Which tripod?

[Boro]

Having just bought a new DSLR, I'm keen to get a decent tripod. Ideally one which will be stable enough on quite uneven surfaces. Have been looking at Manfrotto stuff.

Is that a good starting point?

[K12beano]

Boro said:

Is that a good starting point?

Yes!

In simple terms:

Any tripod is usually better than none at all.


Except if it's too crappy, cheap and unstable, it's too heavy to lug around, it's not tall enough for your needs or it's not man enough to take the weight you need it to!!!

Remember the head (type and quality) is just as important as the legs!

(My preference is heavy old Manfrottage legs with a RRS ball and L-bracket)

[Turn7]

My default answer to this perennial question is Red Snapper.

[tenohfive]

Worth looking on eBay for used Manfrotto tripods. The cheaper ones weigh a ton but the quality is unquestionable. I think I paid £40 for my Manfrotto tripod and head.

[RizzoTheRat]

Ended up with a Manfrotto 190 when looking for one for the Mrs last year. A bit heavy if you want to go hiking with it but light enough to go a suitcase on holiday and well built and stable
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=117...

[Malx]

I upgraded to a Redsnapper and could not be happier with it.
The head actually broke a few weeks ago but after a quick phone call a new one has arrived.

[The Jolly Todger]

I just bought a Manfrotto 055CXPro4

Expensive but incredibly sturdy, very light and very versatile.

Completely overkill for my needs but I like overkill.

[Boro]

Thanks guys, just looking at the Red Snapper stuff on their website. Can't see any that have a centre column that switches into the horizontal position though, or am I missing something?

[Simpo Two]

Mine (Manfrotto 055) has a centre column that detaches and can be fixed horizontally, but I don't find it a great asset. Slide it far enough out to be useful and the tripod topples. Rotate so there's a leg at the front and there's a leg in the shot. In practice, if I need to look straight down, I just use the tilt the head and then tilt the whole tripod forward a little by extending the rear leg. The weight of that leg helps to keep it stable.

[RobDickinson]

My 190 has that and in some situations its handy but not so much that I wanted it on my next

[budfox]

Very happy with my Manfrotto tripod and monopod. Neither cost a great deal, but they're very well made.

I take quite a few pics of events at my place of work, and bunging my camera on the end of my monopod on a five second timer allows me to get shots from above.



The technique is a bit hit and miss, requiring a wide lens, fairly small aperture and quite high ISO, but it does the job.

[CB2152]

I've just gone and picked up a Manfrotto MK293A3 with the head attachment I didn't want to go too high on price as I'm pretty inexperienced, but I need something to keep the camera steady for longer shutter openings.

It seems to be pretty good from what I've played around with so far, not quite as sturdy as the 190, but a bit lighter and easier to handle...

[ecsrobin]

I have a giottos after doing a lot of shopping around and just found it nicer than a manfrotto. A friend has been mincing through calumet tripods so don't go there. And the nicest tripod I've used is a three legged thing but the price matches the quality.

[Dan_1981]

Anyone got any views on this one?

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/cameras-camcorders/a...

Currently half price at pcworld if your local one has any left in stock...

[nellyleelephant]

Looks very lightweight. What would you be putting on it?

[Dan_1981]

D5000, nothing longer than a 70-300.

[photosnob]

It's junk. Had the displeasure of using one. Felt like it was doing to break... Moved around in wind, and generally I wasn't even comfortable with my 5diii and a 50mm 1.4 on it. Get a secondhand heavy one.