I need a tripod

OGroteKoning

OGroteKoning

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My wifey just informed me the 6D with 24-105mm feels a bit heavy for the tripod we currently have. We have to look for something decent. Currently our budget floats around R1000 - R1500. Our esteemed MyBB member by the name of Apoc184 bought one of these, but I could not find his detailed review.

So what say you? What would you recommend for that budget? If you can't comment on something in that budget range, recommend another mentioning the price bracket please.
 
froot, I saw those, but we would need a tripod. It must be able to stand stable by itself.
 
A tripod is a tripod. As long as it sits level, what more do you need? Even a 500mm lens should be stable with one of the three legs below it.
 
Haha. Pfft...

I'm still enjoying my tripod too much to write a detailed review. :p

On a serious note:

Seriously happy with the Hahnel. Especially considering the price.

* No lens creep at all. Even with some heavy equipment on it. (Check next post for pic with D7100 and Sigma 120-500).
* Ball head is very good quality and movement is smooth and precise.
* Tightening of all heads and legs are quick and solid.
* Tripod legs do not bend at all when weight is applied or equipment moved.
* Height settings are very easy and you can do some funky angles and get into pretty awkward spaces when you try.
* Quick release plate is super easy to remove and put back. All very safe as well.

My only beef with it is that the quick release plate does not sit 100% flush on the head (I think that is the problem??). This means when you are setting up for macro shots or want to frame things perfectly it takes you a few seconds longer. Because when you tighten the ball head and release the camera the plate then goes into final position and it moves like half a millimeter down. Makes quite a difference if you want to frame macro shots (like my waterdrops). You just have to compensate for that movement and re-tighten the ball head. After that nothing moves it.
 
2 shots taken with my D7100 on tripod.

Waterdrop with a small 35mm F1.8 lens on it and at quite an angle.

Sparkles with the 18-105mm lens sitting level. 18-105 is a pretty heavy lens for me. Don't use it that often. (This photo was taken 2 hours ago)

20130825-APC_0451.jpg


20130905-APC_0694.jpg
 
APoc184 said:
Nikon d7100 with Sigma 120-500mm on Hahnel 40 Lite.
Click to expand...

Thanks buddy for the review. Better late than never I say ;)

It looks a bit flimsy - as if the legs wants to shiver and bend like a doberman pincher's. But I will take your word for it.

Is it better to have a ball fitting as opposed to the ones with handles (I think it is a video camera head) - similar to this
e9yrudug.jpg
 
OGroteKoning said:
Thanks buddy for the review. Better late than never I say ;)

It looks a bit flimsy - as if the legs wants to shiver and bend like a doberman pincher's. But I will take your word for it.

Is it better to have a ball fitting as opposed to the ones with handles (I think it is a video camera head) - similar to this
e9yrudug.jpg
Click to expand...

I haven't read up too much about it but I understand the ball heads are a lot quicker to set up than the pan heads. Only one place to loosen. The pan head takes three different screws to do the same set up.

No clue if the one is sturdier than the other.
 
I have not used it outside of my own yard yet. So it has not been tested in windy conditions.

I am 100% convinced it is not nearly as sturdy as the R5000 Manfrotto and other tripods but it works for what I want to do. Mostly macro / portrait / sparkles photography.

We are heading to White River on Saturday morning and coming back Sunday morning. If time allows I will be using it for some landscape shots in that beautiful part of the country. Will report back after that too.
 
APoc184 said:
I haven't read up too much about it but I understand the ball heads are a lot quicker to set up than the pan heads. Only one place to loosen. The pan head takes three different screws to do the same set up.

No clue if the one is sturdier than the other.
Click to expand...

This is strongly debated topic, almost as fierce as Canon/Nikon :)

I have a Manfrotto pan/tilt head, and I find it works really well for my macro stuff. You can easily adjust each orientation independently (unless you have slanted the view, of course) --- I find that I often fiddle with the "pitch" (forward/backward tilt), but not so much with the other two degrees of freedom, so for me the pan/tilt style works really well.

I cannot comment on how a comparable ballhead would perform under these conditions, but the safe option is probably to get one of each style (eventually) :)
 
bromster said:
A tripod is a tripod. As long as it sits level, what more do you need? Even a 500mm lens should be stable with one of the three legs below it.
Click to expand...

Nope, cheap crappy materials and build quality will lead to much frustration. I went the Manfrotto route and haven't been sorry either.
 
@op for your budget R1000 - R1500 , i would suggest something like this:

http://www.cameraworld.co.za/Home/t...5/Default.aspx?SortField=UnitCost,ProductName

The biggest problem with 3rd party photographic equipment ,tripods ect, in SA is you either find low end budget or more often than not, high end often over priced branded names.
One doesnt find much in the mid range and if you do its often "out of stock" :rolleyes:
 
Nanfeishen said:
@op for your budget R1000 - R1500 , i would suggest something like this:

http://www.cameraworld.co.za/Home/t...5/Default.aspx?SortField=UnitCost,ProductName

The biggest problem with 3rd party photographic equipment ,tripods ect, in SA is you either find low end budget or more often than not, high end often over priced branded names.
One doesnt find much in the mid range and if you do its often "out of stock" :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

That looks nice. Our current one has the pan/tilt operation so we are used to it. But I am not married to it though. Do you have one of these?
 
You are more than welcome to borrow my tripod for a test drive Koning. You know where to find me for arrangements.

Just not thus weekend :)
 
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