All about tripods

This video, as the title suggests is all about tripods! I show you and discuss the major types of tripods and their advantages.
Manfrotto Hydrostatic Ball-Head: bit.ly/MHSBH
Manfrotto 3 way head: bit.ly/2PWHah4
Manfrotto 055 Tripod: bit.ly/2PDOkqr
Manfrotto Tripod with 3 way head: bit.ly/3sYiiUE
Gorilla Pod: bit.ly/39Lm3VU
ifootage Video head: bit.ly/3mnOTAO
ifootage Video tripod: bit.ly/3rSsUDd
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[@b.jammin]

Outside in cool weather, carbon fiber tripods are less uncomfortable to handle bare handed compared to aluminum.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Oh, interesting I never thought about that. Makes a lot of sense than four landscape and hiking etc.

[@gchristopherklug]

This was a very helpful video. Really cleared up some confusing issues for me. Thanks.

[@250GTOAJ]

I have owned a Manfrotto 3 way head since 1987, I can use it on my Manfrotto tripod or use it with super clamps which adds to its usefulness. Thanks Daniel and have a good new week.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

for sure!

[@susandowns1091]

Excellent information. Having the “perfect “ tripod is like finding the perfect camera bag! There is no “ one “ perfect for all situations. So, now I see it’s all about the heads. Thanks again, this video is exactly what I needed!

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Excellent

[@henri.witteveen]

What you didn't mention is the use of Arca Swiss mounting plates. This very convenient and you can us it on most tripod heads. I have Arca Swiss L-brackets on every camera I own so I can quickly mount every camera on every tripod in landscape or portrait orientation.

[@Zakalwe-01]

This was for near-total beginners, I guess

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

While those plates are convenient, they are not some thing I personally use or have.

[@b991228]

Panorama leveling head for stitching photos. Good general purpose leveler

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Nice

[@JimResnikoff]

I went with the 055 but scored it in carbon fiber as I got it second hand.. For me it wasn't so much the weight.. but carbon fiber is a lot nicer to work with when it's cold out. I had a leofoto ball head that recently started failing so I opted for a really right stuff 55 this time.. One thing I wished I had thought about more is an L bracket for the camera in arca swiss mount. Lenses that have the foot on them are easy to go to portrait mode as the lens rotates in the in the clamp. I also found it nice to have a ball head with 2 cut outs so you have more options. Great video !

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Nice! Good point about the cold weather

[@davecarrera]

The geared head I bought has really become a go to tool for my studio (shed). But my ball head on the Ifootage mono pod is great for grab and go. Thank you for sharing this knowledge Daniel and I wish you well sir.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@jeffolson4731]

I use a gimbal head for wildlife. Once you get it balanced for your lens and camera they work great. Definitely only handy for long lenses though.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Nice

[@dominicwroblewski5832]

An old time rule of thumb for selecting a tripod (I'm an old geezer) is to select the height of the tripod so that the top of the head is level with your chin. That way the viewfinder of your camera when mounted will be at eye level, Never extend the center column more than a few inches for fine adjustment as stability will be compromised. Center columns will wobble no matter how tight you snug them down. Another thing I learned the hard way is that winds will knock over your tripod no matter how heavy it is. (I had an ooops half way between Cheyenne and Laramie Wy)

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Oh yes, wind is the enemy LOL

[@alan.macrae]

One of the great things about the ball head on the gorilla pod is that it accepts an Arca-Swiss style mounting plate.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

This I did not realize

[@AtlantaTerry]

Thank you for taking the time to create this video.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@teejay2483]

Thanks Daniel for the excellent and detailed explanations. All the best to you.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@BrianKilgoreCanada]

Good show. Makes me want a new tripod. The brightness of the image today was excellent -BAK-

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Awesome, thanks

[@luther99flame]

Brilliant timing, was just passing on some of knowledge to someone else who is new to the hobby. I too have a hydrostatic ball head and love it.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Nice

[@samlincicome4904]

I find this so funny. Back in the day as it were I had a Bogen tripod the 3001, but years later I got rid of it for whatever reason. Today I found one on Ebay just like what I had so I ordered it. about an hour later you post this video, lol it's funny how the worm turns.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Wow, funny coincidence!

[@roybixby6135]

Good choice with the Manfrotto 55. Gitzo quality isn't what it used to be. I hate ball heads - preferring either a geared pan or gimbal. The Manfrotto 3 way head is excellent. Arca swiss takes more care to use but Manfrotto clamps tend to be less reliable. BTW a tripod should come up to the height you use it without raising the centre column. Dont buy too cheap - A good tripod is a lifetime investment...

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@randywallis9624]

Do you have a suggestion for someone in a wheelchair? Thanks

[@UAE410]

lot of questions you answered.. big like ❤️

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Thank You!

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Thanks Daniel. Good advice, as always!

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Thanks Mike

[@LeonKolenda]

Daniel, Nice video. Let me tell you what I would like to see and learn about, Many of the different strobe modifiers, Not just here are the different ones, but How and Why you would use one. Why a standard octobox vs a deep parabolic, why a beauty dish, diffusion material, when and why you would use it, Why a strip-box? Why silver, Why Gold. I think this would be especially useful for new and intermediate people who have started a small studio in home, especially since Covid has pushed this button. Food for thought anyhow.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

I can understand this question, but I must say that me telling you why are you something is probably not nearly as useful as renting or buying a cheap version of some thing and trying it yourself. I’m not sure if you tune in to the live streams that I do for Adorama, but I feel like in those videos I speak a lot more about these things.

[@charlesgirard268]

talk about your focusing.. back button or front, why no beep, always manual? etc

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@HR-wd6cw]

I would advise NOT buying a 3-section tripod. Always get a 4+ section tripod so you can leave the last section collapsed and get better stability. This is less of a concern with the heavy duty CF tripods but for cheaper smaller ones, it's important. It may add a little weight but I think it pays off in stability when you don't have to extend that last section and can still get decent height. Also I go by the "1/3 rule" I call it. I buy a tripod and ball head that can support 3x the weight of my heaviest setup. Some people say as long as you don't exceed 50%-60% of the working load then you're also fine. You don't want to overload or be at max capacity of your tripod IMO. Lastly, I'd say buy the BEST tripod you can with what you can afford. There are some tripods out there that don't cost a lot of money (such as some of the MeFoto tripods) that don't cost a lot of money and are quite good for what you pay. I would stay away from some of the cheap Sunpack or Platnium ones found at BestBuy and WalMart though. I never found those to be any good and they usually break within 1-2 years. I think I got my first MeFoto tripod for about $200, and it worked quite well. Second travel tripod (and my current one ) is a Sirui X1200 series which was about $250 but works quite well (don't like the "double" center column as it's not as stable -- so I epoxy'd it together so the two columns don't extend but it's a good CF option for the money). I just recently invested in a more expensive Landscape photography tripod that's more heavy duty (and a heavy duty ball head). Like other camera gear (cameras or lenses) it's not uncommon for serious photographers to have multiple tripods and use them based on need/scenario. My Sirui is great for travel as it's light and collapses down small. My FLM (the landscape photography) is a bit heavy and bulkier, but also much more stable and can withstand a decent amount of wind.

[@JasonRenoux]

...and another tripod video 🤪😂😂 One thing I was waiting for was the height selection... I know, it may sound obvious to some but when I started looking into semi-pro tripod since I am 6'2, I said to myself, what would Daniel say... So the 055 you are using in the studio unless you are super short, looks very tall, especially with the neck out. Can you say much more about this particular model and the comfort it gives the photographer as well as a better camera height to the eyes of the model/client... For once I am in the first raw for comments, I make it count ;) Thanks for your works Daniel

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

I’m about 5 foot 10, so you are quite tall compared to me. That being said the tripod is above my eye level when fully extended. I really think about how tall I am when using the tripod, I focus more on how tall my subject is and rarely do I need to extend the tripod all the ways up.

[@JasonRenoux]

@@DanielNortonPhotographer thanks Daniel 👍🏻 On another hand, you want to have the lens at eye level, mostly of the subject’s eyes, that’s what I was thinking with height. Just received a discounted K&F tripod...taller than me 🤩🥳 of course, you get what you paid for so not sure how long it’ll last. Any who, thanks again Daniel.

[@DavidVelezPhotography]

Thanks, Daniel! I'm waiting to update my tripod. The one thing that I am looking for is the twist locks. I have an old Manfrotto with the old T-type locks. I hate when I have it in a bag, and those locks grab onto everything on its way out. The new locks from Manfrotto don't seem to be any better. Your take?

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

I do like twist locks as long as they are from a decent brand like Gitzo, I’ve used cheaper tripods with them and they constantly come loose on me.

[@gewglesux]

Dude, funny thing I just bought one for Astrophotography- Like last night. Gotta work on that timing Dan Boy.!!

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Nice

[@marktomphotography]

I've often wondered why many video tripod legs have the multiple thinner tubes vs just one thick leg. And what a spreader really does and if needed. What are your thoughts, Daniel?

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Additional stability is the simple answer

[@petercraven7930]

No studio camera stand?

[@gewglesux]

Do you mean a heavy Duty wooden one? Nevermind thats for Telescopes.. What kind of stand are you talking about?

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

I got rid of my camera stand a while back it took up a lot of space and I didn’t use it very often.

[@dilliboirubirosa9638]

Tripods are ultra simple. Buy Gitzo carbon fiber legs. Upon receipt of tripod, unmount the center column if any, and carefully stow it away in a dark drawer, never to be seen again. If you shoot action or wildlife or sports, buy a Wimberley head. If you shoot landscape or architecture, buy a panoramic head from Acratech, possibly Leofoto. If you shoot macro or studio, buy an Arca Swiss Cube. If you insist on a do-all-of-the-above (and none of it very well), buy the best BH-xx ball head from Really Rights Stuff you can afford. Boom. You’re done.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Nice

[@JohanSchmidt]

Buy the best you can afford, and you'll probably only have to buy a tripod once

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Indeed

[@bme7491]

My 3 year old grand-daughter watched this video with me and said: "Papa, that boy looks like a girl". Sorry Daniel.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Isn’t that an Aerosmith song? 😊

[@bme7491]

@@DanielNortonPhotographer Pretty close to it.