Graduation Present - Nice tripod setup ?'s

[skinny_kid]

I'm about to graduate in a few days and as a graduation gift my grandmother wanted to get me something pretty nice. She can't really shop anymore and told me figure it out.

I'm looking into the Manfrotto 190XB legs and the 322RC2 Grip-Action Ball Head. B&H has the combo for $245. Any of you Mags have anything to say about the Grip-Action Ball Head? I got to play with one a little bit and it seems pretty cool. Should I go another direction?

Right now I have a Canon 40 D with no big lense but plan on getting at least one pretty soon. B&H claims this combo can handle 11 pounds, a couple more pounds than most of the packages they have.

Blog and any advice appreciated.

[Junker]

I have the older model of the 190XB-The 3001BPro legs. They are great. I stopped using them when I got my carbon fiber legs, but they are strong and sturdy. For the price, they are a really good deal. My first ball head was the 3265 grip action ball head. It's got the vertical grip. It sucks ass. It's heavy, and starts to sag when it gets cold. I would imagine that the horizontal grip is not quite as bad (because the camera/lens is closer to the point of rotation), but it probably has some issues. I've been using the 486RC2 ball head, and I've been happy with it for the price. My .02

[skinny_kid]

Thanks for your thoughts. I have looked at that old vertical grip and it does look pretty crappy. I will look at that 486RC2 ball head as well.

[ninjabirdman]

junker . . . are you looking to get rid of the legs now that you have fancy carbon? pm me if you want to work something out.

[Tap]

^^^^
yeah, no kidding, if you want to get rid of them let me know if ninja falls thru

[Junker]

Thanks guys, but I'm probably going to keep it. It's the kinda tripod I wouldn't worry about hosing down after a trip to burning man, or setting up in a lake. In a way, I'm kinda limited with the CF, but its WAY better weight wise for travel/hiking.

[Tippster]

I have the 486RC2 as well, and it works fine... especially for $60 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/272449-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_486RC2_486RC2_Compact_Ballhead_w_R apid.html). No separate panning lock, however, so if you're looking for an easy way to shoot stitch-panoramics this isn't the head for you.

[blackhand]

^ Used that head for my film class last semester and it worked fine. If you're looking for something really simple I'd say go for it.

[Hugh Conway]

I started off with the predecessor of the legs and the 484RC2. I upgraded the head to the 488. The I upgraded the release to an AcraSwiss by buying a surplus release from Kirk on eBay and an L-plate.

[The Jackamo]

I have the 322RC2. It's a good head, but the range of motion towards you (i.e. if you want to shoot upwards) is nil - the bottom of the grip hits the bottom of the ball-head and can't go any further. I usually just turn the baseplate around on my camera and mount it on the tripod backwards, solves it right quick. I would not recommend this head for heavier rigs (i.e. 6lbs+).

[Junker]

I have the 486RC2 as well, and it works fine... especially for $60 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/272449-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_486RC2_486RC2_Compact_Ballhead_w_R apid.html). No separate panning lock, however, so if you're looking for an easy way to shoot stitch-panoramics this isn't the head for you.

Works well to level a nodal track though.

[Tippster]

Works well to level a nodal track though.

I have no idea what that is.

[anotherVTskibum]

IMO, the 468RC2 and similar heads suck. I thought the 468RC2 was a good head when I got it (and it's a huge step up from the Wally World tripod I was using prior), but the sag when you attempt to lock down the ballhead gets real old, real fast. There's also perceptible play in the quick release mechanism. I've also got a set of the 3001BPro legs that have been sitting around since I got a Gitzo 0530. I kept the 3001BPro thinking that I'd use it when I wanted the greater load capacity and greater flexibility it offered (with the can-go-horizontal center column), but I've found that the 0530 is more stable except in high winds (largely due to the stiffness difference between CF and aluminum, I think).

I think you're far, far better off getting a decent tripod and legs to begin with rather than spending money on something that's heavier and less stable. I would definitely recommend getting a real Arca-Swiss compatible head, regardless of which legs you choose. My current setup is a Gitzo 0530 and Markins Q3, which holds a x0D and anything smaller than my 70-200/2.8 just fine, and it works okay with the 70-200/2.8 as long as I'm a little more careful about placement and balance (and yes, I am using a tripod ring on the lens).

I realize that a real tripod/head setup is probably out of the price range that your grandmother is looking at, so I'd suggest that you see if she can cover part of it (maybe a Q3 and an L-plate from Markins or RRS?) and get yourself a used 3001Pro or one of the similar, more recent Manfrotto legsets that will work as a stopgap until you can afford to sell it and get a better legset.

If you could find a good deal on a good, used ballhead, you'd be golden...but they don't show up on the used market very often.

See http://www.bythom.com/support.htm for more thoughts on the subject.

[Junker]

I have no idea what that is.

One of these set ups. Allows you to eliminate the parallax encountered when taking panos of close and distant objects by shifting the lens back and placing the "nodal" point over the axis of rotation. The advantage to using a ball head to level this is that you don't have to adjust the legs like you would with the panning ball head. However convenience comes at a cost.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/pano/PEP.gif

More info here:
http://reallyrightstuff.com/pano/index.html

[4-TEEF]

I'm about to graduate in a few days and as a graduation gift my grandmother wanted to get me something pretty nice. She can't really shop anymore and told me figure it out.

I'm looking into the Manfrotto 190XB legs and the 322RC2 Grip-Action Ball Head.

Is this a rich grandma or will she be cutting into the cat food budget to get you this? If she's rich then go for a Gitzo like Griz has here (http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104315&highlight=Gitzo).

I have the Manny 190 and it is a nice tripod, especially for the money. The center column is not as sturdy as my old Bogen 3021 (or is that 3027?) but it converts to horizontal so that is nice. Grip action heads are convenient but they suck at the same time. If you're shooting portraits the ease of adjustment is very nice but for everything else they're not so good.

I have the older version of the 468RC2 and while it is great for the money I agree that it kind of sucks. Everything works but it could all work just a bit better if you know what I mean. I recommend a bigger ball head with a wider variety of tension adjustments if you can afford it.

Just remember that this could quite possibly be the last tripod you ever buy. Even a 190 will last forever and most all of the parts are replaceable if they break. I think it would be cool to have a graduation present from grandma that you will still hav, and use, 20 years from now.

[Tippster]

Huh - I have a battery grip on a 5D and even with the 16-35L (a heavy lens for the size) it has never crept on me, and I didn't torque it down, either. The 70-200 is very well balanced on it's mounting ring so that's not an issue either. Maybe it gets "slicker" with use - mine is only a month old and I haven't used it very often.

[Tippster]

I'm looking into the Manfrotto 190XB legs and the 322RC2 Grip-Action Ball Head. B&H has the combo for $245.

Amazon has the sticks and 486RC2 head combo for $190. Free shipping from Adorama, too.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000N4LJZI

[Hugh Conway]

One of these set ups. Allows you to eliminate the parallax encountered when taking panos of close and distant objects by shifting the lens back and placing the "nodal" point over the axis of rotation. The advantage to using a ball head to level this is that you don't have to adjust the legs like you would with the panning ball head. However convenience comes at a cost.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/pano/PEP.gif

More info here:
http://reallyrightstuff.com/pano/index.html

I have a cheaper version - an 8" arca swiss plate and a Kirk clamp

[4-TEEF]

Huh - I have a battery grip on a 5D and even with the 16-35L (a heavy lens for the size) it has never crept on me, and I didn't torque it down, either. The 70-200 is very well balanced on it's mounting ring so that's not an issue either. Maybe it gets "slicker" with use - mine is only a month old and I haven't used it very often.

I think he means that when you are holding/adjusting the camera and looking through the viewfinder you get your composition perfect, lock the head tight and then when you take your hands of the camera the whole thing just sort of sags forward a little bit, changing the composition. I don't think it's "creep" were it sags more and more, it's just the amount of play in the mounting plate and ballhead mechanism.


Amazon has the sticks and 486RC2 head combo for $190. Free shipping from Adorama, too.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000N4LJZI

^^^^ That is a SMOKING deal!

[skinny_kid]

Thanks for all the great info and insight mags. Good stuff to think about.

My grandmother isn't rich or poor but I think those CF Gitzo legs are probably out of the price range. I don't want her to spend a ton on me.

I will probably go with the Manfrotto 190xb for sure. Still have to decide on the head though.

Thanks again.

[Tippster]

I think he means that when you are holding/adjusting the camera and looking through the viewfinder you get your composition perfect, lock the head tight and then when you take your hands of the camera the whole thing just sort of sags forward a little bit, changing the composition. I don't think it's "creep" were it sags more and more, it's just the amount of play in the mounting plate and ballhead mechanism.

Oh, I understand - I have the head on some Gitzo sticks (1227 - found them on Craigslist for $300!) and there is none of that. You finger tighten the one screw and bamn -- solid.

[Lev]

I'm about to graduate in a few days and as a graduation gift my grandmother wanted to get me something pretty nice. She can't really shop anymore and told me figure it out.

I'm looking into the Manfrotto 190XB legs and the 322RC2 Grip-Action Ball Head. B&H has the combo for $245. Any of you Mags have anything to say about the Grip-Action Ball Head? I got to play with one a little bit and it seems pretty cool. Should I go another direction?

Blog and any advice appreciated.

Hey, just curious if you ever actually got the above combo? I'm looking at the same one for the holidays. Any advice?

Not sure what the difference is between the Manfrotto 190XPROB and the 055XPROB, but they both look popular on Amazon. Guess I'll have to read the descriptions a little more closely.

Thanks

[hitek79]

I would buy the 190 legs and a Markins or Really Right Stuff ballhead. They're pricey, but worth it IMO.