Reader's Comments - Index of - Free

Tripods
an incredible buy; it operates smoothly and locks down tightly. Plus it's currently
available as part of the Wilderness kit with 3021, spiked feet, leg protectors, and
carrying strap at a bargain price. My only regret is buying before Bogen started
offering that kit!
To each his own, at any rate. Thanks to everyone for your comments.
-- Brian Hinther, July 6, 1999
I rented a Bogen 3021 leg set with a Bogen 3047 pan/tilt head this weekend to
make an attempt at photographing fireworks. I was surprised by how heavy the
tripod was, and I was glad that I was only carrying it 6 blocks to the park. It was
long overall, from foot to the top of the pan head. I previously had tried a 3011 leg
set with a 3030 pan/tilt head, and I think that I will end up with a 3001 leg set with
a long center column, and the 3030 head to try to get a lighter tripod set (if there
was a plain 3D head with a quick-release I would be interested in that too). I cannot
consider the carbon-fiber tripods, or expensive ball-heads.
If you are thinking of doing some hiking or walking with your tripod, you need to
take this into account, especially since you will also have your camera bag, your
lunch, etc., with you, too. If you are going to drive everywhere and setup next to
your car or the bus stop, never mind my comments.
-- John Fracisco, July 6, 1999
Gitzo, Manfrotto, Slik...all very nice but some of us live at the lower end of the
market. Only the most basic Manfrotto was available to me at that price range (the
190B with either a 141RC pan & tilt or a basic ballhead - I forget its model
number). The 190B did not impress too much. Nice that there are 3 leg spread
angles and a reversible centre column but the overall build felt "cheap", the
wingnut leg locks didn't look durable. Of course Gitzo don't offer anything at all for
my meagre budget, and Slik pretty much followed the manfrotto pattern. I checked
out a Benbo Trekker and it seemed a bit too slimline, then I came across Uni-Loc. I
don't know if Uni-Loc are Benbo copyists but their pods follow the same idea,
except that for the price of a flimsy Benbo Trekker, UniLoc do something more
akin to the Benbo MkI (which is double my budget). Not much comment on these
pages about the Benbo concept, other than Phil's "lacks rigidity at low camera
angles". I think the Benbo/UniLoc idea is wonderful. My tripod is going to travel, I
will often be in odd locations that will require that level of flexibility, and to me,
the weight seems ideal - light enough to carry, heavy enough to feel stable. Legs
have only two sections, locks are easy to operate and well sealed (designed so
lower legs can be submerged) and the price is right...(90 pounds sterling, plus 40
for a manfrotto ball head or 50 for the 141RC - i think I'll go for the ballhead)
http://www.photo.net/equipment/tripods/philg (25 of 53)7/3/2005 2:21:13 AM