Good Tripod Pair Choice?

iamlance

iamlance

Well-known member
Hey, I've been looking at a ton of tripod and video heads to use with my T3i DSLR, lens, and DR-60D. The ones that I've been leaning toward are:


Manfrotto 055XPROB Aluminum Tripod Legs
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...o_055XPROB_055XPROB_Aluminum_Tripod_Legs.html
  • Price: $199.99
  • Mail In Rebate -$45.00 (see details)
    offer ends JUN 15 '13
  • Price after Rebate: $154.99

Manfrotto 502HD Pro Video Head with Flat Base (3/8"-16 Connection)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/827210-REG/Manfrotto_MVH502AH_75Mm_Flat_Head.html/mode/edu
  • Price: $199.99
  • Mail In Rebate -$45.00 (see details)
    offer ends JUN 15 '13
  • Price after Rebate: $154.99
​

After the 2 rebates, the total would come out at $310. I know a few people will start raging that any tripod setup under such-and-such amount is terrible, but I have a limited budget and am not going to be producing major stuff right now. Once I get to know all of my equipment and realize for myself why I need to upgrade whatever, then I'll do that. So, aside from the fact that they are on the lower-budget price range, are they good together and the best quality for that price range? Thanks!
 
Eh, there are many problems with that tripod, as stated in the review. Anyone tried out the 2 pieces I mentioned?
 
iamlance said:
Hey, I've been looking at a ton of tripod and video heads to use with my T3i DSLR, lens, and DR-60D. The ones that I've been leaning toward are:


Manfrotto 055XPROB Aluminum Tripod Legs
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...o_055XPROB_055XPROB_Aluminum_Tripod_Legs.html
  • Price: $199.99
  • Mail In Rebate -$45.00 (see details)
    offer ends JUN 15 '13
  • Price after Rebate: $154.99

Manfrotto 502HD Pro Video Head with Flat Base (3/8"-16 Connection)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/827210-REG/Manfrotto_MVH502AH_75Mm_Flat_Head.html/mode/edu
  • Price: $199.99
  • Mail In Rebate -$45.00 (see details)
    offer ends JUN 15 '13
  • Price after Rebate: $154.99
​

After the 2 rebates, the total would come out at $310. I know a few people will start raging that any tripod setup under such-and-such amount is terrible, but I have a limited budget and am not going to be producing major stuff right now. Once I get to know all of my equipment and realize for myself why I need to upgrade whatever, then I'll do that. So, aside from the fact that they are on the lower-budget price range, are they good together and the best quality for that price range? Thanks!
Click to expand...
I have the new Manfrotto 502 head and so far it seems pretty good. Great price with the $45 rebate. You can also use either a 75mm or 100mm bowl adapter with it so makes it very versatile. I'm gong to put mine on my Miller 100mm two stage for a few weeks and see how it goes.

Never used the Manfrotto 055XPROB Aluminum Tripod Legs. The reviews are great on B&H. 5 stars with 957 reviews.

Hearing good things about Benro. Might check them out.

Make sure the tripod goes to at least eye level or around 6 feet. Unless you never do interviews.
 
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Yeah, I've heard a ton about the head. And I definitely need the height for interviews. Not sure if I would like the bowl adaption though. I know it seems very helpful, but I'll just balance it out using the legs. I think I might go ahead and buy these two pieces. Anyone else have anything to comment about them?
 
Yuck! That sound like a pain!. I would reconsider the idea of not having a tripod with a at least a 75mm bowl. Just screw the 502 into this half ball and your rocken!

41zLMTd4T8L._SY445_.jpg
 
How would you add that to the tripod? and what is the name of that?

EDIT: Wait, I would need to get a different set of legs, right?
 
iamlance said:
How would you add that to the tripod? and what is the name of that?

EDIT: Wait, I would need to get a different set of legs, right?
Click to expand...

Yes. The legs you're looking at are made for stills cameras. You would use a ball head for a DSLR not a fluid video head.
 
Okay, do you know of a set that has a ballmount that is not too expensive? My budget for the setup is like $300ish
 
Hmm, it could work I guess. But there isn't like any reviews on any of their products. Why are the Manfrotto setups so popular if they are not even for video (this model, not the more expensive ones)?
 
They make a whole line of video tripods. Your just looking at a very popular stills tripod. Manfrotto has been around forever making competitively priced video systems.
Whatever you do get a video tripod. Leveling with the legs will be near impossible and will make you crazy and pissed while your missing all your shots messing with the legs each time you move.
 
I will definitely keep that in mind. I was just about to buy those other ones. Luckily I rechecked this post before purchasing it.

But I've been looking around and there doesn't seem to be any ballhead tripods for my price range ($300-$400, more so $300) with more than 1 or 2 reviews. This makes me nervous about buying those ones.

I'm going to watch this video, so hopefully it will help me out, but again, it isn't reviewed elsewhere much: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-74M4w_GSo
 
iamlance said:
Yeah, I've heard a ton about the head. And I definitely need the height for interviews. Not sure if I would like the bowl adaption though. I know it seems very helpful, but I'll just balance it out using the legs. I think I might go ahead and buy these two pieces. Anyone else have anything to comment about them?
Click to expand...

FWIW, balancing with legs is a pain in the you know what. You have to fuss with legs separately and it's hard to make small adjustments, constant locking/unlocking - hell, no! That's why bowls were invented in the first place. It's like night and day. Sure, you can adjust with the legs, just as you can walk on your hands, but why would you want to? Get a bowl, trust me.
 
OldCorpse said:
FWIW, balancing with legs is a pain in the you know what.
Click to expand...

The Benro video tripods have a leveling adjustment on the head post without resorting to a bowl, so you get proper leveling at a lower cost.

The semi-famous Adam Wilt did a very good review of the Benro video tripods last year.

Adam Wilt Reviews Benro Video Tripod Kits

...In regards to Manfrotto video heads, I've owned 5 of them and hated all of them. The newer Manfrotto heads seem to have the same main problem in that they don't have much adjustment with the counter-balance system, so you often have to lock down the head to get it to stay in an exact position. A properly balanced head will stay where you position it when you let go, without having to lock anything.

I like Manfrotto sticks, but not their heads.
 
You guys are convincing me! I'm still kind of nervous about the lack of reviews, but I'll go with the Aluminum S6. Now I just have to find out when B&H will have them back in stock. Otherwise I'll just buy it on ebay for the same price.
 
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