Tripod Recommendations ($100 range)

[RickD]

Hey everyone,

Just looking to get peoples opinions on this, any advice is appreciated. I'm looking to pick up a tripod, must have features are a plate that locks at 90 degrees and a spirit level.

What are the good brands
Any brands to avoid
Anything else to bear in mind

Thanks

 

[runnah]

Hey everyone, Just looking to get peoples opinions on this, any advice is appreciated. I'm looking to pick up a tripod, must have features are a plate that locks at 90 degrees and a spirit level. What are the good brands Any brands to avoid Anything else to bear in mind Thanks

How heavy of a camera are you using?

Manfrotto makes very high quality tripods. $100 may be on the low side for a decent tripod.

 

[ronlane]

Hey everyone, Just looking to get peoples opinions on this, any advice is appreciated. I'm looking to pick up a tripod, must have features are a plate that locks at 90 degrees and a spirit level. What are the good brands Any brands to avoid Anything else to bear in mind Thanks

How heavy of a camera are you using?

Manfrotto makes very high quality tripods. $100 is on the low side for a decent tripod.

FIFY.

 

[Derrel]

The old Bogen/Manfrotto 3001, re-named the Manfrotto XPro 055 or something like that...I've seen a few in the $90 range used with a decent head lately at the big camera shop and a photo-centric pawn shop. It's a pretty basic 'pod that's been made for like 30 years or so, well-proven, time-tested. Not sure what kind of plate that locks at 90 degrees means; if you man an L-bracket or what, exactly. I really do not know of any $100 range tripods I would recommend other than the aforementioned Manfrotto.

Manfrotto tripods feature "legs", and then the heads are separately installed, so the leg set is one piece, and various types of head scan be attached, based on needs/price/video or still use.

 

[Designer]

I wouldn't hold out for one with a spirit level built in. IMO those things are of not much value in the total scheme of things.

Get it close by eye and straighten in post.

 

[RickD]

Thanks for the replies everyone, answers to your responses;

Using a T4i and 18-135 so no extreme weight, would like the tripod to be able to hold around 2-3 kgs at roughly eye height (5'9")
By plate I was referring to the camera mount locking off at 90 degrees to allow for portrait orientation long exposure shots, not sure if I'm uing the right terminology
Was asking about a spirit level as my current cheapo ($30) tripod has one, just assumed it was standard if the cheap ones have it
IF my budget of $100 isn't enough, how much more should I be looking to spend,

 

[lambertpix]

Tripods are a good place to consider buying used if you're trying to save a couple bucks - if it's got three legs that fold and unfold, you're in business. Most heads should let you lay the camera over into portrait orientation, but if you can, I'd recommend starting out with an Arca-compatible quick-release plate system. Among other things, this will let you add an "L" bracket at some point, which makes portrait-orientation shooting lots more convenient. If you don't start with an Arca system, don't lose too much sleep over it - most heads should let you swap out the quick-release plate later.

 

[EIngerson]

For a little more cash, the Manfrotto 055XPROB is a great tripod. it's priced anywhere from I actually got mine for $140. Remember you will have to shop for some type of head for it.

Good luck.

 

[TCampbell]

It really depends on how you plan to use the tripod.

I have a "heavy" tripod that I could put up in gale force winds and I doubt it would move. On the other hand... I sure wouldn't want to carry in a pack while going on an extended hike.

I have another tripod that's feather-weight, carbon fiber, very tiny and compact. It's excellent for travel and I can hook it to my ThinkTank belt and carry it all day long and hardly notice it's there... BUT it's also fairly "springy" so I've got to be careful not to induce vibrations in the camera when using it and use a remote release or a delay timer when taking a shot. Also if it's windy it'll probably vibrate. Many models (mine included) have a hook on the bottom of the center column so you can hang a weight to make it more stable.

Depending on what I'm shooting, i may want to be down extremely low. One of my tripods has a replaceable center-column with a "short post" option. The legs can be configured to spread wide for extra stability and lower height and the short center post won't hit the ground. Not all tripod have swappable center columns.

For "general" sizing you should be able to fully extend the legs, extend the center column half way, mount the camera and it should be roughly eyeball height when looking through the viewfinder without you needing to crouch to look. This means you can look at lower objects by lowering the center post, but if you're shooting something in the air (e.g. birds) you can raise the center post and still look comfortably through the camera.

If you get a cheap tripod, you're probably going to have to replace it at some point when it proves inadequate. If you buy a quality tripod, you are much less likely to need to replace it. I look at this as "sum up the cost of buying two or three tripods before you get the one lasts forever" vs. "just get the one that lasts forever". In the long run... buying a "durable" quality tripod is probably the better value.

 

[Tee]

I have a Slik. It's a beast so definitely not good for travel. I think it has a 25lb weight limit which is more than enough for my gripped D700 with 70-200mm on it.

 

[minicoop1985]

If you can spare an extra $25, you can find a Promaster carbon fiber tripod. If you have a head already, that might be a good option. If not, well, that's... that's another expense. I recommend this because I've had one for a week and am in the honeymoon phase with it, but it does seem incredibly well made (nearly Manfrotto quality), is very versatile, has that pretty carbon fiber, and is a great bang for your buck value.

 

[RickD]

ok so I have been mooching around and doing some research and have come up with the following options, any advice would be appreciated, especially if any of you own any of these or have had any bad experiences

Rocketfish 65" Carbon Fibre Tripod (RF-TRP65C) : Tripods - Future Shop

Optex Panhead Tripod (TP160) : Tripods - Future Shop


Thanks

 

[tecboy]

ok so I have been mooching around and doing some research and have come up with the following options, any advice would be appreciated, especially if any of you own any of these or have had any bad experiences

Rocketfish 65" Carbon Fibre Tripod (RF-TRP65C) : Tripods - Future Shop

Optex Panhead Tripod (TP160) : Tripods - Future Shop


Thanks

Don't get Rocketfish, you will not be happy with it. Browse BHphoto or adorama, they have good tripods at decent prices