Great info I will reread after work and try to get one ordered.

Tall would be 5'6 ish I think thats about my eye level.

@chuasam haha at your face? JK but I can up my budget its just that I found a bunch in that price range and am looking to find info if I am missing something spec wise. I dont really care if its carbon or titanium but I dont have all day either so I put the info I have found to help the search. Definitely willing to take a look at anything.

PhotoproC5i looks pretty awesome! Its acually under budget as well at 225.

@tirediron Ive never seen used.ca I will take a look but I will buy off amazon or best buy because that is by far easier for me at the moment ( buy now button).
By carbon I am implying light but its not that important. My camera is already pretty heavy and Im an in decent shape 36 year old. I'd like to be able to handle both attached in the field.

 

[fmw]

I sold my carbon fiber tripods. I'm back to using aluminum models I've been using for 30 years. Unless you spend the money for a Really Right Stuff or similar tripod, your CF tripod won't hold things as steady as a heavier aluminum model.

A few months ago I was using a fairly cheap CF tripod with a fairly light 300mm lens. I got some sagging causing me to fight to get the composition I wanted. I thought it was the ball head. It was tripod. The same head on one of my old tripods produces no sagging at all. The difference in weight is about a pound. Worth every ounce of it.

 

[AKUK]

Thanks for the info,

@AKUK that one 777 looks great and under budget!
Great info I will reread after work and try to get one ordered.

Tall would be 5'6 ish I think thats about my eye level.

They really are fantastic tripods for the money and the height would work perfectly for you. My uncle enquired about mine and I was surprised to see the price literally had doubled to £98 from £49 that I spent a year or so ago. The only issue with it, was that the legs would fold in on themselves if you picked the tripod up to move its position. However, all you need to do is use some allen keys and tweak the bolts so that they remain as rigid as you require. Other than that, there really isn't anything I could fault it for. I've used it in studio and out in the field too. It's an excellent all-rounder. I highly doubt you'll be disappointed with it. The fact it is compatible with the Peak Design stuff is a real winner for me. I use their Capture Pro, Slide, Leash and Clutch on the camera and they make photography so much less strenuous as a result.

 

[Scatterbrained]

Cheap and Carbon fiber don't go well together. Meanwhile, it's best to consider the tripod and head separately. Why no Arca Swiss? If you ever want to use an L bracket for your camera it will have to be AS. If you ever decide to move up to the higher end it will be A.S.. As far as height, at 5'6" I wouldn't worry too much about height. Bear in mind that you still have to add the height of the head and the height of the camera. The best bet for your budget is to look for a used set-up.

 

[table1349]

On that budget I would shop for used. If you have a brick and mortar photography shop I would start there. Carbon Fiber and Aluminum both have their advantages. Things to look for in any tripod

Support at a minimum 3X the weight of your heaviest gear.

Long legs with fewer sections the better. The more sections the more inherent instability. Buy to your height or taller without raising the center post. Raising the center post also contributes to instability. Non geared center post. The only geared center post tripods that are any good are way over your budget. Remember with a tall tripod you don't have to extend the legs fully if you don't need to.

No little fold out leg supports. Like geared center posts the only ones that have leg supports that are any good are way over you budget. (Think studio tripods)

Lever or flip locks on the legs, either one is fine, pick what you like best.

Area-Swiss is expensive but worth the money. It is as fast as any system, far more versatile and the only QR system I trust my gear to. Nothing else I have found is nearly as secure.

 

[OGsPhotography]

I dont have a shop. Dont want used.

I do not fully understant the QR systems. I'll google arca swiss after. I thought it was the screw kind, perhaps its better?

@Scatterbrained I thought I read Arca Swiss was the QR that takes a lot of time to change and can fail easy.

Any more viable options? I'll be ordering within the week.

I'll look at Really Right Stuff if its on Amazon. I remember Kelby touting it in one if the first books I read! Forgot that part with the rest lol.

 

[table1349]

Arca swiss can be either screw or lever. It is the most secure and almost universally used system by any of the quality manufactures. Which would you trust good gear too. Something like this? Or something like this?

Good read. What is Arca-Swiss Quick Release System?

As for used, I would much rather have an excellently made, rock solid workhorse horse used tripod over a new overpriced average tripod. They last a lifetime. I own a used Manfrotto studio tripod that 30 years ago sold for $400. I got it in great condition for $150 used. It would probably easily support all of your gear at one time. It is that sturdy and well made.

 

[Scatterbrained]

I dont have a shop. Dont want used.

I do not fully understant the QR systems. I'll google arca swiss after. I thought it was the screw kind, perhaps its better?

@Scatterbrained I thought I read Arca Swiss was the QR that takes a lot of time to change and can fail easy.

Any more viable options? I'll be ordering within the week.

I'll look at Really Right Stuff if its on Amazon. I remember Kelby touting it in one if the first books I read! Forgot that part with the rest lol.

Arca Swiss is simply a standardized plate and clamp design. It gets it's name from the company that originated it, Arca Swiss.

The term "quick release" is badly abused in this industry. I generally consider a quick release to be a product that has a cam style lever to lock it in place and release. Photography companies seem to think that if you aren't screwing the camera straight to the tripod then you have a quick release. It's both stupid and deceptive.

If you want a solid, budget ball head I'd recommend looking to Sirui. For a solid tripod you can go with Induro, Manfrotto, Sirui, Feisol, or Giottos. All of which should have a solid, budget tripod. I wouldn't look to the "do it all" travel tripods. The ones with removable legs are geared towards travel and as such are smaller and less sturdy than a comparable standard tripod of the same cost. Don't bother looking at RRS unless you're ready to double your tripod budget just to cover the ballhead.

Any which way you cut it, if you want a solid tripod and ball head you'll likely need to expand your budget. Many of the cheap tripods that claim to be able to support the weight of your kit are very flimsy. Remember that supporting the weight and supporting the weight while maintaining stability are two totally different things. As was pointed out earlier, look for something that will "support" 3x what your kit weighs.

 

[OGsPhotography]

RRS is xpensive! Also, amazon nor best buy sell it thankfully.

Sirui has some on amazon but quite expensive, for 200 or so there is a travel pod that only carries 7.5 lbs.

 

[table1349]

A road often traveled by many.

Tripods and Ball Heads by Thom Hogan

 

[OGsPhotography]

Good read @gryphonslair99, I think I'll go-ahead and grab the Land Rover and McLaren while I'm at it. My mid range SUV is really just a waste if time when the right vehicle for the race of life is obvious.

Basically your telling me theough that article is that unless I spend 1300$ ( more maybe the article is old) I wont get a good product, and am wasting money.

Perhaps its true, but I'll be a statistic too then.

What the article fails to mention is that the said typical photographer gets to use their gear as they " move up", they learn, they take some good photos, some bad, have a time at a waterfall getting "" silky smooth"", see a sunset they might not have etc etc..
.
Also failed to mention if they sell the gear as they move through then they realize less loss or cost. If they bought second hand and are serious about re selling stuff they can lose no money.

I still have 2-300 dollars to spend, my old POS 40$ tripod did me great and I'll keep it too, perhaps to put OCF on it? I wont add it to the cost of my new one, because that would be kinda silly economics wise.

I also wont add the cost of my old Pontiac, Toyota and Hyundai to the McLaren and Land Rover. Might not be able to afford the McLaren then, must have the Rover is.

Opportunity cost is opportunity lost? I need a dang tripod or I'll miss the waterfall.

I can have a 250 dollar one now or a 1500 one in a year. Or both perhaps
Both. Perhaps.

Time will tell.

Funny, or ironic thing is that the expensive tripod to me, aquiring it, is actually dependant on the cheaper one being good!! I'll have to like good tripods. Just as the 70-200 was dependant on me liking the 18-135, just like the FF ( 5D Mark iv probably)is dependant on likeing the 70D.

Just like the McLaren is dependant on the Pontiac.