I need a tripod

APoc184 said:
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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Fortunately there are also enough good natured sissy-stick owners around by me so I don't have to waste my money on one. :)
 
Okay, I got mine out. It is a Takara TV-1093. http://www.takara.ir/en/TV-1093S.php
4uperybu.jpg

Honest thoughts?
 
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^^^This is actually a crap tripod. I played with it today but there is so much movement in the legs that I won't use it again with the 6D. I will keep it though for mounting the flash and for my video camera.
 
OGroteKoning said:
^^^This is actually a crap tripod. I played with it today but there is so much movement in the legs that I won't use it again with the 6D. I will keep it though for mounting the flash and for my video camera.
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For the 6D, you probably want a tripod that at least tells you the capacity (maximum weight) on the box.

Those supports between the legs and the centre column (as in your tripod photo above) are not necessary if the rest of the tripod is study enough. (Translation: avoid that style of tripod, unless it is a high-end video tripod). Tripods without those extra supports will often allow you to do some interesting things, like inverting the centre column (camera now hangs upside-down) or clamping the centre column horizontally (for taking pictures straight down). Not everyone wants those features, but it is something to keep in mind.
 
Long story short but I did not get a chance to play around with the tripod.....

Saturday morning we were running late because our little one was feeling a bit ill. So we just made the wedding in time.

Photography was the last thing on my mind Sunday morning as we had to rush back to Pretoria. Father-in-law had a heart attack.

Sorry Koning. You are really more than welcome to use it for a week or two and make a decision from there.
 
APoc184 said:
Long story short but I did not get a chance to play around with the tripod.....

Saturday morning we were running late because our little one was feeling a bit ill. So we just made the wedding in time.

Photography was the last thing on my mind Sunday morning as we had to rush back to Pretoria. Father-in-law had a heart attack.

Sorry Koning. You are really more than welcome to use it for a week or two and make a decision from there.
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Oh boy - you really did not have a good weekend. I am sorry to hear about you father-in-law mate. Is he okay now?
 
Not ideal and not as we planned it at all.

He is stable but doctors do not expect him to be out of hospital any time soon. A call on further treatment will be made by tomorrow afternoon after further tests have been done.
 
So after I played with APoc184's Hahnel, another friend's Manfrotto and a professional photographer's Benro I met in Clarens, I decided to go with the Benro A600FKB2. The build quality seems great and it is a very sturdy tripod. It can take up to 8kg (3kg more than the Hahnel and a lot more than the Manfrotto I tried out).

The Manfrotto owner told me she paid about R5k for it. The Hahnel costs R721. I paid R2.5k

All the heads adjust in the same way (or very similar) and I must say the Hahnel's quick release is my favourite. The Benro I tested, had a Manfrotto head on, so the heads are interchangeable if you sweat be Manfrotto heads. APoc184 did mention there is a very small movement downwards after locking the camera in place, but I picked up the exact same movement in the other heads.

The Hahnel and Manfrotto both are shorter than the Benro and that was the final deciding factor.

My conclusion:
If you want a very affordable tripod on a budget, the Hahnel is extremely good value for money. The Benro is an excellent tripod especially for heavier equipment and a better choice especially if you are tall, but it is 3x more expensive. The Manfrotto in my opinion is not worth the money (debate expected)
 
Awesome. Glad my el cheapo could help in making a final decision. And I can only imagine how the height must have been a deciding factor for you :p

Good to know the movement when locking into place is not limited to mine. I think we did mention when you picked it up that it is due to the force used by the hand holding the camera in place until the head is tightened.

Like I've said. I would have loved the Manfrotto Befree but no way my budget allowed for that. And the times I have used my Hahnel it worked perfectly for what I wanted. Sure I will find it lacking in some departments soon.

"One day when I'm grown up I will upgrade to my dream gear" said every hobby photographer ever.
 
OGroteKoning said:
My conclusion:
If you want a very affordable tripod on a budget, the Hahnel is extremely good value for money. The Benro is an excellent tripod especially for heavier equipment and a better choice especially if you are tall, but it is 3x more expensive. The Manfrotto in my opinion is not worth the money (debate expected)
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I have heard good things about the Benro tripod legs. I think the 8kg load capacity is decent for the 6D --- you have to subtract the weight of the head anyway, and I like to have a fair bit of capacity to spare.

I think something like the Really Right Stuff heads might have almost no movement (upon tightening), but they at start around $300. But they do sound like a nice (short term) fix for gear acquisition syndrome :)
 
fvdbergh said:
I have heard good things about the Benro tripod legs. I think the 8kg load capacity is decent for the 6D --- you have to subtract the weight of the head anyway, and I like to have a fair bit of capacity to spare.

I think something like the Really Right Stuff heads might have almost no movement (upon tightening), but they at start around $300. But they do sound like a nice (short term) fix for gear acquisition syndrome :)
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I think that if you get to know your gear well enough over time, that slight drop upon tightening can be compensated for by lifting the camera slightly. To me it is no big deal at all. Maybe I am just doing it wrong :p

As it stands now, I believe I am at the end of my gear buying fix. ;) I have what I need to take almost any photograph I want to ... except that eluding 400mm lens, but I have decided that should I need that, I will rent it. That does not happen all that often and if it does, I will resurrect the thread I started.
 
OGroteKoning said:
As it stands now, I believe I am at the end of my gear buying fix. ;) I have what I need to take almost any photograph I want to ... except that eluding 400mm lens, but I have decided that should I need that, I will rent it. That does not happen all that often and if it does, I will resurrect the thread I started.
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400mm f/2.8 IS L II? Best lens ever. :)
 
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I'm back! :D

Time for a new tripod along with all the other stolen stuff. And I would like to upgrade to something better now. The insurance paid out pretty well.

I'm definitely going to look at the Benro that OGroteKoning bought. Looked really great when he showed it to me.

Any other suggestions will also be appreciated.

How are SLIK tripod's? I saw a 700 Pro, or something along those lines, and it was 200 times better than my old Hahnel.3

Cheers
 
APoc184 said:
I'm back! :D

Time for a new tripod along with all the other stolen stuff. And I would like to upgrade to something better now. The insurance paid out pretty well.

I'm definitely going to look at the Benro that OGroteKoning bought. Looked really great when he showed it to me.

Any other suggestions will also be appreciated.

How are SLIK tripod's? I saw a 700 Pro, or something along those lines, and it was 200 times better than my old Hahnel.3

Cheers
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Christmas shopping took on a whole new meaning for you... :D
 
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