Approaching The Scene 270: Tripod Maintenance Tips + Cool New Claws & Spikes
(LINKS BELOW): After running our Oregon Coast workshop this year, I realized most photographers could use a little lesson on keeping their tripods in tip top shape when working in rough conditions. This video covers that as well as providing some tips to work more efficiently with your tripod. I also announce some cool new tripod feet available in our store and explain why and how you’d want to use them.
Gear maintenance and sensor cleaning course: bit.ly/SnsrClean
Vibra-Tite VC-3 thread treatment: amzn.to/3PF8BbA
¼” stainless claws (fits featherweight 255): bit.ly/14TFCHHP
¼” stainless spikes (fits featherweight 255): bit.ly/14TFSHHP
⅜” titanium claws (12g fits most tripods): bit.ly/TiClawsHHP
Our selection of Kase filters: bit.ly/HHKase
My custom tripods & support parts: bit.ly/HHPTripds
Our selection of NYA-EVO packs & RCIs: bit.ly/HHP_NYA
Updated links to all the gear I use and recommend: bit.ly/HudsonsLinks
Using my links helps support this video series. Thank you!
I invite all of you to join Rick, Woody, David, Darren and me for our next free live Office Hours session. Submit a question when you sign up.
Office Hour signup site: bit.ly/2UgDaX4
Thanks to everyone for the great questions you are sending in. Keep them coming either in the comments below or by emailing me directly. I hope to see you in the next Office Hours session.
Stay safe and healthy.
LINKED TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Intro to ATS 270
02:25 New claws & spikes for tiny ¼” legs including my featherweight 255
03:55 How & why to use spikes in sand
06:20 Why even a shorter person will love tall tripod legs
07:40 How & why to use claws in other outdoor situations
08:55 Our new ⅜” titanium claws weight just 12g each!
10:55 How to keep your feet snugly attached (Vibra-Tite)
15:00 How & why I use my nodal rail to balance my camera
17:28 Working pan & tilt heads with longer lenses
19:15 Why everyone should be using a stone bag
20:30 Tips to use & protect your tripod in saltwater
22:40 Cleaning and greasing leg locks
26:50 My tall fluid head 324CL build is a dream camera support
29:15 My Ultralite 284CEX build is a solid, but light pan & tilt
30:35 My Featherweight 255CEX is solid, and durable, but tiny
32:15 When I use which tripod
@leofotousa @KaseFiltersGlobal @nikonusa @desmondphotographic734
Thank you very much for your informative videos. I'm someone who studied photography, worked at a famous architectural studio in Chicago and then moved to Germany and started a whole new career not involving a camera. Because of life's way, I haven't made pics in some 15 years but now I'm getting back in to it with a used Sony A7III and some lenses. I recently got a Leo LS-324c with LB-75s, VH-30R, Leofoto 180mm Rail and double clamp plus some long spikes and rock claws to supplement my ancient and very heavy Gitzo 1320 and Manfrotto geared head - I was a 4x5 guy back in the day. This is my "budget ultralight" version (I have three growing kids) of your Acratech Pan Head with Kirk rail kit to travel with. So far I am loving this system. Upcoming is a family trip to Finnish Lapland for the Northern Lights and I thank you again for the innovative, insightful and well-thought out way of doing things.
Welcome back. It's a fun new world of tools. :)
Anytime anybody on photo forums I frequent ask about tripods, I always link them to you and some of your videos. I don’t know how many have actually gone through with purchases but they’re crazy not to in my opinion! Excellent guidance and advice as always! There is a new tripod from YC Onion called Pineta Peak that has a mechanism to raise and lower the tripod legs just like Sachtlers Flowtech tripods. Would love to see Leofoto adopt it to their tripods lineups as the YC Onion is too short and hopefully maintain the same quality and robustness.
Being new to using tripods your content is a revelation. Its a gear jungle out there so thank you so much Hudson! Since I need a light system I opted for a rather new tripod; the Leofoto LG-284C "Gabriel". You should really check this model/series out since it is a merge of the Leofoto Q and Athena "saltwater" series; the best of two worlds, maybe?). When I go to NY in May (My first trip to the US) I will probably get the Akratech Panoramic head. If your store was in NY I would visit and support. But Living in Denmark within the EU I try to avoid import since its about 25-30% in fees and extra costs. Anyway thank you very much for all the tips and tricks and advice on gear. Simply put they make my experience with photography better.
Thanks for the upgrade for my Q2
Great video as always. We just got back from Oregon (Cannon Beach and Newport) and had a blast. Just went through and cleaned up the tripod and got to use the claw feet I ordered from you. Worked super good and way sturdier than RRS ball feat. We ate the restaurants you talked about on the other video. Great food and we always try to support the local economy vs the chain restaurants etc. Almost forgot I see you have color bands on the tripod legs, any reason. Keep the info coming
I was wondering about the colour bands on the legs too? Great video, thanks Hudson. Cheers Dave.
We're running a workshop in Moab now. There's 8 folks with tripods just like mine in El Jefe (our sprinter). Those color bands help me know which is mine. 😂
Could you do a video on cleaning the Nikon Z9 sensor..thanks so much!! Love the channel
Great suggestion!
Rock claws are like bikinis. The smaller they get, the more expensive they become! 🙂 Really mixed about the Vibra-Tite VC-3. I completely get the application, but the opportunity for dirt and grit to get gummed up into that seems awfully high. As always Hudson, great video.
Nah, it's snugged into threads and very firm when dry. It's not sticky. Besides, you shouldn't be pulling feet and dropping them in dirt. A little zip lock or better yet a think tank organizer bag like I use will keep them nice and clean with the thread grip on there.
Any suggestion(s) for maintenance of the actual leg sections? I have 1 leg whose sections take more effort to slide open and close. There is more resistance than the other legs' sections. Lubricating the sections is not a feasible option. Thank you and keep these wonderful videos coming.
Clean with genlte soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly. That's usually an indicator contaminates got inside the legs past the leg locks (saltwater is the worst).
Have you tried the Leofoto BV-20 Fluid head?
I wish I liked Leos heads. The answer is yes, but I find it quite frustrating and way too heavy. The Manfrotto 500AH remains by far the best performance, quality and build balance for those of us doing still or hybrid work these days. But far. As great and innovative as Leofoto's legs and leveling adapters are, I am consistently dissapointed by the quality and design of their heads. Like totally different companies...
Great video Hudson. Thanks. A couple quick questions ... 1. Sometimes I travel light, with just carry-on. Have you ever had any issues with tripods with the spike feet in your carry-on going through airport security (even with the new ones where you can put the rubber feet on the spikes)? 2. I have noticed that your main tripod's legs are colour coded with different coloured tape on each leg. Is there a significance to the different colours?
Ive never in my life travelled carry on only. I always check the legs. The colors let me know which of the 9 identical rigs is mine on workshops.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto thanks. Have fun in Moab!
How do you attach a tripod with rock claws to your backpack? The feet are so sharp they’d chew right through my bag, I’m always so scared to do it so I always end up keeping the feet off until I get to where I’m going. I’m thinking about some sort of thick plastic cup for the bottom that they’d fit in.
I use my NYA-EVO bag's side compression straps and keep the claws slightly below the bag. No issue at all. :)
Hey Brother - another awesome vid. I appreciate your content. Question…I often travel with just carryon. Sometimes with just my Q2. Otherwise my Nikon Z body. I have two tripods. The bigger fluid head setup AMD the Ultralight rig with Acratech pan/tilt. Do you think the featherweight would be overkill?
It's made for that use case. You'd love it. :)
I have your ultra light tripod with the acratech head and lately I have had issues with the leveling adapter getting sticky and difficult to level. Is there something I can do to get that moving better ? Thanks Hudson, great channel!
Email me and I'll get you in touch with the Leofoto distributor. You're the first of hundreds to report that and mine has never had an issue. Could be a rare defect or something. He's super responsive and will help you out. hi@hudsonhenry.com
Hey Hudson, We've talked a couple times in the past. This is Travis from Wyoming Camera Outfitters in Jackson Wyoming. Hey man, Do you have a line of communication open with Leofoto? I have a design idea for these spikes and claws that I would like to get to someone over there.
Email me Travis. hi@hudsonhenry.com