Feb. 2003
President's
Message
Article - "Understanding Tripods "
Understanding Tripods
- Bob Coffey
A DPS member asked me for guidance in purchasing a tripod. That prompted me to compile a few tips gleaned from the school of hard knocks…literally. There is a lot more to this seemingly simple apparatus than first meets the eye. Karl Leck and Ray Firmani added their comments as well.
My tripod goes everywhere with me as I use it for all my serious shooting. It sees a lot of use, including getting shipped with the baggage when I travel. Due to damages sustained, my old Bogen 3021 has been rebuilt with new parts several times over twenty years and I estimate that 50% of the original parts has been replaced. As a result I’ve developed a keen appreciation for durability and low maintenance.
I’ve packed my tripod in a Bogen tripod bag for traveling for years. Unfortunately, it is not padded and that has led to broken spirit levels, quick release levers and one leg support casting. I‚ve learned to stuff it with towels, jackets, or sweaters, especially around the head, to cushion it from airline handling.
After endless futzing around with three handles on a pan head, I switched to a ball head for faster adjustment. It‚s also more compact, which saves having to remove handles for packing.
A quick release head is essential as it allows you to quickly snap the camera body on and off the tripod. For convenience, I highly recommend a base plate for each body and collar-mount lens.
Another highly desirable feature is a carrying strap. Bogen (now Manfrotto) offers one as an accessory and it is certainly worth the price to allow you to comfortably sling your tripod over your back when trekking in the field.
My latest purchase is a Gitzo Explorer (aluminum, not carbon fiber) with a magnesium Gitzo Ball Head. The legs are fully adjustable with locking clamps to secure them at any angle you choose. The support column can be swiveled out to 90 degrees for better access in difficult places. It is lighter than the old Bogen and not quite as tall, but that makes it easier to lug in the field. Manfrotto offers a model of similar design at a lower price. The Gitzo ball head has a far greater range of mobility than my old Bogen unit. I am extremely pleased with its flexibility and its robust design.
Karl Leck writes:
The Star D Tiltall type that descended from the Marchioni Tiltall is THE
standard tripod to which comparisons should be made. It was my first
serious tripod with which I did nearly every kind of photography. It
is indestructible and travels well. I once unscrewed one leg to use
as a pick to descend 20 feet down a cliff on Kauai to retrieve my 20mm
lens that I dropped as night rapidly approached.
Overall, I still favor the Gitzo carbon Mountaineer over my many others that include a Tiltall, a bigger old Gitzo, the biggest Manfrotto/Bogen (a 20+ pound, over 7 foot monster), a well-designed and a sturdy Lindhoff, and a Benbo. I also have a small Velbon (max height 2’) that has served well.
Ray Firmani writes:
One thing that most tripods lack is an inverted extension leg system.
I have the only one to my knowledge that has this feature. It also has
a “Flip-Lock” feature. You can flip a lever at the top of each
leg, which unlocks the leg, and you can change the leg length and lock
it again for small corrections to level the tripod.
How many times have you used your tripod in the field and had the bottom leg in the dirt or mud? When finished, you collapse the legs and the bottom one slides into the top part of the leg, mud and all. I learned to appreciate the inverted extension feature when I worked for DuPont at the chemical plant. The area often was contaminated with acids, chemicals etc. They played havoc with aluminum tripod legs, not to mention my hands, if I had to close the tripod without this feature.
Tripods should also have carrying strap rings at the top and the bottom legs of the tripod with a strap, Velcro, to keep the legs closed when carrying, with carrying strap.
How about “flocking” the outside legs instead of having to put bulky rubber tubing to make tripod easier on the hands in cold weather. Heck, I’m loaded with ideas.