Colour of tripod legs - does it matter much?

[ilkka_nissila]

I've been thinking about buying a new tripod and I figured that if I want to take pictures of birds it would probably help if the tripod was not of the silver type, since it is more easily detected visually from the surroundings. I'm wondering about the new Manfrotto 055NAT, which has green top sections of the legs and even green heads are available. The middle column is black, as well as the thinner leg sections. I'm wondering if this makes much difference when compared with a plain black version, which is cheaper and even a little lighter. (In case you're not familiar with the NAT models, they also have spiked feet as standard, a carrying strap and leg warmers.)

 

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I have noticed that it helps to have relatively dark/brown clothes, to get closer to birds without causing a reaction. Hmm. Maybe I should have a white tripod in the winter? :-)

 

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Ilkka

[tiago silva]

Hi Ilkka

 

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Soon after buying a Manfrotto 190 (silver), I painted the legs in drab

green to avoid reflections. I had to dismount the leg sections and

used a compressor to obtain a thin homogenous layer.

 

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From field experience, the color does not seem to be relevant, though

the reflections from a set of aluminum tubes sure are more important.

So if I had bought the black 190 in the first place I would have

not chosen to paint it.

[barklays___]

Llkka

 

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Being a waterfowl hunter, I feel I know a bit about camouflage. The

difference between green & black tripod legs is minute,however if the

finish on the green is flat and the black is gloss then there's a

definite advantage to the green.

The main things birds see are movement and reflections, aviod these at

all times.

A wildlife photographer shouldn't even consider a silver tripod if a

dark one is available!

Your last comment on winter is a perfect example of good camo. As soon

as it snows we wear white coveralls over our regular hunting gear, use

white sheets in the blind and even white tape our shotguns! Winter's

definitely a case where color makes a difference.

Save your bucks on the black vs. green issue & spend them on a

sturdier(black)tripod or a better head.

[gary_watson]

Excuse my cynicism, but this new Manfrotto "G.I. Joe" line will

likely prove better at fooling customers than wildlife. Get a black

model, buy the spike foot kit, use foam pipe insulation on the legs,

and improvise a strap from a nylon web dog leash.

[bobatkins]

I think it's just another marketing strategy. Unless you, the

photographer, plus all your camera equipment, are dressed up in a

total camouflage outfit, whether your tripod is green or black would

seem to be an insignificant factor as far as wildlife is concerned.

Even if you are, I still don't think it makes any difference!

[rich_waite]

If you are in a situation where green vs. black tripod legs influences

the behavior of the subject(s) that you're shooting, then you are in a

very rare situation. 99.9% of wildlife will peg YOU before running

scared from your tripod legs. Of course, you don't want a shiny

tripod that radiates glare from the sun. A black tripod would be (and

is) my choice for wildlife, for what it's worth.

 

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Keep in mind that most birds have superb vision (much better than that

of humans). Unless you are working with tame animals or birds that

are accustomed to humans, you should wear camoflauge clothing (using a

pattern that best blends into the local terrain) from head to toe,

including a face mask and gloves to elimate glare from your face and

hands. Working from a good blind is an excellent way to get close

shots of reclusive birds with only moderate length lenses.

 

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It is the human form that most scares wildlife. I've found that it's

actually easier to get close to most species when standing or sitting

behind my camera and tripod, because the equipment helps break up my

outline. I've found that it's critical not to make quick movements

when wildlife is within camera range. Slow deliberate movements are

mandatory and head turns should follow the lead of your peripheral

vision.

 

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I purchased a big piece of camo netting from a local Walmart. I drap

this around myself and equipment when not using a blind. The clumping

of the materail around me seems to really help break up my outline.

 

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Good luck shooting!

 

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Rich

[drc]

Hi ilkka, your right, avoid the silver tripod at all costs, what you should look at is the muted or less reflective blacks or greens for your intended shooting. It sounds like the green tripod is "the flavour of the month" , therefore you will pay more to aquire it and it won't help you out any better in terms of it's camoflage ability than the similar toned black tripod.

[david_khoo]

Hi I1kka

If color is your concern well the nat055 does not make much of a

differnce when it comes to nature photography(i used a regular black

ones and now the nat055). You have noticed that it is 500grams

heavier than the regular 055 is because the nat055 uses slightly

thicker metal for its construction and double alan key nuts at all

top section joints of the tripod legs instead of one. The spike foot

attachment on the nat055 is much better and the spike does not come

off went planted in thick muddy areas. You have to ask yourself do

you really need those little extra gimmicks, and a slightly tougher

tripod compared to the 055b.

[don_baccus]

I've shot many, many birds with both an unpainted aluminum tripod and

with a black carbon fiber tripod, and have noticed NO difference in my

ability to get close.

 

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I don't pay much attention to hunting analogies, because when I shoot

birds I'm usually so close I could nail them with a rock. When you're

that close, unless you're in a blind, the bird knows you are there

and no amount of camo is going to change that fact. The hunter just

needs to fool the bird until its within shotgun range, the

photographer needs to get within a few feet of the subject.

 

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Unless you paint the front element of your telephoto camo. That's the

big problem. Even when shooting from a blind, birds become aware of

the big "eye" staring at them.

 

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I haven't painted the front element of my 600/4, though, because I've

heard it's difficult to shoot through opaque lenses...

[bobatkins]

Well I haven't painted the front elements of my lenses yet, but I do

have a couple of camo netting covers for the larger white Canon

telephotos. The main advantage is that it cuts down question from

curious bystanders rather than fooling critters into thinking I'm not

there, but even that's a useful function!

[don_baccus]

Hey, I like talking to curious bystanders. Two springs ago, a pair of

Cooper's hawks fledged three kiddies on Tektronix's main campus, a

rare nesting species in the Willamette species. I went out to shoot

them one AM, and at least fifty people stopped by to see what was

going on.

 

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By the time I was done, they knew more about raptor biology and

habitat needs than they know about their own job :)

 

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This has nothing to do with photography, of course, but hey, I

veiw every time someone comes up to me to ask question as a teaching

opportunity, one more blow in the cause of conservation...

[paal_jensen1]

I have the 055nat tripod. Its my lightweight tripod which I carry on

mountain tops an such. My Gitzo 500-series is slightly heavy for that

use. I don't think the color matter much, but it looks neat. The nice

thing is the spikes, something that shoud be standard on any tripod

for field use. The leg warmers are also great and seems far more

durable than the aftermarket thing you mount yourself. Time will tell.

I believe its worth the slight extra cost. Mine, BTW, came without a

strap.

 

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The nice thing about Manfrotto tripods is the locking system. The legs

are "loose" when they are not locked. In contrast, Gitzo tripods

relies on narrow tolerances with no play between the legs sections.

This means that if the legs get dented they jam. For someone like me

who carrys heavy tripods up steep mountains, even a 500 series tripod

with really thick metal don't survive long.

 

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As for color, I would me more concerned about the lens. Why only Nikon

is sensible enough to make their telephoto lenses black is beyond me

(I don't subscribe to the color/temperature theory. I believe white

and silver lenses are purely for cosmetic reasons).

[fero_bednar]

I have 055NAT also. It is great tripod. I think it is worth to pay a bit more for those nice things, such as carying strap, spiked feet, leg warmers, ... The only think I don't like is material used for knobs - plastic. I hope they are strength enough.

[p_l_jensen]

Actually, my Manfrotto 055 also lasted only one field season. Now one of the legs are bent so that the tripod don't retract fully. Still, its more durable than the Gizo which really is only usable indoors in studio settings.

I'm awaiting my first wooden tripod, a Berlebach, in a few days.

[p_l_jensen]

Also, my originally green Manfrotto 055nat is now shiny silver due to the fact that almost all of the paint is worn off. The legs are only painted not anodized, and the paint finish is not at all durable.