If anyone is looking for a new Manfrotto tripod & head, there is a $25/$50 rebate if you buy the legs & head together. Although the rebate is hosted at Adorama, I contacted Bogen and they indciated the rebate is valid at any authorized retailer. This is considered an entry-level pro tripod, and is considerably better than the $5 Sears tripod or the $10 Sunpak.

I went with the 488RC2 head and 055XPROB legs... THAT is a $275 setup - $25 MIR. This type of setup should support up to 17lbs, so this should work for most DSLR setups.

You get a $25 rebate if you buy aluminum legs & head together
You get a $50 rebate if you buy carbon legs & head together

PDF Rebate /edit/ For some reason FW appends &kbid=62898 to the link... either remove it in the new window, or copy & paste this link- http://www.Adorama.com/pdfs/rebates/Bogen_063008.pdf

Dealer Link

I hope this helps someone! I was on the fence for a nice tripod and was looking at this setup anyways. After finding this rebate on a photo site, it sealed the deal for me.

T&C:

This rebate is valid on all Manfrotto tripods and heads excluding the table top, Digi, Modo and National Geographic tripods and the 482, 484 series, 3025, 3028, 3232, 3229, 056, 234, and 234RC heads purchased between March 1st and June 30th, 2008.

/edit/ Rebate has expired... Expiring thread!

/edit2/ Rebate has been extended to 8/31! Thx b0ndboy! Rebate @ Bogen Website

In my experience, it's rare to find deals on Bogen products, so I appreciate the heads-up on the rebate.

PhDeez -- doesn't the $25 MIR apply to your purchase, since the $50 MIR applies to carbon tripods?

Sweet! This is really going to help as I'm actually in the market to buy a nice tripod right now.

I've been shooting for some time now, but didn't want to spend the several hundred bucks for a tripod and head until recently. My experience with tripods is limited, but I want something that I can keep for a long time. From what I've been reading, it seems carbon fiber is the way to go now. Can someone with experience recommend a tripod and head combo eligible for this rebate? Totaling around $500 would be nice.

PhDeez said:ggunee said:Sweet! This is really going to help as I'm actually in the market to buy a nice tripod right now.

I've been shooting for some time now, but didn't want to spend the several hundred bucks for a tripod and head until recently. My experience with tripods is limited, but I want something that I can keep for a long time. From what I've been reading, it seems carbon fiber is the way to go now. Can someone with experience recommend a tripod and head combo eligible for this rebate? Totaling around $500 would be nice.

I think the biggest question is what are you putting on it? How much weight, what does it need to do, what are you going to use it for?

D300 w/ usually a 12-24mm or 18-200mm (so I guess around ~1400g) for mostly night shooting and I guess landscape once in a while.

I like the grip action heads - bogen has a vertical and a horizontal I believe. I actually use a pistol grip style from slik.

Green for OP! Bogen/Manfrotto makes good stuff at many price levels. Their fluid heads for video are smooth and competitively priced. That said, unless you have to have new and/or carbon fiber (which I would never buy used since you don't know what kind of abuse it's been through), tripods and heads are almost always a good buy on the used market (think big auction website). Tripods can turn mediocre still shots into great shots because they force you to slow down and consider your composition and camera settings. I have 7 tripods--2 Slik, 1 Leitz Tiltall, 3 Bogen, 1 Linhof (beautifully made but really kind of mediocre in use). Happy Shooting!

Anyone have any deals or recommendations on a good monopod? We're traveling to Europe this summer and I'd rather not take my heavy Bogen tripod with me.

Thanks

PhDeez said:ggunee said:PhDeez said:ggunee said:Sweet! This is really going to help as I'm actually in the market to buy a nice tripod right now.

I've been shooting for some time now, but didn't want to spend the several hundred bucks for a tripod and head until recently. My experience with tripods is limited, but I want something that I can keep for a long time. From what I've been reading, it seems carbon fiber is the way to go now. Can someone with experience recommend a tripod and head combo eligible for this rebate? Totaling around $500 would be nice.

I think the biggest question is what are you putting on it? How much weight, what does it need to do, what are you going to use it for?

D300 w/ usually a 12-24mm or 18-200mm (so I guess around ~1400g) for mostly night shooting and I guess landscape once in a while.

For 3 lbs, this should do... comes to $400 w/ free shipping + $50 rebate from Bogen:

190MF4 with the 322RC2 grip action head. If you have Amazon prime, grab it there for $404. I think the rule of thumb is you want your tripod/head to support twice the weight of your gear. This setup should support 8.8lbs [limit is on the legs], so around 4.5 with no issue.

disclaimer: I am not a tripod/head expert. Check camera forums [ie: Fred Miranda and POTN] for more in-depth information.

Thanks, PhDeez. I'm going to have to do a little more research for the legs, but that head seems like the winner so far.

I got whole thing from Amazon last week. I think I am eligible for the rebate.

ggunee said:PhDeez said:ggunee said:PhDeez said:ggunee said:...Totaling around $500 would be nice.

I think the biggest question is what are you putting on it? How much weight, what does it need to do, what are you going to use it for?

D300 w/ usually a 12-24mm or 18-200mm (so I guess around ~1400g) for mostly night shooting and I guess landscape once in a while.

For 3 lbs, this should do... comes to $400 w/ free shipping + $50 rebate from Bogen:

190MF4 with the 322RC2 grip action head. If you have Amazon prime, grab it there for $404. I think the rule of thumb is you want your tripod/head to support twice the weight of your gear. This setup should support 8.8lbs [limit is on the legs], so around 4.5 with no issue.

disclaimer: I am not a tripod/head expert. Check camera forums [ie: Fred Miranda and POTN] for more in-depth information.

Thanks, PhDeez. I'm going to have to do a little more research for the legs, but that head seems like the winner so far.

Only reason I suggested the 190MF4 is because it is a 4 segment tripod instead of 3 and is smaller for travelling. I would take into consideration any future lenses you might buy and plan accordingly.