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Tripod
Jun 28, 2006 18:01:43 GMT -5
Post by John Parry on Jun 28, 2006 18:01:43 GMT -5
Well I've taken your advice PeterW and gone for a solid platform. Just bought a Giotto MT 9170 - not cheap but about £45 - 50 less than the cheapest I could find it new. It weighs in at 3kg and will support 12kg, so it seems pretty substantial.
It's one of those where the central column can be inverted, or placed at any angle, so it doesn't need a separate head. I'm pretty sceptical about that. I suspect I will need one to achieve a setup time of less than ten minutes!
Going to try it without first. Anyone else tried one of these? Also any advice on the handiest and most stable type of head if I do need one, given that I've spent up?
Regards - John
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PeterW
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Posts: 3,804
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Tripod
Jun 28, 2006 19:42:51 GMT -5
Post by PeterW on Jun 28, 2006 19:42:51 GMT -5
I believe the MT 9170 is one of Giotto's Innovator series. I haven't tried one but I've heard good reports. Sounds like a good investment John. The cheapest I've seen them secondhand in good condition is around £55 - £60. Mr. Cad and other pro shops usually want more.
IMHO for versatility you can't beat a big ball and socket head, about a 50mm diameter ball. Unfortunately they aren't all that cheap. New you're looking at about £65 for a pro model.
Mine's made by Benbow with a 50mm ball and a 75mm diameter camera platform. It's also got a built-in turntable under the socket which can be very useful at times. On top of the Manfrotto with legs at full spread it used to hold a 5x4 monorail rock steady at any angle.
The tripod and head were an expensive buy, even 10 or more years ago, but at the time John and I were taking a lot of medium format pictures in workshops and factories and at industrial exhibitions and they were necessary for the job. I'd have to think very hard about justifying that sort of outlay now I just take pictures to please myself, and the proportion of hand-held to tripod pictures is about 96% hand-held.
Peter W
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Tripod
Jul 8, 2006 12:23:21 GMT -5
Post by John Parry on Jul 8, 2006 12:23:21 GMT -5
Hi Peter
Well, your second piece of advice I'm afraid I've ignored, and not for any particularly good reason... lol.
I've taken the plunge and ordered a pan/tilt head rather than a ball, simply because I'm not familiar with ball heads and, (dare I say it?), I like the pan/tilt head's looks. I stayed with Giottos, and went for the MH-5001 Fluid Head model. The description is a little obscure, so I'm not sure if it means that the clamping action is achieved using hydraulics, or if there is some sort of dash-pot arrangement to give a damping action.
One thing that never ceases to annoy - when you trawl Google for prices, those from the US stores are exactly the same as ours, only theirs are in dollars, ours in pounds. (Also applies to computers). Grrrr!
Regards - John
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Tripod
Jul 8, 2006 14:54:49 GMT -5
Post by byuphoto on Jul 8, 2006 14:54:49 GMT -5
John, I use the Mt9180 and the MH-5001 head and absolutely love it. I also have a Kirk ballhead for the big lenses. You will not be sorry for the tripod. It will bend into more positions than a contortionist and is rock solid.
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Tripod
Jul 12, 2006 15:51:11 GMT -5
Post by John Parry on Jul 12, 2006 15:51:11 GMT -5
The tripod arrived, and seems to be all I hoped for. It does have a usable 'built-in' head, but you give up a little flexibility to use it. It also seems to be a contortionist in it's spare time, when you use the head as a positioner for the central post as you mentioned Rick. Looking forward to trying it with the head.
Regards - John
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Tripod
Jul 17, 2006 13:51:32 GMT -5
Post by John Parry on Jul 17, 2006 13:51:32 GMT -5
Got both bits now. Steady, but I think I need to do some adjustments to tighten up all the locks (there are six altogether). Also need to get some quick release mounts. But on the whole, very pleased. Will make shots like the fern and clematis ten times easier. Mamiya MSX500 on board........ Will post the resultant shot! Regards - John
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Tripod
Jul 19, 2006 15:07:02 GMT -5
Post by John Parry on Jul 19, 2006 15:07:02 GMT -5
As promised.... Regards - John
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