Recommend me a tripod?
Discussion
A lot of things to consider here. I suppose first thing, you need to make sure that whatever you go for will cope with the weight of whatever you're going to put on it. You'll also need to consider what is important to you in terms of cheap vs lightweight vs sturdy. Generally you can only choose two of those criteria. There are also a myriad of different head types that you can choose.
If you're a bit more casual about what you think you're going to need, check out Redsnapper's range. Offers like this one look pretty decent.
http://www.redsnapperuk.com/camera-accessories/RS-...
If you're a bit more casual about what you think you're going to need, check out Redsnapper's range. Offers like this one look pretty decent.
http://www.redsnapperuk.com/camera-accessories/RS-...
I did cheap and light the first time, The second time i did Light and sturdyish with a manfrotto 190CXPRO4, its light enough that if i think i will need it i will take it rather than leaving it in the car and regretting it. Its sturdy enough for my 550D and 17-55 F2.8 EFS lens but can be a bit of a wobble with the Bigma but that may be better with a ball head rather than the pan/tilt i have on it.
Kermit power said:
andy-xr said:
Cheapies are fine, just get something sturdy!
That's fine assuming he's not going to be lugging it for any great distance. 7 Day Shop do one for £16 (used to be less without the VAT now charged) that is cheap enough to discover whether you need something better! It will do a job for you but it's no Manfrotto or Giottos. The same item, with a different branding, can be found in the retail outlets for more than twice the price.
I'm assuming you have a dslr and a sensible lens. If smaller than a dslr something less may work for you. If a big lens .... buy quality. This tripod in not something you would happily carry over your shoulder with a camera in place ready for the next set up. But once in place will work tolerably well. Very well, if you consider the price, for a starter purchase.
I'm assuming you have a dslr and a sensible lens. If smaller than a dslr something less may work for you. If a big lens .... buy quality. This tripod in not something you would happily carry over your shoulder with a camera in place ready for the next set up. But once in place will work tolerably well. Very well, if you consider the price, for a starter purchase.
you really do need to ask yourself why you want a tripod.
1) is it because its the one piece of major kit you haven't got?
2) you want to get into long exposure (night/waterfalls etc)
3) you want to improve those landscape shots
4) you want to do studio work
If its 1 or 4 then something cheap and sturdy may fit the bill, but if you have any inclination to 2 or 3 then save yourself the £20 on the cheap one and get something light and sturdy as that's what you will end up doing anyway if the heavy, cheap lump does not put you off.
IMHO unless you are buying for a studio then the last thing you want to compromise is weight as a heavy tripod in the car is far less useful then a wobbly one in the field, and a good light one is getting to the point of the price of a tank of petrol anyway so there is no real excuse not to get something in carbon.
My MF 190CXPro4 is compromised slightly in that its not quite tall enough without some of the top extension out, but i have never found this to be much of a problem. it is however light enough that i will carry it whenever i think there is a chance i may need it. I have carried it out into the Arizona desert in August and the Thai Jungle in 35c 90%RH and on the latter occasion i didn't feel bad that i didn't use it. I don't think that would have been the case if i had brought something even slightly heavier though
1) is it because its the one piece of major kit you haven't got?
2) you want to get into long exposure (night/waterfalls etc)
3) you want to improve those landscape shots
4) you want to do studio work
If its 1 or 4 then something cheap and sturdy may fit the bill, but if you have any inclination to 2 or 3 then save yourself the £20 on the cheap one and get something light and sturdy as that's what you will end up doing anyway if the heavy, cheap lump does not put you off.
IMHO unless you are buying for a studio then the last thing you want to compromise is weight as a heavy tripod in the car is far less useful then a wobbly one in the field, and a good light one is getting to the point of the price of a tank of petrol anyway so there is no real excuse not to get something in carbon.
My MF 190CXPro4 is compromised slightly in that its not quite tall enough without some of the top extension out, but i have never found this to be much of a problem. it is however light enough that i will carry it whenever i think there is a chance i may need it. I have carried it out into the Arizona desert in August and the Thai Jungle in 35c 90%RH and on the latter occasion i didn't feel bad that i didn't use it. I don't think that would have been the case if i had brought something even slightly heavier though
Other things to consider are how tall do you want the tripod to be, what minimum height you'd like to be able to mount the camera (some tripods have reversible centre columns so the camera can be virtually on the ground) and what type of head you want. Ball heads are very quick to reposition but I find lack precision when you want to make tiny movements of the camera, so personally prefer a 3 way head.
If you really don't know what you want, why not buy a cheap one (or borrow one off a friend if you can) and use it to discover what you really need the tripod to be able to do.
If you really don't know what you want, why not buy a cheap one (or borrow one off a friend if you can) and use it to discover what you really need the tripod to be able to do.
I've not bought a tripod for years, so I don't know where the current state of design is at but ....
a tripod whose legs lock/unlock from the top is MUCH easier to use than one where you have to
stoop to adjust each section of each leg.
Also, a relatively flimsy tripod can be made more stable by hanging say a supermarket plastic bag
filled with anything heavy to hand (such as stones, or soil if you are out, or bags of flour etc. if you are at home)) from the top of the tripod.
a tripod whose legs lock/unlock from the top is MUCH easier to use than one where you have to
stoop to adjust each section of each leg.
Also, a relatively flimsy tripod can be made more stable by hanging say a supermarket plastic bag
filled with anything heavy to hand (such as stones, or soil if you are out, or bags of flour etc. if you are at home)) from the top of the tripod.
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