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The quest for the ideal tripod: Light, Sturdy and Inexpensive.
"It took me three, maybe four, years and quite a few dollars to understand that such triple combination is not possible at all. You may choose two variables to optimize, never the three".
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| JRP J. Ramón Palacios (Founder of Nikonians) |
My photographic journey began 50 years ago. I've used many tripods. The first ones were flimsy, unstable, and semi-manageable only when not extended at all.
Then I discovered Manfrotto in Italy. Darn good tripods for the price. I was happily "stationed" on a 190 and a 055 for several years, using small cameras with small lenses on film. Dim light photography at sunrise and sunset was not just possible but a delight with light gear.
Larger prints and larger pro bodies and longer lenses in my bag soon demanded something sturdier. Images were simply not as sharp as they could be. I had to be able to make them; after all, I was fortunate to be shooting with the same cameras and lenses than the masters. (Let's put aside talent and technique for the moment)
And so I embarked into the serious quest for the impossible ideal tripod: Light, Sturdy and Inexpensive.
It took me three, four, maybe five years and quite a few dollars to understand that such triple combination is not possible at all. You may choose two variables to optimize, never the three, sturdiness being the most critical.
My detailed notes are too long. This is the summary of what I learned by myself and from the collective accumulated experience of Nikonians advanced amateurs and pros:
Light - The lightest are Carbon Fiber, introduced by Gitzo in 1994
Sturdy - The sturdiest are either Carbon Fiber or darn heavy, even if made of wood.
Inexpensive - The inexpensive ones are never sturdy enough, period!
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