Tripods

cowgirl21

Can anyone recommend a good tripod that is not very expensive? I'm just a beginner.:D

Andy

cowgirl21 wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good tripod that is not very expensive? I'm just a beginner.:D

no, but my advice is to go to a camera store in your neighborhood, that has some choices ... a large store hopefully ... and look at the various models. get the stoutest model you can afford.

pathfinder

cowgirl21 wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good tripod that is not very expensive? I'm just a beginner.:D

The problem with tripods is that cheap ones rarely work very well and are annoying to use. Really good tripods are not cheap, but can be a joy to use if you use nice quick release brackets to allow easy and fast and secure mounting of your camera.
Just remember, that over the course of your life you may own several cameras, but one REALLY GOOD tripod should last you a lifetime of use with many different cameras. It took me way too long to learn this - I have several cheap aluminum tripods I need to dispose of because I am a slow learner sometimes. Cheap tripods are rarely very stable either. Andy is right as always

ginger_55

I think I bought a brand called a Bogen M something. It is in my car right now, I hope, it is not here, where I thought I left it. (My husband lost my last tripod when he borrowed it, he got it for free from me, I then had nothing). I bought a new one a few months ago, cheaper than Andy suggested and more than I had dreamed of spending.

I spent about $90 for the tripod, with an extra $30 or so for the quick release. I would not have a tripod without one. (Unless it was free) It feels sturdy to me, except Andy keeps saying I need to use a tripod, after I use it, so that might suggest that it should be bigger. As it is, it is not light, light. It does fold up, but if I don't think I need it, well I err on the wrong side: it gets dark, and I don't have a tripod.

I would like a small one, like a table top one. Never thought I would say that, can't imagine how I could use it, but Digital Photography Hacks, a book, suggests that solution as to ease of carrying. Anything that I don't "need" my husband to help carry any distance would be better than I have now. I tend to go out like at 4 in the afternoon, look at the tripod and think "no", I will be back in an hour. Then I find myself out trying to hand hold after dark.
A small hint, it cannot be done with egrets roosting in tree branches at night. D, I lost some great shots. My hope is that they roost there often.

Does anyone here ever take those little tripods with them? The book suggests the Ultra Pod 2 by Pedco. It says if you need it taller you can strap it to a pole?????

ginger

Head in the Clouds

Hi Cowgirl,

I'm a beginner too, and recently bought a tripod which was fairly inexpensive. It retailed at about $80AUS but I got it for $50AUS.
The professional photographers will most definately disagree with me, but I thought it would be more sensible if i bought a lightweight full height tripod rather than some heavy brute of a thing that I couldn't carry. (apparently this is not the right thing to do because the lighter ones are less stable or something..) But mine is aluminium and weighs less than 1.1 kg. It has a quick release thingo - basically a little bracket that screws onto the bottom of the camera and is there all the time, and when you want to put it on the tripod, there is just this little leaver that clicks it securely into place. Works a dream for me. It also came with a carry case with a good shoulder strap. It gets the camera to head height easily, and is fully adjustable (three little legs that slide into each other).
Anyway, just thought you might like to know that you don't have to spend a fortune and still get a good tripod ......... (oh and i've got the time for setting it up from in the case to having the camera on top and ready to shoot down to about 25 seconds....)

Sam

cowgirl21 wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good tripod that is not very expensive? I'm just a beginner.:D

While others here have far more expertise than I do, I'll chime in with my thoughts.

Cheap never works. I have two cheap tripods, which one do you want?

I now have a mono-pod and pretty good Manfrodo tripod.

You want a tripod to suport the camera and prevent camera shake. To do that the camera needs to be FIRMLY held in place. Cheap tripods don't do that. I tried. If you want to explore some options, maybe you could consider a mono-pod. While not as good a suport, easier to carry, can double as a walking stick, and is more spontainious. I have also heard of carrying a small bean bag and placing the camera in / on top that.

There be my thoughts.

Sam

ginger_55

Sam wrote:

While others here have far more expertise than I do, I'll chime in with my thoughts.

Cheap never works. I have two cheap tripods, which one do you want?

I now have a mono-pod and pretty good Manfrodo tripod.

Sam

Could you all please explain what you mean by cheap, when you say cheap?
Mine does not feel like a cheap tripod. Is a little over 100.00 all total cheap?
Just wondering.

ginger, a little dim here

Sam

ginger_55 wrote:

Could you all please explain what you mean by cheap, when you say cheap?
Mine does not feel like a cheap tripod. Is a little over 100.00 all total cheap?
Just wondering.

ginger, a little dim here

Ginger,

I guess cheap can be a subjective term. When I say cheap tripod, I mean $19.95 or so. That don't work!

I would think you could get something decent and usable for your hundred. But what really matters is, does it work for you?

The one I bought recently is way more then I ever thought I would buy, but after trying to use the cheap one, I learned what I had learned, and forgotton, many times in the past. You get what you pay for.

But you can economize and buy according to need rather than want to reduce cost to an aceptable level.

I bought a Manfrotto 3001BPRO it weighs 4.18 Lbs plus the ball head at abot 3/4 Lbs, so call it 5 Lbs to lug around. I had to pass on the carbon fiber, bullet proof, $589.00 tripod.

A little unwieldly when acompanied by all the other stuff. But that's why I got the back pack. But when I do use it, I will have a photo with out camera shake. The photo might be crap, but it will be crystal clear crap!

Oh, and I forgot to mention it would also be a good idea to get a remote switch as well.

Sam

cowgirl21

Thanks for the input Sam. What does the remote do?

Sam wrote:

Ginger,

I guess cheap can be a subjective term. When I say cheap tripod, I mean $19.95 or so. That don't work!

I would think you could get something decent and usable for your hundred. But what really matters is, does it work for you?

The one I bought recently is way more then I ever thought I would buy, but after trying to use the cheap one, I learned what I had learned, and forgotton, many times in the past. You get what you pay for.

But you can economize and buy according to need rather than want to reduce cost to an aceptable level.

I bought a Manfrotto 3001BPRO it weighs 4.18 Lbs plus the ball head at abot 3/4 Lbs, so call it 5 Lbs to lug around. I had to pass on the carbon fiber, bullet proof, $589.00 tripod.

A little unwieldly when acompanied by all the other stuff. But that's why I got the back pack. But when I do use it, I will have a photo with out camera shake. The photo might be crap, but it will be crystal clear crap!

Oh, and I forgot to mention it would also be a good idea to get a remote switch as well.

Sam

jwear

have a look at this and some that are in the know also may comment on this tripod. center is rev. that would be handy but i am looking also did pick up a mono for $19 there must be a big dif. in the $19 one that i picked up and the $121 ONE that one shop said is the best but i will find out so far just feel $100 better off a remote is a button you push that triggers the camera with out you touching it the d70 is like a mini garage door opener http://www.amvona.com/v7/shop/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=1624

Stan

Thankfuly I can now forget all about tripods, I spent ages looking and finally settled on one that even now I think was the wrong one. I depends what you want it for (Carrying a heavy tripod on a trek is a pain, but a robust tripod will withstand the wind shake better than a spindly legged lightweight one.)and especially what you want to put on top of it, A compact, or an SLR with a 500mm lense I got a Manfrotto with a three way head.

There ane hundreds of brands available it becomes confusing looking on the internet or magazines, as Andy says go to a store and look. Try not to compromise it must keep the camera still or it's no good.

Stan

cowgirl21

Wow! That looks like a really nice tripod! Thanks!
Amber

jwear wrote:

have a look at this and some that are in the know also may comment on this tripod. center is rev. that would be handy but i am looking also did pick up a mono for $19 there must be a big dif. in the $19 one that i picked up and the $121 ONE that one shop said is the best but i will find out so far just feel $100 better off a remote is a button you push that triggers the camera with out you touching it the d70 is like a mini garage door opener http://www.amvona.com/v7/shop/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=1624

Sam

cowgirl21 wrote:

Thanks for the input Sam. What does the remote do?

There are basically two types of remote switches. One would be a simple wire with a button, or a wirerless trasmitter. The purpose is to activate the shutter without pressing the shutter button with your finger which could move the camera, even if only slightly.

Another option would be if your camera has a timer.

It will depend on the camera model you have.

Hope that helps.

Sam

ginger_55

Just got back from using my tripod at the beach. Mine is the 100.00 variety.

I spent a lot of time telling my husband to stay away from the tripod. I carried it. But the walk to the beach is not that far. I have access, through my husband's work, to a heavier tripod if I need it.

I would have liked it tonight. I suggest that everyone get a lighter weight tripod if hiking and stuff, but it is nerve wracking to see you beloved camera on this thing that could fall over if someone even touched it.

So I would then suggest that most of us mortgage our houses and have two tripods, one very sturdy.

Going to upload what I shot. Did not stay for the eclipse. My husband had to leave, there was no one else on the beach, and I frankly get scared. My main thing was to get the moon rising anyway.

ginger

cowgirl21

Yeah, I don't blame you. We couldn't see the eclipse here, too cloudy/hazy. Show us the shots you got!
Going to upload what I shot. Did not stay for the eclipse. My husband had to leave, there was no one else on the beach, and I frankly get scared. My main thing was to get the moon rising anyway.

ginger[/QUOTE]

dstover

I purchased a photo digital video Tungsten light kit by Dynasphos (their brand) and an Umbrella Soft box from this company in July 2005 on eBay. Along with this order, I paid an additional $15 for rush shipping so that my order would be shipped within 24 hours. After 48 hours from the order time, I called to get my tracking number. The customer service person told me that the light kit was backordered and that they did not know when they would get more light kits in and that I would just have to wait. 3 weeks had finally gone by without correspondence from Amvona.com. I called the company and the lady that answered the phone said, "I don't know why they have not shipped your product, this is very strange. I will personally make sure that the products are shipped tomorrow." I had put in a negative rating on eBay because of this problem. I received a phone call from "Matthew - General Manager" saying that he understood that I put in a negative rating on eBay. He told me that unless I removed the rating, I would not receive the product. I have not removed the rating and he has now put a stop shipment order in with FedEx and will not ship the product to me. Don't ever do business with a company that is as dishonest as Amvona.com.

Angelo

http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=138487&postcount=13