Best tripod for under £100
Discussion
Firstly, I'm sorry! I know there have been a few of these threads but I searched for tripod and it gave me three pages of results and none of them were relevant.
I've had enough of my s
tty light weight tripod. It wobbles in the wind, the head is no longer secure and it can't go portrait. I want a decent tripod but my budget is limited! Even if it is second hand on eBay, I'm not bothered, but can I get a little advice on a tripod/head for under £100 please?
Much love fellow 'togs.
I've had enough of my s
tty light weight tripod. It wobbles in the wind, the head is no longer secure and it can't go portrait. I want a decent tripod but my budget is limited! Even if it is second hand on eBay, I'm not bothered, but can I get a little advice on a tripod/head for under £100 please?Much love fellow 'togs.
Speed addicted said:
Redsnapper do one for about £60 with a head that's pretty decent, you can get a better head for a bit more too.
I haven't tried other makes but it's stable and easy to put up and change.
Ah ok sounds good. Is it this one per chance?I haven't tried other makes but it's stable and easy to put up and change.
http://www.redsnapperuk.com/camera-accessories/RS-...
That's the one, I have that and the bigger version (very stable but flippin massive). That head feels a little flimsy compared to the one I got with the bigger tripod http://www.redsnapperuk.com/camera-accessories/RSH...
but as it was £2 more thn buying the tripod alone I thought it would make a good spare.
but as it was £2 more thn buying the tripod alone I thought it would make a good spare.
Best tripod I have bought so far is this one: Manfrotto MKC3-H01
£49 from Jessops etc.
For a small tripod, it is absolutely rock solid and sturdy which is reasonably important as I do a bit of HDR and long exposure cityscapes etc.
Can't believe how much more sturdy it is than my old lightweight Velbon tripod! The difference is night and day. The Velbon would actually wobble while you gently changed the settings on the camera to get the next HDR shot. Very poor.
Probably more important to me than the sturdy build is the very light weight and the size it folds down to, easily fits inside (or clips to the side of) a normal rucksack or slingshot camera bag. Seen as how a lot of my stuff is walking around and climbing over walls etc this was really important to me, as was the ability to drop it into a rucksack and not look like I was wandering around carrying camera gear.
The thumb wheel adjustment and 3D movement head on it is genius. On all my other tripods you have to slacken off and retighten 3 or 4 different wheels for up/down, left/right, tilt and portrait... pain in the arse and slow. With this, you just roll the wheel with your thumb and every direction is loose, point camera the right way then push the thumbwheel and it is locked solid in all directions again.
Combine that with the quick release bits that you keep on the camera for easy snapping on and off the tripod and its the best £49 I spent!
and a photo of it lying on my desk to show the size:
£49 from Jessops etc.
For a small tripod, it is absolutely rock solid and sturdy which is reasonably important as I do a bit of HDR and long exposure cityscapes etc.
Can't believe how much more sturdy it is than my old lightweight Velbon tripod! The difference is night and day. The Velbon would actually wobble while you gently changed the settings on the camera to get the next HDR shot. Very poor.
Probably more important to me than the sturdy build is the very light weight and the size it folds down to, easily fits inside (or clips to the side of) a normal rucksack or slingshot camera bag. Seen as how a lot of my stuff is walking around and climbing over walls etc this was really important to me, as was the ability to drop it into a rucksack and not look like I was wandering around carrying camera gear.
The thumb wheel adjustment and 3D movement head on it is genius. On all my other tripods you have to slacken off and retighten 3 or 4 different wheels for up/down, left/right, tilt and portrait... pain in the arse and slow. With this, you just roll the wheel with your thumb and every direction is loose, point camera the right way then push the thumbwheel and it is locked solid in all directions again.
Combine that with the quick release bits that you keep on the camera for easy snapping on and off the tripod and its the best £49 I spent!
and a photo of it lying on my desk to show the size:
You truly are a top bloke, have an internet beer on me 
Last question: it says that the max load is 1.5kg. That seems a little on the light side. My grip/100mm lens is nearly 2kg I think. However, you've got a battery grip on and it looks fine. Do you ever feel like it's struggling under the weight?
Last question: it says that the max load is 1.5kg. That seems a little on the light side. My grip/100mm lens is nearly 2kg I think. However, you've got a battery grip on and it looks fine. Do you ever feel like it's struggling under the weight?
I think the weight limit is conservative!
Some scientific proof for you
My girlfriend gave me a funny look as I walked past with the scales!
With battery grip and the very heavy all-metal Tokina 11.16 F2.8:
and:
The thumb wheel that holds the whole movement of the head still felt like it needed pressing tight a little more firmly with the 80-200 on it, but it certainly holds ok once set.
The actual tripod isn't bothered by the weight at all, its the leverage on the head making it 'fall forward' that might be the problem once you get over 2kg on it.
Some scientific proof for you
My girlfriend gave me a funny look as I walked past with the scales!
With battery grip and the very heavy all-metal Tokina 11.16 F2.8:
and:
The thumb wheel that holds the whole movement of the head still felt like it needed pressing tight a little more firmly with the 80-200 on it, but it certainly holds ok once set.
The actual tripod isn't bothered by the weight at all, its the leverage on the head making it 'fall forward' that might be the problem once you get over 2kg on it.
Robbie B said:
You sir, are bloody useful 
I've just ordered it. Thanks again!
No problem at all, always happy to help I've just ordered it. Thanks again!
I've never had a problem with the weight limit of 1.5kg, in fact I didn't know it had one and I've always used it mainly for shots with my Tokina lens or my Nikon 18-200mm VR lens and never noticed an issue at all, and those lenses and body are clearly over weight.
First time I've had the 80-200 on it though as I usually always shoot handheld! I think that is pushing it really, mostly because the length of the lens gives it the leverage to pull the head down.
I'm fairly sure you will be happy with it, I love mine and as I said, best £49 I spent! You cant go wrong
Robbie B said:
The tripod arrived today. I've been having a play for a while and it is far superior to my old tripod it's an embarrassment. Great recommendation Ninja 
Good stuff Glad you like it! I've had mine a year or so now and like you say, for a small tripod it's massively more sturdy/stable than other ones of that size and price.
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