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Tripods & Ball Heads
TOOLS + PRODUCTS I LOVE
My Favorite Brands
My Tripod & Ball Head Picks
Tripods
Really Right Stuff TVC-24 Versa Series MK2 Carbon Fiber Tripod
A solid all-around mid-size tripod. The tripod weighs 3.3 lbs, and has a folded length of 19.1” Is it pricy? Yes. Do I think it is worth it? Also yes. I believe Really Right Stuff tripods are extremely well made, and their customer service is wonderful.
FLM CP34-L4 II 10X Carbon Fiber Series II Tripod
This tripod is an excellent alternative to the RRS Versa series MK2 if you are looking for a high-quality tripod at a more reasonable price point. Supports up to 72 pounds and weighs 4 pounds.
SIRUI Waterproof Carbon Fiber Tripod ST124 Legs + K10X Ball Head
If you are looking for a great travel tripod with a budget-friendly price tag, this is my pick. This tripod also features waterproof twist leg locks, which is a bonus for landscape, wildlife, and seascape photographers. Supports up to 26 lbs.
Neewer 20” Aluminum Portable Desktop Mini Tripod
This little tripod was a find, and I had to laugh because it literally looks like someone shrunk a larger heavy-duty tripod. It is rather impressive considering it’s humble size and price, as it holds up to 11 lbs. I love this tripod for low-to-the-ground macro work and tabletop work, and I even attach my Westcott FJ 200 strobe or Nisi Macro rail to it on occasion.
Ball Heads
Really Right Stuff BH 40 Ball Head
Really Right Stuff TVC-24 Versa Series MK2 Carbon Fiber Tripod and this ball head combination is designed to support lenses up to 400mm. If you shoot with bigger glass, consider the BH-55 ball head listed below.
Really Right Stuff BH 55 Ball Head
This ball head is a good choice for photographers that shoot with 400mm or greater focal length lenses.
Acratech Panoramic and Tilt Head + Leveling Base
This Acratech panoramic head is a very interesting “ball head” that is worth checking out. It weighs less than a pound yet holds up to 25 lbs. You can use it as a ball head, shoot multi-row panoramas with it, and it makes for a rather decent gimbal too. The leveling base is also recommended. You can purchase the pano head and leveling base separately, but if you purchase them as a bundle on Amazon, you’ll save a few dollars.
Miscellaneous
This is another “nice-to-have” that turned into a must have for macro photography. It has removable legs for table-top usage, but the rail itself can be mounted directly on tripods with arca-swiss ball head clamps, which I think is really slick!