Reader's Comments - Index of - Free

Tripods
people really over-tightening them but they don't seem to require much at all to
hold secure.
--Doug
-- Doug Mason, August 31, 2000
I've used the Bogen 3021 with Bogen's 3 way pan tilt and QR system, for many
years. Its worked just fine for my Olympus OM system, but the OM cameras and
lenses are smaller and lighter than most. The only problem I've had has been with
the QR plates themselves. There is a cork surface which makes contact with the
camera bottom and after a few years it somehow becomes smooth and begins to
slip. This becomes an issue when shooting verticals with a long lens, which will
twist against the plate and aim towards the ground. When this occurs, tightening
does not help. Still, the plates are relatively inexpensive and are readily available,
so this is a minor complaint.
I've recently upgraded (or at least changed, I'm not sure yet) to a different system,
the Canon 1v. While I hope and trust that I'll find the glass to be better than what I
have now, its certainly a quantum leap in weight and size. My initial reaction is that
the 3021 is still adequate, but the pan-tilt head will never do. My longest lens is a
5.6 400mm, but lens flop is a major issue. I think I'll have to take a look at a
ballhead, even though I'm really partial towards the pan-tilt head system.
As of a short while ago, the B&H online catalog still shows the B-1 as back
ordered.
One last thought on carbon body tripods. In checking the Gitzo catalog I see that
the carbon models are certainly lighter than the equivalent aluminum models, often
by 30%. But, when the head is added the percentage weight savings drops
dramatically. I might pay twice the price to save 30% of the weight, but I'm less
likely to do so to save 15% of the weight.
Mark
-- Mark Friedman, September 23, 2000
I own the Slik 700DX tripod and I love it. Prior, I had one of Ritz’s “top-of-theline”
Quandaray tripods (which is essentially one of Slik's larger consumer tripods
but rebranded), and had to return it after a week - it couldn't hold straight my
ElanIIe with booster and 28-70/2.8.
http://www.photo.net/equipment/tripods/philg (42 of 53)7/3/2005 2:21:13 AM