Best tripod for a relative beginner?

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bombfrog

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Simple question I hope.

I'm off to go shopping for a tripod (probably from jessops) and I need to know what to look out for. I have about £100 to spend. No specific use in mind, I want to try a bit of everything (long exposures, night shots, long range wildlife etc.)

It needs to be fairly light but able to support a canon 50d with a fairly heavy lens like a 70-200mm. I have a mini one at the moment but you can't lock the legs into place and it's not strong enough for this camera.

Rather than a specific model number it would be useful to know what questions I need to look out for and what questions to ask. E.g. what different types are there, do the more expensive ones have features that I will need etc.
 
I just got a redsnapper ball head and its great.
I am sure youll get many others suggesting that you just buy a redsnapper.
If you do spend the extra for the ball head (btw you get 10% off if you tell them you are a member)
 
For that price range, I think redsnapper is the brand to go for, and I'm sure a few people might have already recommended them by the time I finish typing this!

The thing about tripods is that out of the following 3 things, you can only get 2:

Cheap, Light, Sturdy

You can get a cheap(ish) sturdy one, but it'll be made out of bricks and lead, you can get a light and cheap one, and it'll probably fall apart, or you can get a light sturdy one made from carbon fibre and aluminium, which will cost an arm and a leg! But redsnapper seems to be a pretty good compromise, well made, secure, and not back-breakingly heavy!

Chris
 
mountainpenguin said:
I just got a redsnapper ball head and its great.
I am sure youll get many others suggesting that you just buy a redsnapper.
If you do spend the extra for the ball head (btw you get 10% off if you tell them you are a member)
Click to expand...

:agree:

Drop Joe at Redsnapper a pm, I'm sure he'll get you sorted. Good kit and a great people to deal with!
 
I'm sure it's a great tripod, but I really fancied going shopping today, that was my main reason for asking so I need to know what to get on the high street. Talking of which, I should probably be going before the shops close.

Ball head sounds like the way to go though.
 
RJL2005 said:
:agree:

Drop Joe at Redsnapper a pm, I'm sure he'll get you sorted. Good kit and a great people to deal with!
Click to expand...

redsnapper all the way, ive got the tri-283 tripod with ballhead and just in the process of buying the monopod......:thumbs:
 
bombfrog said:
I'm sure it's a great tripod, but I really fancied going shopping today, that was my main reason for asking so I need to know what to get on the high street. Talking of which, I should probably be going before the shops close.

Ball head sounds like the way to go though.
Click to expand...

You wont beat redsnapper in the £100 bracket on the high street not with a ball head to, and if you speak to joe at redsnapper and mention your a member on tp he'll give you a 10% discount :D

Andy
 
:plusone: for Redsnapper +ballhead again. I use canon 40D and biggest lens of mine 100-400L and its a brezze. Not too expensive either. Redsnapper
 
Are you sure you can't wait a few days? I doubt if you'll find equivalent on the highstreet:thinking:
 
you are unlikely to findanything decent in the highstreet.
Few chain camera shops carry any thing except for the basic snapshotter.
You will pay a high price for very poor quality. Jessops comes to mind, their own stuff is the pits.
 
due to this thread and some other peoples comments, i have decided to get the rs283 and ball head :) Also going to get the Compucam backpack while im there! thanks for the advice guys!
 
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