Tripod Advice

[tayl0124]

Okay I am looking to get a decent tripod and hope to spend less than $100. Any suggestions. I would consider used if it was in good enough shape. It will probably be used mainly for landscape/night sky shots, and portraits of my children. A co-Worker of mine has one that apparently has a monopod in it?? (the center comes out and can be used as a monopod). What are your thoughts??

[shootme]

Big choice out there and really good ones can Cost a small fortune. I have 2 myself a heavy sturdy one and a mono pod. What you need to think about is having to lug it around. I loath carrying my heavy one, but don't want to folk out for a new expensive graphite rig. What I like to see in a tripod outside of weight is the ease with being able to adjust the heads and an ability to anchor the tripod with a weight if necessary for extra stability. Leg slides should be twist mechanism? You would be best looking in flee markets if there are some near you else buy second hand. You should be able to get something reasonable for 100 bucks. S

[Dougjgreen]

I have a spare Dynatran tripod that I'd sell cheap. It's a Chinese knock-off of a Manfrotto 3021 leg set, with a ball head. I sent you a PM.

This is a very sturdy set, not a small light one. If that's what you want, you won't come near this one if you bought one new. The Manfrotto that this is a copy of sells for around $300 or more with a good ball head. The tripod and head combined weigh around 7.5 pounds. You might prefer something lighter, but less sturdy.

[gryphonslair99]

Okay I am looking to get a decent tripod and hope to spend less than $100. Any suggestions. I would consider used if it was in good enough shape. It will probably be used mainly for landscape/night sky shots, and portraits of my children. A co-Worker of mine has one that apparently has a monopod in it?? (the center comes out and can be used as a monopod). What are your thoughts??

This should be mandatory reading for anyone considering a tripod.
http://www.bythom.com/support.htm

You don't have to spend the kind of money Throm does, unless you are using the same type of equipment he is, but the concept is a sound one. If you spend the money up front on a good set up it will last for years and be more cost effective in the long run.

[WesternGuy]

Make sure that whatever you buy will hold your camera with your largest lens on it. Also check how sturdy it is with the centre-post fully extended with the same camera and lens on it. Would it blow over in a small wind? How close to the ground will it get you - you know for macro work, if you ever decide to do that?

There are maybe other factors you may want to consider. HTH

Cheers,

WesternGuy

[Singletracklovr]

Don't go too cheap on a tripod.
The tripod and head needs to have enough bulk to hold your camera steady.
If it doesn't do that then you will never use it.

I think the Slik Pro 340 Tripod With ball head not a plastic pan and tilt head is an exellent choice. They run about $120 That's as cheap as I would go.

[Dougjgreen]

FYI, the OP bought my spare Dynatran AT-858 Tripod with a medium duty ball head. About 3 years ago, The company was moving huge quantities of tripods and ball heads on ebay, at prices that were so good that I bought 3 leg sets and 4 different heads. This stuff is Chinese copies of Manfrotto and Gitzo equipment, and it's quite good, and at the time, it was amazingly inexpensive. I only ended up using 2 of the leg sets, and he basically bought the unused leg set of mine with one of the ball heads (and 2 additional QR plates). He got a good, pretty heavy duty tripod that would cost around $200-250 nowadays for under $100 - which was what I paid for it at the time.

[Singletracklovr]

Now that's respectable tripod and head.
That baby should hold any camera and lens steady.