Photoclubalpha

....basically the tripod I got as a gift 2 years ago is awful, very flimsy and cheap. So currently have an extra £100 to play with and decided that a tripod is the next thing to buy. Therefore on looking around and realising Manfrotto seems the way forward I found this link:

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-man ... d/p1525575

Now I use a Sony A200 and mostly with a Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Lens or Sony f/1.8 50mm and was wondering if this tripod is upto that set up and also if anyone has any experience with this setup.

Be mostly used for a few portraits and group shots and the occassional landscape.

Hi Neil - I have not used that particular tripod but I have a Manfrotto (55xprob) and it it very well built. There are a few compromises with the 190xdb that would bother me, but they might be fine for you.

1. There doesn't seem to be quick-release clips on the legs (they look like screw types?) and this would really bug me as I typically put my tripod up and down a few times when I am out taking pictures.
2. It doesn't go very low (35cm + head) which is probably only a problem if you like shooting flowers and bugs, or very high (depends how tall you are and how much you mind stooping).
3. The head included seems to be primarily for video which doesn't sound very helpful for the A200. I would highly recommend a good ball head.

If it was me then I would try for a budget of at least 150 to get a bit more bang for your buck and try to avoid having to buy another tripod in a few years time when you photographically out grow this one. Like all things, trying before you buy can be a real help. Not sure where you are but Morris Photographic in Chiping Norton (Oxon) have a big range that you can try in store. Jessops and LCE stores normally have one or two Manfrottos so you could at least see which features you like / don't like and how you feel about sizes.

Thanks Birma, looks like am best keeping hold of the money and waiting till I have extra so that I can buy a better tripod with a ball head. Thanks for your advice.

Birma, is there any chance you could recommend a decent ballhead as am going to look at the same tripod as yourself, probably second hand and then look at the ballhead aswell... hope you can help.

Hi Neil, when I first upgraded to the manfrotto I got a 3 way head (804rc2) which was fine for straight landscapes but a bit of a fiddle for close-up stuff. Later I went for the 322rc2 joystick head (a form of ball head) which seemed to have got very good reviews and I'm very pleased with it, but is it more expensive than a straight ball head. Just looking quickly at the prices I can see that the 190 or 055 xprob plus the 322rc2 would be over 200 which might be more than you want to spend. The 496rc2 looks like a nice ball head and seems to have good reviews and is a bit cheaper - my 150 target may have been a bit low . (I think one of the advantages of the more expensive tripod systems is being able to change the head and legs.)

As a slight caution I have to say that my 055xprob and 322rc2 are a fair chunk of metal to lug around. If you are not going far then this is not a problem and a nice weighty tripod is an advantage. However, I would not go on a hike and take this combination on the off chance . On the plus side, I'm sure that both will outlast any camera I have now or in the future, and I look forward to bequeathing them to my descendants .

Hope this helps.

I just received my 322rc2 today.

Thank you Birma, I dont expect to be trekking with it, therefore I will continue to save the money and hopefully the 055XPROB and 496RC2 will appear on ebay... currently watching a 055XPROB on ebay at the moment so hopefully say stay in my price range.

Dr. Harout wrote:I just received my 322rc2 today.

Congratualtions Doc! It will be interesting to hear how you get on with it. I have not wanted to go back to my 3-way head since I put the 322 on my tripod legs. I think only once or twice in 6 months would a regular ball-head have been easier. This is more than compensated for by the ease of use the rest of the time.

NeilOffkey75 wrote:Thank you Birma, I dont expect to be trekking with it, therefore I will continue to save the money and hopefully the 055XPROB and 496RC2 will appear on ebay... currently watching a 055XPROB on ebay at the moment so hopefully say stay in my price range.

You're welcome Neil. Good luck with the 055xprob. Should you get it then you can always look out for a cheaper head until you find a 496rc2 or similar. You can swap different manufacturer heads amongst systems to a degree.

The 55pro legs are a decent setup up. I have a set and they are bomber. The down side is they are a bit heavy. If you are going to be doing mainly portraits, then I would skip the ball head and go with the 804RC2 3 way head. It will be about 1000x easier to change from horizontal to vertical orientation vs a ball head. If you still wanted to go the ball head route, then you could always spring for a L bracket....

Thanks Lonnie, this is all new territory for me but I imagine the tripod will be mainly used for portraits, landscapes and macro. I noticed that the tripod I was bidding on ebay went for 92GBP so looking at a few more.

Brilliant!!! Picked up a 055XPROB (ex demo) for £79.95... happy as now!!! Now to find me a head!!!

Great deal Neil . I'm sure you'll get a alot of use out of them.

Oh I will ... when I get a head hahaha

Even better news I just picked up a second hand 322RC2 for £60!hiccup!