Which Tripod

[red rick]

I am looking at getting a tripod for a chronograph . My options are buy a tripod with a ball head , or convert my Bog Deathgrip tripod to hold a ball head . I see a conversion option for about $60 dollars and if I bought the complete kit with their ball head and plate that would fit the Bog saddle clamp it would be about $175 dollars . I really wanted to stay around $125 dollars , but I don’t want junk . What you choose ? I was looking at the Zero Fox Given adapter for my Bog .

 

[wild willy]

You can get a used professional tripod for a lot less than that.

 

[red rick]

I’m not a Facebook , or thrift store guy and I live in a rural area , so used is probably out of the question for me .

 

[rabid wombat]

You can get a used professional tripod for a lot less than that.

Look at B&H… https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?q=Tripod&searchType=USED&sort=PRICE_HIGH_TO_LOW

I like Manfrotto, but shop like you mean it. You can buy from B&H with confidence - good people.

 

[nettlle]

I bought one of these a couple of years ago. Use it for my camera, game cameras, and a small brass catcher I can attach to the top. It's very well made and adjustable. Very pleased with it.

Amazon.com

 

[jmorris]

It doesn't take much to hold up a chrono. This one is good for more than 6lbs @ $30.

Amazon.com

 

[nettlle]

I also have a much cheaper tripod. One thing I learned about buying tripods is that as the price goes down so does the tripod's rigidity.

 

[red rick]

I would like it to be strong enough to hold a spotting scope so I don’t have to buy again .

 

[powermad]

I keep meaning to convert mine over, haven't used it since I got another tripod with a ball head.
Looks like a few options now, there was only one the last I looked.

Making the adapter is another option.
Pretty sure I have everything at work to make one.
Cheap enough to get the materials, probably less than $10

 

[jmorris]

I think testing with a number of chronographs inline was one of the few times I have used a heavy tripod for them.



I generally have the stronger ones for heavier stuff.






If you want to use your Bog, get one of these.



Screw it into a block of wood, thread on the chrono and clamp the block in the bog. $0.21 solution if you have a 2x4 laying around.

 

[jmorris]

I didn't have one of those fasteners in stock but did have a 1 3/4" 1/4-20 bolt and a 2x4. Would be solid enough for most of the ones I have.

 

[lightman]

I built my stand, 2 different size pieces of square tubing that will telescope up or down for adjustment mounted on a large disc blade with a piece of thin wall conduit on top for a mounting rail.

It takes up more storage space than a tripod, but it works well.

 

[MikeInOr]

I’m not a Facebook , or thrift store guy and I live in a rural area , so used is probably out of the question for me .

Back in the good old days photographers had big heavy cameras that needed big heavy tripods to keep them steady. Now days everyone uses light little digital cameras and pay a fortune for the lightest weight sturdy carbon fiber tripods they can find leaving a glut of heavier professional tripods out there for cheap. $125 will get you a cheap cheezy new tripod or a used tank of a tripod that will easily outlast you.

Manfrotto only made a couple of "piece of junk" tripod models. Most of their tripods, especially the older models, are tanks made to stand up to the abuse of professional studios. A Manfrotto 3221 is an old work horse that stands up to a lot of abuse. They are not too heavy or cumbersome but ridged and strong enough to handle a fair amount of weight with authority. I have 2 of them with a row of ball rollers on top of each that I use for stock support for my table saw. I paid $30 for the nice one and $20 for the more beat up one.

There are some good deals on ebay.

 

[red rick]

I like jmorris idea for no more than I will be using it . I am going to go with that .

 

[barnfrog]

Look at B&H… https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?q=Tripod&searchType=USED&sort=PRICE_HIGH_TO_LOW

I like Manfrotto, but shop like you mean it. You can buy from B&H with confidence - good people.

Are those prices is pesos? First one on the list says it's $15,000.

 

[rabid wombat]

Are those prices is pesos? First one on the list says it's $15,000.

Yeppers - the sky is the limit. The neat thing, the $15,603 item was not a tripod - it was the fluid head ONLY! The selection was very broad and filtered by HIGH to LOW prices. Key points - B&H is a good company to do business with, they are honest in their ratings, and have a good return policy.

 

[Steve51]

I just use my Primos Gen3 Tall Tripod Trigger Stick. It comes with an adapter to mount a chorno or a camera.