Finally Purchasing

[technicolor]

OK, I've been using a few old cameras (canon A-1, ricoh 500), since november or so and have finaly saved up some money with christmas, bday, tax returns etc to finally buy my own camera. I think I've determined the camera and lense I'll be getting so my real issue is that of a tripod.
How important is tension control on a ball head? I'm looking at Bogen 3001 legs, and one of their QR ball heads, but none of them have tension control until you get to a price point I dont like, I'd rather not spend more than about 160-170 on the whole system. So in short: is tension control important? And Bogen makes three QR ball heads in my range, the 488, 486, 484, all seem to have the same features. The 88 has a hexagon shaped plate and levels, the rest are squared w/o level. I'm at a loss. I'll hopefully be doing a lot of sports photography if that makes a difference.

[another view]

Sorry, I'm not familiar with Bogen's QR system - I'm sure someone else here is though. The main thing you want out of a tripod/head combo is sturdiness, and secondly ease of operation (IMO). The 3025 head is very inexpensive and just as sturdy. You might want to think about saving some money with that head and going for the 3025 legs. These legs are a little taller and a lot stiffer which will be important with longer focal lengths.

I guess before that I should ask what type of camera you're looking at - a compact digital wouldn't really need anything beyond the 3001.

[almo]

OK, I've been using a few old cameras (canon A-1, ricoh 500), since november or so and have finaly saved up some money with christmas, bday, tax returns etc to finally buy my own camera. I think I've determined the camera and lense I'll be getting so my real issue is that of a tripod.
How important is tension control on a ball head? I'm looking at Bogen 3001 legs, and one of their QR ball heads, but none of them have tension control until you get to a price point I dont like, I'd rather not spend more than about 160-170 on the whole system. So in short: is tension control important? And Bogen makes three QR ball heads in my range, the 488, 486, 484, all seem to have the same features. The 88 has a hexagon shaped plate and levels, the rest are squared w/o level. I'm at a loss. I'll hopefully be doing a lot of sports photography if that makes a difference.

One word. Manfroto.

[another view]

Yeah, that's actually the new name that Bogen is being sold under - old habits die hard, I guess. Actually spelled Manfrotto.

[technicolor]

I thought Bogen was the US name or something? Anyway, I'll be getting an N80, and depending on how much I get into sports photography, I may be getting some bigger lenses. As for the 3025, i'm pretty sure I'd like to stick with a ball head.

[92135011]

Depends what type of lenses you are using. The longer the focal length, the greater the need for heavier duty heads.
The tension is good for long telephotos (like 300mm) so that when you loosen the ball to adjust, your camera will not just fall forward. Its sort of a safety.
The 88 supports 8 Kg, but even for my M, I would not choose any head less than 4kg. However, the 3001 only holds 5kg (unless you are going for the deluxe version that holds 6kg). Remember that all these ratings are for weight ON CENTRE AXIS. So you maybe your weakest link is still the legs, but I would go for a tension ball head just in case your hand slips....would be such a shame

[TEMPESTboy]

I have a 3025 head on 3021 legs. The legs are definitely heavy duty and the head isn't bad either, but it has no QR. I got my setup from eBay too, so go take a look there, you can find some good deals on used stuff. As for the sports, like previously said, it depends on your lenses. A lot of sports photographers use monopods instead of tripods too. A monopod is a lot easier to move around than a tripod. If you don't have the huge telephotos, you won't need a tripod/monopod for sports at all.

[technicolor]

Is a monopod as stable though? I would like to be able to use the tripod for normal purposes as well. As a side question: is the N80s 2.5 fps going to be okay for sports?

[SmartWombat]

I think it depends on the sport, what you're shooting for, and how.

I haven't found burst mode to be useful for motorsport, yet.
At least with my F1 photographs, it just gets in the way.
I can get the shot I want by timing it and shooting it myself.
If I use the burst more, even at the 20D speed, it's unpredictable.
Sure, I got 6 shots of a car going round the corner - but not THE shot that I wanted.

Having said that, when someone's engine let go I was looking the wrong way (sod's law!) and turned around to see the cloud of smoke - and immediately fired off 6 frames just in case.
Then went back to picking my shots as the smoke cleared.

I think maybe for Rallying it would be more appropriate.
There again, I think for the jumps and water splashes, I'd be timing it and taking just one shot.

[technicolor]

I had some of my first taste of sports action this weekend. My photography class went to triple falls in Dupont, a state park around here. After I had finished all the class assignments, three kyakers showed up and started dropping off the falls. I did the best I could with the manual film advance, but I assume It would be much better with a high continous shot speed so I could shoot the guy all the way down.
Do you put head's on monopods as well? I see most of them have the 1/4" screw for a camera mount.

[another view]

Is a monopod as stable though? I would like to be able to use the tripod for normal purposes as well. As a side question: is the N80s 2.5 fps going to be okay for sports?

Hard to say if a Monopod is stable enough or not. I have one but I've rarely used it. I'd say it's good for a couple stops or so - much like a VR or IS lens. Beyond that, probably not. A tripod is much more versatile, and you can always extend the three legs but not spread them to have a sort-of monopod to try it.

Let's say you had 8 fps and you're at 1/500 sec shutter speed with sports. That still means you're not getting 492/500 of that second! Great sports shots have been taken with manual advance film cameras - I'm not a sports shooter (not much, anyway) but you're still much better timing your shot than burning a bunch of film and hoping.

[f5fstop]

Yeah, that's actually the new name that Bogen is being sold under - old habits die hard, I guess. Actually spelled Manfrotto.

Actually, Bogen never made a tripod, they sold Manfrotto tripods with their name on them (they also sell other tripods and equipment). Bogen is an importer, not a manufacturer.

From the Bogen site:
"In 1970, Lester met Lino Manfrotto, who manufactured lighting stands and accessories in northern Italy. Manfrotto appointed Bogen the exclusive U.S. distributor and their partnership produced the world famous range of camera tripods, heads, lighting stands and accessories. Manfrotto sets the international standard for top quality professional equipment and is a superb value for the money. The line was marketed under the Bogen brand name up until 1998 and now uses the international name "Manfrotto"."

[TEMPESTboy]

A monopod is used because it's hard to handhold a 15+ pound camera/lens combo. You wouldn't be able to use it like a normal tripod though (like for night shots and other long exposures). You don't usually need a head for monopods because the lenses are usually attatched by the tripod collar on the lens itself.

[technicolor]

what happens if I want to aim my camera on the vertical axis on a monopod? I guess in most situations with sports you're on a level field anyway so you wouldn't need too?

[TEMPESTboy]

You can buy a head for monopods, and going vertical in sports is necessary in some situations. The big lenses rotate from the collar, so you don't need a head with those.