I have a 3001 which I like very much with a 3427 head. Not the lightest but
OK. I think I bought the legs and head for about $170. Frankly, while
tripod weight is an issue, it just a pain in the a** to carry around and use
any tripod in my opinion, but it is a necessary a lot of the time. I travel
a lot and throw the tripod in a duffle bag with my clothes and check it.
This tripod can take some abuse. I use on the beach, snow, marshes and have
never had a problem. There are times with I wish it would extend higher,
but its ground-level performance makes up for its lack of height. I really
like the head.
Dean
-----Original Message-----
From: AG Schnozz [mailto:agschnozz@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 11:17 AM
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [OM] Re: Looking for a light, not-expensive tripod
> Check out the Bogen/Manfrotto catalog. I have a prior
> generation 3021. The current ones are 3021/3221 depending a
> little on color and a couple minor features.
> If that turns out to be too salty, look at the 3011
> line which is good for most 35mm use with all but the heaviest
The 32xx base is tall enough, but is a brute to carry around
extensively. It's especially painful to carry on a hike when
you've forgotten your quick-release plates. Right Joel?
My brother introduced me to the 3001 base and I promptly bought
one myself. It's really a medium-sized tripod, but has several
distinct advantantages:
1. Weight. Easy to carry on hikes and through airports.
2. Size. Small enough to carry most anywhere, large enough to
be useful.
3. Ground-level usage. With a minor modification (which takes
about 20 minutes with a file, or 5 minutes with Dremel), the
legs can actually go inverted. 'Course, that flexibility comes
at the cost of height because the legs spread farther.
4. Ruggedness. Tripod vs airliner--tripod wins. Tripod vs fall
from back of truck onto concrete--tripod survives. Tripod vs
preschooler--yah right, nothing survives that.
5. Cost. Low enough to not worry about. I bought mine back when
it and the head cost me about $250. They're dirt cheep now.
6. Parts availability. I can get just about any replacement part
for my Bogens at my nearest camera store. The only part I
haven't found is the reversing screw for the extendable center
column.
If I need the tripod to be exceptionally stable when using long
teles, I'll hang the camera bag from the center. I also have the
upper legs wrapped with pipe insulation and camo duct tape.
Makes the tripod easier to carry on the shoulder and also is
much warmer in cold weather.
My only grouse is that the tripod doesn't go to eye level. But
I've found that most of my pictures look better from a lower
level anyway.
If mine were to get busted, lost or stolen, I'd be tempted to
get another in green.
AG
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