And did you spend a boat load of money on it?

What is a boat load?
More than about $300 or so?

I suppose more than $300 or 400 might constitute a "boat load"

So what do you people use for your tripods?

I've got a carbon fiber Gitzo G1257 with a Markins M10L head and Kirk plates. I love the thing and don't regret buying any of it, IMO a good convenient support system is worth it.

I've got a Bogen/Manfrotto (can't remember the number for the legs) with a cheapy 3D head. Probably ordereing an Acra ultimate ball head tonight.

uhm...i have a cheap aluminum fleabay ball-head tripod i'm not ashamed of, yet.

work bought me a gitzo that kicks ass. 3550 or something like that. I supplied the acratech head and it's a wonderful setup. It makes me want to use it which is key for me.

Your tripod basically looks a lot like mine. Gitzo changed their model numbering after I got mine but yours is likely almost identical to mine.

It's so nice, the whole tripod is just about 4 pounds, I can carry it forever and never care, unlike my old 9 pound aluminum tripod.

Mark knows what I use. I'm not sure what model it is... I know it's Manfrotto though.

Originally Posted by Stime187

Mark knows what I use. I'm not sure what model it is... I know it's Manfrotto though.

190XB... I think?

Originally Posted by Markitos

190XB... I think?

I have no idea. It works good though!

Reed would probably also know if he sees this thread, he was doing some research a while back when he bought his...

It is, in actual fact, a Manfrotto 190XB.

Cheesy Sunpak 9001 and I just lost both plates so not so useful. I was saving up for a decent Induro at a store closing but of course they sold it before I had the $. I do not use the tripod much so never really put money into it.

I do like my Gorillapod SLR Zoom and Induro mini-ballhead SA-01 though.

Originally Posted by emorphien

It's so nice, the whole tripod is just about 4 pounds, I can carry it forever and never care, unlike my old 9 pound aluminum tripod.

+1

I don't know the part numbers because I went to B&H and checked everything out. I originally had the acratech ultimate on it because it was lighter, but the GV2 is worth the few extra ounces.

I still have my original bogen 3211 or whatever I bought 10+ years ago. It's the only thing I have left from my original kit.

I sold my old Bogen 3401 w/ 3030 pan tilt head to a friend.

I'm using a POS Sunpak freebie for now. (well, not using as much as I should...because it sucks)

I'm trying to save for a Gitzo 3530 LSV because I want something that I can use at eye level and don't want a column. I'm undecided on ballheads, probably a Kirk, Markins, or Acratech.

Man, I want a CF tripod... mine gets ultra heavy after a while, I almost throw it off the mountain near the top of every climb...

I use a Quantaray something or other. It gets the job done but I'm sure there are lighter/better out there.

Originally Posted by thechickencow

I use a Quantaray something or other. It gets the job done but I'm sure there are lighter/better out there.

I stopped at ritz recently to look at their tripods. All they had were a few cheap quantaray ones. I thought how sad is it that walmart has better tripods than a camera store. Hopefully yours is better than the ones I saw in there.

I got it for a gift from my parents, and although it isn't nice it does manage to hold the camera still when I'm using it, so it works.

Like all my gear, once I feel like its holding me back I'll upgrade - probably in this case it'll be once I use somebody elses nicer tripod.

Yeah, Scott has the 190XB. It is sometimes called a 3001N (I think that's that his says on the leg). I think Manfrotto is trying to switch to the 190--type numbering system now.

I have the Manfrotto 055XPROB and 486RC2 ball head. The older generation of the legs were called the 3021-series.It's a bit heavier than Scott and Mark's, but it also gets taller than theirs. The height was a big factor for me since I'm about 6'2" and I didn't want to be bending over all the time with a short tripod. The 055XPROB gets up where the camera is above my eye level if I extend the center column all the way. Granted, I try to never use it that high, but it's nice to know. It can also adjust so that the camera it just 2-3" off the ground, another handy feature. The whole package cost me $240 shipped from B&H. To me, it was well worth the price.

One thing I want to get is a strap for it, or maybe try carrying it on my mini-trekker now that I know how to do it properly. It can be rough carrying it in your hand in the winter, though the foam leg warmers help. I have yet to really go hiking with this tripod, so my view of the weight is subject to change.
Reed

A well hung Midget.























some cheap radio shack deal I got.

Gitzo 1530 CF with Markin Q3 head. I went for "lightest option available" ~500 for the 'pod, another 300 for the head. Its amazingly light, and as such I DO bring it with me.
my G/F has a 1200 series, and im glad I have the newer locks as hers is always getting messed up, (read: she unscrews the locks further, and the legs fall out)
Also - she has the Gitzo head. wow, what a POS! the pod / head combo is WAY lopsided becasue of it, it has a ****ty plate, bad slide in and awful controls!
Edit: I bought this because we were going hiking in Utah, and my trusty 3001 wilderness tripod was "knocked" off a 30 foot ledge..(Sans camera!) Amazingly the only thing that broke was the center leg connection point on one leg, and I do want to call Bogen and get a replacement for it since its a great studio pod if nothing else..I had it since i was in highschool! but at a little over 7lbs with the 3047 head...

Originally Posted by Reed Goodwin

I have the Manfrotto 055XPROB and 486RC2 ball head. The older generation of the legs were called the 3021-series.It's a bit heavier than Scott and Mark's, but it also gets taller than theirs. The height was a big factor for me since I'm about 6'2" and I didn't want to be bending over all the time with a short tripod. The 055XPROB gets up where the camera is above my eye level if I extend the center column all the way. Granted, I try to never use it that high, but it's nice to know. It can also adjust so that the camera it just 2-3" off the ground, another handy feature. The whole package cost me $240 shipped from B&H. To me, it was well worth the price.

One thing I want to get is a strap for it, or maybe try carrying it on my mini-trekker now that I know how to do it properly. It can be rough carrying it in your hand in the winter, though the foam leg warmers help. I have yet to really go hiking with this tripod, so my view of the weight is subject to change.
Reed

I have the same one. I'm not bothered at all by the weight-I'd even go as far to call it light- but then again I'm accustomed to lugging ~30lbs of math textbooks around campus.

I have Bogen's tripod strap that I use with it too. Was comfortable enough when I was using it and wearing a sweatshirt, don't know about how it would feel with only a t-shirt on as it does seem rather lacking padding wise.

Originally Posted by SlvrScoobie

I had it since i was in highschool! but at a little over 7lbs with the 3047 head...

Ahh yeah my old tripod was over 9 pounds. Gah!

i just got a manfrotto bogen 3405b for free from an aunt. see said it was too light for her and was afraid of it being knocked around during studio shoots.

it is working for me, but the knobs are hard to get used to. i want to replace them with handles.

Gitzo 6x 2530 CF Mountaineer
Acratech Ultimate Ballhead V2

And yes, I spent way to much on them, but I love them and i wont use a tripod setups that is to heavy.... Very happy with the Combo, I also looked at the Arca-Swiss head and might have ordered it if it had been availible when i needed it. The acratech is 1/4-1/3 the weight though and is smooth like butta!

^ yeah, acratech all the way. The ball design rocks as it's super easy to clean which is key when you're around sand/salt all the time. I have the GV2 as I wanted to try the gimbal and it's more than enough for my longest lens (300mm f4). I love it.

Just ordered a new tripod/head today. Bogen 055XPROB legs with a 488RC2 head. Not my dream setup, but 1000x better than my current abomination. I really wanted to save and buy the Gitzo/Markins setup I've been lusting after, but the money just kept getting spent elsewhere. That, and we're spending almost a week in the eastern Sierras starting on the 18th, and I needed something decent.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...gs_Black_.html

I'll try to do a quickie review when it gets here.

yeah that kit is popular seems like a good all around setup for the price.

I need to get the spiked foot kit for my Gitzo, only $40 so I'm not sure why I haven't already.

I have a Tiltall at the moment, but I'm considering buying a Manfrotto Neotec.

Has anyone used one of these? No knobs or latches for the legs.

http://services.manfrotto.com/neotec/

http://services.manfrotto.com/neotec/brochure.pdf

That sounds pretty neat, they had a monopod that worked kind of like that I think. To be honest though, I'd be concerned about it just being easier to break when you're using it. I'm curious to check one of those out though.

LateApex: That's the same setup I use. I think you'll be happy with it.

That Neotec seems nice but I don't mind dealing with latches, so I doubt the price bump that thing likely has would be worth the difference.

Bogen 190xPROB legs and Bogen 488RC4 head.
I loooooooooove it.

This setup cost me
$258.00 before shipping
I bought them on amazon, from Amazon. I think the shipping was $20 for 2 day.

^ I have the same, used it tonight

I have a really old, really heavy, Bogen.

^ ditto. And I've heard it's hard to damage.

Crappy picture but I just got this a week or two back at Samys Camera. They had some huge tripod sale right before fathers day, plus no tax..

Yore supposed to attach that one piece to your camera silly.

I'm betting there was booze involved in those ideas???

I just 'upgraded' my old tripod/ball head. I had a heavy-ish aluminum Manfrotto 190CL with a bit of a pansy-ass 486RC2 ball head... I now also own a CF Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 with a 488RC4 pan/ball head. Not the best out there, sure, but seems pretty great so far. I think I like the Q90* centre column feature.

Ended up running me ~$550 after taxes, which is a little more than I wanted to spend. Oh well.

I'm going to keep the old one around for my speedlight when I want off-camera flash, I think.


-A

I use a Manfrotto 3021PRO, 488RC2 head and a Davis & Sanford W3 dolly. The dolly allows me to completely and quickly change the height of the tripod without worrying about where the legs are, and I can roll it around to get in the right position. Ultimately a bit less awkward than just using a tripod for what I do.

I picked up the popular Manfrotto 055XPROB legs, Manfrotto 488RCO ballhead and comfy Pelican strap. Heavy setup but wayyyy better than my cheapo Sunpak. I really enjoy using it. Someday I'll move up to an Acratech or a Markins and CF tripod.

Yeah Arnold, I took my 488RC2 head off, and my 055 legs aren't where the weight is, it's the head, mostly. I think if I put an acratech or something light on there, I wouldn't mind lugging it around so much. Plus, I could use an L-bracket.