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Giottos MH-1001 Tripod Head with MH 652 Quick Release Plate

Giottos MH-1001 Tripod Head with MH 652 Quick Release Plate
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Ed Hotchkiss

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I have used tripods for many years, particularly for shooting waterfalls and night photography. I believe the most important feature is the mounting head to attach the camera. Of all the ones I’ve used, I found the Giottos MH-1001 does everything I need. It’s a ball head which means you can swivel the camera in a wide array of motions. It has a two-knob system to tighten the camera and then to lock it. By doing this, you are not likely to let it slip. It’s very stable and can handle any lens except for the very long ones used for wildlife and sports photography. This lens is discontinued but used ones are widely available from $50 to $100. At this price range, it’s an excellent value.

I only recommend photo equipment that I own and have used for years. There’s always a new model or technology emerging, but I stick to gear that consistently enables me to take the photos I like when traveling. B&H is an excellent place to buy used and new photo and video equipment. Ebay is always a place to search for used models, but carefully check the seller’s reputation. I find the photo equipment reviews of Ken Rockwell to be helpful if I need to take a deep dive in technical specifications. A super resource on photo enhancement software and techniques is Robin Whalley. If you would like to discuss equipment options, contact me here.