Tripod Recommendation

Stephen P

It's time to upgrade my tripod. I have roughly €150-€170 to spend, at a push up to €200 but don't want to go that high if I can help it.
I want something sturdy and something that will fit into a suitcase.

I've been looking at these:

• Manfrotto MK293A3 with A0RC2 head
• Manfrotto MT293A3 with MH293A3-RC1 head
• Manfrotto 055XB Classic + ball head attachment separate

At the moment I have a crappy Hama Star tripod. Generally what's the best head to get - pan and tilt or ball head? I have a Sony A65 with 16-50mm 2.8 lens and also 70-300mm lens so would need a tripod to support the weight whichever lens I use.

Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks.

The Doktor

I have that 055xb, thought the carbon version. The legs are way sturdier than the other one you have linked to. If you look at the manfrotto site it shows you the leg diameter.
I have mine about a year now, and can see it lasting many more.
The central column on the 055xb also goes out sideways and all sorts of things
If you can afford it id recommend it.

Stephen P

The Doktor wrote: »

I have that 055xb, thought the carbon version. The legs are way sturdier than the other one you have linked to. If you look at the manfrotto site it shows you the leg diameter.
I have mine about a year now, and can see it lasting many more.
The central column on the 055xb also goes out sideways and all sorts of things
If you can afford it id recommend it.

Thanks for the recommendation. I want one that will last years so might be best to fork out that little bit extra and get a good one.

The Doktor

Stephen P wrote: »

Thanks for the recommendation. I want one that will last years so might be best to fork out that little bit extra and get a good one.

Thats exactly what happened to me, wasted money on a cheaper one that broke, with a head that moved by itself. And ended up forking out a second time. At least the manfrotto one should last a while.

Farmlife

I picked up the Manfrotto 055XB Classic and a great pan and tilt head 2 days ago in DML, Really happy with it, was looking at the 293 & the 294 before, but i'm glad i paid the few extra quid on the 055, good arm extending feature on it too

Stephen P

I'm going to go for the 055XPROB with 496RC2 Compact Ball Head. Now just to save a few bob for it

ImagenEstilo

As a break from the norm, I picked up two Vanguard Alta Pros in Harvey Norman (I think it is the 263AT Head paired off with the legs). It aint Carbon but it is solid as a rock and sometimes overlooked. They have incredible load capacity for the money. I use a time lapse rig on them and it handles it superbly. I do have a Manfrotto 055 with the mag head also but I have grown quite fond of the Vanguard that I actually use it more often for stills, the single head control knob is lovely and it is rock solid. Harvey Norman of all places! And at €170, I took the hand off him!!

ValueInIreland

Stephen P wrote: »

I'm going to go for the 055XPROB with 496RC2 Compact Ball Head. Now just to save a few bob for it

The legs (055XPROB) are a superb choice, but you might find the ball head selected a bit small for the 300mm. I would give serious consideration to the MN322 Head : http://bit.ly/10AB44p

Stephen P

ValueInIreland wrote: »

The legs (055XPROB) are a superb choice, but you might find the ball head selected a bit small for the 300mm. I would give serious consideration to the MN322 Head : http://bit.ly/10AB44p

Thanks for the advice, I'm unsure again now
I'll have to go into Conns and tests out the different heads.