Updated 12/23/2006

Here is an overview on tripods, heads, clamps, Rails and plates we use.

Most people think of a tripod as a device to stabilize longer exposures. This might be the main reason to buy a tripod.

A tripod is also a very important composition device!

Why that? You have your hands free and have all the time to do a proper framing. And you probably agree that photography is about framing, right? This makes a good tripod one of the most important device for a photographer.

A good tripod system is composed of these basic parts:

• Tripod legs
• Head
• Clamps
• Rails
• Plates

All these parts have to be sturdy while not too heavy. Ultra lightweight is most likely not sturdy. The stabilty is determined by the weakest link of these components.

Arca Swiss Standard

We settled a couple of years ago on usung only Arca Swiss style clamps and plates. We are very, very happy with this decision. All our head have Arca style clamps, all of our tele lenses matching plates and the cameras mostly L-Bracket plates.

It is an irony that the original generic Arca plates are not really to recommend. We use mostly plates, heads and clamps from Really Right Stuff (RRS) and are very pleased with them.

We like strong sturdy tripods. With our new Burzynski head (see below) we wanted to add a second very strong tripod to our stable (we are two photographers). That is why we did not want to get a second 1325 and bought the more heavy and sturdy 1548.

As a head we use a Burzynski Ball Head (see below).

We will be using this tripod mainly if we are closer to our car.

• Tripod integration
• Low profile
• Can carry very heavy cameras
• Last not least: Locks in position without any change in your frame.

Most heads we used have a tendency to move the frame just so slightly when we lock the ball. This is not the case with the Burzynski head. We feel this a very important properly. Locking is also very smooth.

There are two downsides:

• The Burzynski head can only be tilted +/- 45 degrees (not a problem for portrait shots as we use an L-Bracket anyway.
• We only know one source in Germany Isarfoto. The price of the head is not cheap but in the normal range (332 Euro). Unfortunately the cost for mailing can be very expensive (we paid 119 Euro for shipping).

We also talked to the German developer a couple of times and he only sells direct in Germany. All foreign sales are handled via Isarfoto.

Don't miss to read Bjørn Rørslett's review.

RRS BH55

Reall Right Stuff BH40

RRS BH-40

This small head is with only about one pound weight a really nice performer. We can easily use it with a camera like the Nikon D2x and the 70-200 f/2.8 VR lens attached. Excellent light weight head.

For more details check out the Really Right Stuff website.

B1G Ball Head

This nice ballhead gets hardly used anymore. It is bit on the heavy side. Today we would prefer the lighter heads from Really Right Stuff or Acratech

Just recently we found the RRS PCL-1 plate:

This clamp adds a bit of weight but is very universal and now our standard clamp on the bigger tripods:

• Can be leveled (bubble level)
• Can be used for panoramic images (see also below)
• panning works fine

All our cameras and longer lenses with tripod collar have custom plates for the Arca Swiss clamp mount.

One specialty of Really Right Stuff is their L-Brackets:

L-Bracket

The L-Brackets allow you to quickly switch the camera form a horizontal to a vertical position. Our friend Jim Collum stitches a lot of vertical shots and could not live without a L-Bracket.

We have L-Bracket on:

• Canon 1Ds Mk. II / 400D / 40D / 5D
• Fuji S5

Specialty Rails

For panoramics we use the RRS MPR CL II rail (with clamps). This rail allows us to set the precise nodal point. Used with the PCL-1 clamp you have a great panoramic outfit.

All RRS: BH-55, PCL-1 and MPR CL II in action

The GoPod

Since about 2 weeks we added the GoPod to our set of pods.

GoPod with Canon 1D Mark II and 400mm f/4 DO IS lens

The GoPod (invented by Cory Shubert) does a very nice job to ease the carrying of middle long lenses (400mm f/4, 300mm f/2.8). In our opinion the GoPod also allows better help with composition than even a monopod. We have used the GoPod now for nearly 800 shots and don't want to miss it for our bird and wildlife work. We just bought a Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS lens and the GoPod seems for us the perfect match. We consider the GoPod a major improvement for our work as handheld composition was never as good as with the GoPod and longer lenses.

We asked a couple of friends to try the GoPod and all liked about the GoPod:

• Ease of use
• Build quality looks excellent
• Allows very good movement
• Helps with stable framing a lot

GoPod with standard setup (Photo Phil Lindsay, we mounted our own Arca clamp)

The GoPod works fine in its normal setup. But in some cases you may want to get the optional gimbal head that allows easier movement up and down.

GoPod with optional gimbal head (Photo Phil Lindsay)

You have to decide whether you need this better way of moving the lens up/down (otherwise you mainly move the lens up and down by bending your body) or whether you like the more firm feeling using the standard setup (e.g. if you have few movements up/down).

We show here two recent shots that were made using the GoPod

Brown Pelican (1D Mark II & 400mm f/4 DO IS)

Night Heron (1D Mark II & 300mm f/4 + 1.4x)

For more detailed information visit the GoPod web page.

Conclusion

If you are serious about photography then invest into a good tripod, good head and use the Arca Swiss mounting system. All this equipment is not cheap. But it lasts and is great pleasure to use.