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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Off Topic => Topic started by: rjmiz on March 24, 2007, 11:29

Title: If God paid you a visit and said.....
Post by: rjmiz on March 24, 2007, 11:29
If God paid you a visit and said.....

"Hey you! Mr. Stock photographer - You can have only one. Choose:"

The best tripod on this Earth.....
....or the best head to put on a tripod.

Which one would you choose.
Title: Re: If God paid you a visit and said.....
Post by: le_cyclope on March 24, 2007, 14:58
Go for head!

All the precision you need is in the head, not in the legs

Claude
Title: Re: If God paid you a visit and said.....
Post by: rjmiz on March 24, 2007, 16:28
My thoughts exactly.

So now my question changes to:
Why is it so many photographers (as it appears to me) place so much emphasis on the tripod
and not where where it counts....in the head.

I often hear people inquiring as to "whats the best tripod? "

And for those who like to add more to this thread which do you prefer?

Ball, or pan and tilt? Me personally I like the ball.
Title: Re: If God paid you a visit and said.....
Post by: eendicott on March 24, 2007, 19:03
I have a panning head that I like to use on a set of HEAVY legs because the legs won't move when I'm panning  ::)  Also very good in high wind situations (which I've had the need for a couple of times).  I'll upgrade that head when I get bigger lenses to the Wimberly system.

I have a pistol grip head that I like for the speed.  Grip it, move it, release the grip, you're done.  It's on a lighter set of legs that are adaptable so that you can change from an up and down cross bar to a side to side cross bar - good for macro work to get directly over the subject - not a feature available on all legs.

I don't like ball heads that much (though I can live with them) because you loosen a screw and the camera will fall over pretty easily.
Title: Re: If God paid you a visit and said.....
Post by: le_cyclope on March 24, 2007, 19:53
My tripod has a pan and tilt head; and I just bought a monopod with an integrated ball head.

I just love it so much that I want to add a ball head over the existing pan and tilt head of my tripod.

The only drawback is that it adds weight; don't know why but ball heads tend to be really heavy; may be  because of their magnesium ball?

Claude
Title: Re: If God paid you a visit and said.....
Post by: rjmiz on March 25, 2007, 01:27
"ball heads tend to be really heavy; may be  because of their magnesium ball?"

One of the distinct advantages of magnesium over steel is it's weight advantage...magnesium is LIGHTER!
Title: Re: If God paid you a visit and said.....
Post by: Bateleur on March 25, 2007, 02:38
I've got to disagree here  ;)

... and take the thread back to the original question.

What's the reason for having a tripod?

To hold the camera rock-steady in certain shooting situations e.g. low light/long exposures.

The best head in the world is useless if it isn't fixed to firm foundations. What's more, as several people have observed, the really good heads tend to be heavy. What's the point of mounting a heavy head on rickety legs?

Get good legs first.
Title: Re: If God paid you a visit and said.....
Post by: Clivia on March 25, 2007, 03:33
I rememer bing a guest at a wedding and wathcing the photographer. His tripod was so flimsy that it swayed in the wind!
I go for the sturdiest legs I can, with a ball head, and with a quick release.
After saying that, weight is a big consideration for me. I am a small woman. My studio tripod is a Benbo, and there is no way I could carry that plus my equipment any distance, so I have to go for a lighter Manfrotto for outside work.
Title: Re: If God paid you a visit and said.....
Post by: le_cyclope on March 25, 2007, 07:03
One of the distinct advantages of magnesium over steel is it's weight advantage...magnesium is LIGHTER!

Ooops!   :-X Then it has to be the steel casing...

Bateleur, your point is right  :) , but you leave us with another question: what will be the main usage of your tripod?

I use mine almost exclusively to shoot objects inside, so stability is my second priority... what I need first is someting that will hold my camera precisely pointing on the subject.  That's why I'll go for the head!

Claude
Title: Re: If God paid you a visit and said.....
Post by: berryspun on March 25, 2007, 07:28
I've got to disagree here  ;)
... and take the thread back to the original question.

I'll go back further:
If God paid you a visit and said.....
"Hey you! Mr. Stock photographer - You can have only one. Choose:"
The best tripod on this Earth.....
....or the best head to put on a tripod.
Which one would you choose.

God would definitely visit, but wouldn't say that.

The Miz would  :)
Title: Re: If God paid you a visit and said.....
Post by: Bateleur on March 25, 2007, 15:53

Bateleur, your point is right  :) , but you leave us with another question: what will be the main usage of your tripod?


Exactly.

It is, actually, a pointless question. There's no correct answer. It all depends on what you want to use your tripod for.
Title: Re: If God paid you a visit and said.....
Post by: rjmiz on March 25, 2007, 17:18
"There's no correct answer."

Your correct, there is no right or wrong answer. However I never intended it to play out that way.

For my own edification, and curiosity, I wanted to find out where other's preferences lie.
For me, I know I can get away with a tripod with compromising features and still take some great pics. However, in my own opinion,
the head of the tripod has to feel comfortable to me, be precise, and of well manufactured quality to perform well.

So although you think it was pointless (and it may have well been) I had a reason to ask, just to see if my way
of thinking is on track. So according to you it''s a wash?  They are equal in importance....ok?

Thats the great thing about this hobby. We can all agree to disagree.
Title: Re: If God paid you a visit and said.....
Post by: litifeta on March 27, 2007, 17:01
I would say: "like cheers God, but can I have a hot chick instead?"