On 12/15/2013 4:26 AM, Chris Barker wrote:
> I’m planning to do some walking carrying a tripod and I’d like some help with
> choosing one. I have a Manfrotto (Bogen) 055C which is a bit hefty, and a
> nice little Velbon Maxi, which is a bit titchy. I’m looking for a carbon
> fibre model, perhaps from Velbon, Giottos or Manfrotto. The MT190CXPRO4
> seems to be about the right size and weight, if a little pricey.
Got it in one! (But see another alternative at the bottom.)
On 12/15/2013 1:13 PM, usher99@xxxxxxx wrote:
>> ...
>>
>> Moose has the Pro 3 and should be back soon.
Quoting myself from the 4/24/11 post Mike linked:
-------------------------------------
"... Nice build quality, light enough to haul around for hours, yet solid enough
to be really useful. I'm using a small, light magnesium ball head. A bigger,
heavier head might change that part of the equation, as well as affect
stability in some circumstances.
Very flexible, with four leg angles, incl. full horizontal, and the center post
that goeshorizontal.
<http://galleries.moosemystic.net/MooseFoto/index.php?gallery=Tech/Misc&image=IMG_1116croofm.jpg>
... As I had hoped, going from 9 twist locks to 6 flip locks does make a huge
difference for me in the field.
I still have my own, personal, ongoing problem with carrying and putting down
tripods. Tripod bags and those straps that clip at the top and wrap around the
legs are hopelessly awkward and slow. I want to carry the tripod simply, it
tucks nicely under my left arm, but what do I do with it when I need both hands
to take a hand held shot? I don't really want to be bending down to the ground
twice each time to put it down and pick it up. Sometimes, there literally isn't
a safe place to put it down (I was clambering about on wet rocks along a stream
in a steep canyon Wed.) and other times there is mud, dust, wet grass, etc.
So what do I keep doing, even thought I know better? I lean it against myself
or something nearby. And not every time, but all too often, it slips and falls
hard into whatever I was avoiding. A ding from a rock in one of those falls is
why the little Velbon now has one leg that won't retract all the way.
After looking around for a solution, and finding none, I've jury rigged
something. I've taken a long, light shoulder strap and rigged it so the ends
are together, with a QR plate attached that attaches in turn to the tripod.
... Clipping the tripod on and off is really quick and easy.
It's very light and simple, and seems to work around the house. I should learn
if it's practical and useful when in Yosemite next week."
-------------------------------------
Here's a snap Carol took of me hiking to Wapama Falls in Hetch Hetchy,
Yosemite.
<http://galleries.moosemystic.net/MooseFoto/index.php?gallery=California/Yosemite/Yosemite_2011/Hetch_Hetchy/Flora_and_Fauna&image=SAM_0352iamix.jpg>
This carrying strap has turned out to be quite useful. It adds almost no
weight, doesn't get in my way, yet puts the
tripod almost instantly at hand. Grab it, release the QR plate, attach to the
QR plate on the bottom of the camera, and
I'm ready to go in seconds.
On our New England trip, later that year, the D ring to 1/4"/20 adapter I'd
taken from an old hand strap broke. I found
a guy with a funny little shop in Bass Harbor, Maine who makes and sells wooden
models and who let me use his vise and
drill to rig a different connection.
<http://zone-10.com/tope2/main.php?g2_itemId=10139>
You can see wear on the soft connectors. That's from the only snap ring I had
at hand. It's profile was not round. The
ring there in this pic, along with a little lube, sees not to be causing new
erosion of the metal.
There are many possible ways to make the strap to QR plate connection. I used
thread lock, so the long nut doesn't come
loose from the QR mounting screw thread.
>> I'd consider the Pro 4 for its shorter fold up length.
Unless there's a strong reason, I would (and did) stick with the Pro 3's three
section legs. Slightly lighter and more
rigid. More importantly to me, three fewer locks to release, adjust and snap
shut twice for each use. As the '3' fits in
my rolling duffel suitcase, I prefer it.
>> http://gearshop.dpreview.com/Manfrotto-MT190CXPRO4-Carbon-Fiber-Tripod/dp/B00G36G76Q
>>
>> Look at the video--- :-)
Do indeed! I see they've slightly redesigned bits, but it all works the same.
>> The Sirui CF is the most portable I know about
You can probably tell that I put a huge premium on ease and speed of use for a
tripod to be taken walking. I want to use
my time mostly walking and looking around, a little taking pictures and as
little as possible fussing with a tripod.
My first CF tripod is quite good as a camera support. With twist leg locks, it
drove me to distraction in the field. If
I had a four section leg tripod with twist locks, I might as well just leave it
behind. I just don't have the
time/patience to use one.
=======================
Another possibility is an odd thingie I tried before, the TrekPod.
<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=trekpod&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=>
and
<http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=trekpod>
They seem to have changed them in some ways since I bought a TrekPod GO! The
magnetic QR and a weak lock on the ball
head managed to drop my 5D and biggish lens on the rug. I replaced them with a
different ball head and QR.
It's not mechanically a great design, with such short tripod legs and long
'extension' above them. OTOH, it actually
works as a trekking stick, deploys very quickly and works better than a
monopod. It does vibrate, rate and length
depending on what's on it and the surface it is on. But with self timer or
remote release to let it settle, it's quite
stable. In wind, one would have to use wetware (hand) or bean/shot/sand bag to
hold it down/steady.
It wasn't quite up to my largish Canons. I'm going to try it again with my much
smaller, lighter µ4/3 gear ('cause I was
reminded of it by this question - thanks!) I'm not sure as yet how it will
interact with the Oly shutters and Anti-Shock
settings. One could certainly up the Anti-Shock setting time for tripod work,
rather than use self timer. That should
work. With the GX7 electronic shutter, it should be great.
(It has a bunch of tubular sections in a case that all slide/screw into each
other. It ALWAYS got my bag opened and
searched by TSA. I learned to put it right by the zipper.)
Trippy Shutter Moose
--
What if the Hokey Pokey *IS* what it's all about?
--
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