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Tripods -- Cheap and Compact
Definitely worth the 240.00 I paid at B and H. I dont see many Gitzos at auction.
They are heavily used, not traded. Still, I will never part with my Bogen, or even
the baby Leica tabletop legs I bought 20 years ago,( which I use with a small Slik
ball head.)
All three fill a definite photographic need. Save your coins and you will grow into
multitripodomania too. I commend readers for interest in tripods. Get a good one
and you will fall in love again. Aloha nui loa, Gerry
-- Gerry Siegel (Honolulu), October 3, 1997
The first tripod I had was bought 8 years ago, together with an EOS 1000 (Rebel in
the USA?) and 35-80 zoom. It was a Cullman, light but stable enough for my gear
at the time. In December last I had to buy another one, because the Cullman went
down a cliff into the heavy seas. In case you are wondering, my camera was not
attached at the moment, but it was a revealing experience nonetheless. The tripod
was literally caught up by the wind on this rocky spur and flew over the side of the
cliff.
So I was forced to go out and look for another one. Fortunately, during those 8
years, I have learned a lot more about photography, even without the benfits of the
net :-), so I went and look for a sturdy one. The moment I saw the Gitzo range, I
knew it was it. Besides looking good, it does the job better than anything else. I
ended up buying the 80 year special limited (only 5000 were made) edition, aka
226 leg set and 1275 ball head. I really much prefer the releasing knobs (no better
word for it, pardon my english) of Gitzo than the butterfly wing type from
Manfrotto, looks strange and flimsy. Besides, when I now need a table support I
just use the ball head!
So, my advice to anyone out there on the lookout for a tripod is: get the best right
from the begining, you wont regret it.
-- Paulo Bizarro, March 27, 1998
In my beginner naiveity, I started with a Slik U6000, and snapped the head 2 days
later. I soon bought a Slik U9000, and again had head problems within a week.
For those asking why I even bothered with such light tripods: I didn't know better,
and I needed a tripod for backpacking and hiking (where I do most of my
shooting).
Lo and behold, I learned my lesson and eventually settled on a Bogen 3205S and
http://www.photo.net/equipment/tripods/cheap (4 of 15)7/3/2005 2:21:27 AM