Three Legs Good

[John Perriment]

[Graham_of_Rainham]

[John Perriment]

Re: Three Legs Good

Thanks Graham, I'll follow up with some specific thoughts on how to choose a tripod and reviews of some that I've used in due course.

[mike_j]

Re: Three Legs Good

I like the idea of the Benbow types but again have never tried one.

Interesting thread John.

I have a uni-loc which is much the same. They reach the parts that other tripods can't reach but can be a nightmare to use. Often compared to wrestling an octopus. Also quite heavy and not particularly stable when the central leg (arm? - tentacle?) is extended.

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Three Legs Good

I have a uni-loc which is much the same. They reach the parts that other tripods can't reach but can be a nightmare to use. Often compared to wrestling an octopus. Also quite heavy and not particularly stable when the central leg (arm? - tentacle?) is extended.

I've heard that they are akin to the old deck chairs with a canopy

I will have to try one, if only for the fun of it, but I'm not sure I'd risk anything expensive on it untill I had taimed the beast.

[David M]

Re: Three Legs Good

I use a couple of aluminium Gitzos (both of which would be tall enough for Graham) and a couple of Uni-Locs.

The Uni-Locs are great in deep water, mud or snow. With deep snow you don't have to lock the legs until you've got them pushed down into it.

[Ian]

Re: Three Legs Good

I do have an enormous Manfrotto 055 in the office for the test studio. It's neat because by rotating a spring-loaded collar you can unlock all the legs at the same time; ideal for levelling quickly and conveniently as well as lowering or raising the tripod overall in one action. Let go and the tripod is locked again. I always forget to lock the leg braces though, so when I move the tripod one or more legs flops about! For general use though I use a much smaller and lighter Manfrotto carbon fibre 190CXPRO4. I also use Manfrotto MKC3-H01 when travelling light is a must. This is not made to be an enthusiast photographer's tripod, but it serves me well when I have to pack light. I have given John one of these as I know his priorities have changed.

Ian

[Graham_of_Rainham]

[David M]

Re: Three Legs Good

as well as the variety of QR Plates.

As someone who shoots ultra-wide to super-telephoto there's only one quick release system for me. I changed over to the Arca-Swiss system sometime in the mid 90's and there's still nothing that comes close.

There's at least half a dozen companies making custom clamps and plates for various cameras and lenses.

My clamps are from Arca-Swiss, Really Right Stuff, Kirk and Foba. My plates are from Really Right Stuff, Kirk and Acratech.

[Ian]

Re: Three Legs Good

I'm not at all in Manfrotto's pocket, but I'm not fussy about plates and simply use the rectangular and hexagonal Manfrotto QR plates for their medium and large heads.

Ian

[David M]

Re: Three Legs Good

I'm not at all in Manfrotto's pocket, but I'm not fussy about plates and simply use the rectangular and hexagonal Manfrotto QR plates for their medium and large heads.

Ian

I was standardised on the hexagonal Manfrotto plates before changing to the Arca-Swiss system and had custom made hex plates permanently attached to all my bodies and lenses. I never take the plates off, my A-S plates haven't been taken off since I put them on.

The nice thing about the A-S system is the open ended clamp, if you're shooting a telephoto and adding/subtracting TC's/extension tubes you can slide the long lens plate in the clamp to keep the rig balanced. At the same time you can use a small plate for a camera body.