Bogen / Manfrotto Tripod/Head for under $200?

Which one of these combos would you get from this list I made from all the
Bogen / Manfrotto tripod/head combos for under $200 at BH Photo? Someone has
offereed a Christmas gift but I gotta choose fast to make delivery date.

Probably the most use will be with a Canon 1D and a EF f/2.8 L 70-200 IS
and maybe the occasional EF 300MM f/2.8 L non-IS (a real heavy sucker).

I was hoping to get away with a kit from the list below which claims to
support 11lbs but there is one listed here which supports 13lbs. But I could
substitute my light-weight 300D for the 1D when using the 300mm so I'm not
sure I wanted that to be the deciding factor. I think 11lbs would do.

BTW, I would not be trying to track moving subjects, just trying to get a
steady platform for long exposures with heavy gear. I do not currently have
any investments in quick-release accessories but if one of these systems was
something I could build upon to further a portrait and landscapes business
that would be ideal.

Sorted by Price, Low-to-High

Bogen / Manfrotto 3011N Tripod Legs (Chrome) with 3028 Super 3D Head -
Supports 11.00 lb (4.99 kg)
B&H# BO3011N3028 B&H Kit
Our Price: $ 134.90

Bogen / Manfrotto 3001BN Tripod (Black) with 486RC2 Compact Balllhead (Quick
Release) - Supports 11 lb (5 kg)
B&H# BO3001BN486R B&H Kit
Our Price: $ 151.90


Bogen / Manfrotto 3011N Tripod Legs (Chrome) with 3029 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head -
Supports 11.57 lb (5.25 kg)
B&H# BO3011N3029 B&H Kit
Our Price: $ 154.90

Bogen / Manfrotto 3001BPRO Tripod Legs (Black) with 3028 Super 3-D Head -
Supports 11 lb (5 kg)
B&H# BO3001PB3028 B&H Kit
Our Price: $ 154.90


Bogen / Manfrotto 3001BD Deluxe Tripod Legs (Black) with 3029 3-Way
Pan/Tilt - Supports 11 lb (5 kg)
B&H# BO3001BD3029 B&H Kit
Our Price: $ 164.90


Bogen / Manfrotto 3011N Tripod Legs (Chrome) with 3030 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head
(Quick Release) - Supports 11.20 lb (5.08 kg)
B&H# BO3011N3030 B&H Kit
Our Price: $ 165.90


Bogen / Manfrotto 3011BN Tripod Legs (Black) with 486RC2 Compact Ball Head
(RC2 Quick Release) - Supports 13.2 lb (6 kg)
B&H# BO3011BN486R B&H Kit
Our Price: $ 166.90


Bogen / Manfrotto 3021N Tripod Legs (Chrome) with 3028 Super 3D Head -
Supports 11.00 lb (4.99 kg)
B&H# BO3021N3028 B&H Kit
Our Price: $ 169.90


Bogen / Manfrotto 3001BPRO Tripod Legs (Black) with 3029 3-Way Pan/Tilt
Head - Supports 11 lb (5 kg)
B&H# BO3001PB3029 B&H Kit
Our Price: $ 174.90


Bogen / Manfrotto 3001BD Deluxe Tripod Legs (Black) with 486RC2 Compact
Ballhead (RC2 Quick Release) - Supports 11 lb (5 kg)
B&H# BO3001BD486R B&H Kit
Our Price: $ 176.90


Bogen / Manfrotto 3021 Pro Tripod Legs (Chrome) with 3028 Super 3D Head -
Supports 11.00 lb (4.99 kg)
B&H# BO3021P3028 B&H Kit
Our Price: $ 179.90

Bogen / Manfrotto 3001BPRO Tripod Legs (Black) with 3030 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head
(Quick Release) - Supports 11 lb (5 kg)
B&H# BO3001PB3030 B&H Kit
Our Price: $ 184.95


Bogen / Manfrotto 3001BN Tripod (Black) with 488RC2 MiDi Balllhead (Quick
Release) - Supports 11 lb (5 kg)
B&H# BO3001BN488R B&H Kit
Our Price: $ 185.90


Bogen / Manfrotto 3001BPRO Tripod Legs (Black) with 486RC2 Compact Ballhead
(RC2 Quick Release) - Supports 11 lb (5 kg)
B&H# BO3001PB486R B&H Kit
Our Price: $ 186.90

Bogen / Manfrotto 3021N Tripod Legs (Chrome) with 3029 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head -
Supports 11.57 lb (5.25 kg)
B&H# BO3021N3029 B&H Kit
Our Price: $ 189.90

 

The combination you missed, the 3011BN with 488RC2. However, that'll
barely be sufficient for 300mm (let alone 300/2.8) and I would suggest
going for the RC4 version of the head instead as it's more stable and
it should *just* get you by with the lenses you're talking about. The
3021BN legs will be better/sturdier (though also heavier) but at that
point you're breaking the $200 barrier.

The Manfrotto heads use their own quick-release plates, and come with them
(you don't have to buy them extra). As long as you'll be sticking with
that brand you'll be fine, but they are proprietary to the brand.

 

Yikes. Yep, I'm pussing the limits of the equipment and the budget.

Good to know!

Thanks

 

You have a portrait business without a tripod? You want to "further
one" with a $200 tripod+head? Well, I guess if you don't have a tripod
yet, anything is better than nothing. But frankly, every professional
I have met owns and uses a Tripod of Substance and a corresponding
head. From this we can conclude that either (a) these professionals
are all brainless dupes of a foul conspiracy to sell them
over-engineered products, or (b) these professionals buy it because it
works. Being fortunate enough to actually own some of this stuff, I
tend to favour hypothesis (b)...

Advice: buy something else for Christmas and save for a few more weeks
or months and get a CF legset and a decent head (Arca-Swiss, Kirk,
whatever). Think more about user-interface than the crude "support"
numbers you see in marketing materials.

 

After going through a half dozen tripods & heads, I have to strongly agree.

For a quickly holdover, get a used setup on Ebay, & save for an Arca or Kirk
ballhead. My Manfrotto 3221 legs are good, and might even suit your studio
work.

 

I used to be familiar with bogen inventory but then they decide to change to
manfrotto numbering.

for heavy duty lenses like a 300/2.8 and for ease of use in the field, a
solid pod like a the one with pnuematic legs is great, its sturdy, set up
and adjusts quickly. the braces in the middle not only make the pod more
ridged but lets you hang your camera bag adding more dead weight. with two
switches you press and you can drop the legs, I used to hold the head where
I wanted it, push the buttons and the legs would shoot down, set. Perfect
for uneven, rocky, hillside areas. Raise up higher than my eyeballs or you
can loosen the braces and swing the legs out horizontally and get down to
the ground, eye ball view with a toddler, or egret.

There is also a decent 'medium' weight pod with twin upper legs and a single
adjustable lower leg on each of the three, again this has the center braces.
Video guys like this pod a lot, probably cause it mimicks the old woodies.

while many of the products are bundled with legs and head, you can order
them separate, so you can be gifted one and buy the other.

A pod needs to be stiff/ridged and hold a bit of weight way at the top.
then it has to absorb the vibrations of the camera. This is done with a
triangular form, open skinny legs don't do much, they can in fact increase
the vibrations of the mirror flip. What dampens the vibs is dead weight,
and a solid shape, old timer's woodies used a triangle piece they placed on
the ground and put the pod's toes into. bracing in the middle gives two
good advantages, it increases the structural shape enough, and allows you
add weight.

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