Would you strap this tripod on a backpack for a hike? Is it to heavy or long for a hike?
What head are you using?
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Let's talk tripods
- Thread starter Phrasikleia
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Would you strap this tripod on a backpack for a hike? Is it to heavy or long for a hike?
What head are you using?
FWIW, Gitzo 1127 legs with an Arca B1 head. I have had both for around 8 years. The legs are pretty much at their limit with the pictured 300/2.8 lens and a set of Gitzo Series 3 legs are on my wish list. I use both RRS and Kirk plates.
If I had to do it again I would have gone with 4-section legs for a travel tripod like this one. These will fit inside a 22" carry-on, but only if I remove the center column. 4-section legs would be an easier fit.
I relied on Hogan's tripod article before buying this gear. The gear was expensive, but it works: http://www.bythom.com/support.htm
If I had to do it again I would have gone with 4-section legs for a travel tripod like this one. These will fit inside a 22" carry-on, but only if I remove the center column. 4-section legs would be an easier fit.
I relied on Hogan's tripod article before buying this gear. The gear was expensive, but it works: http://www.bythom.com/support.htm
I have this tripod - it's quite heavy, but it is robust.
But for proper operation with a heavy lens (300 F/2.8, 400mm F/2.8, 500/600/800mm) - I recommend using it with a Wimberley Tripod Head II. That's what I do.
Other kinds of tripod heads don't stabilise the lens well enough and allow it to tip forwards or backwards the moment you unlock them. And to be honest, the Wimberley Tripod head is much simpler than say a Manfrotto 808RC4 - and nor does it leak grease like the Manfrotto 808RC4! You'll need to buy Arca-Swiss plates for your lenses though when using the Wimberley head.
For hiking, probably try one of the carbon-fibre Gitzo tripods.
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^^^ I always wondered how a Wimberley Head would work for sports shots like hockey. I went back to a pan head since sitting in the stands with my tripod really works better than my ball head. I'm not setting heavy glass on it like you guys but smooth is how it should be in that situation.
Any way I have the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 legs and Gitzo 1780QR head as well as a Manfrotto 701 HDV head. Like them both or all three but each for different things. The Gitzo holds up to 22lbs I think so it should carry me for a long time unless I get stupid with it
Any way I have the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 legs and Gitzo 1780QR head as well as a Manfrotto 701 HDV head. Like them both or all three but each for different things. The Gitzo holds up to 22lbs I think so it should carry me for a long time unless I get stupid with it
It doesn't work so well for fast action such as an airshow with fast-jets. There, the movement is too restricted so it is often easier to hand-hold the camera and give your arms a bit of a workout for a few hours.
Stadium sports like hockey, football etc should be fine since the movement isn't so erratic and it is restricted to a certain area, and you never leave the head locked - it is naturally balanced. It'd also be good for field-sports like athletics, running etc.
Using a monopod (Manfrotto 685B) and a 234RC tilt-attachment can also work alright in those cases. I've also seen monopod attachments that form a bracket around the lens and allow it to swing from a balanced point, providing the benefits of a Wimberley setup, but on a monopod instead. I know someone who uses a Manfrotto monopod with an EOS-1D Mk.III and 500L glass with that setup. Seems to work well.
Stadium sports like hockey, football etc should be fine since the movement isn't so erratic and it is restricted to a certain area, and you never leave the head locked - it is naturally balanced. It'd also be good for field-sports like athletics, running etc.
Using a monopod (Manfrotto 685B) and a 234RC tilt-attachment can also work alright in those cases. I've also seen monopod attachments that form a bracket around the lens and allow it to swing from a balanced point, providing the benefits of a Wimberley setup, but on a monopod instead. I know someone who uses a Manfrotto monopod with an EOS-1D Mk.III and 500L glass with that setup. Seems to work well.
What's a good tripod set up to take with you on a hike?
What's a good pan head?
I don't want to break the bank and I know people reference the article that suggests spending the money the first time will save $700 in the long run. I'm open to it, but want to spend somewhere below $300 if I can get a good set up.
Thanks
What's a good pan head?
I don't want to break the bank and I know people reference the article that suggests spending the money the first time will save $700 in the long run. I'm open to it, but want to spend somewhere below $300 if I can get a good set up.
Thanks
I have a Gitzo 1568 monopod with the 234RC bracket and a RRS clamp. When shooting with the 300/2.8 I flip the bracket over 90 degrees and attach a Wimberly Sidekick to the clamp. I have found it works very well.
I've had my 190CXPRO4 (with 488RC2 pano ballhead) backpacking in the wilderness several times, on anywhere from 3-day to 5-day treks.
The issue isn't so much the weight of these type of tripods as it is just the pack space they take up. That particular pod folds down to under 20" without the ballhead, but the bulk of the thing makes it far from ideal, esp. with the flip-style leg locks. For me, that's space that I need to have in my pack for water, filter, food, stove, tent, sleeping bag, rain gear, etc. I've hung it off the outside of the pack, but it can be a pain to secure to an internal frame pack and, worse still, that type of leg lock catches on everything if you don't keep it in a separate tripod bag.
This spring I have a couple trips planned where I'll be taking a Gitzo GT1541T Traveler pod with the Markins Q3T head that was custom designed for those legs. Not as tall as normal and maxes out at about 200mm, but packs down tiny. And I don't normally need long lenses for landscape or nature shots anyway. I'll be interesting to see how well it works out in the field.