Ouse Valley Viaduct (Balcombe) - with Sirui ST-224

[@josephasghar]

Difficult to judge tripods by stated weight. Tapping the legs on a carbon fibre one is a good indicator I think. My Gizo is 6-weave and is still quite heavy, but the legs don’t twang like banjo strings when you tap them. That said, not all Gitzo sticks have impressed me.

[@benharveyphotography]

I think that there is no better test than long term use. Rain, sand, dirt, scratches, ice etc. then review the tripod and see if you still like it. I will do the tap test, is there a specific note that is good - C sharp? 😀

[@josephasghar]

@@benharveyphotography I think that dude who photographs for El Croquis has a monster Sirui, from what I can see. So they must be good sticks.

[@Christographer_UK]

I love my GITZO GT4533LS & they have so much confidence in it that It came with a standard 12-month guarantee, but if registered within the first year, you get a 7-year extension. My extension kicked in on 8th February 2019 & expires on 8th February 2026!

[@robertsaunders5740]

Canon 7D with Sigma sport. 7lb 8oz. Just bought a SIRUI W-2204 carbon fiber. Tall is good for over a fence, wall, etc. even if a step ladder is needed. Looking a best way to carry a tripod on my back.

[@CalebAllenPhoto]

A7R4 and Sony 200-600. About 2.8kgs. My Sigma 35mm 1.2 is also heavy 1.1kgs. About 1.7kg with the A7R4. But worth it amazing lens!

[@benharveyphotography]

I have seen that lens, it comes with a collar fixing doesn’t it, which is impressive for a 35mm lens! Sigma art lenses are lovely, worth the weight.

[@phil1066photography]

Great video Ben - greetings from NZ. Loved the 'steelwool' images - they rock! Been a while since I was there and also you may have missed some 'chatter' on some Sussex FB pages about this location, being parking issues, local residents getting fed up as well as landowners etc. It's probably suffered as one of those overloved Instagram locations haha. Just like some of the Lavender fields in France and certain locations in Iceland. P.s did you get a 'stunt double' in?

[@benharveyphotography]

Hey Phil, glad you enjoyed the video. It’s a location that everyone should visit, with or without a camera. And yes I did hear about it becoming a really popular location to visit courtesy of some local FB groups. Luckily I visited there years before it became a hotspot.

[@supertaufiqr]

"tripped" he said... 🤣

[@oneeyedphotographer]

2:26 or app

[@benharveyphotography]

I was going to use the app to film myself when I was stood in the arch actually, but I was too far away from the camera for it to connect! Another good idea though.

[@clarkbarrow6750]

Hey Ben. The images are terrific. I especially liked the one with the train. 🙂

[@benharveyphotography]

Thanks Clark. Those were shot in the winter - so more trains passing. To get that in the summer might be 9-10pm and you might be waiting a long time….

[@jonjanson8021]

Mamiya RB67 with prism finder , grip, 300mm lens and motorized back. Tripod Benbo 1 !

[@benharveyphotography]

That camera weights 2.7KG! What is it made of?!? It sounds like you might be winning if that 300mm is equally as heavy!

[@jonjanson8021]

@@benharveyphotography I think the 300mm is even heavier. The fisheye is also very heavy. It's made of aluminium and BIG. 150 Mpixel scanned images no problem. The prism viewfinder is a solid block of glass half the size of a house brick and nearly as heavy as the camera. The whole rig is probably about five or six Kilos.

[@rigbyphoto]

It's a bit of a shame that you felt you had to trespass as it's that sort of thing which probably resulted in the fencing in the first place - and could result in even more restricted access.

[@TonyStark-oy1dq]

That's right, Ben - shame on you! Just think how despondent that poor wealthy land owner must have been when he was pushed to the limits of what this horrible life can bring down on us all, so much so that he was compelled to erect that barbed-wire nuisance eye-sore AND the no "trespassing" sign cause you photographic plagues were infesting his "private" tranquil countryside. Ahh, thank goodness for the rich landed gentry-parasites in our society; if it weren't for them how would all the rest of us be reminded of our place?!!!

[@brianmckeever5280]

Any respect for the lightest setup for 800mm equivalent? Lumix G9 + Leica 50-200 + 2x extender + hood + lens cap + battery = 1,591 grams. (MFT is awesome ;-) That is a stunning location, love the images. I might have to see if I can drive by in Oct. when I'm in London for a few days!

[@benharveyphotography]

Of course - lightest set up deserves some respect, providing you are happy with it and there is no compromise. You won’t need 800mm when you go here though, wide angle through to 105mm should be fine. If you go back in the winter you will be able to capture the sun setting behind the viaduct from nearer to the road where you park.

[@Enigmavelo]

Ace photos as usual Ben, personally I think you have nailed that location on past visits but thanks for pointing out the trip hazard. I shoot m43 (G9 with 100-400 equiv heaviest lens) and this comes in at 1229 so this tripod could support 10x slight overkill!

[@benharveyphotography]

That’s a pretty nifty and versatile setup you have. You could get away with a much lighter/smaller tripod. Sometimes I try to better past photos that I have created and I can’t beat them. Those originals were taken some 5-6 years ago I think and they turned out pretty good. I was there with an amazing photographer and friend Dade Freeman who is sadly no longer with us, but this location will always remind me of him.

[@clairejohn-lewis5138]

Hope you wasn't hurt too much after your trip?! 🤫

[@benharveyphotography]

All ok luckily. Damn hedges! 😀

[@richardpette]

I can't decide if I'm gonna buy the Sirui ST-124 or ST-224 ??? I am worried that the ST-124 is gonna be to short without the center column up. Ben Harvey, how tall are you??? 🤔 By the way, I saw the new ST-224 at the Photography Fair in Stockholm and I fell in love! Gorgeous!

[@benharveyphotography]

Hi Richard, I have both of the tripods, so take a tape measure and tell me exactly how high you would need the tripod to go (take into consideration the camera and screen height/EVF) and I will set my camera up on both of them to let you know which will be best for you.

[@richardpette]

@@benharveyphotography I decided, it's gonna be the new ST-224. Thank you!

[@DiMS_Production]

Sigma 120-300 + 1.4x converter + MC-11 converter + Sony A7 = over 4kg.

[@Christographer_UK]

Tumblingly good video Ben.

[@benharveyphotography]

Accidents happen :-) I suspect you have a heavier set up that I do Chris?!? Can you beat 2.5KG or get anywhere near 15kg!?!

[@Christographer_UK]

As for weight, my heaviest combo is... Nikon D810 with battery & memory card = 980g Battery Grip MD-D12 = 550g Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 AF-S ED VR = 2,300g Total = 3,830g or 3.83Kg

[@benharveyphotography]

I love the fact that you included the memory card. Is there an allowance for dust also :-) That is a heavy setup that you need a good monopod or tripod to support!

[@Christographer_UK]

The weights were lifted from Nikon's US website, so I just copied & pasted minus the Lbs & Ozs. I should have added a bit more for the two batteries in the battery grip at 75g each, making a revised total mass of 3,980g or 3.98Kg. 😉

[@benharveyphotography]

So no dust allowance and would a full memory card influence the weight😂

[@lensman5762]

I have a Sirui AM-284. It is a light but highly strong travel tripod. I have used it to support my Wista Field DX 4X5 camera with a hefty 210mm F5.6 lens on it with no problem. The only issue with Sirui is the price, sadly. On the other hand I have 6 other tripods including a couple of Gitzos, so I really shouldn't complain about the price.

[@benharveyphotography]

It’s difficult to gauge the quality of a tripod until you have really used it and tested it for a long period of time, plus have a good knowledge of other tripods to compare it. The Sirui’s are very well made, and can support a heavy amount of equipment. And even though I have too many tripods now (like you from the sound of things!) I choose to use my Sirui for landscape photography.

[@mikewilson8513]

My heaviest combo is Nikon D610 + 16-35mm and that is heavy. I bought the 124 about 6 months ago, and absolutely love it. It handles this camera lens comb no problem at all. My photos are pin sharp, no movement or wobble from the tripod at all. The working hight is excellent even without the centre column raised. Im nearly 6ft and have no problem. Excellent great value tripod.

[@benharveyphotography]

Hi Mike, glad to hear you are enjoying the ST-124. I was using mine today and couldn’t ask for more!

[@scotty4418]

Maybe thats why the fence is there, that pesky hedge being such a hazard. Guess it's a location that may now lose popularity given the restricted access but at least you have a fine collection of images from previous images Ben

[@benharveyphotography]

I think it was popularised by a few local FB groups and obviously too many people were visiting it. It’s a shame as there is a clear path going all around the field, but maybe crops were being ruined and it being restricted as a consequence. Still a lovely location to visit though.