Finally... a decent tripod

[andymcd]

After years of buying tripods based on price (and then not carrying them because they are too bulky/heavy) I decided to splurge on a new tripod.

I sent a bunch of unused kit to Ffordes and part-exed for a new tripod.Fortunately, we were booked to have a night in Inverness before heading back north to Caithness so we diverted and went into Beauly to choose in person.

I already knew that the Benro Tortoise range looked good and after playing with them I picked the middle model (TTOR24C) with the ballhead. This range doesn't have a centre column which means it has a smaller diameter when folded (which fits in normal bottle holder pockets on Think Tank Retrospective bags. Being constructed from carbon fibre keeps the weight down.

I have had this since July and it has already had more use than any previous tripod I have owned (possibly all of them added together).

[geoffr]

I have enough tripods, the problem is that I don’t really like using them, unless you plan to be relatively static they are a pain. The last time I took one on holiday was to Alaska for aurora photographs, with film.

[squeamishossifrage]

Dec 23, 2022 20:54:32 GMT geoffr said:

I have enough tripods, the problem is that I don’t really like using them, unless you plan to be relatively static they are a pain. The last time I took one on holiday was to Alaska for aurora photographs, with film.

Lugging a tripod around is a distinct pain, and reinforces my conviction that nothing more than 500 metres from the car is photogenic. My usual substitute is anti-shake technology and a Gitzo Trek-pole - good for up to several seconds. Breathing control is also important, but in my uniformed days I was something of a shootist, so Her Maj taught me all about that.

I'm told a couple of valium can help, too! 

[John Farrell]

I rely on lenses with image stabilisation, and higher shutter speeds, with film cameras. I do have a tripod - a Velbon Sherpa.

[dorsetmike]

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[dorsetmike]

I usually prefer the monopod, - a Manfrotto 685B, doubles as a walking stick at times, height easily adjustable, foot on the base, squeeze the handle and lift or lower as required, also has a Manfrotto pistol grip head, so camera angle change is easy.

For excursions of any distance I need a bit more support than a walking stick plus I can take as much kit as I'm ever likely to need, when I need to sit I can rehang the bags to the sides and mount a camera on brackets attached to the handles, at Folk Festivals I'd also have a JVC movie camera on the other handle.

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[nickr]

I've several tripods, almost all of them bought second-hand - the 2 ones I've had from new are a Manfrotto 190 my wife bought me 30 years ago, and a Gitzo Traveller special edition being sold off very cheap - and to be honest, that's my favourite, as it's very light but very rigid for the weight.

My favourite for studio or location pro work is an ancient and very battered massive Gitzo that cost me £20 -it's as much a prop to get subjects' attention as anything. Worth every penny.