Tripods - expensive "or not?"

Mystwalker · Feb 14, 2008

Today I use a $30 tripod from Walmart. It works well, but then I've never used anything else so really have no frame of reference.

Recently, I attached the 70-200 f/2.8IS L, and it looked awfully fragile. Basically, I always had left hand on lens or hovering under lens to catch if something snaps.

I've looked at tripods + pricing on Amazon and on B&H - OUCH!!

Besides the ability to hold heavier objects, is there anything different (better?) about the Bogen/Manfrotto models? I'm not too concerned about weight of tripod so do not need to go for one of those ultra expensive composite models. $100-$300 for an accessory to me seem awfully expensive, but compared to the 70-200 snapping off and getting smashed, it's cheap

Any recommendations is also greating appreciated.

Thanks.

Tennessee Landscape · Feb 14, 2008

I use a Manfrotto that took me past Mr. Ben Franklin, but it's good and sturdy......I like it a lot, and have taken a good bit of night photography with exposures over 20 - 25 seconds without any shake.....

RKW3 · Feb 14, 2008

I have an old metal tripod. Heavy and all but it's solid, so I'm using it for now.

MarcusM · Feb 14, 2008

I just got a Manfrotto 055 XProB, and it's supposed to support up to 14 lbs. I haven't used it much yet, but it does seem really nice and solid. I would not trust 70-200 mm lens w/a DSLR on a Walmart tripod.

Big Mike · Feb 14, 2008

When talking about buying a tripod, you can break it into three main factors:
Light Weight ---- Low Price ---- Sturdy

Pick only two.
:er:

The 'head' is often as expensive as the legs. You need to get a head that will support the weight of your gear. Most legs won't have a problem with that weight, as long as the extension locks are sound.

Helen B · Feb 14, 2008

I have a Majestic that I bought on eBay for $60 complete with gear head. Nobody seems to want them. It needed a bit of maintenance to tighten it up. They are very robust, and parts are readily available from Bencher in the USA. If you aren't bothered about weight, I can recommend them.

Best,
Helen

D-50 · Feb 14, 2008

If $100-300 is too much I suggest you get a different hobby. I started out with a what I can assume to be a similar cheap tripod as I got more into photography I upgraded to a lighter weight yet better quality manfrotto tripod. Its perfect for hiking and carrying long distances and is well built and sturdy, although as I am getting into different things such as portrait and product photography I am finding I might need a better tripod that is easier to make small adjustments to.

kundalini · Feb 14, 2008

D-50 said:
If $100-300 is too much I suggest you get a different hobby.

:lmao:

Big Mike has a standard answer going on and it's much shorter than mine, but I'll link you to read Thom Hogan's thoughts on tripods.

D40 · Feb 14, 2008

GET A GOOD TRIPOD, I need a better one as the one I have almost caused my 70-200 to fall

Luckily it just tilted downward since it could not hold the weight.

Mystwalker · Feb 15, 2008

Woa! Read that article - he's a mind reader or all newbs are like me and he has met many. I'm still at the 4th stage, but I'm using something lower then what he expected ($75 tripod).

I know I can't afford a Gitzo which is what he recommended as "low end" - I think. Price of Gitzo legs alone will far exceed $$ I have left in budget.

But from what I read, I did get the general idea that I want to get a "ball" type head. I went to Ritz hoping they would have some ball models I can pick up, turn, kick, etc ... No luck. All they had were Quantaray which seemed sturdy enough, but they use the same "3 control" adjustment I have on my Walmart model. Glad I didn't buy one of those cuz I would've gone into newb stage 5 of Thom's article.

I would like to get away from the "3 control" version because I often get confused with which one to tighten/loosen, etc ...

So ... am wondering, how secure are the ball models? I am thinking about a Manfrotto 488RC2 which is rated at 16+ lbs. Is this rating based on weight of equipment or amt of twisting power (torque?) applied when camera + lens are mounted? Is 16 lbs overkill for camera+lens which probably weigh 6-7lbs (30D plus 70-200) at most?

Does Manfrotto have a ball head that also allow panoramic?

For legs, I'm leaning towards the 055XProB. I think this plus above head with shipping will be right around $300 from B&H.

I did a search for Majestic tripod on Ebay - good price and looks sturdier then anything I've looked at so far, but the weight is a killer. I'm a wimp, do not think I can lug around 35lbs for more then 10-15 mins :mrgreen:

Helen B · Feb 15, 2008

The 055X ProB is a good tripod at a good price. The vertical/horizontal column arrangement is a useful feature. I bought one for a friend recently.

A 17 lb rating for a head is not overkill for a 6 lb camera - in fact it is more like a sensible margin. I don't think I'd want to put a 17 lb camera on the 488 head. I'd consider the plain 488 instead of the quick release RC2 version.

The 488 has a pan base, but that isn't much use for panoramic photography, unless there is a leveller below the ball head. You need to be able to level the plane of rotation, so from the ground up this is the sequence:

tripod legs
leveller (ball head, levelling column, levelling base, levelling bowl etc)
rotation base
slide (if required)
camera

The slide (aka nodal slide) enables you to locate the entrance pupil (not one of the nodal points - a very common error) of the lens over the axis of rotation for accurate stitching. The entrance pupil can be seen when you look into the lens: it is the image of the iris (aperture), and you will probably be able to see it move quite a lot as you zoom.

Best,
Helen

mrodgers · Feb 15, 2008

D-50 said:
If $100-300 is too much I suggest you get a different hobby.

Why? I am thoroughly enjoying the hobby of photography with a $200 camera and a $30 tripod (Walmart). For a fixed lens camera, the tripod available at Walmart is a perfectly good inexpensive alternative.

Yes, I wouldn't put something with a large seperate lens on it, as you get into big money with non-fixed lens cameras. Thus it would be beneficial to buy something more sturdy.

It really bugs me the snobbish attitude with hobbies (not necessarily just photography) when people state that you need to be rich to enjoy it. I enjoy photography just fine with my $230 worth of equipment and I also enjoy RC flying with my $99 RTF aircraft, another hobby that the rich like to tout that you need big money to enjoy.

djrichie28 · Feb 15, 2008

During a ski trip, I stopped by a walmart to grab a tripod for some night shots. I didn't feel like I was going to keep it after I loaded the camera onto it. As we were packing up from the weekend, the tripod which was leaning against a wall, fell over and it broke. The legs were not extended and the crank handle snapped after a short trip to a carpet floor. My Manfrotto I got since then has been to hell and back and still working just as well as day one. Well worth the $200 for the legs and head

logan9967 · Feb 15, 2008

I have just got a SLIK setup with a 714CF II and a SBH 280 ball head. it is amazing and lightweight. before that i was using an old SLIK 600 with pan head. it worked well for taking portrait shots with a lightweight pentax 35mm but could not stand up to a DSLR with multiple lenses especially my 300mm. So a few weeks ago i was in the same place as you. and what i came to was that, if you are really into photography and plan on taking pictures well into your future like i was. this is one of the best investments and you will keep a good one with you for years. if you are investing a lot of money into a camera and lenses why not spend just as much to really get those quality pitures and have the protection with a good tripod that you wont get from any cheapo. i'm sure other people have said this sorry for repeating if i did, didn't feel like reading everyones comments

anyway sorry for the book, hope this helps