Tripods for Canon 7D DSLR

[veekay]

Hi Guys
I am interested in buying tripod for my canon camera,have a zoom lens,100mm macro lens and a 1.2 prime lens.
My question is do I need a tripod ?My budget is $ 300.00.
any advise is appreciated.
regards
veekay

[Bolero]

How about the Manfrotto 785B?

[RosieC]

I've like my Manfrotto tripod. Be aware that you usually buy the legs and head separately so take that into account when looking at costs. Manfrotto is a good mid-range but good quality make for Tripods. There are cheaper makes but they may not be as good, there are more expensive ones, but we've been happy with Manfrotto.

Going too cheap is a false economy as cheap ones tend to be less stable, or the head or legs can drift and be difficult to get the angle you want. If you were in the UK you could get a decent Manfrotto for £300 (£ rather than $) I don't know what prices are like in the rest of the world.

Sometimes places like Amazon might do deals on buying both head and legs together, but Manfrotto sell them separately so that you can separately choose your head and legs as both can be down to personal choice. Just be careful to make sure you know if a price if for head, legs or both.

The Manfroto 055CXPro4 is the legs I got, these are carbon fiber legs so much lighter than the aluminum ones, but they are also more expensive than that. The Manfrotto 055XProB is something similar, about half the price here, but likely to be heavier.

There are different sorts of heads, which vary in the way they connect to the camera. Some have quick release plates, some don't, some have different sizes of plate, larger plates can hold larger cameras. Some have ball joints, some are pan-and-tilt (left and right, up and down) some have handles to help move them, some don't, some are designed for easy movement during video, some are more designed for stills.

What you choose is really a personal choice. I like a ball joint, but others prefer pan-and-tilt. If at all possible visit somewhere that has then available to view and try. I went to a photography show and spent a long time with the Manfrotto range of heads deciding what I wanted. A shop rather than buying online is good to be able to see what they are actually like. If not possible read as much as you can about the different types of heads to ensure you buy with the best knowledge you can.

Finally be aware that your camera is relatively heavy camera and if you use large lenses (for example 100mm macro is heavier than a 50mm prime, in some cases the lens can be heavier than the camera). For this you might need a larger plate on the head (for example I use the Manfrotto RC4 quick release plate rather than the smaller RC2). Also be aware that the legs have a load rating. You need to be sure that the combined weight of camera and lens and head is well within the specifications of the legs. Also the ball joint or pan-and-tilt part of the head will have a load rating. Cheaper ball joints for example can't take as heavy a camera/lens as some of the more expensive ones and will move if too much weight is put on them.

I hope that's useful information.

[sweetjblue]

I use this for my Nikon D5100 and have been happy with its operation no matter what lense is on my camera. Its compact and has a built-in ball photo head and quick release, and the price is very good.

Compact Series Tripod With Built-in Photo/movie Head - Black MKC3-H01 - Kits | Manfrotto


Judi

[ronaldhanko]

The Canon 7D is such a heavy camera that the Manfrotto 785B is not enough tripod for it. We do use that tripod when hiking because it is so compact and light, but the weight of camera often causes the ball head to slip.

[Bolero]

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

The Canon 7D is such a heavy camera that the Manfrotto 785B is not enough tripod for it. We do use that tripod when hiking because it is so compact and light, but the weight of camera often causes the ball head to slip.

Ah ok, I saw it recommended for the 7D but probably only in limited situations then. There might be a better one for daily use. Just thought I would throw that one out there........

[silken]

In my photography course, the instructor said the most important piece of equipment to have for photography is a tripod. Makes all the difference between just a good photo and an excellent photo. I really like a ball head for ease of use. As mentioned, make sure you get both tripod and head rated for the heaviest combo of camera and lens you might use in the future.

[Andrew]

If you're interested in following the recommendation to buy a Manfrotto tripod, there's a tripod/head selector on the Manfrotto website that you might find useful.

About the Camera Support System Configurator - Tripod + Head Chooser - Tripod + Head Chooser | Manfrotto

[tropterrarium]

What do you want from that tripod? Do you want to have the camera at eye level, maybe even when facing down a slope? That would require tall legs. [Don't use the center column to get taller, it makes the tripod less stable]. Or do you want to do belly photography? Then low level performance will be important.

Do you see yourself getting longer lenses? Teles? A tripod will stay with you for a long time and a good one can be cheaper in the long run. I put at a lot of money (at limited income as a grad student) into my first serious tripod, but I still use it after over 15 years. I spent about US$1K on a Gitzo CF with a Linhof Profi II ballhead. Eventually I bought a more heavy duty one for LF and heavy lenses (An other Gitzo CF with Arca B1). Like RosieC, I like ball heads, but others like pan-tilts. If you think about movies, then pan-tilt may be the better option.

Re quick releases, there are several options out there. I think the most widely used are the Arca style ones. Again, a bit more costly than others, but it will save you money in the long run to start out right.

You may also look on e-bay for used ones. If you don't mind cosmetics (and they do not matter for tripods), you could get a very nice set of legs way cheaper than new-retail. You can check out specs on B&H or manufacturer's websites to see re size, load, etc.

Heads are a bit more tricky, and you may get a nasty surprise, particularly if you have not used them before. There a trip to the store may be the better approach.

And, do you need a tripod? Hell yes! It will slow you down, improve composition, and get you sharper images. You can recognize serious photographers by their tripods. And you can tell a lot about the experience of a photographer by how the tripod is used. Someone using the center column to extend the height: rookie. Someone who hangs a heavy bag touching the ground from the hook off the center column: experienced. Etc.

Interestingly enough, I am not aware of any books on tripod use. Rather curious. B&H intro section, and the ReallyRightStuff website has some good info.

Good luck with your quest!