Tripods - I'm hooked.

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I'm hooked as well!!!

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I’m curious what the max height the bench top Leofoto goes to?

Thanks
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Max height to top of mounting plate is 12". With the Innorel 52mm ball head 15.25" to the ARCA adapter.
 
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Most of the ones posted in this thread have one thing in common, I'll tell you what to look for.

The granddaddy of the style of tripod we are all posting is Gitzo. Nearly every one of the tall tripods seen here are some form of copy of Gitzo's original design. Many of the parts can interchange, particularly accessories. They all have differing model names, but one thing that they have ALL adopted from Gitzo, is the :"series" size numbers.

The series size numbers range from smallest "1" or even "0" ,. up to "5 as the largest. So when looking for the right size to handle this sort of task, you will want Series 3 or larger.

Most wildlife photographers use series 3 as the smallest,. and then go up from there. I concur that series 3 is the sweet spot, so I happen to own a few in that size. I also have a Series 4, but I have not used that for a gun rest. The Series 3 are working great.

Another important thing that came from Gitzo, is these series 3-5 tripods have no center column. In it's place there is a removable base plate, onto which you can install a head, or remove the base plate and install a leveling base, or a center column. This type of flexible tripod was dubbed "Systematic" by Gitzo. This name is not used by other companies, but they are emulating the systematic style with the removable base plate.

Some names of popular series 3 tripods that are "systematic" compatible are

Gitzo, Induro "Grande", LeoPhoto, Sirui, Inorrel, RRS, Robus, .. I'm sure I am missing some. I own Gitzo and Induro and can recommend them first hand.


 
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Most of the ones posted in this thread have one thing in common, I'll tell you what to look for.

The granddaddy of the style of tripod we are all posting is Gitzo. Nearly every one of the tall tripods seen here are some form of copy of Gitzo's original design. Many of the parts can interchange, particularly accessories. They all have differing model names, but one thing that they have ALL adopted from Gitzo, is the :"series" size numbers.

The series size numbers range from smallest "1" or even "0" ,. up to "5 as the largest. So when looking for the right size to handle this sort of task, you will want Series 3 or larger.

Most wildlife photographers use series 3 as the smallest,. and then go up from there. I concur that series 3 is the sweet spot, so I happen to own a few in that size. I also have a Series 4, but I have not used that for a gun rest. The Series 3 are working great.

Another important thing that came from Gitzo, is these series 3-5 tripods have no center column. In it's place there is a removable base plate, onto which you can install a head, or remove the base plate and install a leveling base, or a center column. This type of flexible tripod was dubbed "Systematic" by Gitzo. This name is not used by other companies, but they are emulating the systematic style with the removable base plate.

Some names of popular series 3 tripods that are "systematic" compatible are

Gitzo, Induro "Grande", LeoPhoto, Sirui, Inorrel, RRS, Robus, .. I'm sure I am missing some. I own Gitzo and Induro and can recommend them first hand.

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This is super helpful info; just gave you your first (and well deserved) green "accuracy" dot! Thx
 
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Thanks Yennie, appreciate it. It's actually something I know a little about, unlike these fancy PCP airguns :)

One more tip;

Every couple of years a new importer/manufacturer from the far east comes on the scene with the best/lowest prices. Sometimes they are mediocre, but more often they are very good value and eventually build up a solid reputation. when they do, their prices go up considerably. Induro was just such a company, and they are now very well respected. Sirui, and Feisol, are other examples. For those on a tight budget, it might be worth the gamble trying the latest newcomer. Just two years ago the latest newcomer was Leofoto, but now their prices are right up there with much more established names. Right now the bargain priced options are Innorel and Robus. I have no first hand experience with either, but I have heard good things from fellow photographers. Innorel is really affordable! My guess is that support would be limited,.

If have the money, look at established brands with reputations like Gitzo, RRS, or Induro. If you can't swing that kind of cash and are hoping to save and hopefully not loose out on value, the current bet is innorel. These are all 3 or 4 series and the ones that include the leveling head are a particular value;

I think this first one might have a series 4/5 top base plate, as opposed to Series 3;

https://smile.amazon.com/Carbon-Tripod-Professional-Birdwatching-Adapter/dp/B07H8V8WWM/ref=sr_1_3?crid=POPYKUJSNPET&dchild=1

https://smile.amazon.com/Tripod-INNOREL-ST344C-Professional-Shooting-Mid-Column/dp/B08BC1XCP1/ref=sr_1_6?crid=POPYKUJSNPET&dchild=1

https://smile.amazon.com/Portable-Tripod-INNOREL-LT324C-Professional-Photography/dp/B081SV6XWM/ref=sr_1_10?crid=POPYKUJSNPET&dchild=1



If you need to add a center column for photo work (don't use as part of a rifle rest) this is the part. Innorel says it only works with the tripod in the first link above. I think this is because of the series 4 plate.

https://smile.amazon.com/Column-INNOREL-Mid-Column-Professional-Extension-Camcorder/dp/B08CDJ3BMH/ref=sr_1_15?crid=POPYKUJSNPET&dchild=1

Here's the 3 series center column;

https://smile.amazon.com/Column-INNOREL-ER31C-Mid-Column-Professional-Extension/dp/B08LPVXN34?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1
 
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Hey Jake,

Thanks again for another very informative post. The OP (ctshooter) is a member I've known for awhile, consider a friend and have done a number of trades with. He just delivered a Leofoto LS-223C / LH-40 combo to my door yesterday and before that was delivered, I ordered a LS-362C and have been tinkering with those two over the last couple of days. I mostly shoot off of a makeshift table from inside my home office so these mini tripods will be the ones I use most often. I love the beefiness of the LS-362C but, at the same time, the thinner & lighter weight LS-223C seems like it would fit my use just fine. 

For the full-size setup (which I won't be using nearly as much), I was leaning towards the Innorel RT90C w/ N52 ballhead because the ~$400 price tag for the combo seems really hard to beat. I haven't seen any Innorel units in person, I can't compare it to the Leofoto - which I really like the fit and finish of! And seeing as how beefy the LS-362C is at 36mm, I'm not sure I need the 40mm size/bulk of the RT90C. Then I see that Amazon has the Leofoto LS-365C + LH-40 for 20% off at $359.20 here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0815RG3SY/?coliid=I365K7JRNZOYEV&colid=1309RDT1RXS3Y&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

That seems like it would be more than adequate for the occasional rifle use that it'll see, right? Plus this LS-365C looks like it would be more versatile for use with my digital camera as well (versus lugging around a comparatively huge RT90C or LN-404C).

Thoughts?
 
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Most of the ones posted in this thread have one thing in common, I'll tell you what to look for.

The granddaddy of the style of tripod we are all posting is Gitzo. Nearly every one of the tall tripods seen here are some form of copy of Gitzo's original design. Many of the parts can interchange, particularly accessories. They all have differing model names, but one thing that they have ALL adopted from Gitzo, is the :"series" size numbers.

The series size numbers range from smallest "1" or even "0" ,. up to "5 as the largest. So when looking for the right size to handle this sort of task, you will want Series 3 or larger.

Most wildlife photographers use series 3 as the smallest,. and then go up from there. I concur that series 3 is the sweet spot, so I happen to own a few in that size. I also have a Series 4, but I have not used that for a gun rest. The Series 3 are working great.

Another important thing that came from Gitzo, is these series 3-5 tripods have no center column. In it's place there is a removable base plate, onto which you can install a head, or remove the base plate and install a leveling base, or a center column. This type of flexible tripod was dubbed "Systematic" by Gitzo. This name is not used by other companies, but they are emulating the systematic style with the removable base plate.

Some names of popular series 3 tripods that are "systematic" compatible are

Gitzo, Induro "Grande", LeoPhoto, Sirui, Inorrel, RRS, Robus, .. I'm sure I am missing some. I own Gitzo and Induro and can recommend them first hand.

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Great information and thank you!
 
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Jake - good to meet you and thanks for your information. That's a lot of detail that I was not aware of and really helpful. 

Yen - I started down the tripod journey after I was hanging out with B and he showed me his Arca setup. I think it was DairyBoy's post with his Evol that sealed the deal and there was no going back. 

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Well, thanks to you two guys and several others, I spent most of yesterday down the tripod rabbit hole and ended up making a purchase right before I went to sleep just so I wouldn't have to spend another day googling different tripods today!

A good tripod is something that I've been meaning to get for some time now but was too lazy to put in the time to research until recently. After much back and forth, I ended up buying an Artcise AS90C with 75mm leveling bowl and their MB52 ballhead for a really good price of $380.xx after tax & delivery from AliExpress. They also had a comparable combo for the HS80C for $360 delivered; the HS80C seems more versatile but I opted for the beefier/sturdier AS90C just in case.

[FYI: Artcise and Innorel are basically the same brand and the AS90C is their version of the RT90C and the HS80C is their ST344C.]

Getting a 40mm CF tripod, bowl and 55mm ballhead delivered for under $400 is a pretty darn good deal considering the Leofoto LN-404C tripod I was initially interested in cost $650 by itself! This forum has cost me so much money . . . but it has also SAVED me so much money as well! Thanks to all of you guys for the great info and advice . . . now we wait for the slow boat from China, so to speak!


 
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Jake - good to meet you and thanks for your information. That's a lot of detail that I was not aware of and really helpful. 

Yen - I started down the tripod journey after I was hanging out with B and he showed me his Arca setup. I think it was DairyBoy's post with his Evol that sealed the deal and there was no going back. 

Click to expand...

Well, thanks to you two guys and several others, I spent most of yesterday down the tripod rabbit hole and ended up making a purchase right before I went to sleep just so I wouldn't have to spend another day googling different tripods today!

A good tripod is something that I've been meaning to get for some time now but was too lazy to put in the time to research until recently. After much back and forth, I ended up buying an Artcise AS90C with 75mm leveling bowl and their LB55 ballhead for a really good price of $380.xx after tax & delivery from AliExpress. They also had a comparable combo for the HS80C for $360 delivered; the HS80C seems more versatile but I opted for the beefier/sturdier AS90C just in case.

[FYI: Artcise and Innorel are basically the same brand and the AS90C is their version of the RT90C and the HS80C is their ST344C.]

Getting a 40mm CF tripod, bowl and 55mm ballhead delivered for under $400 is a pretty darn good deal considering the Leofoto LN-404C tripod I was initially interested in cost $650 by itself! This forum has cost me so much money . . . but it has also SAVED me so much money as well! Thanks to all of you guys for the great info and advice . . . now we wait for the slow boat from China, so to speak!

Click to expand...


You went further down the rabbit hole than I have finding anotehr source for the Innorel 'pods. Let us know how it all works out. That's a great price!
 
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@cyberdynesystems, good info, I may pull a trigger on INNOREL RT90C

Thanks

B
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Well, now I sure do hope these Innorel's are any good, otherwise I am going to be tarred and feathered!

Let us know how it works out. The prices are hard to beat for sure.
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I ordered RRS BH-40 the other day and just place an order on INNOREL RT90C tripod
, hope you know what you talking about...looks like you do, will find out by end of the next week.

B
 
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I'm a big fan of the Innorel RT90C tripod. Quality is every it as good as the Leofoto LS-223C I have. I'm actually the other way compared to Yen. I use the big one way more often than my mini tripod. I've been very sceptical for years about how solid a tripod could really be using them as a shooting rest but man was I worrying for no reason. I literally sold all bipods besides 2 cheapo Harris knockoffs I own as it's not worth selling them for what I paid. But yeah I went full tripod now!
 
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I'm a big fan of the Innorel RT90C tripod. Quality is every it as good as the Leofoto LS-223C I have. I'm actually the other way compared to Yen. I use the big one way more often than my mini tripod. I've been very sceptical for years about how solid a tripod could really be using them as a shooting rest but man was I worrying for no reason. I literally sold all bipods besides 2 cheapo Harris knockoffs I own as it's not worth selling them for what I paid. But yeah I went full tripod now!
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Actually, I'm starting to think that I will end up using the full size tripod more once I get it. The table I use in the office is too small to properly hold the LS-362C so I'm thinking that with the AC90S/RT90C full size tripod, I can just sit on the floor or in a chair and shoot without a table so the bigger setup might end up being more useful even when shooting from indoors.
 
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