My tripod sucks.

[Dmitri]

I have nothing else to add. I just wanted to get that off my chest.

 

[DorkSterr]

I dont really like my tripod.

 

[usayit]

Feel free to rant some more..... common.. get it off your chest... 1 line.. that's it?

 

[Dmitri]

Yeah. It's a cheap tripod so I can't get too upset about it's not being able to stay up with a heavy lens. But I rant anyway.

 

[KmH]

Many, many people start by buying a cheap tripod. They spend about $50.

They soon discover a $50 tripod is basically a CPOS, break it, or get a better tripod and spend $125 for decent tripods legs and another $75 for a decent head. Total invested so far is $250.

Then they discover that decent isn't good enough for either legs or a head and buy a good set of legs for $250 and a good head for another $150. and now have a total of $650 invested in 3 tripods, only 1 of which they use.

So they, sell the other 2 unused tripods/heads and get $100 back after shipping costs, Paypal, and eBay fees .......so the $400 tripod/head they wind up with actually costs them $550.

 

[pixilstudio]

mo money mo problems

 

[usayit]

Go high quality used from bogen/manfrotto.... no reason why they depreciate like they do and there's little to nothing to break (or repair).

My full height scratched up aluminum 3021 Bogen with 3 way head was discovered at a camera swap for $35 several years ago. Its not pretty but it is bomb proof.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

I bought a hceap one then bought a 24-70 lens that about tipped it and the cam over. I since bought a decent tripod and have been thrilled with it.

The cheap one wasn't a total waste, I'll use that little biatch as a umbrella/light stand for the fill or back light or such. Nice of BHPhoto to sell me an adapter.

 

[Overread36]

I've my eye on a nice set of tripod legs - light, stable - Gitzo


and £700 in cost........



will be a long long time before I get them!

 

[Trever1t]

I hate ... damn, I can't think of anything

 

[usayit]

I've my eye on a nice set of tripod legs - light, stable - Gitzo

I've been eyeing the same... 1550T carbon traveler or whatever has replaced it. Its approaching $800 USD.

 

[Overread36]

Yeah the weight and fact that the tripod head bolts right to the middle of the lens are the big attractions for me - I just can't get to like the manfrotto arm thingy they have going on with the 055 and 190 series tripods right now

 

[Johnboy2978]

Tripods are really one area in photography where you can see and feel the difference between a 50-100$ piece of equipment and a $300+ one. I bought my wife a Quantaray one ~$75 years ago that I thought was nice. Shortly after I took up the hobby, I quickly saw that it really had some limitations. I ended up buying a Manfroto 190 Pro set of legs, a 322RC head and added a Feisol panning base for panoramas. That was one of the best investments I've made. You can cry once, or cry everytime you use it. Much better to invest wisely in the beginning.

 

[SituationNormal]

Many, many people start by buying a cheap tripod. They spend about $50...

I'm still in this phase. I know that mine is crap, but I've got too many other things to buy first before upgrading this. It'll get there though.

 

[Overread36]

Tripods are also a bit like bags though - something that whilst many think you only need one, in reality you often end up needing more for specific situations and also as your gear evolves. Those cheap tripods can be great for a point and shoot and the quality ones vastly overkill - but as you move to DSLR your demands increase - then suddenly you get a 300mm lens -- then a 600mm suddenly you need better legs again and again to keep up. So sometimes people say Buy once buy right; but forget that its the very very few who start something with the full budget to purchase and the understanding of what to purchase to complete their ideal kit.