Help! Which tripod and head for Nikon n80?

[adnara]

I'm new to photography, and therefore don't know much of anything about equipment. I need to buy a tripod and head for my Nikon n80 with a Quantaray 28-90 mm 1 : 3.5-5.6 lens. I don't even know what those numbers mean!
A photography store tried to sell me a Giottos MH 1000-652 ball head for it, but when I looked it up online, it said that head can support 22 lbs, and my camera only weighs 3 pounds at most. Can I buy a cheaper head that supports less weight, or do I need that much support for my 3 lb camera?
:mad2:

Also they suggested a Bogen 190 X Pro B tripod. I need something lightweight, but I am also 5'9'', so it has to be tall enough too. Any suggesions?

Please keep in mind that I'm a student, so I can't afford a $200 head or a $300 tripod. I have about $300 max to spend here

Thank you!

[Franglais]

You haven't said why you need a tripod. The longer the focal length you use the sturdier the tripod you need because camera shake is magnified by the telescope effect of long lenses. But you have a zoom lens that does from 28mm (wide-angle) to 90mm (moderate telephoto). I used to use tripods I bought from my local camera shop for next to nothing with this sort of lightweight material. If I wanted extra stability I hung a bottle of water off the bottom of the tripod to give it more weight.

Finally I got fed up with tripods that felt flimsy and I invested in a Manfrotto 190DB with a 353 ball head and quick-release. I figure that's about $200 today.

[adnara]

I need a tripod that is lightweight for lugging around different sites I have to shoot for my photo class. other than that, I need it for the same reason anyone does---less camera shake

At the moment I am only using the one lens I described above, but I may invest in longer ones in the future.

Thank you

[freygr]

I need a tripod that is lightweight for lugging around different sites I have to shoot for my photo class. other than that, I need it for the same reason anyone does---less camera shake

At the moment I am only using the one lens I described above, but I may invest in longer ones in the future.

Thank you

When I purchased my tripod, I told the sales person I needed a tripod that would also work for a 4 by 5 view camera. Yes my tripod is not a feather weight but when I mounted the light Olympus C-3030, or my 35mm film cameras there wasn't any camera shake even with a 200mm telephoto lens. And the tripod doesn't feel flimsy like all the other tripods I had before. The tripod legs Manfrotto for about $100 and the Manfrotto 3029 head pan tit head for about $32, but a small ball head would of been cheaper.

A simple test is if you can fell the tripod flex, vibrate, or shimmy when you touch, or when you apply pressure on it (side ways and down off center) don't buy it. Just think on a windy day needing a tripod to get a micro photo of a rock of some thing small and the tripod is singing (vibrating) from the wind.

[deckcadet]

I always suggest buy support for at least double what you're using for your camera/lens (/flash etc). rig mounted on it. I've had quality tripod legs and heads alike rated to a weight just about the same as my total rig on there (a bit more than the rig actually) but vibration and flex became too much of a problem.

If your budget is $250-300ish, then I'd say do your best to spend all that on a quality tripod and head. Stick with real brand names: Gitzos are out of your price range, but Giottos and Bogen/Manfrotto have plenty of good ones, and there are several other major manufacturers of tripods/heads that have stuff in your range.

[adnara]

Do you think I should invest the extra $60 for a 22lb capable head, or stick with the lower capability ones?

[fx101]

Do you think I should invest the extra $60 for a 22lb capable head, or stick with the lower capability ones?

Depends... how big a lens do you plan on using? If your answer is >400mm then that would be a yes. If not you'll be fine with a lighter head (yes, I said lighter). This is an N80 so its nothing too heavy. Put a Canon Eos 1D MKIII on that tripod with the same lens and that's a different story...

[freygr]

Do you think I should invest the extra $60 for a 22lb capable head, or stick with the lower capability ones?

The problem is a good tripod will last a life time. If you going to take photos spend the money on a good quality tripod and don't worry about the weight. I would say yes invest the extra money on the 22lb capable head. You never know what your going to mount on it down the road.

Tripod and heads will always cost more later, so if you have the cash now allocated for a tripod, spend it and get a good setup.

[cyberlord]

I agree, tripods if bought correctly will outlive several film bodies and probably a hundred digital bodies.

Spend what's in the budget now for the best tri/head setup you can get. Don't forget the used market too, but just be careful who you are buying from. Try to get hands on if you can.

Tim