Dan’s Tripods
You might think that a tripod is a tripod is a tripod, but you would be wrong. I’ve done it right, and I’ve done it wrong. I’ve learned the hard way - don’t skimp on the tripod. Because, at some point you’ll regret that you did. If you use it, you’ll use it. Just accept the fact that you get what you pay for and don’t forget that what you want to pay for is stability. There’s a reason I had a heavy wooden tripod for my 4x5. The only real plus side to a tripod that will cost you an arm and a leg is that they are durable and, save the worst of accidents, it will last you a very, very long time. And if you want to use a tripod the way I often use them (see photo below), it will cost you an arm and a leg to get sharp images.
Yes, the camera is above my head.
I have 3 tripods. My primary tripod is a Really Right Stuff Versa 3 (long) with a BH 55 ball head. Here’s the tripod
And yes, the head is extra. A lot extra. But take my advice, don’t skimp on the head either.
With a combination like that, you can feel pretty confident that the tripod will be rock solid for shots like this:
Again, the camera is above my head, with a telephoto lens, on sand. The image (a long exposure) is razor sharp (well, at least the rocks are, the water isn’t supposed to be).
BTW, Ann has the same tripod combo. When you find a good thing, stick with it.
My second tripod is a Gitzo Basalt GT2942, purchased when I bought the Contax camera. I couldn’t afford the leg, so just donated the arm (the leg would have gotten me the carbon fiber version). It’s solid, but doesn’t extend nearly as tall. Here’s a picture of it just to the right of the RRS.
I could have extended it a couple of feet higher (it will come up to my chin), but with that telephoto lens (the same one that made the photograph before it) on it, I wasn’t confident it would be rock solid. Just look at the difference in leg thickness between the two tripods.
My Gitzo also has a RRS head on it, the BH 40, the baby brother of the BH 55 on my RRS legs.
It convinced me that RRS is a great brand and, when the time came, getting the BH 55 would be worth it. Here’s a photo where you can see the size difference between the heads - pretty much compares with the differences between the tripods they go on top of.
Much like my X100 (which the Gitzo was used a lot with), the Gitzo hasn’t receive much attention in the past few years, unfortunately.
My third tripod is a Peak Designs Travel tripod. The travel name should give its biggest advantage away, it’s quite the portable thing.
And lest you think it’s very large, it only weighs 2.8 pounds and . . . it fits well in the hand.
The Peak Designs tripod did its job for me in Madeira - light enough to keep my luggage within weight limitations, stable enough for me to make longer exposure images (if I was really careful). However, it left me missing my RRS monster and definitely left me wanting with elevation (lower chest image-making is not where I’m usually at). Still, it did what it was advertised for, so I can’t complain.
Oh, I almost forgot. I actually have 4 tripods. Though the last one is a table top tripod.
RRS of course. Cute little thing, isn’t it? Perfect to toss in the camera bag just in case you need a bit of stability!