Photography & Video gear thread.

[Ali Wiseman]

Given that there are a fair few Photographers in UCET, I thought that it may be a good idea to fence in our gear and technique talk, so as not to bombard the heathens... sorry, non-camera enthusiasts... when we talk/dream about new gear we want or have just got our mucky paws on.

I'll kick off with today's bargain, a Manfrotto 190Cx Cf Tripod-3S.

Yup, a Carbon Fibre Manfrotto... for £15, delivered.
RRP is £250, Cheapest I can find it was £160. It's also totally unused, complete with tags, manuals and box. I now need a Head for it. Fluid Head or Simple Ball with a QR Plate?

[mike leahy]

[quote="NewStuff" post=8829]Fluid Head or Simple Ball with a QR Plate?[/quote]

 WTF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!             im just a SIMPLE caver  :S  :S  :S

[Ali Wiseman]

Fluid Head - Great for video, very very smooth when panning the camera. Looks like You would expect the top of most tripods to look like.

Ball Head - Is what it says. Ball and Socket joint. Small, Light weight, and can be locked in position, but prone to Wonky horizons, and crap at panning. Preferable for Stills.

[mike leahy]

thankyou thats more like it

[Ali Wiseman]

I've horrified several people already by stating that it is getting dragged underground with me. I buy gear to use it, not polish it and show it off. I can get spares for anything I break easily enough.

[Tim Watts]

if you're after a fluid head - i got a crackin deal on a cheapo chinese version of a manfrotto 701 off ebay - i'm well happy with it. There are a few though some are crap so watch out - i found a review site where people were raving about it and followed the link.

Great for video but worse than useless for photos - i.e. no way to 'level' it. You need both i recon ;-)

will trawl through my ebay history to try to find it.

[Tim Watts]

search "717 head" in ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FANCIER-717AH-Pro-Video-Drag-Head-for-Camera-Tripod-/180859636290?pt=UK_Tripods_Monopods&hash=item2a1c130a42

[Danny Sutton]

i'm still using my £3.99p one off amazon with a big wood screw holding the head on.

[Tim Watts]

for photos only i also use a dirt cheap pile of crap i picked up for a £5. its filmy but hey - theres no wind underground - unless you're following too close behind Mr Leahy. ;-)

For smooth pan video - i use a Manfrotto tripod with the cheapo chinese fluid head.

but then again, my photos are shit compared to mad-dans - must get more practice!

[Joel Colk]

I use Manfrotto, it's lightweight and compact. Haven't seen anyone with the carbon fiber one yet though so can't comment.

Only problem with it is the name, sounds a bit gay.

[Joel Colk]

[quote="NewStuff" post=8829]Given that there are a fair few Photographers in UCET, I thought that it may be a good idea to fence in our gear and technique talk, so as not to bombard the heathens... sorry, non-camera enthusiasts... when we talk/dream about new gear we want or have just got our mucky paws on.

I'll kick off with today's bargain, a Manfrotto 190Cx Cf Tripod-3S.

Yup, a Carbon Fibre Manfrotto... for £15, delivered.
RRP is £250, Cheapest I can find it was £160. It's also totally unused, complete with tags, manuals and box. I now need a Head for it. Fluid Head or Simple Ball with a QR Plate?[/quote]

Is that on amazon? that really is cheap!

[Ali Wiseman]

It was on Amazon. Sadly, only one available, or I'd have PM'd the link to a few people on here. Looks to be someone doing Clearances/Bulk buys of stuff, maybe liquidation. I think they had no idea what it was worth, and chucked it up for a Tenner.

I took a Flyer on it, and I lucked out... I could well have got a replacement leg-lock for the tripod instead.

I'm loving it so far, especially the centre plate, that can be used instead of a traditional centre column. Seems to add a lot of rigidity.

I think I'll look into a decent Ball head for it... It's not as if there are many straight horizons to worry about underground.

[Joel Colk]

That's well jammy and a cracking find.

[Ali Wiseman]

Having found that the Tair 300mm Lens from my Photosniper Outfit uses the 3/8 mount natively, I've sort-of had a test. Surprisingly sturdy, although very "hollow" sounding. Plenty light enough to drag around underground all day long, and isn't that tall, when considering how tall it will extend should I want it to.

I am comparing it to my "comedy" tripod though (a Benbo 1), Dan should remember that one, I nearly dragged it around Denbigh Asylum until a dose of Common sense took hold.

Today's bargains are a 50mm f1.7 SMC Takumar (totally mint) and a Vivitar Thyristor flash for £20.

[Joel Colk]

Are you searching these bargains manually though amazon, or are you using a page?

Glad you are happy with the tripod, I swear by mine.

Just be carefull if you are doing any photography In windy conditions, the tripods can blow over. Had it on top of a building once