Inexpensive Tripod

[Zodiark1593]

So it would seem that I've gotten some birthday money, so I'd like to invest a bit further into photography, and a tripod is next on the list. "Inexpensive but not cheap" is the idea. I found this one on Amazon. Opinions?

 

https://www.amazon.com/Victiv-Camera-Aluminum-Monopod-72-inch/dp/B07JZCYWLZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?keywords=tripod&qid=1566784874&s=gateway&sr=8-9&th=1&psc=1

[Jimkirk363]

I quite like the Manfroto range, i have a few of their tripods and monopod.

[Zodiark1593]

2 minutes ago, jimkirk363 said:

I quite like the Manfroto range, i have a few of their tripods and monopod.

How about this?

 

https://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-MKCOMPACTACN-BK-Compact-Action-Tripod/dp/B00L6F16L0/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=manfrotto%2Btripod&qid=1566789683&s=gateway&sprefix=manfrotto&sr=8-4&th=1&psc=1

[Jimkirk363]

@Zodiark1593I have that one and its a good tripod.  I have a Canon 70D and a 1200D and both go on this tripod with no issues.

[Zodiark1593]

Just now, jimkirk363 said:

@Zodiark1593I have that one and its a good tripod.  I have a Canon 70D and a 1200D and both go on this tripod with no issues.

The Manfrotto or the Victiv?

[Jimkirk363]

@Zodiark1593Manfrotto.

[Zodiark1593]

11 minutes ago, jimkirk363 said:

@Zodiark1593Manfrotto.

Thanks for that. So that's two for the Manfrotto.

 

I currently use a Canon G7X MkII, so quite the light setup as of now, should be no problem whatsoever, besides perhaps looking a tad odd. Though having the headroom for expansion would be nice in the unlikely event I get a paid job in the future too.

[Jimkirk363]

U will have no problem what so ever on a camera so light with this tripod and u have plenty of room to maneuver if u decide to get a bigger camera like a DSLR.

[Zodiark1593]

32 minutes ago, jimkirk363 said:

U will have no problem what so ever on a camera so light with this tripod and u have plenty of room to maneuver if u decide to get a bigger camera like a DSLR.

Went ahead and pulled the trigger on the Manfrotto. I've a couple ideas already, though I won't be able to implement them until the weekend.

 

[Jimkirk363]

@Zodiark1593I'm sure u wont be disappointed.

[Zodiark1593]

On 8/26/2019 at 6:10 AM, jimkirk363 said:

@Zodiark1593I'm sure u wont be disappointed.

Disappointed I am not. This thing is a brilliant tripod. Being able to go really slow on the shutter with near impunity feels almost liberating. Given how light the camera is, I can keep the swivel on a very light resistance to move the camera easily, and it will stay put. Collapsed down, it's barely taller than the Wal-Mart tripod (the one meant to put on a table).

 

Another thing to experiment with is using my off camera flash in conjunction with tripod. As my camera lacks a hotshoe, it can be a pain to get the flash to fire in slsve mode. With the tripod holding the camera though, this can free me up to line up the sensor with the pop-up flash, and better utilize the flash as a result.

[Jimkirk363]

@Zodiark1593 Im glad you like the tripod.

 

Just experiment now and have a good time.

[ScottStearns]

On 8/28/2019 at 1:15 AM, Zodiark1593 said:

Another thing to experiment with is using my off camera flash in conjunction with tripod. As my camera lacks a hotshoe, it can be a pain to get the flash to fire in slsve mode. With the tripod holding the camera though, this can free me up to line up the sensor with the pop-up flash, and better utilize the flash as a result.

Consider grabbing a hot shoe/tripod mount adapter: B&H has 'em for about $12.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/764588-REG/Nisha_HTS_T_Hot_Shoe_Tripod_Mount.html?ap=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1c3NrKqo5AIVjYbACh0pwwZtEAQYESABEgKKgPD_BwE

 

Depending on your use case, this lets you put the flash on a stick (like one extended leg of your tripod) and hold it out into line of sight for the optical trigger. Then you, the camera, and the flash are all functional and portable. 

 

Or, pick up this to tripod up the flash, cheap modifiers like umbrellas, whatever, on the tripod. Then you can place your light and hold your camera.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546375-REG/Manfrotto_026_026_Swivel_Umbrella_Adapter.html?ap=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1c3NrKqo5AIVjYbACh0pwwZtEAQYEiABEgKvTfD_BwE

 

Have fun with ND filters and rear curtain shutter flash syncing stuff :-)

[Zodiark1593]

1 hour ago, ScottStearns said:

Consider grabbing a hot shoe/tripod mount adapter: B&H has 'em for about $12.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/764588-REG/Nisha_HTS_T_Hot_Shoe_Tripod_Mount.html?ap=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1c3NrKqo5AIVjYbACh0pwwZtEAQYESABEgKKgPD_BwE

 

Depending on your use case, this lets you put the flash on a stick (like one extended leg of your tripod) and hold it out into line of sight for the optical trigger. Then you, the camera, and the flash are all functional and portable. 

 

Or, pick up this to tripod up the flash, cheap modifiers like umbrellas, whatever, on the tripod. Then you can place your light and hold your camera.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546375-REG/Manfrotto_026_026_Swivel_Umbrella_Adapter.html?ap=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1c3NrKqo5AIVjYbACh0pwwZtEAQYEiABEgKvTfD_BwE

 

Have fun with ND filters and rear curtain shutter flash syncing stuff

 DIY shroud with a strip of aluminum inside also gets me a lot more effective range in firing my flash, even in daylight with the pop-up on low power. My other Wal Mart table tripod should help with this.

 

Experiments also tell me that a flash can be fired with the camera's own sent down via fiber optic, so one could theoretically 3d print shrouds on both ends with a fiber optic to connect them, effectively creating an optical hotshoe of sorts.

[Zodiark1593]

On 8/29/2019 at 8:03 AM, ScottStearns said:

Consider grabbing a hot shoe/tripod mount adapter: B&H has 'em for about $12.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/764588-REG/Nisha_HTS_T_Hot_Shoe_Tripod_Mount.html?ap=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1c3NrKqo5AIVjYbACh0pwwZtEAQYESABEgKKgPD_BwE

 

Depending on your use case, this lets you put the flash on a stick (like one extended leg of your tripod) and hold it out into line of sight for the optical trigger. Then you, the camera, and the flash are all functional and portable. 

 

Or, pick up this to tripod up the flash, cheap modifiers like umbrellas, whatever, on the tripod. Then you can place your light and hold your camera.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546375-REG/Manfrotto_026_026_Swivel_Umbrella_Adapter.html?ap=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1c3NrKqo5AIVjYbACh0pwwZtEAQYEiABEgKvTfD_BwE

 

Have fun with ND filters and rear curtain shutter flash syncing stuff

Not sure how, but a fairly substantial chunk of metal seems to have found it's way into one of the legs of this tripod and I can't seem to find a way to disassemble the leg enough to extricate the object. Even with the leg removed, the plastic black cap is riveted into place, the locks seem to have no visible means of coming apart, and the object is much too large to come out the bottom leg. Any help here, or RMA?

 

Edit: succeeded in getting the piece out. It was plastic, so some breaking it apart with a lot of persistence eventually rewarded me.