Is there such a thing as a reasonably-priced carbon fibre tripod? [Archive]

stormywhether

07-03-2006, 12:32

Come to the conclusion that I absolutely MUST have a tripod I can carry around with me while hiking and that. Once you slam an ND and polariser on the chances of hand-held photography are somewhat limited.

Just had a look at the warehouseexpress website and they're out of the Velbon that was reduced from £250 to £125.

Had a gander at the Manfrotto 055 carbon fibre 4-piece but it's going for £219 at bristolcameras.

Anyone got any recommendations? The Benbo Trekker, I guess, would be a non-CF alternative.

Radiohead

07-03-2006, 12:37

Giottos or Feisol I'd imagine.

That said, when I was looking last month the 055PROB standard was only .4lb heavier than the CF version, so I figured I'd take a dump before I went out and save myself £100.

puddleduck

07-03-2006, 12:37

A mate of mine bought a Manfrotto RC222 and Velbon CarbonFibre jobby the other day.

Velbon sherpa 640 pro + manfrotto 222 head £222 delivered from cameraking

The head is very good indeed.

pkr

07-03-2006, 13:00

A mate of mine bought a Manfrotto RC222 and Velbon CarbonFibre jobby the other day.

Velbon sherpa 640 pro + manfrotto 222 head £222 delivered from cameraking

The head is very good indeed.

And you can save another £40 ( ish ) by buying Calumet's own brand version of the 222 for £25 + VAT
http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/item/CK0033.html?ac.cat.CatTree.detail=y&type=PRDINDEX

I have the Calumet one and it even weighs the same as the Manfrotto.

Pink Fairy

07-03-2006, 13:16

I know everyone looks at CF legsets for lower weight, but that's not the main principal behind it's use... it's more about greater mass for vibration dampening, yet keeping the legset at a practical weight
That's why most of the good CF legsets don't weight much less than their alloy counterparts, but they are significantly better at reducing vibration because of thicker tube walls and therefore greater mass (CF has better damping properties vs Alloy anyway).

cheers

Matholwch

07-03-2006, 13:44

I've got the Velbon 630 Pro, which I'm very happy with along with the Manfrotto 141RC (IIRC) head. Warehouseexpress are now sold out of that tripod, but they do have the 530 Pro at half price (now £125). Think someone else on the forum has the same combination as I have. As I said - very happy, its a sturdy tripod, and weighs about 3/5 of the same type (non-CF) tripods.

sideshowbob

07-03-2006, 14:04

puddleduck

07-03-2006, 15:52

pkr

07-03-2006, 15:55

Nice one pkr - I was tempted by a 222 but did'nt fancy coughing up the wonga!

That'll do nicely :)

Their medium sized ball head is pretty good too at about £25.

Edit : Also, the QR plates for the Calumet heads are compatible with the Manfrotto PL200 QR plate so you can mix and match.

puddleduck

07-03-2006, 16:07

I've already ordered the 222RC - just got the mail through - do you reckon it's worth getting a ballhead as well as the 222 and QR plate at the same time?

pkr

07-03-2006, 16:11

I've already ordered the 222RC - just got the mail through - do you reckon it's worth getting a ballhead as well as the 222 and QR plate at the same time?

I only have both 'cos I have one on my monopod and one on the tripod and swap them over as I want. If I only had one support, I'd probably go with the joystick only.

If you have a D50 now, getting a ball head as well would get you a QR plate for the D50 as well as the D200 and a spare head.

sworrall

07-03-2006, 16:26

think ill get one of those joysticks for an upcoming monopod purchase. let us know how it fares SSB :thumbs:

Radiohead

07-03-2006, 16:54

It's the max weight load of the 222 that worries me - 2.5kg isn't much. Load up the D200 and 17-55 and you're about there. I was looking at the 322RC and decdied against it for the same reason, plumping instead for the 488RC2.

sideshowbob

07-03-2006, 17:13

think ill get one of those joysticks for an upcoming monopod purchase. let us know how it fares SSB :thumbs:

Will do, it'll be tested with both the 70-200 and 120-300 fitted, so we'll soon see whether it's any good. They're warranted for 3 years, so well worth a punt.

Radiohead

07-03-2006, 17:25

Will do, it'll be tested with both the 70-200 and 120-300 fitted, so we'll soon see whether it's any good. They're warranted for 3 years, so well worth a punt.

what's the max load of it? The 120-300 and D200 is a very heavy combo.

sideshowbob

07-03-2006, 17:28

what's the max load of it? The 120-300 and D200 is a very heavy combo.

I dunno ... it doesn't say. :nuts:

If you wait a few days you can read the "my camera and 120-300mm smashed to the ground in a freak tripod head failure scenario" thread ... ;)

puddleduck

07-03-2006, 17:31

Radiohead

07-03-2006, 17:32

Approach with caution then - if the Manfrotto is 2.5kg the Calumet is probably similar and the 120-300mm will beat that without a body.

Radiohead

07-03-2006, 17:34

We used the RC222 on a Canon 500mm over the weekend and it worked fine.

A local Pro I shoot with rates its highly (as does Andy Rouse).

It'll handle the 120-300 fine - didn't you sell it though? its vanished from Ebay?

It's the Calumet SSB's ordered isn't it?

Makes you wonder why they have a max load of 2.5kg though?:

MAIN ADVANTAGES:

extremely quick to open/position/close
easy and intuitive to use
very flexible camera positioning
SUITABLE FOR:

"bridge" cameras (compact SLR-type with built-in lenses)
SLR cameras with short and/or light fixed-length lenses

Max load: 2.50 kg

puddleduck

07-03-2006, 17:36

yeah, I've ordered one too from Calument - it looks identical to the RC222 which'll handle big lens fine. Just a re-badge job I think. (same as Bogen rebadge I assume)

sideshowbob

07-03-2006, 17:38

It'll handle the 120-300 fine - didn't you sell it though? its vanished from Ebay?

Ah, I decided to keep it. :D

There's apparently a load tension screw on the Manfrotto 222, so might be worth asking your pro buddies where it is ... it's apparently the key to using it with longer lenses. Bugger only knows if the calumet cheapie version has the same, I'm guessing it does.

Radiohead

07-03-2006, 17:42

Ah, I decided to keep it. :D

There's apparently a load tension screw on the Manfrotto 222, so might be worth asking your pro buddies where it is ... it's apparently the key to using it with longer lenses. Bugger only knows if the calumet cheapie version has the same, I'm guessing it does.

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/2311

Under the word patented in the image in the link above. The Calumet doesn't look to have it.

Each to their own, but I wouldn't mount my D200 and 70-200 on that, let alone a 120-300+. The saving might be forgotten as you weep when they hit the ground ;)

Radiohead

07-03-2006, 17:44

yeah, I've ordered one too from Calument - it looks identical to the RC222 which'll handle big lens fine. Just a re-badge job I think. (same as Bogen rebadge I assume)

I'm not so sure. The look different to me, so a copy rather than a rebadge. Bogen is just the name for Manfrotto in the US IIRC, so a different situation.

sideshowbob

07-03-2006, 17:45

Well I'll use it with the D100 and 50mm then ... :p

Radiohead

07-03-2006, 17:45

:lol:

puddleduck

07-03-2006, 17:47

I'm happy to use my D200 + 300mm f/4 on it - its under 2.5kg anyway :)

Mind you i've used my ex-120-300 on my Velbon Ultra Luxi F!!

Radiohead

07-03-2006, 17:51

It is, just, but I'd rather err on the side of caution.

The D200 and 120-300 is well over at 2.6kg for the lens alone, and the 3.8kg 500mm so far over it's just funny. Rouse's review mentions mid-zooms like the 70-200, 80-400 and 300mm's - all less than 1.5kg.

rambler

07-03-2006, 18:04

Feisol get my vote for CF tripods.

Extremely strong, and fold to a reasonably short height (which is important when hiking I find).

They even help you avoid customs if you order form their site...

puddleduck

07-03-2006, 18:05

I've heard good things about Feisol as well - not used them, but they seem to have a good rep.

http://www.nikonians.org/dcforum/DCForumID15/872.html

I may take a punt on one...

Pink Fairy

07-03-2006, 18:28

I've heard good things about Feisol as well - not used them, but they seem to have a good rep.

http://www.nikonians.org/dcforum/DCForumID15/872.html

I may take a punt on one...

I've heard of some durability issues with Feisol, which is a worry as they haven't been around long.

You'll all end up with Gitzo's in the long run, why take a diversion ;)

puddleduck

07-03-2006, 18:30

you are probably right... I priced it up on their site and its not even much of a bargain once you add p&p + customs risk.

stormywhether

08-03-2006, 08:50

Cheers for all the digressing guys!

The CF530 price at warehouseexpress is a bit misleading - half price it may be compared to its RRP on launch, but nowhere sells it at full these days. Fact is the CF530 with a ball head is £149 delivered whereas without, it's £125 plus postage from WE.

There's no such thing as a solution, is there!??

sideshowbob

14-03-2006, 15:53

And you can save another £40 ( ish ) by buying Calumet's own brand version of the 222 for £25 + VAT
http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/item/CK0033.html?ac.cat.CatTree.detail=y&type=PRDINDEX

I have the Calumet one and it even weighs the same as the Manfrotto.

Have you found it grips the QR plates properly? The one I got from the Edinburgh branch (with two additional plates) didn't grip the plates properly, so there was a noticeable wobble. They tested one in the shop and it had the same issue, which seems such a stupid problem when the rest of the head seemed OK. So, sadly I sent mine back and ordered a Manfrotto 222 with two QR plates for £44 at MXV (exc ++ s/h).

pkr

14-03-2006, 20:12

Have you found it grips the QR plates properly? The one I got from the Edinburgh branch (with two additional plates) didn't grip the plates properly, so there was a noticeable wobble. They tested one in the shop and it had the same issue, which seems such a stupid problem when the rest of the head seemed OK. So, sadly I sent mine back and ordered a Manfrotto 222 with two QR plates for £44 at MXV (exc ++ s/h).

I didn't think so, so I've just had an investigate to be sure!

Allowing the locking lever to spring into place there is a very slight ( barely perceptible ) left to right rocking. Back & forward is tight. If I apply a little pressure to the lever ( as I usually do anyway as an assurance that it is fully locked and the camera is safe ) the left/right rocking goes away.

So, I suppose it could be better, but it's fine in my normal usage.

Maybe 5 mins with a sheet of glass and some 100 grit wet or dry would take the imperfection off the QR plate. I'll do it if I'm sufficiently bored one day :)

sideshowbob

14-03-2006, 21:05

Mine seemed that there was no scope for the lever / cam to tighten, probably that the QR plate(s) were too small. Glad yours is OK though.

EDIT - received my Manfrotto 222 joystick doodah today and it's alot better than the Calumet one I received (at least), despite being second hand. It's very grippy for starters - it can easily hold the D200 + Grip + Sigma 120-300 - and it's also easier to pan with (you can kind of half pull the lever and loosen the head to spin on its axis, whereas with the Calumet, releasing the lever seemed to be all or nothing, control wise). With my Gitzo G224, it's a pretty rock solid combo.