tripod buying! for beginners

<p>Hello,<br>

Can anyone recommend a universal tripod w/head for a beginner? I took a photography class a few semesters ago and i learned the different techniques. I would like to keep practicing and i would like to get a tripod. My professor at that time said, to get a universal one with head; I have a Nikon D3200, so while i learn id like to get something not too expensive if possible under $200. I started traveling a lot to if its not super heavy that would be a plus. Any recommendations? ive seen a lot in the post to mention the brand Manfrotto, is this a good option? Thanks a lot.<br>

Coni</p>

<p>Under $200 is tough.<br>

You can actually get a lot of usable, if not great, tripods with a head for under $100. I have an Opteka version that I keep for quick and dirty work. It wouldn't hold up under sustained use, though.<br>

I also have an STX Pro that weighs a ton, but goes to 72" and is solid enough for a 1000mm lens or 15X binoculars. It's pretty rugged, and currently goes for around $130+ with a reasonably good head. It's not for hiking though. The height is important unless you want to end up like Quasimodo from stooping over while working.</p>

<p>There is a contradiction in tripods, those that are solid are heavy and those that are light, are very expensive if you get one that is steady AND light.<br>

I like Manfrotto and own a series of various Manfrotto heads, but I don't need portability so the STX works for me.</p>

<p>I think the rules for tripods are<br>

<br />Heavy and Stable = low cost<br>

Light and Unstable = low cost<br>

Light and Stable = high cost</p>

 

<p>Constanza - I don't know where you live, but where I live are a variety of charity and resale shops. Many of them have quite serviceable used tripods in the course of the year for under $25 USD . Most have removable heads and you can get a good (not great) ball head for under $100 on the big auction site. I've converted several of the better tripods I've found into near professional quality rigs for under $200. One way of stabilizing a good, but not great, tripod is to take an empty plastic gallon milk container and fill it with sand, rock salt or other material and hang it from the bottom of the center post or from the struts which stabilize the legs. Not good for travel, but works great for studio use.</p>

<p>Manfrotto products are all good by may be hard to find cheap. I have several of these but also a Slik 88, which is a very good compromise between strength and lightness and can be found on e-bay for about $50.</p>

<p>The cheap(ish) tripod I've been using as a travel tripod is a Velbon REXi L. It's reasonably solid (probably not quite as solid as my 055CXPro3, but far from bad), reasonably light (for an aluminium tripod - and yes, budget carbon tripods are available in your range, and I'm only reporting what I use, not advising against the alternatives), folds down very small, and has a very fast leg set-up system. It depends what lenses you're using - I'd trust mine with my 70-200 f/2.8, but not with my 500 f/4, and I assume it's likely that what you've currently got is smaller. I doubt, at this stage, you need the very best in stability; the REXi is a good compromise. The other Ultrek Velbons with a permanent centre column, less so. Of course, with any tripod, check it's tall enough for your needs.<br />

<br />

If you go down the REXi route, that doesn't leave much for the head. I have a Triopo RS-3, which is cheap and <i>extremely</i> solid but not very refined - you may want the reverse properties if your camera is light. It cost me a few dollars more to put an Arca-compatible quick release plate on it, and I'd certainly not use the RS-3's screw attachment on its own. For future proofing, if you <i>can</i> find an Arca-compatible QR clamp, I'd recommend one, but it's not vital on a cheap head. Tripod heads are personal, and it's probably worth trying some in a shop. You probably want a ball head, although a few swear by pan/tilt heads and it does depend what you're shooting.<br />

<br />

Good luck!</p>

<p>I'd never heard of the Oben line of tripods until B&H began carrying them, but this brand is getting <a href="http://www.davidkingham.com/blog/2013/7/review-of-oben-ct-2491-carbon-fiber-tripod-legs">good reviews</a> and the prices are very reasonable - comparable in value to the Slik and old Bogen/Manfrotto lineup. The <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=864142&is=REG&si=rev#costumerReview">Oben AC-1441 4-Section Aluminum Tripod with BA-111 Ball Head</a> costs $110 as of this writing. Looks like a good starter tripod that should last a long time. Meanwhile as your skills develop you'll get a better idea of whether you need a more specialized tripod, or would have any need for a high end quick release head, that sort of thing.</p>

Thank you everyone. I'll write down all

the names you have told me and head

to the store here in Cambridge Mass.

Ther is a Hunts photo store. I could

check them out and then compare

prices online

<p>I have a fotopro C5I and functionality wise I think it is a great deal. Normal price they usually sit between $150-$220. They come in a variety of colours usually the ugly ones end up on sale for pretty cheap but if you don't care about aesthetics too much that can actually make it more of a bargain. I have had a 400mm Lens attached without it feeling unstable. It isn't as tall as some tri-pods I've used but I'm 6'3 and I can have the camera at close to eye level with only slight stabilization sacrifice.<br>

http://www.fotopro.com/en/?page_id=1056</p>

Anyone know where Oben Tripods are made?

 

I am a bit leery of reviews. Too often, people do reviews shortly after getting the equipment, but I want to know how good it will be 2, 5, 20 years from now. Are parts available should a repair be necessary, etc.

 

 

The tripod philosophy seems to be to buy the best tripod you can afford. That is excellent advice for an experienced photographer. However, to a newcomer, I would recommend something like Manfrotto and then in a few years, if this one is not suitable, upgrade to an expensive one like Gitzo or Really Right Stuff if that is within budget.

Yeah, most consumer site product reviews are

written during the honeymoon phase. But the

review I linked to above was based on three

months of field use, and he mentioned a few

flaws.

<p>I bought mine at a Pawn shop for $10.00. Its heavy but very stable. It is Sun Pac? The only thing I've noticed is that it has a quick disengage and being new at tripods, I almost lost my camera and lens to a concrete floor. Fortunately I was able to grab it in time. Be careful with these release triggers regardless of brand or price.</p>

<p>Slik Pro 700 dx. $99.95 at B&H. You might want to consider getting it kitted with a head. You can get it with either a ball head or pan/tilt at or below $150. Now these will be functional and uninspired Slik heads but they will work fine. You can at some later point replace the head with a better ballhead taking Arca Swiss plates. But until you become deathly frustrated with the Slik heads, they'll be fine. They just aren't state of the art. But to get a truly good tripod and head and get all of the better current features, you'll bust your budget. It has a two part center column to get really close to the ground. It's not a super heavy tripod suited to the heaviest long nature and birding lenses nor is it too light and flimsy for use with common dslrs and a wide variety of lenses.</p>

<p>Ditto, the Slik 700 DX. Excellent value in a solid, basic tripod. One of my favorite tripods includes the Slik legset originally used in the smaller 300 DX and one of Slik's lightweight video tripod rigs. I interchange a Velbon magnesium ballhead and a Bogen/Manfrotto tilt/pan head on that Slik legset, which I like better than the Bogen/Manfrotto legset that original came with the tilt/pan head.</p>

<p>Hi ,<br>

I own a WEIFENG WF-5602 tripod. It worths every single penny I spent.</p>

<p>http://www.uoften.com/weifeng-wf5602-lightweight-professional-digital-camera-tripod.html</p>

<p> </p>