there is another important thing about tripods that I learned, the section diameter matters even more than the number of sections. Leofoto and Sirui make good tripods. check out the Leofoto LS-364C. as the name suggest it's 4 sections and the "36" means 36mm diameter. that model is rock solid, it can hold 25kg and it costs less than US$ 300 without ball head.
I agree to the quality of FLM tripods..... their after sales suppport is brilliant... I broke a shim whilst cleaning (heavy handed me!!) and they arranged for a full set of shims to be sent which arrived within a few days ... they checked the delivery for me and looked after me well ... fabulous service 👍
I'm 70 and when I was shooting I'd use the heaviest tripod I could manage, usually one of the bigger Gitzo tripods. I was lucky in that I was in camera sales and could borrow just about anything the manufacturers made, same for the 4 years I was writing articles for various online websites. I could email Canon in NY and ask to review their new, fast, 200mm, and it would be delivered the next morning along with one of their pro bodies and a few other things. For the last 15 years I've been like everyone else and can only dream of using some of this gear, or see if I can afford to rent it.
Like many others here, love my FLM tripod, but I have paired it with the an Acratech GXP ballhead with locking lever clamp. Super stable and easy to use set up, and the open design of the GXP adds to the appeal on hiking and seascapes to stop dust and sand ingress.
same here ..I have cp-34 xxx + gxp and for a hike and munros toping I have cp-30 M5 II with supercheap innorel n44 - awesome head, the best price to performance ratio
Great video! I use sirui tripods and they are fantastic! Couldn't recommend them enough! Also like to point out that cleaning/servicing your tripod makes a big difference and helps them last longer!
You should mention something about tripods that have that center column and why you shouldn't either use it ( unnecessary added weight ) or just buy one that doesn't have it.
You can never have too many tripods! Totally agree with the comment about avoiding cheap tripods. I had cheap tripods for years, hated using them, so don’t use them unless absolutely necessary. Eventually bought a decent tripod, and it’s such a pleasure to use in comparison, that I do use it a lot of the time. Transformed the way I view tripods! I then kept a look out for sales, and over a number of years, bought more and more of them, mostly Gitzo carbon fibre models. So I now have really compact travel one, right through to their tallest and most heavy duty model, and a number In between. Heads to put on tripod legs is a total separate topic. I’ve tried many different types, 3-way, 2-way fluid, geared, ball, inverted ball, gimbal….you name it, I’ve probably tried it! There is no ‘perfect’ tripod head, but some get close. My current ‘go to’ is an Arca Swiss P0, an inverted ball head….unless I’m using a long lens / telescope or shooting video, then it’s a RRS fluid gimbal. What I like about the Arca Swiss inverted ball is: A) debris doesn’t tend to fall up into the ball socket B) with the pan adjust above the ball, the ball can act as a levelling base, and you can then pan on a level….great for stitched panos, and for video pans,M where you tend to need to shoot on the level. But you can also use the ball to angle up/down as required like a normal ball head C) it has a ring that clamps the ball, so it doesn’t matter what orientation the head is to the photographer, the ring is always conveniently located. D) it’s not too large/heavy. E) quick & secure to adjust. The things I like about the RRS fluid gimbal: A) it breaks down to its horizontal and vertical components, which makes stowage more convenient. B) it has fluid pan on both axis, great for video smooth pans C) can be nicely balanced with bigger lenses D) you can use the horizontal arm on its own if you just want horizontal smooth pans E) you can use the horizontal arm on its own as a nodal rail (with a suitable clamp) Negative is it’s relatively heavy and bulky, even when broken down for stowage (vs the P0 inverted ball head at least, but maybe better than other gimbals at least for stowage bulk, and other gimbals tend not to have fluid damping)
I bought that 4-section FLM tripod a few years ago after watching your videos. Best I've ever owned. Gets my camera from over my head height to just above the ground. I paid about $459 USD for it (it's $505 now), which isn't cheap but less than many others. I've got that RRS BH-40 ball head too. Perfect combo! Neither FLM or RRS has paid me to say that, either. Although if they want to .. gerrin touch 😂
The stable ones are tough to travel with too! Might be of some interest, my favorite middle of the road tripod is Leofoto LS-285CEX. Has a leveling base which I love. I also use a geared head. Not a fan of ball heads. Something me and your English model have in common. Cheers!
Interesting advice on ball heads, thanks. I have a Benro Mach3. It's a great sturdy tripod, but the ball head has an irritating screw mechanism. Another area that irritates me is camera bags whilst hiking and I know you mentioned it. I use waterproof bags in day or multi-day hiking bags. Food for thought.
Your ‘serious’ videos are excellent. I learned it the hard and expensive way like many and had 3 tripods before but now my most stable tripod is my favorite. Unfortunately 5 years ago the FLM series two were not available yet in Europe thus I bought a Gitzo Systematic 4 series but with an FLM 48 ball head and the RRS quick release clamp, very happy with the combination. In Europe the FLM tripods are the cheapest of my top 3 (RRS, Gitzo and FLM) and certainly the best option with no rubber glued on the quick release leg locks but so far my Gitzo works fine.
You were very good at 'rammin' it in' there Gav! You must've had lots of practice!? 😁😁In all seriousness though, you made a good point about spending that little bit of extra money on something good, rather than buying something cheap and nasty and then only having to replace it. Another TH-camr has a saying.."Buy it nice, or buy it twice!" which makes perfect sense.
Used to shoot 4x5 medium format and my tripod of choice was a Bogen Manfrotto with a quick leg release. It was a tank but self leveling. the Aluminum Triaut Tripod, you can release the legs one at a time or all at once. Levels in like 2 seconds.
I started with a good tripod, a Manfrotto 055, but it was not CF, I still have it, but only use it at home, I replaced it with an ifootage carbon tripod with the bowl, and Buddiedsman VH - 3III head and have never looked back, I don't use mine anywhere near as often as a pro might do, but am confident that it will outlast me. My one regret was not starting with a CF tripod.
I decided on the ARTCISE AS88C tripod with a bowl. The head is the Leofoto VH-30-R 2-Way Monopod Head with Integrated Panning Clamp. The tripod basically is the ball head, but with an even larger ball, so clamping is very firm. The head tilts back and forth and rotates only. But it has a rotating clamp, you can clamp in the L-Bracket or a large telephoto lens with a clamp on or built into the foot. It doesn't unlock as fast as the FLM i.e. a coarser thread pitch, but I am happy with it.
I much prefer the twist leg locks (Gitzo ones only require a fraction of a turn too, like you demonstrated on the FLM’s) vs lever locks. On my cheaper tripods in the past I had lever type leg locks. The problem with them is that they are prone to loops on gloves, bags, jackets etc, getting caught on them and potentially causing an accidental topping of the tripod with your expensive camera and lens on top! And/Or levers can be a pain for finger nails or fingers getting trapped. One of my tripods was lethal for this! I also found the Gitzo twist leg locks very fast, you can unlock all of them on one leg with one move, and lock them all with one move after collapsing the legs when packing up.
I loathe tripods, and mostly don't shoot with them (I find there is enough detail when printing 20x30" handheld shots). BUT, when I do take one with me... I want something that is big enough and stable enough to get the shot. I use a Sirui 2204 W with a flexshooter mini head. Its a good combo at a little over 4.5 lbs, and eye level without a center column raised.
Bought an old gitzo five years ago carbon fiber think it’s around 10-12 years old have just stripped it down renewed all the bushes bought direct from the company and it operates like new and will out live me and the Scottish weather Benro ball heads renewed when required RRS lever mechs don’t fit all L brackets so stuck with Benro Great vids
Complete honesty… my best tripod is a medium-priced Gitzo (yes, the super expensive brand), and one of the worst - usability wise - is probably Manfrotto… the gitzo has twist releases, the Manfrotto has latches… the latches are almost impossible to operate with cold hands, because the snap-action is painful in the cold, and it seems to bind more tightly in the cold as well.
Gavin. A great video. Tripods are a sod. I've bought and sold several. I now have a light weight plus a heavier one. Neither expensive, though not cheap for sure. Aluminium with latches, not twist thingies which I hate (except for a Neewer desktop for Macro which is built like a brick outhouse and has twists, but I don't need to use them that often). What I do have are extra heads and a level thingy. Ball heads aren't always the way to go.
Thanks for sharing. Yes, the third tripod you but is probably right. The first I bought was light but no good. The 2nd was OK with my light APS-C camera and not too long focal length & light lenses. I finally bought a Benro carbon fiber tripod at 1,8 kg and 4 telescopic legs as an all-round tripod which suits my full-frame DSLR and 100-400mm lens pretty well. There are extra stabilization methods for windy conditions: don't fully extend the legs, use an elastic band between the bottom of the tripod and the camera bag laying on the ground and finally leaning gently onto the lens with your arm. When the lens is fitted onto the tripod, you can also use a cable attached to a quick release plate, attached to the camerabody and hold the cable firmly down with your shoe.
I also like the RRS line of tripod equipment, but for my Leofoto (LS-324CEX) carbon fiber tripod, I went with the Manfrotto 322RC2 head which offers a pistol-grip type adjustment which I enjoy using.
Thank you for sharing this. I did purchase your course and really wanted to see this one again. I had a tripod malfunction and spent $2000 to repair my camera and lens. No more cheap tripods for me.
🤕😢I also made the error of buying a cheap tripod as beginner, specifically a $50 one. fortunately I get rid off of that before any damage could happen. Leofoto and Sirui are very good.
Back when I could still go out and take photos, before I got sick, I liked to shoot in bad weather. I used a raincoat/shield for the camera. They make them for just about any camera/lens combo. I knew a guy back in Orange County, I think his name was Wendel, who could modify a 35mm or medium format film camera, to be waterproof underwater, no bags or housings. The camera stayed nearly stock looking. He couldn't keep up with the orders.
I have to tighten the lever mechanisms on my Manfroto tripod at least once a year. The first time I set it up in the field and put my camera on it and one of the lever mechanisms let the legs collapse I about had a kitten.
Leofoto's tripods and supports look to be on par with the FLMs. I've used Leo's for several years now and love them. 1/2 turn on the leg locks and super smooth in and out with the legs.
Great video and great advice. I am sure FLM tripods are good but it's hard to beat a Gitzo Mountaineer tripod with an Acratech ballhead for stability and durability. That combo has never let me down over many years of abuse in the back country. The good thing these days are there are so many good products out there to choose from. Lots of bad ones too. Like you eluded to, you get what you pay for. Buy quality and buy once!
Great advice as usual Gav. Great video There may be one Ballhead you might consider… the Manfroto 322RC2 Action Grip. I’ve been using one for years and wouldn’t go back to a normal ballhead now. The pistol grip action means instant movement and locking. It’s superb mate 👍
Great video Gavin. I was getting withdrawal symptoms from not seeing any. While I may not have the best tripod, I am very careful of the camera mount. Now, I just have to remember to take it with me. Ha ha
Great video again Gavs. Can't wait for the full course to be released. Already ordered and paid for mine. I use a Benro Mach 3 Carb 4 section tripod with the Benro GD3WH geared head which I find a great combination, much better for getting precise comps. I always found the ballheads much too fiddly and when tightened, they would have drifted a fraction. But hey, each to their own.
Great recommendations. Buy a quality tripod and don't go cheap as you will fight it all of the time. I have an FLM and it is rock solid. I thought I would miss the lever locks on my lighter weight Siriu but the FLM twist locks are quick and easy to use. You didn't mention considering a tripod that provides the option of a half ball leveler. It is a quick way to level your mounted camera without the need to adjust the legs to level.
Really helpful video with some good tips. I recently bought a new 3 Legged Thing tripod which I am loving so far, the limited amount of time I have used it so far. It is definitely one of those bigger tripods though. Very substantial to carry on the side of the bag.
Definitely agree on the carbon twisties tripods and anything RRS being the goto's.. I have a big and little Gitzo that look and operate indistinguishably from those FHMs (though they both came with extenders I rarely use.) Also, If i'm being a "lazy road-side photographer" (usually) I like the Bret-style RRS pano heads too.
I have 5 tripods .. like you .. tripods from lightweight to heavy duty.. my biggie is an Artcise AS90C carbon fiber bowl/adapter w/ 3 section legs.. yeah it’s big but it’s a baddie
My cheap tripod was a good starter for the first two years until I got a longer lens, which bent a leg under the weight. I got a better and taller tripod with a 3 way head that I like better than the ball heads. The only issue I had was releasing the baseplate and camera from the mount the first time. The release has more resistance and I wasn’t prepared to have to catch the camera and the outcome is as expected.
Need to have a look at vanguard ball heads, can rotate the whole ball head or just the camera plate part. Ace for panos as it makes levelling really easy. Hard to explain but ace to use
@@fototripper I will say, I think the CP30-S4 II would be a better suited choice for that in-between travel and hiking tripod. Folds down to about 18" and weight is fairly light.
My 'middle' tripod (mentioned above) broke so now I basically have no tripod. The big one stays in the house. It's big. The little one is just this side of a toy and can't be counted on. The brand "mentioned" that failed had this crazy thin little piece of plastic in the leg that holds it all together. Great information in this vid.
I learnt the hard way, bought a few cheap shite ones from k&f concept that broke quickly after some average use. So I fully agree Gavin, quality over quantity 👍
Interesting vid Gavin and bears out some of my experiences albeit I do not abuse my tripods as much as you😁😁. What you didn't cover is the halfbowl design like the ifootage TC7 and Kingjoy C85/C86 tripods use that really help with levelling the camera for panos. I hate centre columns! Like you I prefer lever locks but only aware of ifootage and Manfrotto that use them now. I do like the ifootage TC7 tripod I have except for the design of the feet which are a real pain to clean if you use them in mud/sand. I do really agree that ease of unfolding/folding the legs to allow them to get really low to the ground is of greater importance than many buying their first tripod will realise. Top marks too for braving that weather!
Gavin, your video was helpful. After doing my own research as well, I purchased an FLM tripod and RRS BH-40 head. But I was surprised by a problem with the BH-40. As you swivel the ball head to compose your shot, both the tension adjustment knob and the ball head adjustment lever can get in the way of the camera/plate/locking lever, so you can't position your camera where you want. This happens when you angle the camera up or down. I was extremely surprised that they would design a head in this manner. I read about a "ratchet" mechanism that tries to help with the problem of the ball adjustment lever, but that seems unsatisfactory to me. Do you have the BH-40, and if so, how do you deal with that?
Manfrotto is my choice of tripods. The centre post that holds the "BALLHEAD" is reversible which allows you to get down to the same level as the spiders eye when you move out the legs extra wide with just one click... Did I mention that the camera goes on to the BALLHEAD in less than a snapper second? Awesome video Gav!
So I recently purchased a 3 Legged Thing Winston 2.0 as well at the levelling base. I haven't used it a lot yet but so far it's been a mostly positive experience. Would have loved an RRS tripod and head but too much $$$ for this amateur. I shoot M43, though, so the 3LT is plenty solid for that system.
I do love my FLM CP30-L4II very much as well. But I do have a much lighter one for hiking. I did buy the CP30 and CP34 at the same time and did compare those. I found the CP34 a bit to heavy for my purpose and the CP30 is already very sturdy. After that I did buy the RRS Ball Heads BH55, BH40 and BH30 for a comparison and I have to say that I was a little dissapointed as my expectations were as high as the price tag. But I kept the BH40 anyway because the lever release is that good. First I wanted to buy the BH30 but if you tighten the panoramic screw a bit to much the ball of the head did get sticky and did not move freely anymore. This was much less the case with the BH40 because it did feel a little stronger in any situation and it seemed to be the better size for the CP30-L4II. So this got my setup. I did try the ifootage as well and I would have preferred the ifootage but they were not able to sell me spikes for the tripod. The original mounted spikes are crap because you can't screw of the rubber of the feets. And because they use an M5 reverse thread you can't find fitting spikes anywhere. The ifootage support is so useless that it hurts. They answer with cryptic Mails that intend that they have those spikes in there online-store but there aren't any. After beeng arrogant as hell they weren't able to find those in their store as well. Actually that is very sad because I did like the height of the ifootage tripod the most. I hope reading that did had some value for someone :-)
This took me back to watching Adam talk about his wellie boots 😂I cannot believe you did not not endorse the tried and trusted method of grabbing some rocks and balancing your camera on top.
Tripods are the one thing photographers either love or hate. Currently, I mostly use a Leofoto with a Benro geared head (I don't like ball heads), however, I've got a 20+ year old Manfrotto (branded as Bogen - which tells you someting about it's age). I love the Manfrotto, but it's too big, heavy, and doesn't use an Arca Swiss plate.
Hey Gavin. 2 new ones for you. I have a face like a welders bench and I have a fire like it's been set on fire and put out with a bike chain lol. another great video, 😁😁
Great info here, thank you! I find my BH-40 keeps coming loosened from the tripod now and then. Any suggestions on keeping the thing tight in place? I've heard plumbers tape or loctite. Have you ever had this issue?
I had the same issue as you with the BH-40 and an FLM tripod. I also had another issue with the BH-40 - when you angle your camera up or down, both the ball adjustment lever and the tension knob get in the way of the camera plate! I was quite surprised.
I have the travel FLM which is sweet. I've had tripods, in the past, that used levers or wing nuts to tighten the legs. I hate them. They catch on clothing or trees or other stuff. If they are bounced around (think of in a sled in the arctic or in a 4WD on safari) they will come undone and snap off. The ring locks on FLM and similar brands (i.e. Gitzo) don't have that annoying problem.
I have a geared head on my heavy tripod, and a lightweight ball head on my light tripod. I never level my tripod, not even when doing panos. I level the top platform of the geared head (very easy), or the camera mount of the ball head (a little more fidgety). I will have a panning mount between the tripod head and the camera (like the RSS LEVER RELEASE PANNING CLAMP - PC-LR, seeing that you like the clamps - my panning head is the less-expensive screw type), and then pan from the top of the head, rather than from the base of the head. I find leveling the top platform of the tripod head much faster than leveling the tripod itself.
The problem with that is you can only pan with the camera pointing straight, not pointing up or down. If you take the time to level the tripod and then the ball head, you're able to do a pano looking down from a viewpoint etc.
I have a Vanguard Alta pro, but that's a bit different as it has a weird pop out main hinged stem for difficult macro shots. (Hardly gets used to be honest as I run and gun with a diffused flash)
I use carbon fibre Benros. A Mach3 for heavy cameras, and a lighter one for hiking. Happy with them EXCEPT if you slam the legs shut like you did with your FLMs, you WILL break the plastic inserts they use for the twist mechanism. I winced every time you did it ;-) ! Benro supply replacements free of charge though.
Left my prior comment just before you mentioned RRS gear ;-) I use the RRS arca Swiss compatible lever clamps on most of my gear, they are ace. I even fitted one to my Arca Swiss P0 inverted ball head (which is arguable superior to the RRS ball heads! - you should try one, with a RRS lever clamp on!)
@@janfrosty3392 ….did you fit a RRS clamp to yours? My P0 came with the Arca Swiss mini clamp, which I intensely disliked, but I knew I’d be changing it for a RRS clamp anyway, so it didn’t matter. I found a RRS lever clamp that fits really well on top of the P0
@@TheLDunn1 I purchased my p0 from B&H, there are several different configurations of this ball head, my one is described as W/QUICK SET DEVICE-CLASSIC CAT #801214. That is with screw clamp, I prefer this to lever type.
@@janfrosty3392 it is similar where I am in the UK, the P0 is available with different clamp types. I bought mine used I think, and it came with their ‘quickset flip lock’ clamp, which I knew would not suit me, but as you can just unbolt the clamp and fit your own, it was not an issue for me. I installed a RRS B2-LRii clamp, it fits nicely.
@@fototripper that sucks. I wish more companies would allow a little money for you guys out there shooting. If I wasn't watching your video I would probably just have stuck with enduro or some other company.
I bought a Tall series 3 Gitzo a couple of years ago, not really impressed with it. The rubbers on the locks move instead of unlocking the leg and one of the twist locks keeps sticking and takes ages to get it to unlock.
You didn’t mention a central post which comes on many tripods but prevents it going really low, and also cleaning sand out of a twist grip is far more time consuming than a lock type. You think it’s clean but still get that gritty feel when twisting the grip. I have a large and small Manfrotto, neither of which has needed the locks adjusting because I look after them. Also, carbon fibre is lighter but more expensive than metal but I wonder which is more stable? My Giotto monopod is beautifully made and I wish I could afford their tripods, maybe become a Utuber and see if they will give me one!
Gavin, you need two bubble levels. The tripod being level has no bearing on the head being level. The problem with many levels in the heads (as you heads show) is that it may not be readable when the camera is in place which adds another level of complexity and faff to the set up. Sorry, but you're gonna have to go out on another lovely, snowy, windy day again and reshoot that..... 🙂
@@fototripper So you're leveling twice, once at the tripod and again at the camera. Both have to be level if you're panning from the base of the tripod head. But see my solution above. One and done, then pan all you want.
Ahhh yes, if you don't buy nice you'll buy twice... Or in my case 3 times. Because I didn't learn my lesson the first time. "I don't need to spend a thousand dollars on a tripod, that's a rip off!"...Days before the entire base of my tripod fell off. Overall, I got about a year out of the cheap tripods, two hundred dollars down the drain. So I ended up buying a FLM, I looked at the RRS, the ProMediaGear, and a few other brands, and honestly FLM was the tripod that fit my needs the best. I can't say the same for ball heads though, they never seemed to give me the results I was after, I tried out a few different options before I broke down and bought a bowl head adapter for the FLM, and a Pan and Tilt from Acratech. Honestly, I do need to buy something to hike with though, my current tripod weighs 6 pounds with all the accoutrements I'd added to it, hiking that up my mountainsides is... unwieldy, so, now time to save the near 600 dollars for the next FLM I want... dangit.
Why are the screws and screw holes so short on cameras and tripods? They seem to ‘unscrew’ themselves so easily. I’m always afraid of my camera falling off. Do photographers wrap tape around the screws to make them tighter?
Ball heads, schmall heads, you need a geared head for ultimate precision. ps really enjoyed you suffering in the snowstorm hehe. Pps Did Amanda get the part in 'The Last of Us' she was auditioning for... What?? I'll get me coat.
Mastering Sharpness Pre-Order: www.fototripper.com/store/mastering-sharpness/
@@chrisvantwiskphotography Thanks Christiaan
there is another important thing about tripods that I learned, the section diameter matters even more than the number of sections. Leofoto and Sirui make good tripods. check out the Leofoto LS-364C. as the name suggest it's 4 sections and the "36" means 36mm diameter. that model is rock solid, it can hold 25kg and it costs less than US$ 300 without ball head.
Your F4 Roadtrip Companion (Nick) also had high praise for the FLM sticks. I need to take a look. Thanks for the insight. Cheers.
Take a look. I have CP30 (not the tall one because I'm short) and I love it. Worked a pt job to get it but it was worth it.
Agree that a sturdy tripod essential - especially in windy conditions - Really Right Stuff - hard to beat!
I bought my first tripod for $5 at a local yard sale....I have since upgraded to a comfortable Manfrotto with Leg Locks. Great Vid. 👍
I agree to the quality of FLM tripods..... their after sales suppport is brilliant... I broke a shim whilst cleaning (heavy handed me!!) and they arranged for a full set of shims to be sent which arrived within a few days ... they checked the delivery for me and looked after me well ... fabulous service 👍
Thanks for another informative video Mr. Hardcastle.
I'm 70 and when I was shooting I'd use the heaviest tripod I could manage, usually one of the bigger Gitzo tripods. I was lucky in that I was in camera sales and could borrow just about anything the manufacturers made, same for the 4 years I was writing articles for various online websites. I could email Canon in NY and ask to review their new, fast, 200mm, and it would be delivered the next morning along with one of their pro bodies and a few other things. For the last 15 years I've been like everyone else and can only dream of using some of this gear, or see if I can afford to rent it.
It’s a Wednesday miracle!
Like many others here, love my FLM tripod, but I have paired it with the an Acratech GXP ballhead with locking lever clamp. Super stable and easy to use set up, and the open design of the GXP adds to the appeal on hiking and seascapes to stop dust and sand ingress.
same here ..I have cp-34 xxx + gxp and for a hike and munros toping I have cp-30 M5 II with supercheap innorel n44 - awesome head, the best price to performance ratio
Great video! I use sirui tripods and they are fantastic! Couldn't recommend them enough! Also like to point out that cleaning/servicing your tripod makes a big difference and helps them last longer!
You should mention something about tripods that have that center column and why you shouldn't either use it ( unnecessary added weight ) or just buy one that doesn't have it.
I use a Manfrotto with twisties and I love them..
Peter Kay of photography. Excellent.
I wonder why the national TV did not hire Gavin yet. He would be a great asset - for doing news or weather reports. That would be fun to watch.
I'm too honest for TV.
I can't imagine Gavin providing a woke weather report.. he could try on his channel for fun 🤣
You can never have too many tripods!
Totally agree with the comment about avoiding cheap tripods.
I had cheap tripods for years, hated using them, so don’t use them unless absolutely necessary.
Eventually bought a decent tripod, and it’s such a pleasure to use in comparison, that I do use it a lot of the time. Transformed the way I view tripods!
I then kept a look out for sales, and over a number of years, bought more and more of them, mostly Gitzo carbon fibre models.
So I now have really compact travel one, right through to their tallest and most heavy duty model, and a number In between.
Heads to put on tripod legs is a total separate topic. I’ve tried many different types, 3-way, 2-way fluid, geared, ball, inverted ball, gimbal….you name it, I’ve probably tried it! There is no ‘perfect’ tripod head, but some get close.
My current ‘go to’ is an Arca Swiss P0, an inverted ball head….unless I’m using a long lens / telescope or shooting video, then it’s a RRS fluid gimbal.
What I like about the Arca Swiss inverted ball is:
A) debris doesn’t tend to fall up into the ball socket
B) with the pan adjust above the ball, the ball can act as a levelling base, and you can then pan on a level….great for stitched panos, and for video pans,M where you tend to need to shoot on the level. But you can also use the ball to angle up/down as required like a normal ball head
C) it has a ring that clamps the ball, so it doesn’t matter what orientation the head is to the photographer, the ring is always conveniently located.
D) it’s not too large/heavy.
E) quick & secure to adjust.
The things I like about the RRS fluid gimbal:
A) it breaks down to its horizontal and vertical components, which makes stowage more convenient.
B) it has fluid pan on both axis, great for video smooth pans
C) can be nicely balanced with bigger lenses
D) you can use the horizontal arm on its own if you just want horizontal smooth pans
E) you can use the horizontal arm on its own as a nodal rail (with a suitable clamp)
Negative is it’s relatively heavy and bulky, even when broken down for stowage (vs the P0 inverted ball head at least, but maybe better than other gimbals at least for stowage bulk, and other gimbals tend not to have fluid damping)
Looks like your nice and warm Gavin. Hope Amanda was in the car. Thanks for the fun and informative video!
I bought that 4-section FLM tripod a few years ago after watching your videos. Best I've ever owned. Gets my camera from over my head height to just above the ground. I paid about $459 USD for it (it's $505 now), which isn't cheap but less than many others. I've got that RRS BH-40 ball head too. Perfect combo! Neither FLM or RRS has paid me to say that, either. Although if they want to .. gerrin touch 😂
hahahaha I hear RRS are a bit stingy with TH-camrs.
@@fototripper eh, can't hurt to ask ...
The stable ones are tough to travel with too! Might be of some interest, my favorite middle of the road tripod is Leofoto LS-285CEX. Has a leveling base which I love. I also use a geared head. Not a fan of ball heads. Something me and your English model have in common. Cheers!
"Should we go and start a fire in the church", is the most Metal thing Gavin has said. 🤘
Oh if you only knew 😂
Interesting advice on ball heads, thanks.
I have a Benro Mach3. It's a great sturdy tripod, but the ball head has an irritating screw mechanism.
Another area that irritates me is camera bags whilst hiking and I know you mentioned it. I use waterproof bags in day or multi-day hiking bags. Food for thought.
I dumped Benro after their $600 tripod completely fell apart on me, right after I did a video recommending it.
@@fototripperNot good. £600 is an expensive let-down.
Great advice and you freezing your unmentionables off, what's not to like... great video, thanks
Your ‘serious’ videos are excellent. I learned it the hard and expensive way like many and had 3 tripods before but now my most stable tripod is my favorite. Unfortunately 5 years ago the FLM series two were not available yet in Europe thus I bought a Gitzo Systematic 4 series but with an FLM 48 ball head and the RRS quick release clamp, very happy with the combination. In Europe the FLM tripods are the cheapest of my top 3 (RRS, Gitzo and FLM) and certainly the best option with no rubber glued on the quick release leg locks but so far my Gitzo works fine.
Can you send me a link to the RRS quick release clamp? I've tried to buy it but couldn't.
You were very good at 'rammin' it in' there Gav! You must've had lots of practice!? 😁😁In all seriousness though, you made a good point about spending that little bit of extra money on something good, rather than buying something cheap and nasty and then only having to replace it. Another TH-camr has a saying.."Buy it nice, or buy it twice!" which makes perfect sense.
Used to shoot 4x5 medium format and my tripod of choice was a Bogen Manfrotto with a quick leg release. It was a tank but self leveling. the Aluminum Triaut Tripod, you can release the legs one at a time or all at once. Levels in like 2 seconds.
Quite possibly the best intro so far. Very impressive 🍻
I started with a good tripod, a Manfrotto 055, but it was not CF, I still have it, but only use it at home, I replaced it with an ifootage carbon tripod with the bowl, and Buddiedsman VH - 3III head and have never looked back, I don't use mine anywhere near as often as a pro might do, but am confident that it will outlast me. My one regret was not starting with a CF tripod.
The ifootage ones are great. Super stable.
I decided on the ARTCISE AS88C tripod with a bowl. The head is the Leofoto VH-30-R 2-Way Monopod Head with Integrated Panning Clamp. The tripod basically is the ball head, but with an even larger ball, so clamping is very firm. The head tilts back and forth and rotates only. But it has a rotating clamp, you can clamp in the L-Bracket or a large telephoto lens with a clamp on or built into the foot. It doesn't unlock as fast as the FLM i.e. a coarser thread pitch, but I am happy with it.
I much prefer the twist leg locks (Gitzo ones only require a fraction of a turn too, like you demonstrated on the FLM’s) vs lever locks.
On my cheaper tripods in the past I had lever type leg locks. The problem with them is that they are prone to loops on gloves, bags, jackets etc, getting caught on them and potentially causing an accidental topping of the tripod with your expensive camera and lens on top! And/Or levers can be a pain for finger nails or fingers getting trapped. One of my tripods was lethal for this!
I also found the Gitzo twist leg locks very fast, you can unlock all of them on one leg with one move, and lock them all with one move after collapsing the legs when packing up.
Got me an FLM pod, absolutely exceptional.
I loathe tripods, and mostly don't shoot with them (I find there is enough detail when printing 20x30" handheld shots). BUT, when I do take one with me... I want something that is big enough and stable enough to get the shot. I use a Sirui 2204 W with a flexshooter mini head. Its a good combo at a little over 4.5 lbs, and eye level without a center column raised.
Bought an old gitzo five years ago carbon fiber think it’s around 10-12 years old have just stripped it down renewed all the bushes bought direct from the company and it operates like new and will out live me and the Scottish weather Benro ball heads renewed when required RRS lever mechs don’t fit all L brackets so stuck with Benro Great vids
Complete honesty… my best tripod is a medium-priced Gitzo (yes, the super expensive brand), and one of the worst - usability wise - is probably Manfrotto… the gitzo has twist releases, the Manfrotto has latches… the latches are almost impossible to operate with cold hands, because the snap-action is painful in the cold, and it seems to bind more tightly in the cold as well.
True.
Gavin. A great video. Tripods are a sod. I've bought and sold several. I now have a light weight plus a heavier one. Neither expensive, though not cheap for sure. Aluminium with latches, not twist thingies which I hate (except for a Neewer desktop for Macro which is built like a brick outhouse and has twists, but I don't need to use them that often).
What I do have are extra heads and a level thingy. Ball heads aren't always the way to go.
Good Ad for FLM.
Good point on the centre column tripods. Raising the centre column makes it a wobbly unipod.
A very good, informative and interesting video. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing. Yes, the third tripod you but is probably right. The first I bought was light but no good. The 2nd was OK with my light APS-C camera and not too long focal length & light lenses. I finally bought a Benro carbon fiber tripod at 1,8 kg and 4 telescopic legs as an all-round tripod which suits my full-frame DSLR and 100-400mm lens pretty well. There are extra stabilization methods for windy conditions: don't fully extend the legs, use an elastic band between the bottom of the tripod and the camera bag laying on the ground and finally leaning gently onto the lens with your arm. When the lens is fitted onto the tripod, you can also use a cable attached to a quick release plate, attached to the camerabody and hold the cable firmly down with your shoe.
Leofoto tripod & ballhead are also good
I also like the RRS line of tripod equipment, but for my Leofoto (LS-324CEX) carbon fiber tripod, I went with the Manfrotto 322RC2 head which offers a pistol-grip type adjustment which I enjoy using.
I'm happy using the Novoflex Classic ball 3 II paired with the Novoflex Q=Base II quick release system and L-bracket on a Benro TMA38cl, super sturdy
Thank you for sharing this. I did purchase your course and really wanted to see this one again. I had a tripod malfunction and spent $2000 to repair my camera and lens. No more cheap tripods for me.
🤕😢I also made the error of buying a cheap tripod as beginner, specifically a $50 one. fortunately I get rid off of that before any damage could happen. Leofoto and Sirui are very good.
Back when I could still go out and take photos, before I got sick, I liked to shoot in bad weather. I used a raincoat/shield for the camera. They make them for just about any camera/lens combo. I knew a guy back in Orange County, I think his name was Wendel, who could modify a 35mm or medium format film camera, to be waterproof underwater, no bags or housings. The camera stayed nearly stock looking. He couldn't keep up with the orders.
I have to tighten the lever mechanisms on my Manfroto tripod at least once a year. The first time I set it up in the field and put my camera on it and one of the lever mechanisms let the legs collapse I about had a kitten.
Impressive,………very impressive! The coarse wasn’t bad either!
Leofoto's tripods and supports look to be on par with the FLMs. I've used Leo's for several years now and love them. 1/2 turn on the leg locks and super smooth in and out with the legs.
Great video and great advice. I am sure FLM tripods are good but it's hard to beat a Gitzo Mountaineer tripod with an Acratech ballhead for stability and durability. That combo has never let me down over many years of abuse in the back country. The good thing these days are there are so many good products out there to choose from. Lots of bad ones too. Like you eluded to, you get what you pay for. Buy quality and buy once!
Great advice as usual Gav. Great video
There may be one Ballhead you might consider… the Manfroto 322RC2 Action Grip.
I’ve been using one for years and wouldn’t go back to a normal ballhead now. The pistol grip action means instant movement and locking.
It’s superb mate 👍
Great video Gavin. I was getting withdrawal symptoms from not seeing any. While I may not have the best tripod, I am very careful of the camera mount. Now, I just have to remember to take it with me. Ha ha
Great video again Gavs. Can't wait for the full course to be released. Already ordered and paid for mine. I use a Benro Mach 3 Carb 4 section tripod with the Benro GD3WH geared head which I find a great combination, much better for getting precise comps. I always found the ballheads much too fiddly and when tightened, they would have drifted a fraction. But hey, each to their own.
Thanks Steve
Great recommendations. Buy a quality tripod and don't go cheap as you will fight it all of the time. I have an FLM and it is rock solid. I thought I would miss the lever locks on my lighter weight Siriu but the FLM twist locks are quick and easy to use. You didn't mention considering a tripod that provides the option of a half ball leveler. It is a quick way to level your mounted camera without the need to adjust the legs to level.
Really helpful video with some good tips. I recently bought a new 3 Legged Thing tripod which I am loving so far, the limited amount of time I have used it so far. It is definitely one of those bigger tripods though. Very substantial to carry on the side of the bag.
Definitely agree on the carbon twisties tripods and anything RRS being the goto's.. I have a big and little Gitzo that look and operate indistinguishably from those FHMs (though they both came with extenders I rarely use.) Also, If i'm being a "lazy road-side photographer" (usually) I like the Bret-style RRS pano heads too.
I have 5 tripods .. like you .. tripods from lightweight to heavy duty.. my biggie is an Artcise AS90C carbon fiber bowl/adapter w/ 3 section legs.. yeah it’s big but it’s a baddie
My cheap tripod was a good starter for the first two years until I got a longer lens, which bent a leg under the weight. I got a better and taller tripod with a 3 way head that I like better than the ball heads. The only issue I had was releasing the baseplate and camera from the mount the first time. The release has more resistance and I wasn’t prepared to have to catch the camera and the outcome is as expected.
Need to have a look at vanguard ball heads, can rotate the whole ball head or just the camera plate part. Ace for panos as it makes levelling really easy. Hard to explain but ace to use
Highly recommend FLM. My only gripe is how easy the rubber feet tend to loosen and fall off. I’ve had to replace them a few times.
Me too but that seems to happen no matter what manufacturer you use. It just means you're using your gear as intended ;)
@@fototripper I will say, I think the CP30-S4 II would be a better suited choice for that in-between travel and hiking tripod. Folds down to about 18" and weight is fairly light.
Entertaining and informative 👏 great video!
My 'middle' tripod (mentioned above) broke so now I basically have no tripod. The big one stays in the house. It's big. The little one is just this side of a toy and can't be counted on. The brand "mentioned" that failed had this crazy thin little piece of plastic in the leg that holds it all together. Great information in this vid.
I learnt the hard way, bought a few cheap shite ones from k&f concept that broke quickly after some average use. So I fully agree Gavin, quality over quantity 👍
Interesting vid Gavin and bears out some of my experiences albeit I do not abuse my tripods as much as you😁😁. What you didn't cover is the halfbowl design like the ifootage TC7 and Kingjoy C85/C86 tripods use that really help with levelling the camera for panos. I hate centre columns! Like you I prefer lever locks but only aware of ifootage and Manfrotto that use them now. I do like the ifootage TC7 tripod I have except for the design of the feet which are a real pain to clean if you use them in mud/sand. I do really agree that ease of unfolding/folding the legs to allow them to get really low to the ground is of greater importance than many buying their first tripod will realise. Top marks too for braving that weather!
Gavin, your video was helpful. After doing my own research as well, I purchased an FLM tripod and RRS BH-40 head. But I was surprised by a problem with the BH-40. As you swivel the ball head to compose your shot, both the tension adjustment knob and the ball head adjustment lever can get in the way of the camera/plate/locking lever, so you can't position your camera where you want. This happens when you angle the camera up or down. I was extremely surprised that they would design a head in this manner. I read about a "ratchet" mechanism that tries to help with the problem of the ball adjustment lever, but that seems unsatisfactory to me. Do you have the BH-40, and if so, how do you deal with that?
Stuff that...I will keep to street and urban photography 😆
I do have a tripod but used it about twice in the last 2 years.
Manfrotto is my choice of tripods. The centre post that holds the "BALLHEAD" is reversible which allows you to get down to the same level as the spiders eye when you move out the legs extra wide with just one click...
Did I mention that the camera goes on to the BALLHEAD in less than a snapper second?
Awesome video Gav!
So I recently purchased a 3 Legged Thing Winston 2.0 as well at the levelling base. I haven't used it a lot yet but so far it's been a mostly positive experience. Would have loved an RRS tripod and head but too much $$$ for this amateur. I shoot M43, though, so the 3LT is plenty solid for that system.
I do love my FLM CP30-L4II very much as well. But I do have a much lighter one for hiking. I did buy the CP30 and CP34 at the same time and did compare those. I found the CP34 a bit to heavy for my purpose and the CP30 is already very sturdy. After that I did buy the RRS Ball Heads BH55, BH40 and BH30 for a comparison and I have to say that I was a little dissapointed as my expectations were as high as the price tag. But I kept the BH40 anyway because the lever release is that good. First I wanted to buy the BH30 but if you tighten the panoramic screw a bit to much the ball of the head did get sticky and did not move freely anymore. This was much less the case with the BH40 because it did feel a little stronger in any situation and it seemed to be the better size for the CP30-L4II. So this got my setup. I did try the ifootage as well and I would have preferred the ifootage but they were not able to sell me spikes for the tripod. The original mounted spikes are crap because you can't screw of the rubber of the feets. And because they use an M5 reverse thread you can't find fitting spikes anywhere. The ifootage support is so useless that it hurts. They answer with cryptic Mails that intend that they have those spikes in there online-store but there aren't any. After beeng arrogant as hell they weren't able to find those in their store as well. Actually that is very sad because I did like the height of the ifootage tripod the most. I hope reading that did had some value for someone :-)
So, no Heaton style mini van then in case its blown away ?
Brrrrr iam feeling cold watching you lol great video
Good stuff Gav, my Manfrotto leg fell off after about 2 yrs.
Great info, thanks!
It's the girth of the legs that matters for stability. After using fluid heads I don't like ballheads so much anymore , apart from their weight.
This took me back to watching Adam talk about his wellie boots 😂I cannot believe you did not not endorse the tried and trusted method of grabbing some rocks and balancing your camera on top.
Could you post a link to you RRS ball head pls? Don’t see it on their website. And not in your gear list
If it is the lever release plate you want it can be purchased on it's own to fit it to your existing ball head.
Go and shoot a gear video in a snowstorm by a wild ocean, that's dedication!
I have a manfroto carbon fiber... and the ball head is heavy... I'm going to have to lug that thing around the Faroes soon... wish me luck.
Tripods are the one thing photographers either love or hate. Currently, I mostly use a Leofoto with a Benro geared head (I don't like ball heads), however, I've got a 20+ year old Manfrotto (branded as Bogen - which tells you someting about it's age). I love the Manfrotto, but it's too big, heavy, and doesn't use an Arca Swiss plate.
Robert T. - Pro Media Gear has a model C60 plate that converts a manfrotto plate to arca Swiss plate. It works great!
100% agree, stated perfectly.
Hey Gavin. 2 new ones for you. I have a face like a welders bench and I have a fire like it's been set on fire and put out with a bike chain lol. another great video, 😁😁
Good information!
Great info here, thank you! I find my BH-40 keeps coming loosened from the tripod now and then. Any suggestions on keeping the thing tight in place? I've heard plumbers tape or loctite. Have you ever had this issue?
I had the same issue as you with the BH-40 and an FLM tripod. I also had another issue with the BH-40 - when you angle your camera up or down, both the ball adjustment lever and the tension knob get in the way of the camera plate! I was quite surprised.
Wonderful video. Very funny 😄. I need a new tripod. My old has a broken leg...Have a nice day. Greets Stefan
I have the travel FLM which is sweet. I've had tripods, in the past, that used levers or wing nuts to tighten the legs. I hate them. They catch on clothing or trees or other stuff. If they are bounced around (think of in a sled in the arctic or in a 4WD on safari) they will come undone and snap off. The ring locks on FLM and similar brands (i.e. Gitzo) don't have that annoying problem.
I have a geared head on my heavy tripod, and a lightweight ball head on my light tripod. I never level my tripod, not even when doing panos. I level the top platform of the geared head (very easy), or the camera mount of the ball head (a little more fidgety). I will have a panning mount between the tripod head and the camera (like the RSS LEVER RELEASE PANNING CLAMP - PC-LR, seeing that you like the clamps - my panning head is the less-expensive screw type), and then pan from the top of the head, rather than from the base of the head.
I find leveling the top platform of the tripod head much faster than leveling the tripod itself.
The problem with that is you can only pan with the camera pointing straight, not pointing up or down. If you take the time to level the tripod and then the ball head, you're able to do a pano looking down from a viewpoint etc.
Thanks again
I have a Vanguard Alta pro, but that's a bit different as it has a weird pop out main hinged stem for difficult macro shots. (Hardly gets used to be honest as I run and gun with a diffused flash)
I've used their tiny hiking tripod. Ok but the hinges were a faff.
Adam Gibbs uses a geared head. What are your thoughts on geared vs ball heads?
I'll let you know when I'm 80.
I use carbon fibre Benros. A Mach3 for heavy cameras, and a lighter one for hiking. Happy with them EXCEPT if you slam the legs shut like you did with your FLMs, you WILL break the plastic inserts they use for the twist mechanism. I winced every time you did it ;-) ! Benro supply replacements free of charge though.
FLM are more rugged than those feeble Benros.
@@fototripper Ha! I've just seen the prices of the FLMs. I think I will stick with my feeble Benros for now!😏
@@dalkapur Aye, they ain't cheap.
Left my prior comment just before you mentioned RRS gear ;-)
I use the RRS arca Swiss compatible lever clamps on most of my gear, they are ace. I even fitted one to my Arca Swiss P0 inverted ball head (which is arguable superior to the RRS ball heads! - you should try one, with a RRS lever clamp on!)
+1 To Arca Swiss P0
@@janfrosty3392 ….did you fit a RRS clamp to yours?
My P0 came with the Arca Swiss mini clamp, which I intensely disliked, but I knew I’d be changing it for a RRS clamp anyway, so it didn’t matter. I found a RRS lever clamp that fits really well on top of the P0
@@TheLDunn1 I purchased my p0 from B&H, there are several different configurations of this ball head, my one is described as W/QUICK SET DEVICE-CLASSIC CAT #801214. That is with screw clamp, I prefer this to lever type.
@@janfrosty3392 it is similar where I am in the UK, the P0 is available with different clamp types. I bought mine used I think, and it came with their ‘quickset flip lock’ clamp, which I knew would not suit me, but as you can just unbolt the clamp and fit your own, it was not an issue for me. I installed a RRS B2-LRii clamp, it fits nicely.
Great Video. I'm going to have to check into that brand of tripod. Is there a way for you to get some kind of a kickback if I purchase one?
Nah. Just mention that I sent you and at least I'll get bragging rights.
@@fototripper that sucks. I wish more companies would allow a little money for you guys out there shooting. If I wasn't watching your video I would probably just have stuck with enduro or some other company.
Ball head or 3-axis? I have both and am currently using the ball head but the 3-way has its advantages.
I bought a Tall series 3 Gitzo a couple of years ago, not really impressed with it. The rubbers on the locks move instead of unlocking the leg and one of the twist locks keeps sticking and takes ages to get it to unlock.
I wonder how FML compares to Three Legged Thing. My husband and I were just talking about needing some heavier tripods than what we have.
FLM is higher quality in my eyes although 3LT are pretty good.
You didn’t mention a central post which comes on many tripods but prevents it going really low, and also cleaning sand out of a twist grip is far more time consuming than a lock type. You think it’s clean but still get that gritty feel when twisting the grip. I have a large and small Manfrotto, neither of which has needed the locks adjusting because I look after them. Also, carbon fibre is lighter but more expensive than metal but I wonder which is more stable? My Giotto monopod is beautifully made and I wish I could afford their tripods, maybe become a Utuber and see if they will give me one!
Haven't used a centre column for a while now and rarely miss it.
Oh yes.... A tripod is essential... My Slik Classic is damn heavy but it can cope with a DSR 570 ws, 7 kg !
Which RRS ball head? And what size clamp?
You can pull the handle out and reorient it on a BH-40.
Gavin, you need two bubble levels. The tripod being level has no bearing on the head being level. The problem with many levels in the heads (as you heads show) is that it may not be readable when the camera is in place which adds another level of complexity and faff to the set up. Sorry, but you're gonna have to go out on another lovely, snowy, windy day again and reshoot that..... 🙂
Nah, for panos the first step is getting the tripod level, after that I use the digital level on the camera at both ends of the pano and I'm all set.
@@fototripper So you're leveling twice, once at the tripod and again at the camera. Both have to be level if you're panning from the base of the tripod head. But see my solution above. One and done, then pan all you want.
Ahhh yes, if you don't buy nice you'll buy twice... Or in my case 3 times. Because I didn't learn my lesson the first time. "I don't need to spend a thousand dollars on a tripod, that's a rip off!"...Days before the entire base of my tripod fell off. Overall, I got about a year out of the cheap tripods, two hundred dollars down the drain. So I ended up buying a FLM, I looked at the RRS, the ProMediaGear, and a few other brands, and honestly FLM was the tripod that fit my needs the best. I can't say the same for ball heads though, they never seemed to give me the results I was after, I tried out a few different options before I broke down and bought a bowl head adapter for the FLM, and a Pan and Tilt from Acratech. Honestly, I do need to buy something to hike with though, my current tripod weighs 6 pounds with all the accoutrements I'd added to it, hiking that up my mountainsides is... unwieldy, so, now time to save the near 600 dollars for the next FLM I want... dangit.
Sometimes twisting it a few more times gets things extended easier.😏
🙄
Why are the screws and screw holes so short on cameras and tripods? They seem to ‘unscrew’ themselves so easily. I’m always afraid of my camera falling off. Do photographers wrap tape around the screws to make them tighter?
Not a valid question?
Ball heads, schmall heads, you need a geared head for ultimate precision. ps really enjoyed you suffering in the snowstorm hehe. Pps Did Amanda get the part in 'The Last of Us' she was auditioning for... What?? I'll get me coat.
New FLM tripod incoming!