Eric D. Brown has been previously featured on this blog before, both as a gear reviewer and as a photographer.
This time, he presents another video review, comparing the Induro BHL3 to the Really Right Stuff BH-55. If you’ve ever shopped for tripod heads, you know choosing the right one can be tricky, especially when what you’re comparing seems so similar. This video lets you take a close, studied look at the two ballheads in order to identify what qualities set them apart.
We wrote about Eric D. Brown’s engineering approach to photography and related gear last winter. Looks like our old friend is still taking his Induro CT314 into the wild, and getting great results. Here’s a beautiful shot he took at the Antelope Slot Canyon earlier this year.
"Sands of Time" by Eric D. Brown
You can see more of Eric’s landscape and wildlife photography at his wide-ranging blog. Good luck on that doctorate dissertation, Eric!
“Those birds just don’t sit still for too long,” Eric D. Brown quips. In the last year, Brown has heavily focused on bird photography. Operating from his home in the Dallas suburb of Wiley, Brown has been been aiming his lenses at everything from doves on his backyard fence to Dark-Eyed Juncos at the Spring Creek Forest Preserve to stunning Great Blue Herons at Bob Woodruff Park.
©Eric D. Brown. Great Blue Heron, Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L, 1/250 sec., f/8.0, 400mm focal length, ISO 800.
“Bird photography has allowed me to become a better photographer,” Brown explains. “Anyone can take a picture of a bird, but to capture the detail and character of the bird is what I’m after.” The work Brown shares on his photography blog is testament to his rapidly emerging skills. “I’ve always been a very noncreative person,” declares Brown, an Oklahoma native and engineer by training. “I’m very analytical, and that’s coming into play in my photography. You have numbers and settings. You can play around with them and see what they do for you. It’s been a lot of fun for me.”
©Eric D. Brown. Male Cardinal, Canon EF 500mm f/4 L, 1/250 sec., f/7.1, focal length 500mm, ISO 400.
Shooting a Canon EOS 5D with a 24-105mm lens and a 7D sporting super telephoto lens, Brown’s workflow is all-digital. Now working as an IT consultant, Brown’s passion for photography was sparked by his wife Tracie, a professional portrait photographer , on their trip to Yosemite National Park. “On my first trip as a shooter, I stood next to her and took photos of what she took photos of,” Brown laughs.
©Eric D. Brown. Canon 24-105mm L, 1/1600 sec., f/5.6, focal length 24mm, ISO 400.
Being a wildlife photographer, Brown spends much of his time slogging out to isolated locations. Even moreso than a studio photographer, all aspects of his gear are examined and evaluated. That he is an engineer certainly doesn’t lower the criteria he uses as benchmarks. “I’m always walking with the Induro tripod slung over my shoulder, the camera and big lens attached, trudging through the fields and small woods we have here,” he says. “When I find a place I want to shoot, I just throw down the tripod in the mud, or whatever might be there. I level it off as best I can on uneven ground and grab some photos. It’s perfectly fine and there’s no stability problems at all.”
©Eric D. Brown. Gray Jay, Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L, 1/125 sec., f/8.0, focal length 400mm, ISO 400.
“I was out this weekend and had some mud on the seat of the tripod. It can get caked on there, but you just scape it off and it’s good to go,” says Brown. Currently shooting atop an Induro CT314 Carbon Fiber 8x tripod, which was a gift from his wife, Brown has gone so far as to write a detailed review of it on his blog. “I love the product. I’ve been out shooting with it for the last month and love the stability of the thing.”
©Eric D. Brown. Cormorant, Canon EF 500mm f/4 L, 1/640 sec., f/7.1, focal length 500mm, ISO 400.
“I shoot with incredibly big and heavy lenses. The platform needs to be very stable, whether I’m shooting birds 20 or 200 feet away,” Brown explains. “The slightest bit of tremor cause the picture to be unsharp, at the least. I don’t put any extra stabilization or weight under it at all.”
©Eric D. Brown. Female Cardinal, Canon EF 500mm f/4 L, 1/400 sec., f/4.0, focal length 500mm, ISO 400.
Brown’s choice of subject matter was enforced by his geographic location. “Being in Dallas, there’s not a lot of wildlife unless you drive a few hours,” he explains. “Birds, however, are everywhere here. They were a way to learn how to take a better picture because I could just go out in my backyard and photograph four or five different species. I’m always looking to shoot wildlife other than birds, though.”
©Eric D. Brown. Bull Elk, Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L, 1/200 sec., f/5.6, focal length 400mm, ISO 400.
Birds are not the only wildlife he photographs. “I love to shoot anything I can, but where I’m located, I’m largely focused on birds,” he says. Non-wildlife subjects raise other interests and shooting philosophies for Brown. “I don’t do any portrait photography. It’s more challenging for me to take a good photo of a person than of a bird. I do like architecture, though, but I haven’t had much of a chance to get out and learn how to do it properly.”
©Eric D. Brown. Grand Teton sunset, Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L, 1/1600 sec., f/5.6, focal length 400mm, ISO 1000.
In the future, Brown has his sights on something more difficult. “The thing I want to work on and get better at is birds in flight,” he says. “I’m pretty well-versed in them sitting in one place, but to get a sharp, clear composition of them flight is my next area to get into. I haven’t gotten one I’m happy with yet.”
©Eric D. Brown. Great Blue Heron, Canon EF 500mm f/4 L, 1/1250 sec., f/4.0, focal length 500mm, ISO 1000.
Brown is also interested in building up a workshop organization which will bring great photographers to teach Dallas-area shooters new skills. I used to teach, and I like doing it, so I think this might bring my passions together. My greatest contribution, though, will be more administrative, putting the entire thing together.” We wish him well, and look forward to hearing more news on his Dallas workshops and seeing those birds in flight.
Eric D. Brown’s Photography Minute
Wow, this week has a theme- great Induro reviews by real folks. Eric Brown of Photography Minute wrote to say he’s pleased with his new CT314, and thought I’d share a bit of his review. Complete with pictures! Take it away, Eric:
I’ve been looking for a good carbon fiber tripod. What I found was the Induro CT314 Carbon Fiber 8X Tripod….and I’m glad I found it.
Initial Thoughts on The Induro CT 314:This tripod is solid! The legs are solid. The leg locks are solid. The center column lock is solid. Everything is solid on this tripod. The tripod is rated to hold 39.6 lbs, which should be enough to hold any tripod head + camera / lens combo. I found no slipping or wavering on this tripod like I had on my previous tripod. The leg locks are solid and, while not the same design as some other well regarded leg locks, they feel just as solid.
HeightThe tripod will get tall (for you tall folks) and will get low for those of you who are into macro and/or if you are looking to change the perspective of your photographs.
I took a few minutes to run the tripod through all of its configurations so you can see how low and high it can go..take a look at the photographs below:
Induro CT314 8X Tripod at its lowest point
Induro CT314 8X Tripod after unfolding
Induro CT314 Tripod with all legs extended
Induro CT314 Tripod all legs and center column extended
Changing Leg Angles
One of the interesting features of this tripod is the locking mechanism for changing the angle of the legs. The locking mechanism is easy to use and provides great support. Below is a photo of the locking mechanism pulled out in preparation for changing the angle of the leg. To change the angle of the leg, you pull the leg in a bit and then pull the leg angle lock out and place the leg at the predetermined angle (24 degrees, 55 degrees and 80 degrees) and then push the leg angle lock back into place. This approach seems much more stable (and easier to use) then the one on my old tripod.Induro CT314 Tripod leg angle lock
Column Locking Mechanism
While I’ve never been a huge fan of columns on tripods (I’ve always thought they took away from the stability), the column on the CT 314 is solid and the column lock is as solid and easy to untighten/tighten as I’ve seen (a photo is below). The center column is grooved, which keeps it from turning while using the tripod.
Induro CT 314 Center Column Lock
I’m told that there is a short column for use with this tripod but I’m pretty happy with this one so far.
Features
- Wide Stance Cross-braced Magnesium Alloy Spider provides ultimate core system stability
- Extra Long Grooved Center Column extended camera positioning without unwanted column rotation
- Full Width Leg Locks maximum support at any angle
- Dust and Moisture Resistant Ergonomic Rubber Grip Leg Locks ensure an easy positive 1/2 turn all-weather lock
- Interchangeable Rubber Feet and Stainless Steel Spikes in Carbon Fiber mount provide the right contact on any surface or terrain
- Slip Resistant Top Plate with Reversible Tripod Head Mounting Screw assures compatibility with virtually any tripod head
- Spring Loaded Weight Hook allows additional weight mounting stability during windy conditions
- Oversized Center Column Lock adds vibration reducing structural support
- Non-Rotating Carbon Fiber Leg Sections offer quick and easy setup
- Reversible Locking Center Column allows low angle shooting (optional ballhead not included)
- Adjustable Leg Angles with Lock accommodates uneven surfaces and awkward shooting situations
- Integral Bubble Level allows adjustment to prevent uneven pans and tripod head movements
- Triple Closed Cell Comfort Grip provides comfortable handling during cold or hot outdoor conditions
- Double Threaded Accessory Mount fits wide range of accessories (optional PocketWizard and bracket not included)
Weight 5 lbs (2.3 kg)
Includes Deluxe carry case, strap, toolkit
Warranty 2 years (+3 Online = 5 total)Conclusion
This is a great tripod for anyone looking for a sturdy professional level carbon fiber tripod. I would easily recommend this tripod (or any other Induro tripod) to any photographer out there…great tripods and great prices.
Thank you so much for this thorough review, Eric! Let’s check out some of your bird pictures, they’re fab (I especially love this cardinal.)
