Paul Gooch Images » Tripod reviews

Manfrotto 718B tripod overhead view

Paul Gooch — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:56:00 +0000

This photo of a Manfrotto 718B tripod is an overhead view which shows how a camera, camcorder or video camera is fitted to the tripod.

It’s fitted to the ‘plate,’ the strange-shaped thing with a ‘red button’ at the top, and the plate is then placed inside a compartment which is the same shape as the plate.

The plate is made from a plastic type material, unlike other the plates on other Manfrotto tripods, which are made of metal.
This is probably to help reduce the weight of the tripod, which is a lightweight tripod that seems to be aimed at the travel photographer.
The plate has two components. One is the ‘red button’, which is actually a locating pin and is used to locate the camera, camcorder or video camera on the plate.
The other is the screw below the locating pin, which is screwed into the base of the camera, camcorder or video camera.

Fitting a camera or camcorder to a Slik 88 tripod head

Paul Gooch — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:12:00 +0000

Cameras and camcorders are fitted to the Slik 88 tripod head in a different way to the way they are fitted to many other tripods.
First, a kind of ‘threaded bush’ is screwed into the base of the camera or camcorder. Then, the camera or camcorder, with the threaded bush screwed into it, is fitted to the tripod head.
One disadvantage of this system is, the threaded bush is so small that it’s easy to lose it. It has a tendency to work loose over a period of time and fall off the camera or camcorder. There are a couple of solutions to this.
One solution is to make sure that you remove the threaded bush after you have finished using the tripod. Stash it somewhere in your camera bag or camera rucksack where it can’t be lost.
Another solution is to glue the threaded bush into the base of the camera or camcorder.
But there are a couple of ‘conditions’ attached to this idea. Firstly, only use light contact adhesive, don’t use any kind of permanent adhesive, otherwise you won’t be able to remove the bush from the camera.
Secondly, only do this if the camera or camcorder is out of its guarantee, otherwise it might affect the guarantee on the grounds that you have modified the camera or camcorder in some way.

Slik 88 tripod bag

Paul Gooch — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:51:00 +0000

This photo shows a Slik 88 tripod bag and also gives some idea of the dimensions of the tripod.

The ruler next to the tripod is one foot (300mm) long, the tripod bag is about twice as long as the ruler so it’s about 2 feet (600mm) long.
It has a full length strap which slips easily over the shoulder.
The quality of the Slik 88 tripod bag is pretty good; it has a strip of material near the top of the bag, which gives it extra strength, and this band also secures the top of the strap. The lower part of the strap is also firmly secured.

All good tripod bags have straps which are firmly secured to the bag like this.
The inside of the bag is lined with some kind of material; it’s soft but tough and hasn’t gotten torn during the several years that I have owned it, although the tripod has been taken in and out of it many times.
However tough a tripod bag is, it can only protect the tripod so far, it won’t protect it from abuse or careless handling.

Tripod bags

Paul Gooch — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:01:00 +0000

Full-sized photography and videography tripods are usually supplied with bags, and the bags usually have slings on them, so that when the tripod has been placed in its bag it can be slung over the shoulder.
This is a good idea; it’s pretty easy for photographers and videographers to carry their equipment when it’s slung over their shoulder – it’s much easier than carrying it when it is held in the hand, or in both hands.
Or rather, it’s a good idea if the photographer or videographer isn’t carrying something slung over the other shoulder.
Typically, that ’something’ will be a camera bag.
So what’s the problem? Surely it’s easy enough to carry a tripod bag slung over one shoulder and a camera bag slung over the other shoulder?
Hmm, actually it isn’t easy.
If shoulders were exactly level the tripod bag would stay in place, it wouldn’t tend to slip off the shoulder. But shoulders aren’t exactly level so tripod bags do tend to slip off the shoulder, usually at an awkward moment.
Some photographers get around the problem of straight shoulders by slightly raising the shoulder that is being used to carry the tripod bag. This way, the tripod bag tends to stay in place.
The problem is, this has the effect of lowering the other shoulder.
This, of course, is the shoulder that is supposed to be carrying the camera bag. Naturally, when it is lowered, the camera bag tends to slip off it.
One solution might be to develop a special walk, with the left shoulder for example being raised every minute or so to prevent the tripod bag from slipping off it, and the right shoulder for example being raised every minute or so to prevent the camera bag from slipping off it.
Seriously, there are various solutions to the problem of tripods and level shoulders, apart from the possible solution of major surgery to the offending shoulders, and I’ll look at these solutions in a future post.

Tripods and camera or camcorder safety

Paul Gooch — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:17:00 +0000

Although the kind of tripod in this photo isn’t very versatile, it’s a good example of a tripod that will safely support most cameras and camcorders.

The reason why it isn’t very versatile is, it can’t be used for photography and it can only be used with certain kinds of camcorder, as explained in the post camcorder only tripods.
Tripods and camera or camcorder safety

Tripods are sometimes rated according to the weight of camera or camcorder they will safely support.
Obviously, just about any tripod will safely support a compact digital camera, so this rating system really only applies to heavier digital SLR cameras and even heavier camcorders or video cameras.
Although this tripod isn’t rated for the weight of camera or camcorder it will support, it will safely support a popular model of a digital SLR camera, and a pretty popular model of a professional camcorder.
I know this from an experiment that I carried out with the tripod and a camera and camcorder like this.
If you are buying a tripod make sure that it will safely support your camera or camcorder before going ahead with the purchase.
In photo: tripod which is not very versatile but is a good example of a tripod which will safely support a popular model of digital SLR camera or a pretty popular model of professional camcorder.

‘Camcorder only’ tripods

Paul Gooch — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:03:00 +0000

Some tripods will only accept video cameras rather than video cameras and still (photography) cameras.

This is because the head of the tripod, that’s the piece of equipment at the top of it, has a ’specially shaped compartment for camcorders to fit into, or rather the base of the camcorder to fit into.
However, the base of a still (photography) camera won’t fit into the compartment.
This ‘camcorder-only’ design isn’t entirely bad news, however. Because the compartment is ’specially shaped for camcorders, or rather certain types of camcorders are designed to fit into it, the base of the camcorder completely fits into the compartment.

Camcorder tripod with fixed head

This means that the camcorder can’t move around, because a large area of it – the base, is firmly secured.

Buying a budget tripod advice

These camcorder only designs are mostly seen in budget tripods. They can be a good buy, but only if you are on a really tight budget.
Before buying a tripod like this, make sure that it satisfies the following criteria: obviously, make absolutely sure that your camcorder will fit into the recess in the tripod head. Also, check the construction of the tripod, make sure that it is well-constructed and sturdy.
Even if the tripod satisfies these conditions, it still isn’t a good idea to pay too much for a tripod like this. The plain truth is, they just aren’t versatile enough, because they can only be used for camcorders.
Even so, if you are offered one at a very low price, and if, after buying it you have enough money left over to buy a better tripod, buy it.
In photo: tripod head which can only be used with camcorders or video cameras.

Mini tripods or table top tripods

Paul Gooch — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:20:00 +0000

Mini tripods, which are sometimes called table top tripods, are useful in situations where a conventional tripod can’t be used, or where it is preferable not to use a conventional tripod.
They can be used to photograph very small objects at a very close range and at the same level as these very small objects, for example.

Mini tripod or table top tripod

How to use mini tripods to photograph valuables
These objects might be small valuables which the photographer wants to photograph for security reasons. If the valuable is ever stolen, the photograph of it can be handed to the police, who can use the photo. to help trace it.
Typically, the valuable is placed on a table and the mini tripod is set up close to it. Or rather, as close as the lens on the camera will focus on it. Usually, a photography background is arranged on the table and behind the valuable. The lighting is carefully arranged so that every detail of the valuable is recorded in the photo.
Mini tripods in outdoor photography and videography
Mini tripods or table top tripods can also be used in situations such as outdoor photography or videography where the photographer, videographer or film maker doesn’t want to carry a full-sized, much-heavier tripod around with him or her.
The problem with using mini tripods in outdoor photography is, because they can only be extended to about one foot in height, they have to be placed on something to raise them to a more conventional height.
This something can be a flat outcrop of rock, for example. Or a picnic bench, the kind that are often found in the rest areas of national parks.
If it is placed on a flat rock, the rock will have to be approximately the correct height, and it will also have to have enough area for the legs of the tripod to spread out on it.
Mini tripod typical specifications
The specifications of mini tripods varies, but many are around one foot (300mm) in length and around 1 pound (2.2 kg) in weight.
In photo: mini tripod with a 1 foot long (300mm) ruler placed next to it, to show the dimensions of the tripod when the legs are fully extended.

An introduction to tripods

Paul Gooch — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:16:00 +0000

Tripods are used in photography, videography (sometimes called video making) and film making, and their purpose is to provide a stable platform for the camera or camcorder that is being used by the photographer, videographer or film maker during shooting.
A stable platform which will prevent the camera or video camera from moving is essential in certain conditions, otherwise what is called ‘camera shake’ might result. Camera shake is when the camera or camcorder has been shaken for some reason.
In photography, camera shake can produce a photograph which is ‘blurred’, ie. which seems to be out of focus. In videography, camera shake can produce video footage which is jerky, ie. which isn’t smooth and flowing.
Types of tripod
Tripods range from mini tripods ( sometimes called table top tripods,) to light weight tripods, to medium weight tripods, to studio tripods.
They are all useful, but they mostly useful in certain situations. In some situations it’s better to have a mini tripod and some situations it’s better to have a full size tripod. In some situations it’s better to have a lightweight full sized tripod and some situations it’s better to have a medium weight full sized tripod.
Tripod heads
Tripods basically consist of three legs and a piece of equipment at the top of these legs which the camera or camcorder is fitted into. This piece of equipment is called the ‘head’ of the tripod. It can be a fixed part of the tripod that is impossible to remove, or it can be a separate part of the tripod, that can be removed.
Types of tripod heads
Tripod heads can be non-fluid, or ‘fluid’. The word fluid describes the movement of the head, the way that it can be moved. A fluid head can be moved in a very smooth flowing way, there is no jerkiness.