SLR Equipment
Supports

Tripods, Monopods, Heads, etc.

I went for many years without any tripod at all. Although I understood the value of support, like many, I didn't want to spend the money or be encumbered by the use of a tripod. Therefore, most times I'd use a fence rail, rock, or other support that might be available.

When I finally bought a tripod, I purchased the Vivitar VPT-240 at left, an inexpensive tripod of the type you can find at K-Mart, Target, Walmart, or other such store. Not very sturdy with any kind of weight and easily moved by wind. I did see some improvement in my photos, but very little.

I kept this tripod, which came with a head, for some time, using it indoors with my very light Konica digital camera, not being of much use for anything else. However, I finally trashed it, rather than inflicting it upon someone else.

A few years later, I bought a good tripod and head, but going in completely the opposite direction. The Bogen (Manfrotto) 3046 tripod weighs 9.2 pounds and will support 26.5 pounds of equipment (heads, camera, lenses, etc.) This was more tripod than I needed, not having any very large and heavy lenses. However, it is rock steady. With it, I got the Bogen 3029 pan-tilt head, which weighs 2.3 pounds and will support 13.3 pounds of equipment. With a tripod and head weighing in at 11.5 pounds it's not one you would want to carry around all day or even very long. Although an excellent system, it's now been retired and sits around collecting dust. If I were to use it, it would be if I knew there would be very high winds, and where I'd be shooting would be close to home. It's far too heavy for photo trips.

The 3029 pan-tilt head is identical to the head pictured at the top of this page without the quick release system. Since acquiring ball heads for my primary tripods, the 3029 has been retired, and I now use the 3030 pan-tilt head with quick release with the 3046 tripod.

With the previous system being as heavy as it is, I wanted and needed something lighter. My first step was talking my wife into making this beanbag for me. Made of a tough waterproof material and filled with beans, it measures 12 x 15 inches and weighs about four pounds. It has been very useful at times and works quite well. The main disadvantage is that it sometimes takes a while to position it correctly and the lack of being able to work in a standing position in most cases. However, a homemade beanbag of this type is a great solution if you haven't a sturdy tripod system and can find a place to set it in your shooting situation. Although it's not used as often now, I often find it comes in handy, especially for use on the hood of my truck, getting right down to ground level, or in rocky or other places where it's difficult to use a tripod.

The pan-tilt head at the top of this page is the Bogen 3030 and uses a quick release plate. It along with the Bogen 3021BPro tripod was my primary support system. It served me well, and would make most everyone a good support system.

The tripod weighs 5.1 pounds (newer models 5.3 pounds) and will support 13.3 pounds of equipment. The head weighs 2.3 pounds and will support up to 13.3 pounds. It's a very sturdy, dependable system. The tripod rises to a maximum height of 70.1 inches (newer ones 69.3 inches) or can be used as low as 3.2 inches (newer ones 4.4 inches), making it great for flowers, insects and other work close to the ground, macro or otherwise.

As I say, this was my primary system. However, the 3030 head was replaced by the 468RC2 ball head, below left, which served as part of my primary support system until finally getting the system mentioned below next.

My primary tripod system is now the Bogen/Manfrotto 055MF3 carbon fiber tripod and 468RC4 (pictured above right) ball head.

The same basic style as my 3021BPro tripod, the 055MF3 is made of carbon fiber. This means not only lighter weight, at 4.4 pounds, but also provides steadier performance because of the vibration damping quality of the carbon fiber construction.

It will get as low as 4.3 inches above ground, and provides support for up to 15.4 pounds of equipment.

Like the 3021BPro, it has three leg sections and snap leg locks.

It's a marvelous tripod.

For taking pictures from inside my truck or other vehicle, a window pod is called for. My first was the Bogen 3292 Car Window pod, with the Bogen 3009 Mini Ball head (now called micro ball), pictured below left. What I now use is the Ergo Rest pod pictured left, with the Manfrotto 488RC4 ball head pictured below right, although the head is now converted to the Arca-Swiss style.

The heavyweight in this group was the Bogen 3001N at 3.7 pounds and used with a Bogen 486RC2 (pictured left) ball head. Weighing in at 4.7 pounds with the ball head, it isn't really lightweight and could serve as nearly anyone's primary system. The 486RC2 head weighs one pound and supports 13.2 pounds. The 3001N can operate from heights of 6.7 to 57.1 inches, and while not as sturdy as my primary system will give all needed support for any equipment I have, while also saving a couple of pounds. However, I say this was the heavyweight in this group.

What I did was make this a true lightweight, yet sturdy, tripod for hiking. I cut down the center column to just over two inches, and cut off each of the leg sections by about 3.5 inches. The tripod now, with head attached, closes down to 19.5 inches in height, and weighs right at three pounds. Total height has been sacrificed to where one needs to sit or kneel for use, but for hiking the weight reduction and folded length reduction is well worth the loss of total height. This reduction also greatly increased it's strength and stability. In fact, this is basically what Kirk Enterprizes did creating their Mighty Low Boy tripod while charging a greatly expanded price. The 486RC2 head has been converted to Arca-Swiss style.

Lighter yet is the Velbon 343E at right, with ball head. The whole unit weighs two pounds, will support 8 pounds, and operates at heights from 16.6 to 62.4 inches. However, one should not extend it fully. For greater stability, I never use the lowest leg sections and never use the center column. I primarily use this tripod with my small point and shoot camera or as an off-camera flash stand.

It folds to 18 inches for easy carrying. It's very sturdy for its size, but should not be considered for use with medium to heavy weight equipment. The head that comes with the 343E is only rated for three pounds. Therefore, I replaced it with a Slik SLBHC 710 compact ball head which supports 6.5 pounds, although I'd never use it with that much weight.

My smallest tripod system used in the field is the above pictured Slik Sprint Mini. It has a weight of only 26 ounces and folds to 14.2 inches in length. The legs support 5 pounds, but its compact head only 3.5 pounds. However, it will operate as low as 6.4 inches or as high as 43.3 inches. As with the Velbon 343E, I replaced its head with with a Slik SLBHC 710 ball head that supports 6.5 pounds. As with the Velbon, I never use the lowest leg sections or the center column. In fact, I don't use it at all anymore. It's presently used by my young grandson as he learns photography.