Macro tripod

[rt7snap]

am looking to go into macro soon.
wanted to get a good tripod,
1) how to decide
2) what is the more commonly own tripod for avid macro snapper.
3) budget - if i need to spent $600-1000, im fine. but unless it makes a difference at that price.

Camera: Canon 5D2, 70-200 2.8, (getting soon a macro lens)

i will like the tripod to support portrait shot as well.
didnt see that on Q&A, anyone?

[teebs]

Originally Posted by rt7snap am looking to go into macro soon. wanted to get a good tripod, 1) how to decide 2) what is the more commonly own tripod for avid macro snapper. 3) budget - if i need to spent $600-1000, im fine. but unless it makes a difference at that price. Camera: Canon 5D2, 70-200 2.8, (getting soon a macro lens) i will like the tripod to support portrait shot as well. didnt see that on Q&A, anyone?

Well, first of all you need to see what is the max weight set up of your DSLR + Lenses + Accessories will be, then add a loading factor and the max weight the tripod can support should be more than this. E.g. if your max weight for your cam set (Cam+heaviest Lens+flash+batt grip) is 4Kg, then probably you should get a tripod that can support a weight of 6kg or more. For the ball head, same thing applies.

Second thing to consider would be the weight of the tripod. Carbon Fibre tripods are much lighter but very much more expensive. So you have to see what budget you have.

Thirdly, how many sections your tripod has. More sections, less stable but tripod will be shorter when totally folded up.

Fourthly, how low the tripod can go. Important for macro shots since there will be times when you have to get really close to the ground to take your shot.

I've seen people using SLIK, BENRO and many other brands of tripods for Macro shoots. I don't use a tripod for macro though as I like the freedom of moving in on my subject at will without the need to set up the tripod to take the shot. Setting up the tripod takes time and using a tripod for macro insect shots means you will typically miss the shot especially if the insect stays still for only a couple of moments.

[rt7snap]

Hey teebs,
that is very insightful. appreciate greatly.

my setup with lens will be less than 3kg.
i will like to set up low for macro, small to carry around (many parts)carbon fibre(is it the best) ,
can i get you recommend couple of model to shoot towards?

[teebs]

If you check the slik website, the load capacities of their various tripods is in the following link:

http://www.slik.com/e/p20.jpg

For your case, you should be looking at tripods with max load capacity of 5-6kg.

So some models would be PRO713CF, PRO714CF, PRO500EZ, PRO780DX, PRO700DX, PRO580DX, PRO500DX and PRO400DX.

Specs for PRO713CF & 714CF. For these two tripods, you need to get an additional 3 way panhead or ballhead.
http://www.slik.com/e/p5.jpg

Specs for PRO DX Series
http://www.slik.com/e/p8.jpg

Specs for PRO 500EZ
http://www.slik.com/e/p4.jpg

Benro tripods are much cheaper but construction wise according to some people who have use them is only so so.

[Daedalus Trent]

well, i use a Manfrotto 190 XProb

It's great for macro since it's centre column can be flipped 90 degrees, a very useful feature imho

[rt7snap]

thanks buddy.
appreciate the help.

[TroyP]

Originally Posted by Daedalus Trent well, i use a Manfrotto 190 XProb It's great for macro since it's centre column can be flipped 90 degrees, a very useful feature imho

Yeah I regretted not buying that.
Although I havent seen anyone use a mono/tripod for macro yet.

[Daedalus Trent]

Originally Posted by TroyP Yeah I regretted not buying that. Although I havent seen anyone use a mono/tripod for macro yet.

true, in CS, don't really know of any

But if the air's still (no wind at all), using a tripod's really rewarding! Maybe when i'm free i'll upload some macro shots i took with my 190XproB

[TroyP]

Originally Posted by Daedalus Trent true, in CS, don't really know of any But if the air's still (no wind at all), using a tripod's really rewarding! Maybe when i'm free i'll upload some macro shots i took with my 190XproB

If you go places like LP, there's rarely a time where you can manouvre a tripod into the correct position. I've only used my tripod for macro at home on non-insect test shots.

[F_Enzo]

Originally Posted by rt7snap am looking to go into macro soon. wanted to get a good tripod, 1) how to decide 2) what is the more commonly own tripod for avid macro snapper. 3) budget - if i need to spent $600-1000, im fine. but unless it makes a difference at that price. Camera: Canon 5D2, 70-200 2.8, (getting soon a macro lens) i will like the tripod to support portrait shot as well. didnt see that on Q&A, anyone?

I am currently using a Benro 2 series carbon fiber tripod plus a Benro KS-1 ballhead. Looks is impressive but handling is average imo. I juz got another head to replace this Benro head as it is a letdown for my current setup of 5 - 6 kgs. I compare the Markins & KangRinPoche heads but finally got the latter NB-1A. I hv yet to try it out. IMO u should invest in a resonably good support

[TroyP]

Originally Posted by F_Enzo I am currently using a Benro 2 series carbon fiber tripod plus a Benro KS-1 ballhead. Looks is impressive but handling is average imo. I juz got another head to replace this Benro head as it is a letdown for my current setup of 5 - 6 kgs. I compare the Markins & KangRinPoche heads but finally got the latter NB-1A. I hv yet to try it out. IMO u should invest in a resonably good support

5-6kg of equipment for macro ?!?!

[teebs]

Originally Posted by TroyP 5-6kg of equipment for macro ?!?!

He is using the D200 + Nikon 200 Macro + 2 flashes for his macro setup.

[Daedalus Trent]

ok, here're the 2 shots i took of this lesser grass blue using my tripod





I was around 10-15cm away from them, so i had to go real low. That was when my 190XproB came it really handy. I flipped the centre column and spread out its legs so it stood only 20cm off the ground. Then i slowly crawled towards the subject...

[firefoxfirefly]

Originally Posted by Daedalus Trent well, i use a Manfrotto 190 XProb It's great for macro since it's centre column can be flipped 90 degrees, a very useful feature imho

Sound interesting, I am looking for this type of tripod.
Can you post some picture to show how does it flipped 90 degrees?
Thanks.

[Papilio]

The Manfrotto which has already been recommended by others here, is a competitively priced tripod. Due to the design where the vertical column can flip horizontally, it's good for macro.

I'm using the Gitzo Explorer series, which has a unique design for macro shooting, and can go down really low. Check out the Gitzo website for the specifications. The tripod legs can open totally flat on the ground, as well feature locks which can set each leg independently at any angle. The centre column can swing into various angles for low macro shots, and is convenient to use.

Here's a review of the older model. The latest models have the same design, but have some new features.

[Daedalus Trent]

Originally Posted by firefoxfirefly Sound interesting, I am looking for this type of tripod. Can you post some picture to show how does it flipped 90 degrees? Thanks.

well, something like this?

[Luenny]

I use to have a Manfrotto 190 XProb and use it for macro too. Very good, just that you probably need to fix it with a good ball head from Markins or KangRinPoche or the like.

Now, I'm using Gitzo explorer. It's more flexible compare to Manfrotto but I bought it more because I got a huge discount for it. Fixed it up with a Markins M-10 and never looked back since. By the way, my macro setup is around 5 kg (D200, 180mm macro lens, focusing rail, flash bracket and SB800 flash) and this setup supports it like nobody's business - even when the weight tilts to one side or the other.

[F_Enzo]

Originally Posted by TroyP 5-6kg of equipment for macro ?!?!

I had juz started to use my new KangRinPoche ballhead, NB-1A for the first time yesterday. Its a solid and well built head. The tension is really good and with juz slight tensioning of the knob and the ball does not slip that easily as well.

[F_Enzo]

Originally Posted by Luenny I use to have a Manfrotto 190 XProb and use it for macro too. Very good, just that you probably need to fix it with a good ball head from Markins or KangRinPoche or the like. Now, I'm using Gitzo explorer. It's more flexible compare to Manfrotto but I bought it more because I got a huge discount for it. Fixed it up with a Markins M-10 and never looked back since. By the way, my macro setup is around 5 kg (D200, 180mm macro lens, focusing rail, flash bracket and SB800 flash) and this setup supports it like nobody's business - even when the weight tilts to one side or the other.

My friend juz got a Manfrotto 055Pro alu version in which the center column can be fixed horizontally. Looks quite impressive and rock solid with a good height as well. The downside is that the tripod a little heavy otherwise its a good support for that price.