Looking for Tripod suggestions for hiking!

Hello all,

I did a search first but didn't turn up any good suggestions for what I'm looking for. I plan to take the wife and kids hiking at least once a week this year. I live in New Hampshire very close to Franconia Notch and there are some great short hikes with wonderful views. I'm certainly bringing my new Canon Rebel XS along. I have a medium duty tripod but it's large and cumbersome, not really something I want to drag along for 4 or 5 miles. Anyone have any suggestions for some budget priced tripods that I can put in or attach to my Daypack when hiking. There's lots of waterfalls, and I really want to do some waterfall pictures. I'd like to do some long exposure pics of the falls as well. Also plan to take pictures of anything else that catches my eye along the way, and certainly some of the views I'm likely to encounter.

Also, I have the kit lens that came with my camera, which is an 18-55mm lens. I'd like to pick up another lens (again, budget minded cause I have two kids...haha) that would be good for these outdoor hiking type photos. Suggest away!!!

What kind of shots do you intend to take? That'll help us give you lens suggestions.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skydmark1

There's lots of waterfalls, and I really want to do some waterfall pictures. I'd like to do some long exposure pics of the falls as well. Also plan to take pictures of anything else that catches my eye along the way, and certainly some of the views I'm likely to encounter.

---

:thumbsup:

Oops.. duh, don't mind me :P

A lot depends on what you want to spend on the tripod. I've used a cheap little $20 sunpak for a long time, very compact and got the job done, but not a good tripod and really fell apart after a short period of time.

I just bought a Slik tripod as an upgrade, but it's not a very expensive one still: http://www.adorama.com/SLSP2BGM.html...lik+sprint+pro

I haven't really used it yet. It's lightweight (a pound or so), and just extending it in my room, my main thought is that it may be slightly flimsy fully extended. But then again, it's not rated for much weight... five pounds or so... but I figure enough to handle my camera and maybe my 300mm f/4.

Oh, and if you do get that Slik... read the english translations of the descriptions on the box. Trust me, it's quite funny :)

Lenses.... your kit lens covers wide angle pretty well. You might want to look at the EF-S 55-250mm. I have that one and it's very lightweight and is pretty good for a consumer grade lens.

You need to consider the weight of what you are going to put on it, how much weight you will be comfortable to carry, and what kind of shooting you'll be doing.
Are you doing macros of flowers close to the ground'; then you'll need something that will go very low. If you don't want to carry weight you may have to look at carbon fiber models.
The carbon fiber ones will cost a lot more.
I used an old Sears aluminum that I got in the 80s for 20 bucks at a flea market. It served me well but eventually it could not do what I needed and I got one that the legs would spread to let it get very low to the ground and also had a center column that could be brought out to a horizontal position. It is quite heavy and not suited to hiking though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skydmark1

Hello all,

I have a medium duty tripod but it's large and cumbersome, not really something I want to drag along for 4 or 5 miles. Anyone have any suggestions for some budget priced tripods that I can put in or attach to my Daypack when hiking. There's lots of waterfalls, and I really want to do some waterfall pictures. I'd like to do some long exposure pics of the falls as well. Also plan to take pictures of anything else that catches my eye along the way, and certainly some of the views I'm likely to encounter.

Also, I have the kit lens that came with my camera, which is an 18-55mm lens. I'd like to pick up another lens (again, budget minded cause I have two kids...haha) that would be good for these outdoor hiking type photos. Suggest away!!!

---

Budget (cheap), stable and light weigh tripods don't exist.
A good quality monopod might work for you for the longer hikes.
I have used rocks and even dug a hole to make it stable for waterfall shots.

I don't need one that extends up high, I'm willing to kneel to take shots if it will save me some weight and or money. So I'm thinking that will make it more stable if it's not extended. Also, it only needs to support my little Canon rebel xs with at most a 200mm lens

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skydmark1

I don't need one that extends up high, I'm willing to kneel to take shots if it will save me some weight and or money. So I'm thinking that will make it more stable if it's not extended. Also, it only needs to support my little Canon rebel xs with at most a 200mm lens

---

If $80-$90 isn't out of you price range, take a look at that link to the Slik tripod I posted. If it's not fully extended (only 3 of the four sections extended) it seemed fairly steady.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CaraRose

If $80-$90 isn't out of you price range, .

---

Skydmark1 your price range would really help us make a suggestion.
Don't forget you need a Ballhead also.

Your best bet is to visit a large camera shop and spend an afternoon looking/handling the several dozen models out there. Tripods are like camera bags, purses, cars, ... so many choices and everyone has different tastes and preferences.

Ya I kind of figured as much, I just didn't know if maybe there were some avid hikers on here that had a good suggestion for a lesser expensive tripod. I think I actually found a few at Adorama for around $40 that should do the trick. I think if I don't extend it all the way it should be steady enough.

I have three tripods, one monopod, and have owned several cheaper tripods that have been tossed. To this day, I am still not satisfied with any of them. Either, they are too heavy, wobbly or the head is just not efficient enough.

For hiking, I'm guessing you will need something light with carbon fiber sticks. Spend time in a good store as others have said.