video: episode 23 , tripod talk - from mini to mighty
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Since starting prophotolife.com I’ve been paying extra attention to questions visitors ask when in the studio. There are a surprising number of inquiries about the big (at least) 100 pound camera stands we use. The stands certainly never leave the studio but we use them on an almost daily basis so I thought it was time to give them a look in a video.
I’ve also noticed that clients seem to marvel at the ways we end up twisted in a corner on location, with our tripods splayed out in order to fit a tiny space. The Bogen tripod I use in the video has now been updated and (as near as I can tell) the current equivalent available from site supporter Calumet Photo is the Manfrotto 055XB with the 808RC4 Three Way Head With Quick Release.
A little mini tripod and a creative use was also thrown in, just in case you carry around a point-n-shoot, like I do. Maybe you’ll use the tip or maybe it will prompt you to use your full-sized tripod in some other, creative way. And we haven’t even gotten into how you can clamp tripod heads to ladders, beams and moving vehicles!
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Thanks. I was wondering about that big camera stand. The compact tripod tip was one I’ll have to remember to show my wife and son. Also, I found how you go the camera on the stove interesting. I wouldn’t have thought about slaying the legs out like that. Now I will.
I have the 055XB tripod with a ball head and LOVE it! It should last me 20 years no problem.
Can you discuss why I might choose a pan-and-tilt vs. ball-head? When I was shopping for a tripod head, it was never very clear why I would choose one over the other. Ball heads *seemed* more popular, but I’ve not any real information to base that on.
Perhaps this is a good topic for the flickr group….
Thanks Jim for the video. That was very informative, especially on the other, not-so obvious uses of the medium sized Manfrotto tripod. I don’t have one yet, but I intend to get one in the near future with a nice ball head. For now, I’m stuck with a $30 Best-Buy tripod.
I’ll have to get a mini tripod for my wife to use with her P&S camera. That trick might just give her the ability to shoot better photos indoors with little light shining in.
I have the 055XB head as well. For the most part I’m satisfied with it, love the springs. Only complaint I have is when trying to travel with it. The handles stick out all over the place which makes it hard to pack. I would get a grip and release ball head, but I don’t have much trust in the mechanism, especially when you got a long lens on.
Mike, I second your comment on the handles sticking out all over the place. We sometimes unscrew one of the handles to get it to fit into our smaller tripod bag…not really convenient for travel.
Ball heads seem very popular now. I have one but it gets seldom used. Jason, what do you think of the ball head in use? I know you’ve worked with a bunch of different equipment.
Hey Jim (& and the other viewers
),
I also used my man-height-tripod like you demonstrated - BUT I haven’t thought of the invert-trick before. Thank you very much
I can’t unscrew the middle bar like you though, haha
The argument for ball heads is usually that it’s a single adjustment instead of 3, easier for artistic angles and uneven ground. For studio or architecture work, the 3 axes of the pan/tilt head are probably preferred.
I just got back from hiking around Colorado with a Manfrotto 725B “travel” tripod, which was a good size and weight for both the suitcase and backpack. It’s small ball head does support a 70-200 F4 lens, provided you use a tripod foot to balance the load.
I also managed to wrangle it into a few precarious positions on rocks and over streams - keeping the camera strap around my neck, of course
Matthew is right, a single adjustment vs. three. It is also faster to setup. The down side is that if you want to make any adjustment the whole thing moves. I don’t have any issue with my ball head slipping, provided I tighten it down snug.
The reason I bought the ball head was originally to use on a mono pod for sports/ action shooting. However, I have not used it for that purpose much.
Hi,
Just wanted to tell you that I love your videos. Keep up the good work.
Thanks,
Tommy
Great tips, thanks Jim! I particularly like the positioning for close countertop work. I’ll definitely be using that.
I have a Manfrotto 322 RC2 ball head, and I really like the quick adjustments, as well as the more portable size. In the default configuration, I think you’d have no problem with slippage. If you move the mounting plate to the vertical orientation (like a 222), you can definite get some slipping when you rotate the entire head to one side, just due to the extra leverage. The adjustable friction wheel compensates for that to some extent.
Thanks for the video Jim. I’ve been thinking about buying a tripod lately and the tips that you gave will help me a lot.
I just wanted you to know that I have a 20 year Bogen tripod, the same one in your video. It wasn’t until watching your video that I learned the height adjustment lever was also a key that removed the lower part of the center post.
I cannot tell you how many times in the past I wished my tripod would get lower to the ground. Despite the hefty weight of this tripod I love how sturdy it is. Your video probably saved me a couple of hundred dollars since I now don’t feel the need to buy a new one.
Keep up the great videos!
Hi,
i am enthusiastic & planing to be a full time professional photographer
& m finding your videos very helpful last week i found you website and from that day onwards i found myself stooped searching for videos tutors all over the net …..
while watching online videos i found that most of the pro. photographers use canon DSLRs, i saw in this video that you also use the canon DSLR
actually i have Nikon D60 newly purchased & now i am getting this feeling that i am missing something
please guide me
with regards
Arvind
A few years ago the Canon cameras had advantages and some photographers (like myself) made the switch. Nikon has since introduced some extremely innovative camera models and is competing for the lead once again. If you’re happy with your Nikon then I suggest growing with that system. Personally, I would be happy with either one.
Hi Jim, hi Guys,
can me tell some one what model of tripod the man height Tripod in the video is?
Thanks Hannes
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