
What's goin' on 'ere then? Well, I'm amidst that amateur excitement again as a long duration without an essential photographic tool has finally come to an end. Although I've done some handheld shooting recently, it's barely been up to a standard fit for Flickr, let alone here, and the kinds of photography I've recently attempted have depended on steadiness that only now can I achieve. That's right, I finally paid the premium and got myself a tripod to last a lifetime (provided I don't lose it).
So I recently took delivery of a shiny new Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 tripod to go with the 496RC2 head that has sat, lonely in my wardrobe for months. But were the big bucks worth it? Ohhh yes! My countless hours of searching and comparison were validated as I extended its legs, pushing and pulling it with force, watching as it remained stock still. I can't believe I didn't make the investment sooner. If you're looking for a super-light, super-rigid tripod that can sit comfortably at head or ankle height with equal stability, you can't go wrong. Manfrotto, you own!
The picture you see here is a pano of four 10 second exposures, my 400D sat on the new tripod for its first proper use. The sun was nearly gone by this point, but with the boatyard lighting covering the path brightly from the left you'd almost think it was daytime.