Tripods - What do you use?
 

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Mine's pretty similar to yours. Manfrotto 190XProB with the standard 486RC ball head.

Ditto.

Edit: Minus the "X"

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uhh.... some optex thingy

I don't have a camera anymore but I still have my Manfrotto 055CL Pro + 486RC2... lol

It's longer and got thicker leges than your 190 and can go up much higher as well... but it's quite heavy to be carried around all day though. I'd say you can look at the 055 series but with magnesium+carbon fiber frame instead of aluminum... much much lighter but offer the same sturdiness. Otherwise these are great and super sturdy for their price range.

With the longer "base" legs, you won't have to extended the column portion as much and that makes it sturdier than smaller tripods with shorter legs.

size comparison (photo courtesy of www.camerahobby.com). Just a local photog's own blog that I sometimes visit.

190 , 055, then 075
http://www.camerahobby.com/Images/Technical/Tripods.jpg

I'd say the 055 series would be tall and strong enough for most people.

this one:
http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/.../2279?livid=68|69&idx=71

http://www.manfrotto.com/webdav/site...es/055MF4a.jpg

holds up to 7KG or about 15lbs.... should be enough for most cameras.

I would love to buy Gitzo stuff but my budget won't allow me to.... :( Most of their legs are light AND sturdy, but SUPER expensive. lol

manfrotto 055pro legs (hand warmer and snapping clips on the legs) and manfrotto 322rc2 head. Wish I had it with me in Beijing right now...

manfrotto 055pro legs (+1 the handwarmers and all that) and manfrotto 488 rc2 ball head. Very sturdy. I can't say how it compares in terms of weight to yours though, sorry!

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I have the 190CL/486RC2 combo as well, and I love it. It's pretty lightweight, but it does get a bit awkward to carry around much. Actually, what I'd really love to see is someone actually come up with a tripod with strap loops, so you can attach a shoulder sling strap to it... dunno why nobody seems to have thought of that.

probably cuz it wouldn't be too widely used when bags for tripods with straps are readily available, and in the day and age of optical stabilization, people are carrying around the tripod less and less.

i'm sure it would be easy to fabricate something though if you wanted it that badly.

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meh...I'm using a Giottos I got dirt cheap last summer and it's held up perfectly...(shot lightning storms all summer, aurora, lunar eclipse, etc...)

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welcome to the world of Manfrotto/Bogen owners!

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Slik 340DX / 486RC2 :)

Manfrotto 190PRO B coupled with Manfrotto 141RC head.

I'm going to bump this up because I didn't want to recreate another thread.

Looks like that most of you guys are sticking with Manfrotto.
Judging by Bonjour43MA's size comparison photograph, i'm going to settle with the 190 series.

Now, what's the difference between the
190CL
190CLB
190XB
190XProB


All of you guys mentioned that in your posts above me. Can anybody give me a brief overview on the (dis)advantage over the others?

Do any of you guys use a "travel" tripod? I'm looking for one I can throw in a backpack and use when travelling. I currently have some cheapo no-name tripod that works alright, but my complaints with it are that the legs don't really retract and extend that well and not very tall (the head is fixed and doesn't extend up/down). It's meant more for P&S because it's pretty flimsy so I want something a bit sturdier.

my travel tripod is my gorillapod zoom hehe. does that count?

I need some recommendations for a Camcorder tripod/head. The tripod can't be too light since I'm using a HDR-HC1 so it has to have some weight to it for sturdiness but also light enough to carry around. I prefer Manfrotto/Bogen or Velbon, but other recommendations are fine too. :D

I know this isn't the "proper" thread to post in but I thought instead of creating a new one, why not just post here since we're all talking about tripods (plus there isn't really a "camcorder" section). :D

Thanks in Advance!!!

I have a tripod similar to most people, long legs with a big head.
I needed something lighter for my trip because that wasn't going to be acceptable.

I found the Manfrotto 725B w/ Quick Release Ball Head to be a good addition. You can find the tripod for only $120 if you search hard enough. It only weighted 1.54 kg and held a load capacity of 3.5 kg. Seeing as my 5D attached to a 70-200 2.8 only weights 2.0kg, I picked one up!

Nice find on the tripod. I was originally looking at the Manfrotto 785 since I saw it at Blacks the other day. This one looks way better suited for a DSLR than the 785 I'll have to see if I can find one locally to see how it looks.