The *Official Photography Thread*

Tonight's sunset.

 

Can you guys recommend me some tripods.

I need a good balance between lightweight/compact/portable and functional/quality.

I'd like a good swivel head but something that I strap to the bottom of my pack and hike around with without too much trouble.

"Budget" is really a flexible thing for me, it's not a matter of "how much does it cost" but rather "is it worth what it costs" for me.

Thanks in advance.

 

i have been using a Slik Pro 700DX for a few years now...

this thing is stout and very rugged... has served me well in studio and out in the dirt...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/131427-REG/Slik_615_315_Pro_700DX_Tripod_with.html

a little bit of weight to it, but it is sturdy... holds up to 15 pounds of camera too...

 

i was at a local mall and noticed that one of my old shots still in use at Wet Seal storefronts on Saturdays..





shot with Canon 5Dmk3 and one Profoto studio strobe with 60" octobank

 

Thanks for the suggestion.
I'm leaning toward something a little more portable if that is so hefty. 15lbs is overkill for a noob with a D7100, some consumer lenses, and a side hobby haha but I will add that to my list of potential buys. Lightweight is important to me though so we'll see where things go.

 

storefront lifesize

My lame attempt at snagging some lightning, this is the only one i managed to frame yesterday with just my trigger finger. We were road trippn back from jackson and had to stop on the side of the road and try to catch some of the lightning storm!

 

Richmond International Raceway
Practice qualifying run for Kyle Busch



#18 and Jack Roush in the background

 

i hear ya on the portability... i needed something to handle hard usage, but ya know, this could always help ya build more muscles... no need to work out if carrying this around with ya... haha...

 

That's exactly what I'm looking for too. A D7000 with a 70-200 2.8 I'm about to get needs a hefty tripod. I'm going to add a battery grip too so the weight is getting there. I've also been looking for one with the legs that will go out for low to the ground shots. That one has good height to it too. Thanks for the suggestion Mike!

 

Those colors are fun on Kyles car. Nice shots!

Here are a few more from our trip up to Jackson yesterday. Still learning the new cam and lightroom so any beef you've got, let me have it

Snake River Brewing Co. Awesome beer and food!


Hops growing on the side of the brewery


Breccia cliffs on Togwotee Pass


Simple BW of feathered grass

 

You would actually be surprised what a good tripod can do. I've been using a velbon (Manfrotto now) that I bought 25 years ago. It has served me well but the digitals weight a good bit more than the film cameras used to. Also the weight will help keep the camera firmly planted where you put it. It really sucks to have it flip over with $2000 worth of camera equipment on it. One repair bill and you'll wish you would have bought that tripod. Not to mention you would have spent more on fixing it than if you would have if you bought the tripod in the first place. They will serve you well for a long time. The heavier ones are also nice when doing extended exposure photos.

 

yah, the Slik is great for that weight... i have a 5Dmk3 with grip and 70-200 2.8 that i shoot with on the Slik and it stands so solid...

i have only had to use the low profile mode on the tripod once and it was handy...

 

You have any experience with the ball heads? I've been looking at them too, just undecided.

 

Thanks Sconniehailer! Carl Edwards had some fun colors as well.



Your pics look awesome, really chomping at the bit to visit and explore out West.

 

Yea it is the land of endless photo opportunity. Make sure you let me know if you make it out this way, there's a few of us out here We did have a pretty "epic" trip this year too that Monte aka Blackdawg put on! Not sure if it'll happen next year too but i'm sure there will be some gathering again.

 

one of my previous clients had ball heads at their studio... i never really liked lining them up, especially with a bulky lens like the 70-200...

 

Thanks for the info on that.

 

actually i think it will haha Bobby at CVT wants to start an annual get together and i think its gonna be help in Powell now haha So you might have to be a trail guide for that

thats gotta be a cool feeling!



Great shots from everyone guys!

I was headed to a festival today..won't allow my camera in the Killers where playing too. oh well.

 

Unfortunately I can only spend about 9 days including travel out there so not sure what I'm going to be doing. Looking at doing CO next year but that would only give me about 3-4 days of doing stuff.