Which tripod?

Hi,
I have been having trouble looking for a tripod. I am looking to spend between 100 and 150.
Any suggestions?
Thanks

Bogen 3001 tripod legs are nice for the price. Very lightweight and stable for light to medium cameras. The tripod head is where the price will really get you. They can be very expensive for nice ones. The best cheap one that I have used is the Bogen 3030. It's a pan/tilt mechanism that can support a good weight. Currently I use an Acratech, but I really had to save up for it. It is a very stable ball head wth a great mechanism. It'll hold pretty much anything this side of my Jeep.

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Originally Posted by xsport652

Hi,
I have been having trouble looking for a tripod. I am looking to spend between 100 and 150.
Any suggestions?
Thanks

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I have a large tripod, over kill for a C-3030 or a 35mm or DSLR. When I purchased it I told the sales man it had to hold a 4 by 5 view camera. I'm not sorry that I over purchased on the tripod. As the lite weight tirpod we purchased with the video camera is just to flimesy for use even with my small C-3030. I purchased it at Ritz Camera for less than 150 USD

I recently purchased the Slik Pro 700DX with 3 way pan tilt head from B&H for $129.00. I bought this one for it's height. Being 6'4", I needed something that would be good for my back (the bend over factor, hehe). It's a little heavy, but not bad, and rock steady. But then again, all I put on it is a Nikon Coolpix 8400 and a Pentax *ist DL. But it's a great tripod and has excellent reviews.
Ken

I've been a fan of Bogen tripods, and the 3001 is generally a good choice, but:

What kind of equipment will you be putting on the tripod? A compact digital won't need the support of a film camera with a 300mm lens.

How tall are you? I'm 6'1" and the 3001 isn't quite tall enough. I'm now using something else that's similar in height BUT it doesn't really bother me too much to have to bend over a few inches to look thru the camera. It does bother some people though.

Are you planning on carrying this a long ways? If you're backpacking, I'd give up a little stability for lighter weight.

I also recently bought a Slik Pro 700DX, with the pan & tilt head. I'm impressed. I'm only using a 35mm SLR, but this tripod feels like it could easily support at least a medium-format with no trouble whatsoever. The leg clips and all the adjustment screws, etc. feel solid. It's not light, but I didn't have trouble carrying it around for a few hours' worth of walking.

I've been using a Benbo Classic 2 with Manfrotto head for nearly 20 years..Good combination and built like a Mack truck!!

Jurgen
Australia

If you can, find an old Tiltall. I'm incredibly lucky to own two, one I have had (the newer one available on B&H) that is in the tripod mode, and one that is easily 5 maybe 6 times my age, as a monopod. These have been made by a number of different manufacturers but the current models arent as good. Tilltall forever!

The older one, has been in water up to the head, in the Mojave and Death Valley with a strong wind, in cat 4 hurricanes,and once run over. It's black and isnt pretty...but it does the job beautifully.

For my work (nature/wildlife/macro), I've been using the same Benbo 1 that I purchased nearly 20 years ago.

Don't know how you would be using a tripod, but I use mine in uneven terrain and usually very low to the ground. The Benbo is an amazing contortionist and FAST. One twist of the main lever and all 3 legs are instantly positionable. And the legs are reverse constructed - the larger, heavier sections are lowest to the ground, keeping the center of gravity as low as possible.

Just outside your price specification. But maybe worth considering especially if you will be using it for the next decade or two.

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Originally Posted by Loupey

For my work (nature/wildlife/macro), I've been using the same Benbo 1 that I purchased nearly 20 years ago.

Don't know how you would be using a tripod, but I use mine in uneven terrain and usually very low to the ground. The Benbo is an amazing contortionist and FAST. One twist of the main lever and all 3 legs are instantly positionable. And the legs are reverse constructed - the larger, heavier sections are lowest to the ground, keeping the center of gravity as low as possible.

Just outside your price specification. But maybe worth considering especially if you will be using it for the next decade or two.

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Yeah...Get it wrong the Benbo is like out of control bagpipes!!

Jurgen
Australia

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Originally Posted by yogestee

Yeah...Get it wrong the Benbo is like out of control bagpipes!!

Jurgen
Australia

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I've thought about that same exact analogy! I bet they would stand about the same if you didn't crank down the lever.

You ever get your fingers smashed on the one hand because you unlocked the thing with your other hand?

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Originally Posted by Loupey

I've thought about that same exact analogy! I bet they would stand about the same if you didn't crank down the lever.

You ever get your fingers smashed on the one hand because you unlocked the thing with your other hand?

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Yeah,,done that a few times...Worse on a cold winter's morning!!

Jurgen
Australia

To keep it really simple, photographers who use a tripod a lot, tend to go for a tripod that is heavier, less subject to vibration or wind resistance, less likely to slip on uneven ground, and with a smooth and secure head that moves when you want it to move and stays absolutely still when you stop moving it. Those that are rough with their equipment also are looking for heavier material in a tripod to prevent breakage. The downside is of course carrying it around, setting it up and taking it down.

Everyone of course wants a tripod that can be set up and taken down very quickly and is fast and flexible in terms of adjustments for height etc. Bubble or even laser type levelers are present on some tripods, as well as click stops on the head for panorama shots that can be stitched together with software.

Those photographers who do not use a tripod as often because they are doing photography on the fly or in spaces that do not allow for a tripod, often tend toward a lighter tripod with great flexibility which can reduced down to a small size or easy carrying.
The head and extra features are not as important because the tripod is not used as frequently.

Decide what type of tripod and how much to spend, based on your projected tripod use, particularly in terms of frequency.

Ronnoco