[Astaroth]

I have to say I am bewildered when it comes to tripods and what to get. There seems a massive range in price yet the "paper" specs for them are all almost identical.

Whilst I get the "you only ever need to buy one once" idea of them I dont want to spend too much money on it - photography is certainly just a part time hobby for me and things like a new computer are higher on the list for big investments (this is of cause straight after buying a 350D, 2 additional lenses, flash etc )

Having been looking around and the Manfrotto 190 pro with the 141rc head seems like a good combination but would appreciate other peoples views and suggestions - the 2 bits combined seem to go for around £130 so under £150 is probably my budget unless someone can pursuade me that £500 is a real minimum spend

It will be used with a variety of kit but probably the heaviest combination is canon 350D, 75-300mm IS USM & 430ex flash. I take lots of pictures but the tripod will probably be mainly used for plant macro photography and wildlife as I am currently too self concious to carry the camera alone round tourist type places let alone a tripod

Many thanks

[Mark Grant]

Good fun choosing tripods and heads....

Never used the 190 myself, but the 055 is said to be a bit more sturdy.( I was given a used 055 luckily )
http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/cache...lsf=68&child=2

also here;
http://www.collegecameras.co.uk/Prod...?ProductID=412

For the head, the 141rc looks a bit fiddly.
http://www.collegecameras.co.uk/Prod...?ProductID=413


I bought the 322rc2 head
http://www.collegecameras.co.uk/Prod...?ProductID=618

As is easy to use and no danger of the camera dropping forwards and hitting the tripods legs, as when you let go of the lever, the head locks.

Not sure if that is the best head for wildlife shots though.

Not cheap, but a good tripod and head lasts for years, a wobbly tripod stays in the spare bedroom and never gets used etc...

Mark.

I got a manfrotto 055 with 029 head from fleabay for £80 ,I would describe them as lived in but the build quality is fab , ive hung a 70-400 vr lens and a D100 from it no probs, although I dont fancy the idea of carrying it around all day.

[tomson]

I have a 055/141RC combo - does a fine job, is rock solid even with a heavy 2.8 tele lens mounted. It weighs a fair bit though.

One thing to check is the max height of the tripod - the 055 is only just high enough for me... after a long day shooting my back doesn't always feel its best.

[bowenjones]

I've got one of these
I actually bought it 14 years ago now mainly to rest my camcorder on while filming my sister's wedding. Very surprised to see that it's still being made after all these years
Seriously though, now that I'm getting a 350D, I will, in time, be upgrading to a better one. But for the moment, it will do for shooting birds from my bedroom window

[barongreenback]

I've also just picked by an 055PROB with the 029 head - it's rock solid but it is a heavy bugger to say the least. Cost me around £150 in total from warehouse express and by the looks of it, it does satisfy the criteria that I'd never need to buy one again. My reason for buying the 055 though is that I'm tall and I wanted something to come up to my eyeline without having to duck down every time I used the thing (I'm 6'5") - if you're not a circus freak like me then I would have thought the 029 was great for you. I have a copy of AP from last year where the 029 won a group test, with the 141 head.

[Astaroth]

I am a dwalf so needing the extra height isnt there....

Did you get a discount on the 055pro and 029 head or have I missed something on the warehouse express site as my looking came to a total of £177

Looks like the legs are sorted - heads I am not 100% sure on - the 322RC2 does look interesting (if a little more than I initially intended to spend) but I am not sure if it will have sufficient range in movement compared to the 029/ 141

[barongreenback]

Erm..they may have given me the black one by mistake

I think £177 does sound closer to the mark though. The 029 is a heavy head - I took it through sheer impatience as they didn't have the smaller one in stock. Again though, it's built to withstand a nuclear blast.

[SSB]

I've got the Velbon Lux i F for a lightweight hiking tripod (£69.99 at Jessops) and a Gitzo G224 and Manfrotto 222 Head (both second hand - about £170 from MXV Photographic). The Velbon is good, reasonable pan / tilt head and decent extension (although legs are quite thin when fully extended), I've used the D200 + Grip + Sigma 120-300mm on it, so it's OK with a decent load. The Gitzo and Manfrotto combo is rock solid though, really strong construction, lovely air-damped legs, built to last an age and a half - it weighs a bit, but it's the one I'd take without hesitation if I were doing any paid work. The Manfrotto head is very natural to use and grips like a vice when the trigger is released.

I was all set to buy the Manfrotto 055 Pro (although I think the 141 RC head looks a bit fiddly) but it just happened that I found the Gitzo s/h and plumped for that.

A word of warning though, Calumet sell a Manfrotto 222 style grip head and I found it was neither as strong and secure as the Manfrotto, and the spare QR plates had alot of play when fitted in the head, which kinda defeats the object of buying a decent tripod. So, there's definitely some truth in the buy cheap buy twice saying.

[Astaroth]

I agree on the buy cheap buy twice aspect which is why I am looking to spend £150-ish as a budget - which for a part time hobby I think is sufficient. If it does become more serious then a decent heavy weight tripod will always be good and I can spend more on a ultra lightweight carbon fibre thing for carrying around at a later date.

[SSB]

Incidentally, prices for manfrotto stuff is generally good at www.t4cameras.co.uk - they were the cheapest for the 055 PRO B when I was looking

£147 plus post for the 055 PRO B and 141 RC £123 plus post for the 190 PRO B and same head

[homerdog]

Good prices for Manfrotto tripods and heads can be found here.

This seller has been recommended on several other photo forums, I don't think you'll find a better price. I have a 055 and 222 - the 055 is quite heavy, but very solid; the 222 is brilliant, so quick and easy to use. I believe the 322 is at least as good.

Apparently the seller also communicates well in English, so don't let the German writing put you off!

[Astaroth]

ok, you took the words right out of my mouth.... having nearly been conned by not reading a description properly on ebay (I did want a little more than just the box ) I am not overly keen on buying off ebay from a non-english written ad... have bought a few things from Gemany before but they have all been from stores which I am more comfortable with than a ebayer who could be "anyone"

Thanks for the recommendation.

[Astaroth]

Well, all I can say is that I blame you guys.... got the 055PROB and 322RC2 today... therefore had to get a remote release too... had to have a bigger bag to fit all my new toys in.... thanks everyone for the advice... just which one of you do I send the credit card bill to next month :D