I'm in the market for a new tripod. The rickety, low-priced one I have is awkward and unsteady. I don't need to purchase a $1,000 Bogen professional rig, I just need a good, sturdy, easy-to-use, durable tripod. I'm fairly short (5'3", or about 160 cm) so I probably don't need one that extends to accommodate a basketball player. What do you use, do you like it, and why? Thanks!
Vanguard off ebay, a big range, pick the one you can afford. Super ace. its lightweight and perfect. Mine is a vt158 model but its a few years old. I reckon its worth about $70, ish??
Regardless of what you find, make sure that it's steady. CHeaper ones are lighter and flimsier and won't do their purpose well. Do you have a mount as well? Sometimes it's worth the extra work to assemble the ball mount to the tripod itself.
After years of using and cursing my flimsy tripod my husband made me get a decent tripod. I didn't feel I really need one, after all it is just something to hold my camera. I finally broke down and got a new one. Why I waited so long is beyond me. I just love having a decent tripod. Here is what I have: Gitzo T2531 with a Really Right Stuff ball head. The tripod is pretty light weight while being pretty sturdy. I use it in the wind all the time with not problems. But what I really love is the ball head with the L plate. My camera just snaps on and off and the ball head is so WONDERFUL! You just loosen the knob and twirl the cameras to the position you want. You can also change for landscape to portrait with a quick release and snap back on. I have never bee frustrated with it and it makes shooting with a tripod a pleasure.
Down side: 1.) Expense. I think I paid about 1200 us dollars for the tripod, head and plate. 2.) The plate screws onto the camera and stays there, so it add extra weight to the camera all the time, not just when using a tripod. You have to get a plate for each cameras you will us on the tripod. Currently I only use my main camera on it.
Here is the website for Really Right Stuff: reallyrightstuff.com/
they now do tripods also. One of my friends has the tripod too and like it. They had not released their tripods when I purchased mine or I probably would have bought theirs instead of the Gitzo. However I really like my Gitzo.
Ok my $.02. If you plan to really stick with photography don't go cheap with the tripod. I've got a graveyard of tripods cause I always went cheap. My last purchase as a vanguard 263-about $175 after rebates. I was told by a pro with 30 plus years of experience don't do it but I didn't listen. The deal seemed too good. It's an incredibly versatile tripod and I love the features but I've had to send it in for warranty repair only after 1.5 months of owning it. One of the legs got loose and couldn't be tightened. They sent me another one. I've had the replacement for a month and one of the legs seems loose now;tightening it doesn't work. I don't abuse it at all. There is no means for the consumer to get to the broken part. Sending it in costs me about $20 shipping. Before I give up I may see what the vendor will do since I do not have any confidence in this particular model anymore. Vanguards customer service is really good and I hope for a positive resolution to my tripod problems. I am currently on the hunt for a good manfrotto tripod.
Try and get to a store with a wide choice just to try out what's write for you.no point in having a really nice,solid tri pod if you end up leaving it at home because you can't lug it around. I have a slik street because I found it very easy and quick to set up its small and light the ball head us very simple and small compared to trigger style grips and It's sturdy enough for the size of camera I use.I still find its easy to get in a flap using a tripod because people think you must be a good photographer so get something you feel happy using. Good luck : )
I have a manfrotto with a ball head. Didn't pay lots and it seems very sturdy (but I admit I don't use it a ton due to mostly doing moving nature stuff!). Do like the ball head with the L plate. Easy on and off.
I also have a Manfrotto, very sturdy but a tad on the heavy side for hiking. I also have a 3 way head and if I every upgraded I would probably opt for ball head. I cant see me upgrading any time soon though as it is quite a sturdy bit of equipment. I think I paid about $300 AUS for it! And I am a little shorter than you and it is an ideal height for me!
I have a slik dx700, it is a real sturdy tripod, but the downside is that it is quite heavy. In hindsight the dx500 might have been the better option. I have also changed the 3way pan head to a ball head. Love the circular quick release plate the slik have
@chewyteeth@emsabh@catwhiskers@lynne3804@kellc@lynnb@godders@brianl@mrmilner Thanks to everyone for sharing your experience and observations concerning tripods. If I've learned anything from posting my question and then watching a few "How to Choose a Tripod" videos on YouTube it is that there are WAY more brands out there than I knew of. I have some better ideas now of features that matter to me, and I also plan to stay well within my budget ($1,000+ for a tripod? Not gonna happen.).
I visited one camera shop today, they carry Induro and ProMaster tripods. The rickety one I have now is a very low-end ProMaster, so I won't be going down that road. My monopod is a Slik; this store didn't sell Slik products. I stopped in another store (a large computer/electronics retailer), but everything they had (Manfrotto, and maybe a couple others) were all in boxes so there was no touching and "test driving" allowed. The search will continue tomorrow.
@lynnb Lynn, that's true. But I'll give them a pass today because they were quite busy, and they are a large computer/electronic retailer. Their "digital imaging" section is a small part of the whole. I've bought several things there, including a laptop within the past month, and they're generally helpful and knowledgeable. I think today it was just a matter of it being a very busy Saturday.
One day earlier this week I walked into a camera/photography store after work and indicated I was there to look at tripods. From behind the counter, the young clerk pointed and said "They're over there," and that was all the attention I received. I went "over there," and all the tripods were firmly bolted, in closed positions, to a rack. I could touch them, but I couldn't open, extend, lift, or "play" with them. There were no other customers in this store when I walked in, just two young clerks behind the counter engrossed in their smartphones.
I suspect I'll be ordering a tripod from the Internet; it's just a matter of making a decision and going for it. :)
It's VERY sturdy and light weight, and can support something like 13 lbs. It has a ball head, and yes, it is a tall one, but I am only 5ft 1 inch and I just don't set it up tall. It came with a very nice case with a shoulder strap, for those nature hikes, and it only costs $40. I expect to be using this tripod for many years to come.
One of my friends has a Monfrotto with a ball head and really likes it. I think she only paid about 300 for it. I don't know if that is still out of your budget, but if not it is a nice tripod and has the ballhead.
I have a Monfrotto - purchased a few months ago and it is a huge improvement on my rickety old one. The main driver for me was that I had bought a 70 - 200 lens and the old tripod couldn't hold it. I could have purchased a cheaper tripod that could have carried the lens - but it was made of plastic and the moving parts would wear very quickly. I decided to pay extra and build in some redundancy.. (ie: if I buy a heavier lens). As for the height issue.. it means that you often don't need to extend the bottom (thinner) part of the legs - which means increased stability.
I have to chime in again. Get this one http://www.adorama.com/BG190CX3.html. I'm going to be ordering it soon. You can adjust the center post horizontal.
A tripod head will cost some more but at least you'll have something that will last a long time.
Mine's a Manfrotto 190D set of aluminium legs, with the monster #029 3-way head. Very good, but heavy. If I were to buy now, I'd go for the 055XPROB with the 498RC2 ball head on account of lighter weight, speedier adjustment and the tilting column. But I'm quite content, and I'd miss the hexagonal quick release plate which is an absolute boon. Giottos look like a good bet too.
I have a manfrotto MKC3-H01 it's light and sturdy and well made. I have a Canon 60d with battery grip and a Sigma 18-200mm on it and no problem with the weight, it has a pistol grip which I love because you can set it up real quick in any direction also has a lock button so you can use it as a video tripod for smooth panning etc.
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Down side: 1.) Expense. I think I paid about 1200 us dollars for the tripod, head and plate. 2.) The plate screws onto the camera and stays there, so it add extra weight to the camera all the time, not just when using a tripod. You have to get a plate for each cameras you will us on the tripod. Currently I only use my main camera on it.
Here is the website for Really Right Stuff: reallyrightstuff.com/
they now do tripods also. One of my friends has the tripod too and like it. They had not released their tripods when I purchased mine or I probably would have bought theirs instead of the Gitzo. However I really like my Gitzo.
I visited one camera shop today, they carry Induro and ProMaster tripods. The rickety one I have now is a very low-end ProMaster, so I won't be going down that road. My monopod is a Slik; this store didn't sell Slik products. I stopped in another store (a large computer/electronics retailer), but everything they had (Manfrotto, and maybe a couple others) were all in boxes so there was no touching and "test driving" allowed. The search will continue tomorrow.
One day earlier this week I walked into a camera/photography store after work and indicated I was there to look at tripods. From behind the counter, the young clerk pointed and said "They're over there," and that was all the attention I received. I went "over there," and all the tripods were firmly bolted, in closed positions, to a rack. I could touch them, but I couldn't open, extend, lift, or "play" with them. There were no other customers in this store when I walked in, just two young clerks behind the counter engrossed in their smartphones.
I suspect I'll be ordering a tripod from the Internet; it's just a matter of making a decision and going for it. :)
http://www.amazon.com/Polaroid-PLTRI72S-Includes-Additional-Camcorders/dp/B004M184J2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1345346940&sr=8-4&keywords=polaroid+tripod
http://www.amazon.com/Dolica-AX620B100-62-Inch-Proline-Tripod/dp/B001D60LG8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1345350166&sr=8-3&keywords=tripod
It's VERY sturdy and light weight, and can support something like 13 lbs. It has a ball head, and yes, it is a tall one, but I am only 5ft 1 inch and I just don't set it up tall. It came with a very nice case with a shoulder strap, for those nature hikes, and it only costs $40. I expect to be using this tripod for many years to come.
A tripod head will cost some more but at least you'll have something that will last a long time.