OK, it does weigh more than Arnie’s, but I can handle it, especially since it comes with its own, built-in carrying strap.

While the links here show a good description of the equipment, you would do well to shop the Internet for the best price, keeping shipping costs in mind.  Also weigh the integrity/reputation of the supplier into your decision of where to buy a piece of equipment.

Hint: If you don’t buy a tripod with a built-in, carrying strap, you may want to either buy or fashion one yourself.

There are some great values in the private-labeled tripods put out by the various big camera stores--Adorama, B&H, Calumet, etc.  Some come with ball heads.  Again, the critical element again is load capacity.  Remember those stories above of cameras and lenses meeting with near disasters?

The quality of the house brands, at least on the ones we have seen, are certainly good, but they do not ultimately match the quality of the old stand-bys, Gitzo and Bogen-Manfrotto.  However, budgets are budgets, so for those of you who want to go a less-expensive route, check out Adorama’s Flashpoint F-1328 or F-1428 carbon-fiber tripods.  The difference between the two models is the height.  Our alumni who have bought these are very pleased with them.  Some of them are very serious amateurs that go on a lot of photo trips, so they need a tripod that will stand up (pardon the pun).

Hint: When shooting with a lens with image stabilization, check the manual to see if it needs to be turned off while mounted on a tripod.  Some do--some don’t.  If your lens is acting funny on a tripod, check it!

Hint: Arnie and I carry our tripods over our shoulders with the cameras still mounted.  For more comfort, we put some pipe insulating foam around the legs, secured with gaffer’s tape--NOT duct tape.  This is much cheaper than buying fancy custom tripod “tea cozies” from $30-60.  We prefer our local hardware store’s prices.

Ball Heads

Even more important than the tripod is the head.  If your head does not securely hold your body and lens, it is useless.  In today’s world, 99% of experienced photographers use a ball head for good reason.  It is just plain easier to use and more accurate for fine adjustments.  And it is really a ball head.  If you don’t see the ball, you are probably looking at one of those two-lever/handle controls that frustrate so many of our students.  One so much, in fact, that she threatened to throw it over a cliff.

I quickly reminded her that there might be people w-a-a-a-y down below, and involuntary manslaughter was probably not high on her list, so she begrudgingly kept it.  As soon as we got back to the classroom, she ordered a decent system right away, and through some cajoling, got it delivered in time for the last two days of the workshop.

Arnie and I have been using Ball heads since the 70s.  Today, there are some great ball-head-and-mount systems on the market, and you really do “gets what you pays for”, as the old saying goes.  Things you may want to consider are:

• Smoothness of movement;

• Adjustable drag;

• Secure clamping; and

• Quick release plates rather than having to screw the camera onto the head.

Some systems even come with L brackets that enable you to quickly switch from horizontal to vertical mode.

If price is no object, we recommend that you look at The Really Right Stuff ball heads and quick-release L brackets.  Another excellent system is made by Kirk Enterprises.  If these are more than your budget allows, study how they are made along with their features, and then find something within your budget that comes close, again, never losing sight of the weight capacity.

Hint:  When you are shooting with a longer lens with its own mount/tripod collar, always use that instead of the camera body, and you can just rotate the lens for horizontal or vertical views without detaching it.

For less-expensive options, we recommend Adorama’s Flashpoint F-3, F-4, and F-9 ball heads.

So shop carefully, plan for the future.  You’ll end up spending less in the long run if you get the right combination at the onset.