J
jmvdigital
Guest
You guys might be interested in reading the following article. I never found anything else on the web strictly testing tripod stability and vibration. Markins has some testing info on their site, but not quite like this. That said, I still bought a Gitzo carbon tripod, albeit a much burlier one than in this test.
http://www.optiline.no/berlebach/images/stativtest_lfi1_2006.PDF
It's interesting to note that the 2 most expensive tripods did the worst in this test. Now granted, stiffness and weight holding ability are different than overall stability and vibration damping. I think the lightness of the carbon paired with the utmost stiffness did them in on these test, they just pop around on the cardboard, whereas as the wood just flexes and absorbs. Before you start complaining that you don't shoot on cardboard, alot of the surfaces you set up on are a lot less rigid than you might think. We've all felt that 12" concrete and steel second floor of the mall flex when a few people walk by. Food for thought.
I almost went for wood after reading this; I still believe it would provide better vibration damping than my massive CF pod, but damn that CF is sexy and easier to deal with.
http://www.optiline.no/berlebach/images/stativtest_lfi1_2006.PDF
It's interesting to note that the 2 most expensive tripods did the worst in this test. Now granted, stiffness and weight holding ability are different than overall stability and vibration damping. I think the lightness of the carbon paired with the utmost stiffness did them in on these test, they just pop around on the cardboard, whereas as the wood just flexes and absorbs. Before you start complaining that you don't shoot on cardboard, alot of the surfaces you set up on are a lot less rigid than you might think. We've all felt that 12" concrete and steel second floor of the mall flex when a few people walk by. Food for thought.
I almost went for wood after reading this; I still believe it would provide better vibration damping than my massive CF pod, but damn that CF is sexy and easier to deal with.