New member needs help

[lurechunker]

I am new to the forum and asking for help. Our granddaughter plays basketball and I would like to photograph her. I kayak and would like to photograph birds. Is the EOS 760D the camera for me? Other? What lens or lenses? How can I protect my equipment form damage from saltwater? Thank you.

[Waddizzle · Accepted solution]

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@lurechunker wrote:
My 80D with 18-55 from Canon store will arrive tomorrow. I think I made a mistake by not getting the 28-135. Should I leave the 18-55 in the box and send it back? I'd like to start with an "all-round" lens and one long enough for back yard birds.

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Do you mean 18-135, instead of 28-135?  The 18-135 lenses are pretty good.  BUT, they will likely cast a shadow when you try to use the flash.  I know that older 18-135mm lenses cast a major shadow on a T5, so I would expect a shadow on an 80D.  The 18-55mm lens has a 35mm equivalent of 29-88mm, which is pretty close to 24-70mm that is very popular for use with full frame camera bodies.

The  STM version of the 18-55mm is a really good lens.  I would hang on to it.  I can guarantee you that whatever plans you have for using the camera, you will find new scenarios to use it.  I would keep the 18-55mm, and pass on buying a 18-135, so that you can budget more money towards your birding lens.  If you can afford to do all of the above, then by all means, buy all of the lenses you want.

[lurechunker]

This is a GREAT forum. Opinions on MePHOTO Globetrotter tripod? Place to buy?

[Waddizzle]

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@lurechunker wrote:
This is a GREAT forum. Opinions on MePHOTO Globetrotter tripod? Place to buy?

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I like the MeFOTO brand.  But, I like the sister brands even better, Induro and Benro.  The MeFOTO tripod kits frequently do not come with a bag, but this tripod kit does.  Both Induro and Benro tripod kits will typically come with a bag, and I mean a high quality bag, too.

I like the Globetrotter tripod kit.  The ball head is detachable, which is good.  But, the head lacks a friction adjustment, which is a must have in almost any ball head.  My sole complaint is the lack of a friction adjustment in the ball head.  They do not give a model number for the head, which is another negative mark against it.  If you use a heavy lens, which most any super telephoto lens is on the heavy side, then having a friction adjustment is MUST have. 

A similarly priced by Benro, TAD28AIB2 Series 2 Adventure Aluminum Tripod with B2 Head, tripod includes a ball head that actually has a model name.  The Benro B2 ball head is a great head, and includes a friction adjustment  I own a Benro tripod, two Benro B3 Heads, a Benro V3 head, and a Benro monopod, and love them all.  I have bought B2 heads for my sons.  Benro also makes tripods that have a leg that detaches as a monopod, like the MeFOTO.

[Waddizzle]

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@lurechunker wrote:
This is a GREAT forum. Opinions on MePHOTO Globetrotter tripod? Place to buy?

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I make all of my online photo purchases through the Canon Online Store, or B&H PhotoVideo.  I have gone to Best Buy to purchase memory cards.  Best Buy seems to only carry plastic tripods, so I would not buy one from their.  

My one time online purchase through Best Buy was not a good experience, because the lens seemed to have been tampered with.  I had ordered the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens, which seems to have been missing the rubber o-ring on the mount that helps to make it weather resistant.  The result was the lens would rattle when mounted on a camera body.  I exchanged the lens, and it wasn't until I got my hands on a second lens that I realized that the first was missing the o-ring.

[jrhoffman75]

The Globetrotter carbon fiber model has a friction control on the tripod head.

[Waddizzle]

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@jrhoffman75 wrote:

The Globetrotter carbon fiber model has a friction control on the tripod head.

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Okay, the head seems to have a "drag control knob", or friction adjustment.  I was looking at the product description of the aluminum version at B&H, which made no mention of a friction control.  

In fact, the kit at B&H just may not have a friction control.  In my experience, some of their tripod kits can vary from seemingly identical kits sold at other outlets.  For example, I found a Manfrotto video tripod kit that I liked on the Manfrotto site.  The kit had a specific set of legs, and their 502 video head.  

I ordered a kit with the same legs and head through B&H, and what I received was different from the description of the tripod kit on the Manfrotto site.  I had not noticed that the Manfortto description said the head had a flat base, while the B&H description said the head had a 75mm bowl.  Manfrotto sells two versions of the head, and two versions of the tripod..  

[Waddizzle]

John, a second look at the illustiration notes that the drag control knob is "series 1 & 2 only", which seems to exclude "Globetrotter" models.

[jrhoffman75]

I have the Globetrotter carbon (Model C2350) and it has the friction control. head has ID MeFOTO Q2.

[Waddizzle]

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@jrhoffman75 wrote:

I have the Globetrotter carbon (Model C2350) and it has the friction control. head has ID MeFOTO Q2.

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That's interesting.  The description of the carbon fiber version at B&H has a near identical description of the head, and makes no mention of a friction knob.  I think it is a coin toss.  

Like I noted above, some B&H kits may differ slightly from kits sold through other outlets.  I say order it, and if the head lacks a friction adjustment, then send it back.  Controlling friction, or drag, is a MUST have in a ball head, and other types of heads, too.

[jrhoffman75]

Under the specs section for Globetrotter it says head has "Tension Control" which I would say is the friction control. The photo shows the two knobs.

As Waddizzle says, if it doesn't have the friction lock, send it back. It is an essential feature.

[ebiggs1]

If a zoom lens is what you really want go for either the Sigma 150-600mm C or the Tamron 150-600mm.  Even if you have to buy a used lens, do it.

Top choice is still the ef 400mm f5.6L, prime lens.  There may be a refurb, check it out."

One point, I don't know your budget but how many times do you want to buy this gear?  If you purchase what is being suggested by others, you will only buy the better more appropriate gear later.  So what is the cost of buying twice?  Why not get, or wait for, the right lenses and buy them once?

Another tip, tripods rarely wear out.  Plus name brand models can be rebulit if needed.  A candidate for a good used one.

You need a tripod for the camera/lens combo you intend to use.  Is it for the light weight kit gear or is it for the real deal lenses you will buy later on?  Because you will.

Think about it.