brandongreen
EF1
can someone recommend me a camera tripod that will last a while but not cost a fortune? my cheap best buy one is crapping out on me. thanks.
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camera tripod
- Thread starter brandongreen
- Start date
Greg Campbell
EF5
How big is your camera?
How much $ to spend?
How much $ to spend?
brandongreen
EF1
dslr, under 100
Dan Robinson
Find a good new one will be tough for less than $100. A Bogen/Manfrotto with a ball head is great for a still camera. B&H has them for around $180 new (Bogen tripods and heads are separate items, but B&H has kits) - so you may be able to find a used one for roughly $100.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._Bogen_Imaging__190XB_Tripod_Legs_Black_.html
Anything less than $100 that I've ever bought lasted less than a year before something major broke (usually something on the head) rendering it unusable. A big thing is rust with cheaper models. Bogens are aluminum so you can leave them out in the rain or snow with no problems. I went through many tripods before finally caving and going to Bogens. Even the Bogens will eventually have problems with heavy use. I have three, and the ones I bought in 2004 have a few broken leg extender clamps. I had to fix them with bolts and wing nuts - harder to tighten and loosen, but functional. Other than that, they still work.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._Bogen_Imaging__190XB_Tripod_Legs_Black_.html
Anything less than $100 that I've ever bought lasted less than a year before something major broke (usually something on the head) rendering it unusable. A big thing is rust with cheaper models. Bogens are aluminum so you can leave them out in the rain or snow with no problems. I went through many tripods before finally caving and going to Bogens. Even the Bogens will eventually have problems with heavy use. I have three, and the ones I bought in 2004 have a few broken leg extender clamps. I had to fix them with bolts and wing nuts - harder to tighten and loosen, but functional. Other than that, they still work.
Scott Weberpal
EF5
I bought an Amvona tripod over the winter and it has worked great so far. The build quality isn't near as high as Bogen/Manfrotto, but the tripod and head are both solid and work great. The tripod/head work just as well as any Bogen/Manfrotto I've ever owned, but how long it will last is the question mark.
This is the tripod/head combo I got:
http://www.amvona.com/shop?page=sho...ge=flypage.tpl&product_id=2069&category_id=87
This is the tripod/head combo I got:
http://www.amvona.com/shop?page=sho...ge=flypage.tpl&product_id=2069&category_id=87
Greg Campbell
EF5
I'd suggest you get the biggest, heaviest 'pod you can find. You want a tripod that will put your camera at a usable height without needing to extend the center section more than a few inches. This will improve stability and blow-over resistance (a real concern when you're standing in a downdraft outflow!) Forget Velbon and other "K-mart" brands, they are a waste of money at any price.
At your price point, you might have to resort to Ebay. With a little patience, your Franklin should get you a clean Bogen/Manfrotto 3021/3011 or similar (there are several roughly equivalent pods in the Bog/Manfrotto lineup, but I'm not real familiar with them...), or a Slik 700DX or 500DX (as small as I'd dare go) setup.
Buying new, the 700DX is arguably one of the better values available. They can be bought with a somewhat clunky (but very solid) pan/tilt head for around ~$135. I've got two and after years of use am 'content.' They are plenty solid, but suffer a few irritating ergonomic quirks. Build quality is decent, if not bombproof. They're made of aluminum and a Ti/Al alloy, so rust has not been a problem. Take care extending the legs; the nylon bushings in each joint are somewhat fragile. Don't drop the legs in the sand either, the telescoping sleeves will jam in a big way.
There are a number of knock-off brands to consider. Scott's Amvova, Basrska, and several other Chinese clone outfits can be found on Ebay, and will probably deliver 'OK' quality at a lower price. Maybe worth a look?
At your price point, you might have to resort to Ebay. With a little patience, your Franklin should get you a clean Bogen/Manfrotto 3021/3011 or similar (there are several roughly equivalent pods in the Bog/Manfrotto lineup, but I'm not real familiar with them...), or a Slik 700DX or 500DX (as small as I'd dare go) setup.
Buying new, the 700DX is arguably one of the better values available. They can be bought with a somewhat clunky (but very solid) pan/tilt head for around ~$135. I've got two and after years of use am 'content.' They are plenty solid, but suffer a few irritating ergonomic quirks. Build quality is decent, if not bombproof. They're made of aluminum and a Ti/Al alloy, so rust has not been a problem. Take care extending the legs; the nylon bushings in each joint are somewhat fragile. Don't drop the legs in the sand either, the telescoping sleeves will jam in a big way.
There are a number of knock-off brands to consider. Scott's Amvova, Basrska, and several other Chinese clone outfits can be found on Ebay, and will probably deliver 'OK' quality at a lower price. Maybe worth a look?
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Darren Addy
EF5
What part of your current tripod is crapping out on you? Legs or head? I agree with those saying that spending $100 or less (new) is just putting you in the same boat you are in now. One way to look at it is: How many times do you want to spend under a $100 before it makes sense to have ponied up for a quality tripod in the first place. I highly recommend looking at the buyer Reviews at sites like bhphotovideo.com, adorama.com and amazon.com. If you want to go used, a highly-respected lower-end tripod is the Bogen/Manfrotto 3001/190. You will find lots of them on eBay, but you may have to research the merits of the heads that come with them. Since the name change, be sure you are searching for: Bogen 3001 , Manfrotto 3001 , Bogen 190 , Manfrotto 190 (In case the seller didn't know enough to put both names or numbers in their listing) If you buy a tripod new it probably won't come with a head. So if your current head is still good, you could get a better set of legs and transfer your head (until you have the money to upgrade that). Or you could get a simple/decent ball head for it, for now.
David Drummond
Member
I bought an Amvona this year as well and so far I love it! I've taken quite a few lightning photos off of it already. My only regret is I wish I had gotta a slightly taller one being that I am 6'2"
Tyler Burg
EF2
Just recently purchased an Induro AB2, and I love it! I'll never have to buy another tripod, heavy enough to support a large format camera but not too heavy to take backpacking. All for under $180 it's one of the best deals out there IMO.
Greg Campbell
EF5
Brandon, keep an eye on the For Sale listings at http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/board/10 They seem to have plenty of tripod traffic.
Mike Davis
EF1
Best to buy a tripod based on your height. Stooping over a short tripod causes back problems. The taller ones are also much better built. The center can be used with a plastic bag full of drinks tied around the center for stabilization in the wind.
If you shoot in sandy or muddy conditions, simply use 3 tennis balls. Cut small "X"s in them and slide them over each tripod leg for stability.
Check out the top of the line at Best Buy if you want to stay under $100. They carry the top of the line in Sunpak.
Good luck
Mike Davis, N4FOZ
PhotoTech Digital
Instructor
Jacksonville, FLorida
If you shoot in sandy or muddy conditions, simply use 3 tennis balls. Cut small "X"s in them and slide them over each tripod leg for stability.
Check out the top of the line at Best Buy if you want to stay under $100. They carry the top of the line in Sunpak.
Good luck
Mike Davis, N4FOZ
PhotoTech Digital
Instructor
Jacksonville, FLorida
I've been quite happy with a Slik 700DX ($100) paired with a Smith & Victor BH8 ballhead ($60). It has no trouble with my Tamron Adaptall-2 300mm f2.8 and gripped 30D which is the maximum load I intended for it.
Those all-plastic sub-$100 Sunpak/Dynex/Targus/anybrand tripods with the non-interchangeable heads are not made for serious use. Basically any of those crappers that look like this. With anything more than a DSLR + kit lens, they'll experience significant "drooping" unless the camera is perfectly balanced. Eventually they will break, usually the portrait orientation goes first since it's a plastic joint. Back when I still putzed around with these things I had one dump my 70-200 f4L--not a heavyweight my any means, and well-balanced with its collar. The top half of the head just sheared away. All of the locking mechanisms are prone to failure because it's all plastic on plastic. The legs on these tripods will also bend, especially fully extended, and I've read at least one story where one just gave out entirely.
Those all-plastic sub-$100 Sunpak/Dynex/Targus/anybrand tripods with the non-interchangeable heads are not made for serious use. Basically any of those crappers that look like this. With anything more than a DSLR + kit lens, they'll experience significant "drooping" unless the camera is perfectly balanced. Eventually they will break, usually the portrait orientation goes first since it's a plastic joint. Back when I still putzed around with these things I had one dump my 70-200 f4L--not a heavyweight my any means, and well-balanced with its collar. The top half of the head just sheared away. All of the locking mechanisms are prone to failure because it's all plastic on plastic. The legs on these tripods will also bend, especially fully extended, and I've read at least one story where one just gave out entirely.
Laura Duchesne
EF5
My recommendation? Check out the Manfrotto 190XPROB W/804RC2 Head Kit quick release. It is just a little more than what you would plan on spending, but at the same time, it is not pricey for what you're getting. You're going to have a tough time finding a good tripod for cheap (unless you can get one used). I tend to notice that cheap tripods don't do well very well (they are not sturdy and feel pretty cheap and flimsy). You want a sturdy and heavy/solid tripod especially for chasing because of those high wind situations you can get into. I once had my old tripod blow over in the wind but luckily I was standing right behind it!
This is what I use and I love it... it is sturdy enough, you can tilt and rotate the head in all directions, it even has a level handle on it so if you're setting up on a slight slope or hill, you can level out the camera. You can even bend the legs out pretty far and make it even more sturdy.
This is what I use and I love it... it is sturdy enough, you can tilt and rotate the head in all directions, it even has a level handle on it so if you're setting up on a slight slope or hill, you can level out the camera. You can even bend the legs out pretty far and make it even more sturdy.
Joe beier
EF1
To be honest I bought a cheapo $20 tripod at bestbuy and it has been a trooper to say the least. I've had it in streams, snow, flood water, mud etc and it still looks brand spankin new. You might have bought a different one though.
I think it is not a good idea to save money buying a < 100 $ tripod. You should chose the best one you can afford.
Many photographers spend a lot of money for high-quality cameras and lenses and then they wonder about their blurred images because they used a cheap wobbly tripod which vibrates even in the slightest breeze. Because the quality of your pictures is just as good as the weakest part of your equipment, you should buy the sturdiest tripod and ballhead you can get.
Look at ebay for used Gitzo, Berlebach, Manfrotto and other brands which offer excellent quality tripods!
Many photographers spend a lot of money for high-quality cameras and lenses and then they wonder about their blurred images because they used a cheap wobbly tripod which vibrates even in the slightest breeze. Because the quality of your pictures is just as good as the weakest part of your equipment, you should buy the sturdiest tripod and ballhead you can get.
Look at ebay for used Gitzo, Berlebach, Manfrotto and other brands which offer excellent quality tripods!
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