Tripods and Ballheads

This most recent article discuss the need for tripods and ballheads as well as some new equipment I am evaluating.

I recently had a lengthy conversation with a good friend, good photographer, workshop client and a great person. This person is attending a workshop with us soon, and he told me he was contemplating buying a lighter or what we call a “travel” tripod. We’ll be using a lot of long glass on this workshop and these” travel” tripods, plain and simple just don’t cut it in most situations when using long heavy lenses. It is even worse when it gets windy. I talked him out of the purchase, but we’ll see. If we were shooting wide angle and mid-range telephoto lenses, I’d say go for it, save 2-3 lbs., and spend money on something you really don’t need and make yourself happy! I’ve yet to see a flimsy tripod perform sufficiently. For those of you that have convinced yourselves to carry a light weight, flimsy, tripod, you better invest in a good one. Yes, you usually get what you pay for. This conversation prompted me to author this article.

Those of you who know me well know I am a big supporter of using good substantial tripods and ballheads. I know that by authoring this article, I’ll be offending some of my good friends, some other workshop leaders, and workshop attendees, but this needs to be said. I also have a feeling that deep down you know I’m correct on this subject. In fact, I collect images of bad tripod use and inadequate tripods. A common question I am asked is to give a recommendation as to what kind of tripod to purchase. The answer is easy! I give them the quote from my dear friend Bill Fortney. “Buy the heaviest tripod you want to carry.” Most of us “Pro” photographers carry substantial tripods. Do we like having to carry these? Not really, but they work and give us the chance to make a decent image. Simply, there is a reason that pros use what they use. There is no free lunch.

With the advent of image stabilization as well as increasing amounts of lazy photographers and smart phones, tripod use is getting less and less every year. I cringe when I see big Heavy cameras and long heavy lenses mounted on an inadequate tripod. Often the photographer will say, “I’m travelling and don’t want to pack my heavy tripod” (which is usually not that heavy) and end up will blurred photographs. These photographers will pack and carry heavy cameras, lenses but bring along some fragile tripods. It is amazing to me that folks pay lots of money to travel to attain good images then fall short due to inadequate gear. Dealers tell me tripod sales are declining. This is quite unfortunate. If nothing else a tripod slows you down which is a subject for another day.

I recently began testing out a new tripod. I have had my Really Right Stuff TVS VERSA 33 Carbon Fiber Tripod. I have had this now for over 12 years. It’s been drowned in the icy waters of the north Atlantic to the Bering Sea to the Salty Pacific and points south. It’ been deep in mud, snow and about anything else you can think of. It still works great even through two of the legs have fallen out and are now held in using JB Weld. (They are now actually stronger than what came out of the factory a long time ago!).

Right is the RRS VERSA 33 and Left is the NEW Vector Series 4 TRIPOD (From the Colorado Tripod Company) that I am trying out and REALLY liking!

I am now testing out a brand-new tripod from the Colorado Tripod Company. It is the Vector Series-4. ($799.00) It is proving to be a workhorse. This is a brand-new tripod and less expensive, but with the similar or improved quality of the competition. This tripod is a resounding 70” tall (that’s 5 foot 10”). It has two leg sections, not three like I have on my RSS tripod (which I still have a personal attachment to… we’ve been a lot of places!). Interestingly the Vector Series 4, when collapsed is only 29.5” tall, which is very packable in my suitcase. (This tripod weighs only 4.9 lbs.) The Colorado Tripod company, at least for now is a small company and not the size of some of the competitors yet. Delivery, due to “being sold out” can be challenging. Many of the other premium tripods are also in a sold-out situation, due to supply chain and other issues.

The only issues I have with this tripod are:

Doesn’t come or offer a leveling base (great for making panos) and
The legs extend and retract very quick. It talks some time to get use to this, but after a while you get used to it.

Overall, I really like this tripod a lot because of the build, height, weight vs. amount of support, quality, and price. Once I know they have enough product to ship in a timely fashion I’ll be really excited to sing their praises even more.

WRAP UP YOUR LEGS!

As most of you know wrapping at least one or two of your tripod legs can really aid in comfort when hiking to distant locations. There are many brands that will sell us different product to accomplish this.

Covering ranges from plain to camouflage (folks, the birds and animals know you’re there—the camo just looks impressive, but serves little purpose!), to semi-thick wraps using Velcro. Again, some are better th others.

There are many products for purchase from $15.00-50.00 that are pretty much the same. Imagine that.

I use 3 different wraps on my tripod legs.

LEG 1= A soft padded wrap so when the tripod is on my shoulder is padded
LEG2= Bicycle handlebar tape, padded Click HERE
LEG3 = Lizard Skins DSP baseball Bat Tape. CLICK HERE

The Lizard Skins tape is amazing. It grips right around the tripod leg, just like a baseball bat.

YOU just peel back the inside protection paper and wrap the tripod leg.

Here’s their information:

With One Touch Our Polymer Stands Out, Lizard Skins leads the hand to grip interface because of our patented polymer
Featuring industry-standard thickness for stock bats with the highest vibration dampening effect, helping to build confidence for youth hitters or comfort for experienced hitters
Game-Changing Tackiness and Durability with our new Next-Gen Durasoft Polymer and texture
New oval pattern with added multi-directional ridges for better performance and a reformulated polymer for enhanced feel and durability
New Premium Adhesive Back for easy install with new installation callouts on the grip

Believe me, this product is amazing. It available in many colors and patterns. Try it. You’ll love it.

NOTE: I wrap the top and bottom with excellent quality electrical tape just to be sure. Not all electrical tape is equal. THIS is good stuff! Its vinyl, strong and good for outdoor use! (PS—not cheap!)

A GREAT TRIPOD HEAD FOR PANORAMA PHOTOGRAPHY.

Like my Really right Stuff tripod, I’ve been using a Really Right Stuff BH55 for a long time. I photograph a lot of panoramic images. I am proficient on horizontal panoramas. However, vertical panoramas require the equal amount of precision and the gear, up until now to my knowledge doesn’t provide it. Enter the LEOPHOTO VH-30R . Like many other gadgets I use, this head was on a recommendation from a fellow photographer. ….LEOPHOTO VH-30R (about $240.00 from B&H).

When some ball heads pan right to left with accuracy, vertical images for panoramas are another concern. Not with the LEOPHOTO VH-30R. The head can tilt up and down precisely as well as right to left. Additionally, there is a leveling “bubble” built into the head for even more precision. The head itself is quite substantial. According to the manufacture it can manage up to 300 lbs.! It’s Arca-Swiss compatible and comes with the standard 3/8” -16 thread. It’s about 2 lbs. All the gears move exceptionally smooth and rotate easily. It manages my 100-400mm lens nicely and locks down tight. I imagine that for astrophotography this head would be amazing.