Recommend a tripod

H@rry

H@rry

In Memoriam
I have a $20 tripod from WalMart (I know, I know) and it is slightly better than no tripod at all. When I mount my D40 w/105mm Macro lense it sags. I turned it around backwards and kinda tilted it upwards to get it to stay still. I'm just starting to shoot with this lense and I noticed yesterday that all my shots of a particular coral that is close to the glass have a blue outline that is hard to remove with post processing. I think this might be caused by the fact that the coral is 6 - 7 inches beyond the glass and the end of the lens is about 3 -4 inches from the glass but not exactly square with the glass.

I want a tripod that will allow me to move the camera around to compose the shot, hold the camera steady, and not cost an arm and leg. (I don't know whether these items are mutually exclusive ;) ). It will be primarily for coral and fish shots. Do I need to go ahead and buy a ball mount with it? Some of you with experience recommend one.

Thanx
 
There is a sticky at the top of the forum discussing tripods. Basically, you can choose two of the three features:
1. Light
2. Inexpensive
3. Sturdy

From the sounds of it, you are looking for inexpensive and sturdy. I don't know what your price range is exactly, but I do know lots of people like the Bogen tripods.
 
Re: Recommend a tripod

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13892617#post13892617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by H@rry
I have a $20 tripod from WalMart (I know, I know) and it is slightly better than no tripod at all. When I mount my D40 w/105mm Macro lense it sags. I turned it around backwards and kinda tilted it upwards to get it to stay still. I'm just starting to shoot with this lense and I noticed yesterday that all my shots of a particular coral that is close to the glass have a blue outline that is hard to remove with post processing. I think this might be caused by the fact that the coral is 6 - 7 inches beyond the glass and the end of the lens is about 3 -4 inches from the glass but not exactly square with the glass.

I want a tripod that will allow me to move the camera around to compose the shot, hold the camera steady, and not cost an arm and leg. (I don't know whether these items are mutually exclusive ;) ). It will be primarily for coral and fish shots. Do I need to go ahead and buy a ball mount with it? Some of you with experience recommend one.

Thanx
Click to expand...

Its hard to tell without a picture, but I think the blue outline is "chromatic abrasion", which is a lens problem.
 
Here's an example. I took some more this morning and was more careful to line the lense up square with the glass and increased the exposure. They're a little better.

Before
blue_error.jpg


After
blue_corrected.jpg
 
That second pic is very overexposed. My macbook has a pretty bright screen, but the second is closer to right. Maybe use 1/3 of the adjustment you made between the two. Use the histogram on your camera to dial in exposure.

For a tripod, I recommend the Manfrotto 190XB. With a head, it is about $180-200 and it is a very nice tripod for the money.

That said, there are things you can do to make the best out of any tripod. The first is positioning it. Do you have a hood for your macro lens? If you don't, is there on available? The hood for my Canon 100mm macro is about 3 inches long and a solid ring so I place it right up to the glass. That way, I can be sure there is no glare/reflections off the glass and the lens is placed perfectly perpendicular.

Next, control vibrations. Even on a tripod, use the timer. If you have a remote trigger, use that - or both. Particularly on cheap tripods, vibration from pushing the shutter can mess up your image. Also, if you have a mirror lockup feature, use it too.
 
The second picture was taken at f/36 with a shutter speed of 13 secs. With ISO 200, you either have a very dark location for this coral or something strange is going on. Do you have any expsoure compensation dialed in on the camera?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13894032#post13894032 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nickb
The second picture was taken at f/36 with a shutter speed of 13 secs. With ISO 200, you either have a very dark location for this coral or something strange is going on. Do you have any expsoure compensation dialed in on the camera?
Click to expand...

It's not dark. I had +1 stop exposure (I think that it was 1 stop, it was 3 clicks and showed +1.0). I was shooting in aperature priority with one shot at F11 and one on each end. I'm just learning and doing a lot of experimenting. As you may have noticed, I haven't really figured out what I'm doing yet and sometimes get very frustrated.

I apologize for not reading the sticky at the top before I asked my stupid question. I'm looking at tripods on B&H now. When I decide on one I'll post it here for a critique.
 
I didn't mean my suggestion about the sticky in the sense of a complaint about your question. Sorry if you took it that way. It's just that Beerguy has written a very useful piece about tripods and it didn't to make sense for us to repeat it.
 
Just a thought. If you are happy with the legs (generally), and are using a timer/remote (and maybe even mirror lock up), you may just want to shell out for a good ballhead. Then, later down the road you could just upgrade the legs.

You said your issue was with the camera not staying where you positioned it. This is directly related to the ballhead, not the legs. You may spend as much on the ballhead as those legs w/ the head, but it'll be wirth it.

Look at the RRS (Really Right Stuff) ballheads. Maybe the BH-45, or the BH-25 (though bigger is better). They are real knowledgable too if you ask what would be the best for your situation.

I am really happy with mine (I have the BH-55 for my big stuff and the BH-45 for my small tripod that I use when on the go).
 
sorry - this is assuming that you can screw the old ballhead off and just use the legs. Some of them you can't do that on.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13894314#post13894314 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by H@rry
Ok, here's 2 that I've selected. Help me pick between them. The only objective is to hold the camera still in the same place I pointed it while I change the dials and buttons. I use a wireless remote. Tank pics only so weight is not an issue.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/480320-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto__190XPROB_Tripod_Legs_Black_.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/523154-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto__055XB_Tripod_Legs_Black_.html

Thanx
H@rry
Click to expand...

190 legs are lighter weight and cheaper. If you plan to carry it around at all, this is nice.

55 legs are taller and a little sturdier but they weigh more and they cost more.

PRO - this means the center column will pivot horizontally. It costs more and is a feature that would be nice every once in a while but can be skipped if you have to pick and choose how to spend your money.

D - don't buy one with this in the model. It means there are wing nuts instead of the quick clips for locking the legs. The clips are worth the money.

484 ball head - this is really small and I doubt you would be happy with it. The 486 ball head is much bigger and much nicer for not a lot more money. The 488 ball is huge and it does have a separate pan adjustment which can be nice to have. IMHO, go for the 486.

I recommend these two (I have the second setup myself):

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/523155-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto__055XB_Tripod_Legs_Black_.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...to_190XB_486RC2_190XB_Tripod_Legs_Black_.html

FWIW, the price seems to be almost the same no matter where you buy manfrotto stuff - even the retail shops. So, you can get these for basically the same price (plus tax) at your local camera shop where you can touch them before you decide which to buy.
 
Thanx hypertech, that was exactly what I wanted; the voice of someone who has been out where the rubber meets the road!

I just ordered this based on your recommendation:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/505863-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto__055XPROB_Tripod_Legs_Black_.html

If the shot doesn't come out right now, it won't be because I can't get the camera in position! One more problem eliminated. I just told my wife that I ordered a real good tripod and she said "By careful, you're eliminating all your excuses".

Now, what can I do to eliminate the "chromatic abrasion" other than use a hood and make sure the lense is perpendicular to the glass?
 
It will serve you well.

About the CA - that is usually a lens characteristic so I'm not sure what you can do about it other than try to remove it during post.

If it is a goofy reflection, try shutting off the room lights to minimize reflections back off the glass.
 
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