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Tripods -- Cheap and Compact
Bogen 3262QR ball head. OK, yes, you have to extend the center column to get it
near eye level (I'm 5'9"), and for some this is a stability issue. Possibly, but I have
never had a problem. If the winds blowing, or I'm on bulb setting, I just lower it.
But compared to 27" of length for a 3021, and an additional 2 pounds to boot, the
3205S is a cinch to lash to a pack.
For those who want to know, the leg locks are screw ins (less prone to damage by
sand or dirt). I have submerged it in water, mud, dropped it, packed with it, used it
in 0-105 degree temps and NEVER had a complaint.
Like lenses, however, one tripod cannot do everything, and what you get is
dependent on your lenses. The 3262QR supports (I believe) up to 8 pounds, and the
tripod 11. For a portable tripod, it is a wonderful compromise, and if you need
more, then get the 3021 or 3221, which can use the same head. Tripods are cheap.
Whatever you do, I RECOMMEND staying away from any tripod / head that
incorporates plastic in the casing or supports, and stay away from any tripod that
doesn't have independent, spreadable legs for macro / ground work.
-- Bryan Kochis, April 5, 1998
I'm currently in Japan on work assignment, having left my EOS in my home
country, I decided to purchase a small P&S. At the same time, I also wanted to
purchase a small capable tripod. Something that I can take everywhere with me
(basically leave it in my knapsack). I finally decided on the Slik compact because it
was cheap (2000yen), small (fits in my knapsack), and light. I was looking at the
Bogen 3001s, but while it is a very small solid tripod, it doesn't fit into my
knapsack and it was fairly expensive here (9000yen). All I have to say is this: look
very carefully at the model you intend to buy in the store first. I made several trips
to several large camera stores playing around with various tripods, and while the
Slik 500G-III or 450G was fairly useable, I found the "compact" to be a big pain. I
understood most of the tradeoffs in going to a smaller cheaper tripod, and I was
willing to accept it, but there is one very annoying aspect of the "compact": the legs
are tubular, not squar-ish like the Slik 500G-III or 450G. Thus, when I am screwing
the legs tight, the legs themselves rotate. With the squar-ish legs, I can grab all
three screws with one hand when the tripod is fully retracted, and loose all of them,
then with one hand on the tripod, the other hand can tighten each screw after each
leg is extended. With the compact, because the legs rotate, you have no choice
except to grab each leg, and extend each section of each leg seperately. A very time
consuming process, not to mention that to prevent the legs from rotating, one must
tighten the screw very tightly (very difficult to loosen, not to mention painful on
the palm with the plasticky screw). In retrospect, I would have been better of
purchasing the Slik 500G-III, or even better, the bogen 3001s. In 3 months time,
when I return to Canada, I will probably buy a bogen 3001s with a 3055 ball head.
http://www.photo.net/equipment/tripods/cheap (5 of 15)7/3/2005 2:21:27 AM