Need a Tripod

[TCampbell]

I'll offer a slightly different twist on the answer.

You can get a cheap sub-$100 tripod. But if you go this route do not expect a quality product and also don't expect it to be durable/rugged.

It's my personal opinion that you shouldn't have to handle a tripod as if it's fragile. It should be able to take a beating. Sub-$100 tripods can not take a beating. So if you do choose to get a budget tripod, you'll need to be gentle with it.

If you want a tripod that does not require being gentle, then you'll be in the above $100 category -- the better tripods tend to not include a "head" because photographer and videographers are often fussy about which head they prefer. So they just have a standard top-plate with a 3/8" bolt that can attach to any industry standard head (the brands don't even need to be the same.) You can find good tripods (without the head) for under $200, but usually by the time you also add in a head it's over $200.

You might be thinking... "Hey, I'm just recording YouTube videos. Why would I need a durable tripod?" A friend of mine is a YouTube'r and he's destroyed two "cheap" (sub $100) tripods with accidents that happened (someone tripped or kicked one, and I think another fell over) and I think they were about $69 apiece... so there goes $140 and he STILL had to buy another tripod (so he's already into it for more than what he could have paid for just one well-made tripod.)

 

[unpopular]

Agree. If it comes down to throwing yourself down a cliff or throwing your tripod, your tripod should survive the fall. I mean this literally. A tripod should be sturdy enough to be intentionally dropped from 20-50' onto a natural surface and survive with only cosmetic damage.

I've had to do this on more than one occasion.

 

[robbins.photo]

Agree. If it comes down to throwing yourself down a cliff or throwing your tripod, your tripod should survive the fall. I mean this literally. A tripod should be sturdy enough to be dropped from 20-50' onto a natural surface and survive with only cosmetic damage.

Mine is, and yes I paid less than $100 for it new. It also weighs just slightly less than a metric ton, but it is built like a tank. It is possible to get a sturdy tripod for less than $100, as long as you don't expect it to be sturdy and light weight.

Sent from my N9518 using Tapatalk

 

[table1349]

Considering the op is talking about a hand cam and most weigh about 1/2 pound most anything would do that supports 3 lbs or so.

 

[Plautus]

I'm not rich, just a student. I decided to buy tripod joby hybrid now. I don't like the distorted view of the GoPro camera. Is there any camera just as good with normal view? ( a small camera just if possible)

 

[unpopular]

distorted? like jiggly video?

that's due to a rolling shutter.

or do you mean like the wide angle effect?

 

[Plautus]

yes the wide angle effect, looks like egg shape

 

[Plautus]

looking through 1 lense, it's like, but even worse. It's has this oval lense shape

 

[Designer]

I'm not rich, just a student. I decided to buy tripod joby hybrid now. I don't like the distorted view of the GoPro camera. Is there any camera just as good with normal view? ( a small camera just if possible)

Yes, there are many small digital cameras with a normal view. You can search for reviews of "compact cameras".

 

[beagle100]

Agree. If it comes down to throwing yourself down a cliff or throwing your tripod, your tripod should survive the fall. I mean this literally. A tripod should be sturdy enough to be dropped from 20-50' onto a natural surface and survive with only cosmetic damage.

Mine is, and yes I paid less than $100 for it new. It also weighs just slightly less than a metric ton, but it is built like a tank. It is possible to get a sturdy tripod for less than $100, as long as you don't expect it to be sturdy and light weight.

Sent from my N9518 using Tapatalk

true, I have a sturdy sub $100 tripod that's lasted for years.

 

[robbins.photo]

true, I have a sturdy sub $100 tripod that's lasted for years.

I have to admit I was pretty stunned by how solid the Amazon tripod turned out to be - I wasn't expecting much for the price. Thing is I rarely if ever use a tripod, so I didn't really care about the weight of the thing since I wouldn't be lugging it around anyway.