tripod help?

[Neb]

So I'm in the market for a tripod and really don't even know where to begin looking. Budget is a couple hundred. I'd be using it with a telephoto lens on my DSLR. I'm still pretty new to photography so i'm not sure what makes a 'good' tripod compared to a run of the mill one.

Any help would be great.

 

[tirediron]

Bogen, Manfrotto, and Giottos are all good names. Velbon makes some decent-consumer grade units. Don't forget on any decent or better tripod, the head is a separate purchase. My recommendation would for a set of Manfrotto 055 or 190 legs with a 468 head.

 

[bigtwinky]

Do a search on this forum for the word "tripod"
Many threads have already been had discussing the very same thing.