Thoughts on this tripod?

[robb01]

Sony VCT-R640 Tripod

Link

The price certainly is right, and lots of positive reviews. Should I pull the trigger?

 

[Big Mike]

A cheap tripod can be better than no tripod...but it's also a CHEAP tripod. Do you want a cheap tripod to be the only think holding up your camera?

 

[tirediron]

Sorry Mike, I disagree! No tripod is better than a cheap tripod. If you have tripod, you rely on it, and you don't want to rely on a cheap tripd.

Spend a little time surfing Craig's List and/or eBay and/or other used 'sites. Look for a Sunpak or Velbon tripod, or, if the budget will handle it, a used set of Manfrotto 055 legs and 488 ball head. You need to be willing to spend somewhere between $75 and $200 for a decent used tripod.

 

[molested_cow1]

Whatever you get, DO NOT get one with a plastic mounting bracket.

Had one - broke - camera fall - tears.

 

[Derrel]

Well...for some uses, even a cheap tripod can work, but they are so difficult to use properly...one has to use the self-timer release or a remote electronic release to get away from shaking the spindly little legs...the height of these small,lightweight cheapies is usually quite low, and when all the legs are extended, these things are usually kinda' shaky...okay for the occasional set up camera for self-timer groups shot for Christmas card kind of stuff, but as a tripod for say, hobby photography, these ultra-lightweight tripods are usually not very good at supporting a camera with a long lens or a higher magnification macro lens. MOST ultra-lightweight, thin-legged tripods like this are hard to use "in the normal ways" that a beefy,solid tripod can be used in. Sure, for some uses, even a lightweight tripod is better than no tripod, as long as you are always fully aware that the thing is just one step above "toy" and also two ranks above "minor PITA to use".

 

[Ub3rdoRK]

i just had a bad experience with a tripod that was a "value". after the rubber feet fell off it left little metal spikes, one of the legs wouldnt lock into place, then the head would not tighten onto the actual mount....it just kept rotating and rotating.

Im not saying go out and buy a gitzo with a really right stuff ball head for $2000. Just look at the build quality. when tripods fall they usually fall head first. A....your camera is attached to that thing. B...If its not attached then bye bye tripod mount.
Just make sure the adjustments are solid and the legs are sturdy with nice feet and a decent head on it.

I watched a D3S go down face first with a 14-24....smashed the front element on a rock and im sure he was using a nice tripod...but was stupid and left it unattended on a rocky area with waves crashing around....

the head on the one in the link is pretty cumbersome to use.....atleast if you want to do a "portrait" shot. those tripods usually dont stay in place, but in "landscape" they work fine

 

[John Mc]

i use cheap tripods for flash units,small flash units,so they are useful,but not for cameras,i hated my Velborn 540,but its lovely for flashguns