View on GitHub

Quorten Blog 1

First blog for all Quorten's blog-like writings

So, now I’m looking for a used tripod with horizontal center column capabilities from National Camera Exchange. I’ve seen to have found only one:

  • Name: MANFROTTO 3001
  • Name: BOGEN 3001
  • Price: $39.99
  • Location: Golden Valley
  • Maximum height: 55 inches
  • Weight capacity: 11 lbs. (5kg)
  • Weight: 3.6 lbs. (1.63kg)
  • Color: Aluminum finish

This is it! A bit short, but it works for my intended use.

20180702/https://www.natcam.com/products/manfrotto-3001/
20180702/http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=139
20180702/https://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-3001BN-Basic-Tripod-without/product-reviews/B00006HO4U

A second potential alternative, MANFROTTO 3021S SHORT, is too short at a height of only 3 feet 15 inches. My floor shooting requires more height than that for proper visibility with my chosen 50mm lens. However, this might also have horizontal center column abilities.

20180702/https://www.natcam.com/products/manfrotto-3021s-short/
20180702/https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/430439

Unfortunately National Camera Exchange’s current site state does not provide very much information on used products, so I have to searh around elsewhere on the Internet to get this information.

Ball heads.

These are the modern ball heads that I looked at and like. Yep, only two that I like out of those that are available used, maybe three if only I could get more information on the last one.

Pros on first one: separate lock for panning. Cons: most expensive used one, even more expensive than some of the new ones. Then again, the cheaper new ones are not better.

  • Location: Golden Valley
  • Price: $119.99

20180702/https://www.natcam.com/products/manfrotto-mhxpro-bhq6/
20180702/https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1162343-REG/manfrotto_mhxpro_bhq6_xpro_ball_head.html#!

  • Location: Edina
  • Price: $39.99

20180702/https://www.natcam.com/products/bogen-468rc2-pro-ball-head/
20180702/https://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-496RC2-Release-Replaces-486RC2/dp/B002N5NRSC

  • Location: Burnsville
  • Price: $54.99

20180702/https://www.natcam.com/products/manfrotto-496rc2/
20180702/https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/660321-REG/Manfrotto_496RC2_496RC2_Compact_Ball_Head.html

  • No stock!
  • Price: $59.99

20180702/https://www.natcam.com/products/manfrotto-468rcc4-ball-head/

These are “oldies but goodies,” so I am either told or led to believe. These are quite heavy, from 1.9 pounds to 5 pounds.

20180702/https://www.natcam.com/products/manfrotto-3265/
20180702/https://www.amazon.com/BOGEN-3265-ACTION-QUICK-RELEASE/dp/B00006I533
20180702/https://www.natcam.com/products/gitzo-g1372__trashed/
20180702/https://www.natcam.com/products/gitzo-g1576-magnesium-ballhead/

I don’t want this one. Perhaps I should note. Ball heads with handles are likely to be more useful for videography than for still photography, when you want to do smooth panning during video. For still photography, using a ball head without any handles is likely to work just fine. (After all, you’ve got your ergonomic hand grip on your camera, right?)

20180702/https://www.natcam.com/products/manfrotto-322rc2/
20180702/https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/303591-REG/Manfrotto_322RC2_322RC2_Grip_Action_Ballhead.html

Double check. Verified: A Pentax K-1 L-plate uses an Arca-type (Arca Swiss) mount, which is the same that my desired tripod uses. Again, beware of expensive L-plates and try to shop around for an L-plate that is reasonably cheap.

20180702/https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1301104-REG/really_right_stuff_bk1_l_set_l_plate_set_for_pentax.html

Don’t forget a tripod bag. Okay, that tripod bag is quite expensive at $94.39 at bhphotovideo.com. Yeah, it’s nice, but I’ll wait and see on this one. First get a tripod and verify it works well for my workflow. Oh, but it’s “__trashed”. Yes, there are cheaper tripod bags available too, so take that into consideration.

20180703/https://www.natcam.com/products/manfrotto-mbag90pn-tri-bag__trashed/
20180703/https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/655996-REG/Manfrotto_MBAG90PN_MBAG90PN_Padded_Tripod_Bag.html
20180703/https://www.natcam.com/products/manfrotto-mbag-80-p-tripod-bag/
20180703/https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/655994-REG/Manfrotto_MBAG80PN_MBAG80PN_Padded_Tripod_Bag.html?sts=pi

Okay, so this site provided another useful introduction to tripods. High-end tripods are modular with all of the following components:

  • Legs
  • Collar, to mount legs and center column together
  • Center column
  • Ball head

Note that detachable legs from a collar, of course, can easily sport into a monopod.

This mentioned tripod, however, probably doesn’t meet my needs. Horizontal center column support? I can’t confirm this.

20180702/https://www.geek.com/gadgets/hands-on-manfrotto-732cy-low-cost-carbon-fiber-tripod-1363501/

Gitzo is the name brand nowadays (well, at least in 2010) that provides the gold standard of tripods, so we were told from that article.

20180702/https://www.manfrotto.us/gitzo/

20180702/https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Bogen-Manfrotto-3021B-Pro-Tripod-Review.aspx

Great information resource on old tripods that are no longer in production.

20180702/http://bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/bogtri.html

Cool umbrella lighting reflector kit.

20180702/https://www.natcam.com/products/promaster-umbrella-kit/
20180702/https://www.amazon.com/Promaster-Studio-Soft-Box-Starter/dp/B00J4RN2R8?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00J4RN2R8

Cool macro focusing rail kit. (Alas, it says “__trashed” so it may not actually be available.)

20180702/https://www.natcam.com/products/rokunar-macro-focusing-rail__trashed/

And finally we still have the links to the three other tripods that were recommended from articles in my previous notes on better tripods.

20180702/https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1034139-REG/manfrotto_mt055xpro3_aluminum_tripod.html
20180702/https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1010690-REG/manfrotto_mt190xpro3_190xpro3_pro_aluminum_tripod.html
20180702/https://www.amazon.com/Dolica-AX620B100-62-Inch-Proline-Tripod/product-reviews/B001D60LG8
20180702/https://www.dolica.com/legs/ax620b100-62-proline-aluminum-alloy-tripod-and-ball-head


As it turns out, my first great link on camera tripods already went over all of this criteria. So, suffice it to say, this is nothing new, I’m just reiterating to test my memory and so that I remember.

Again, I reiterate, because this is important!

What functional criteria is most important to consider when picking a tripod?

  • Maximum height
  • Minimum height: how low to the ground can the tripod go?
  • Weight capacity
  • Weight of the tripod itself
  • Length when folded up
  • Can the center column be placed in 90 degree horizontal, so that the camera can photograph parallel to the ground without the tripod legs being in view?
  • Is there a hook for mounting counter-weights?
  • What is the leg lock type? Is it flip-lock or screw lock?
  • Can the legs be spread independently?
  • What kind of ground are the legs designed for?

What functional criteria are most important to consider when picking a ball head?

  • Weight capacity
  • Quick release plate capability
  • Angular range
  • Locking mechanism: Is there only a single locking mechanism, or can different angle adjustment axes be locked independently?
  • Does the ball head have levers that stick out of it for making adjustments? Levers that stick out can be a nuisance for transporting.
  • Alternatively, does the ball head have a handle that makes panning for videography easy and smooth?

NOTE: With modern DSLR cameras that contain digital levels built-in, levels on the tripod are no longer a necessity. However, these were definitely important in the earlier film era where SLR cameras would not have such a function built-in. So, that being said, that also applies as good advice if you want to do modern shooting with a film SLR camera.

Other considerations: Tripod ball head mount screws are generally 3/8 inch. Camera mount screws are generally 1/4 inch.