Reader's Comments - Index of - Free

Tripods
I'm using the Bogen/Manfrotto 3221 tripod with the Bogen 3265 grip-action ball
head. It is hefty, well made, and I like it. My only caution is that the grip action
head is fairly tall, and the camera sits about six (6) inches above the ball. When you
tilt your camera to the side for a vertical frame, the center of gravity moves 6
inches off center. This decreases the stability of the whole thing, forcing you to
extend the legs on one side... depending on the weight of your camera and lens.
-- Albert E. Anderson, January 25, 1998
Despite the comments of some quoted above, I picked up an NPC "pseudo
ballhead" when it was offered to me by a local shop for $75- with the Arca style
quick release and two plates!
Yes, it doesn't use a ball, but it has the same degrees of freedom and the axis all
share a common center, so functionally it acts just like a ballhead. It has a nice
indexed rotating base, too. I just finished using it for a setup that took a couple of
evenings to complete and it was a pleasure to use.
-- Michael Edelman, January 29, 1998
Maybe Gitzo, Manfrotto and Benbo are the most many-sided tripods but they are
heavy e.g. at mountain walks. I have found out the LPL splits tripod is a very good
all-round choice. The weight is 1850 grams and can carry a 35 mm- or a roll film
camera. (I have used it for cameras up to 2000 grams.) The quality is high and this
tripod is used by the Swedish army to carry IR-sights. The best with this tripod is
its ability to do the splits, the low weight and the good carry handle. One can buy it
at the Swedish Photax (http://www.photax.se) or other LPL sellers.
-- Harald Gaunitz, February 12, 1998
As an alternative type of head for architecture, some people might want to consider
the Manfrotto 410 three-axis geared head. As its name suggests, the main feature of
this head is that it provides geared adjustments in the three axes. I find this
particularly invaluable for applying fine "tweaks" in one axis without upsetting
other axes (as can happen with a ball head), and also removes the possibility of
movement while locking off on a pan-and-tilt head (although this shouldn't much
happen unless you're using a particularly cheap head).
By rotating a lock ring around each knob, the gearing mechanism is disengaged
providing for rapid alignment. Just be careful not to disengage the clutch around
the wrong axis, or your entire ensemble could suddenly flop over!
http://www.photo.net/equipment/tripods/philg (12 of 53)7/3/2005 2:21:13 AM