Budget Tripod for Consumer DSLR?

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danlaw

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Hey guys,

I'm planning on experimenting with longer exposures and night shots, so I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions for a cheap tripod for a consumer DLSR with a prime lens on it.

I've heard all the talk about investing £££s in an expensive carbon fibre Manfrotto etc, but I really am on a budget so something cheap and cheerful will do me.

I was looking at this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-00004161-Star-61-Tripod/dp/tech-data/B0000WXD0W/ref=de_a_smtd

Any other suggestions?
 
A Red Snapper 283 or 284 would be my choice (and was :) )

I would go for a ball head rather than 3 way personally (after spending an evening trying to take shots at various angles requiring too many things to be undone and done up again on the 3 way head)

http://www.redsnapperuk.com/camera-accessories/Supports_And_Head_Combo_s.html

If your lens isn't too big, you can go for the RSH61 ball head.

I went for the tripod and 3 way head combo and then bought the RSH61 as an addition, I can then switch between heads.

My Velbon was similar in design to the one you linked to, but you will find they are too flexible and won't give you a solid shooting platform.
 
Dale_d3100 said:
A Red Snapper 283 or 284 would be my choice (and was :) )

I would go for a ball head rather than 3 way personally (after spending an evening trying to take shots at various angles requiring too many things to be undone and done up again on the 3 way head)
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This is exactly mirrors my experience. A 3-way head isn't designed to look upwards so if you plan on any form of night sky shots, a ball head is far more practical.

Dale_d3100 said:
I went for the tripod and 3 way head combo and then bought the RSH61 as
My Velbon was similar in design to the one you linked to, but you will find they are too flexible and won't give you a solid shooting platform.
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If you are doing any form of long exposure, a solid tripod really helps ;) As does a remote shutter release of some description.
 
I was just looking at Red Snapper :), they have a decent deal on at the moment with the 283/284 and the 3 way.

The ball head sounds like a good idea, but I'm still not sure how much use I'd get out of a tripod, so I'm not sure I want to spend too much (subjective, but I'm a cheapskate). But thanks for the suggestion!
 
All the shots in my london gallery on my flickr page were shot on the 284 tripod and 3 way head. The exposures were up to 30 seconds
 
arad85 said:
If you are doing any form of long exposure, a solid tripod really helps ;) As does a remote shutter release of some description.
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I think I'd be fine if I put it on a 2 second timer, no need for a remote :D

Hmm perhaps a ballhead is the way to go
 
gunnar said:
I've got one. Totaly useless piece of rubbish.
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Ditto, I mean it's solid enough for the shortest of 'long' exposures, but it does gradually drop if you point it upwards. However vertically it manages to hold up my 500mm...but as more of a support while shooting opposed to remote photography.
 
gunnar said:
The legs are more or less stable, but head is rubbish it's can't hold steady even light lens (400 gramme) esp in portrate orientation
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Right, might have to give up on the idea of a dirt cheap tripod then. Any suggestions for something that isn't rubbish and doesn't break the bank?
 
Red Snapper ;)
 
I've had one of the amazon ones a while ago now, although badged as a Velbon.

I did use it with my EOS 400 and the kit 18-55 lens for some light trail photo's that turned out pretty well. Exposures were up to 30 sec or so. I would suggest that you invest in a remote shutter release though.

I guess with word budget, you wont be using long or heavy lenses and it might (just might) be okay for you.

Having said that for just over a tenner, you won't have lost much if it turns out to be unsuitable.

I have now upgraded to a 2nd hand Manfrotto 055 and the difference is just unbeleiveable.
 
Skyviews100 said:
I've had one of the amazon ones a while ago now, although badged as a Velbon.

I did use it with my EOS 400 and the kit 18-55 lens for some light trail photo's that turned out pretty well. Exposures were up to 30 sec or so. I would suggest that you invest in a remote shutter release though.

I guess with word budget, you wont be using long or heavy lenses and it might (just might) be okay for you.

Having said that for just over a tenner, you won't have lost much if it turns out to be unsuitable.

I have now upgraded to a 2nd hand Manfrotto 055 and the difference is just unbeleiveable.
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I'll be using a Nikon D5000 with a 35mm prime, occasionally an old film SLR with a 50mm. So I think I'd be okay in terms of weight. I guess I could always invest in a more expensive second hand one later on, if I do find that I'll using a tripod a fair amount.
 
danlaw said:
The ball head sounds like a good idea, but I'm still not sure how much use I'd get out of a tripod, so I'm not sure I want to spend too much (subjective, but I'm a cheapskate). But thanks for the suggestion!
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I didn't use my cheaper one much as it was a faff. I got a good one now use it loads!

Bare minimum I'd want now would be a red snapper (and might well get one for the wife at some point).
 
I have a similar Hama Star tripod and it's pretty useless TBH. the mounting plate doesn't sit flat, so you end up having to drop one of the three legs down by 1/2" or so to get it level. the quality is generally pretty poor, but it is very light. would probably look at spending just a tad more and getting something better.
 
jammy_c said:
I have a similar Hama Star tripod and it's pretty useless TBH. the mounting plate doesn't sit flat, so you end up having to drop one of the three legs down by 1/2" or so to get it level. the quality is generally pretty poor, but it is very light. would probably look at spending just a tad more and getting something better.
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Agreed... the bloody thing's a joke. The one I have even has a little spirit level on it - not much use if the damn head doesn't even sit flat... :cuckoo:

maninsuitcase said:
Bare minimum I'd want now would be a red snapper (and might well get one for the wife at some point).
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I'm not too sure that she'd see that as a fair swap though...!

Seriously though, regarding tripods... how stable are the RedSnapper ones? I'm thinking along the lines of the 324 with a ball head. I've just had my Velbon DH50 out, fully extended, and even if I move on the floor while taking a shot, I get camera wobble, mainly from the center extension and the head... are the RedSnapper tripods better?
 
I had a Velbon 560 (i think thats the model number) and then I received my Red Snapper.

In comparison it was like going from a Fiat Panda to an Aston Martin.

The legs are solid, finish is great, its all nice and stiff, its all metal, the legs have twist locks so its nice and easy to extend. The legs have rubber feet with spikes in the middle, you just screw the rubber feet up to use the spikes. I've used it with the centre section raised and it was as solid as a rock.

Differences to my Velbon....

Hook on the bottom - you can hang your bag on here to make it even more solid
Legs aren't connected to the centre section lower down, this allows you to open up the legs wide and get really low down.
2 different length centre section - 1 normal length and 1 short length for low down photography with the legs at their widest position.

You also may want to pay attention to the code in the first post of this thread.... ;)

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=258696
 
Very timely thread - I'm looking at getting a tripod. Sorry to hijack, but does anyone have any direct experience of these redsnapper ones vs Manfrotto - thinking particularly of the 190XPRO & 494CR2 ball head - obviously the manfrotto is a bit more dollar at £150 or so. Worth the extra or are redsnapper every bit as good?
 
teddyt72 said:
Very timely thread - I'm looking at getting a tripod. Sorry to hijack, but does anyone have any direct experience of these redsnapper ones vs Manfrotto - thinking particularly of the 190XPRO & 494CR2 ball head - obviously the manfrotto is a bit more dollar at £150 or so. Worth the extra or are redsnapper every bit as good?
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I can't comment on the RedSnapper, Eddie, but I popped into Jessops today to see what they had - the Velbon DF-50 I have just couldn't handle the D7000 with my 70-200, and I needed something that was more stable.

They didn't have anything decent in the shop front, but someone went digging around and found a Manfrotto 055XPROB with a 496RC2 ball head. It's certainly worlds apart from the Velbon and I must admit, seems to be well worth the money I spent on it...
 
I have this..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Professio...s_Monopods&hash=item5ae32aedeb#ht_3436wt_1032

its bulky, its on the heavy side, the clips feel a little flimsy.. but I 100% trust it, once up its solid, the feet are superb the joystick ball head is unbelievable for the money it really is and because of the size of the head it goes really tall, the bag does its job well, don't bid more than £45 for one.

I was not expecting much but thought chuff it for £45 quid delivered but as I said I trust it with my gear, only thing I might do in the future is get some more portable legs for when out walking but I love the joystick ball head.
 
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