The not so new piece of tripod advice...

posiview

posiview

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Andy
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Yip, I'm sure you've heard/been told/read about the benefits of buying a quality tripod and that it will benefit your photography.

I'd heard/read/been given this advice.

Then I bought a cheap tripod - which broke.

It was replaced, speedily - then broke.

It was replaced, speedily with the next model.

After 12 months it gave up for good. I'm not sure how long it was supposed to last...:thinking:

I've just spent just under £180.00 on a tripod and head. I suspect this is still not enough.

The temptation to buy glass/stuff over a tripod is hard to resist - at least it was for me.

Quality tripod, I thought, pppffttt. I was glass...:D

Buy a quality tripod. You will thank me/whoever gives you this advice.

Here ends my sermon....:thumbs:

Cheers.
 
While we are giving advice, never leave your camera attached to the tripod unattended. A good gust of wind WILL blow it over, no matter how secure you think it is.
 
Usual advice, buy once, buy wise. When you consider that tripods tend to outlive camera bodies, the cost of a good one is merely a fraction of your total spend on photography.
 
I'm currently hunting for a tripod. Have read a few reviews (mainly from the magazines 'WhatDigitalCamera' & 'DigitalSLR' and now I'm under the impression I need to spend around £150 for a half decent one. I'm not sure if I can afford that amount.

Here's a brief history of my last tripod which I took on holiday to India, early this year.

A £20 Hama Star 63 tripod.

1. I never got around to using it.
2. I couldn't get it back in the suitcase on day 3 of my tour so I left it inside the fridge in my room!

Pros: :shrug:
Cons: A minimum closed length of 66cm, Not suitcase friendly!
It weighs a ton! (well 1.7kg)
It's got ugly silver legs

But honestly, I know I should really put one to use on my next trip as I'll be photographing sculptures in dimly lit places (Ellora/Ajanta etc)

I'm just a bit undecided at the mo :(
 
I suppose it's all down to what your expectations are and the intended use.

I used a Manfrotto somethingorother for about 8 years and it went missing at work so I bought one of those £50 Konig ones off Amazon. Ball head is pretty good (i.e. it locks solid with a D2x and 70-200mm on), although it wouldn't suit hiking with lens and body still attached. The height is fine for what I need (up to about 2m) and it's not massively heavy. The footprint is easy to adjust and it goes down low. It also doubles up well as a flash stand and a beach fishing rest. Okay, the allen keys need a bit of tightening every now and then and there is a bit of rust on some of the screws from salt water exposure (i.e. actually being in the water). It fits in a hockey stick bag with my 28" apollo and lightstand.

Apparently they've gone down to £40 now.

I wouldn't whack a 5x4" camera on it but for what i do (and I'm out five days a week) it's lasted three years so far and looks like it'll go for a long time yet.

Things aren't always what they seem.....
 
Slik 700 PRO Dx legs with your head or choice (in my case a redsnapper ballhead 61)

Yes it weighs 2.6kg however its never gone over, will stand up to been used as a crutch will withstand been thrown down a hill side can take the sea on and win and only needs to be fully broke down and cleaned every 6 months so far 3 years on its doing bloody well even though its showing its age.
 
still have my original velbon from the 70's and it was not cheap then but been great though the head is on its last legs even though its just come out of hibernation from about 10yrs ago ha ha
 
I decided on one of these, Fancier WF-5603 PRO from netgadgets.co.uk. I didn't know an awful lot about what I should be looking for when I got it but it does the job really well. It's bad points are the weight and height when folded. It's good points are that it's rock steady, very tall when opened, versatile and a good price. I've had a 7D and 100-400L planted on it for hours with no movement and I've used it as a leaning post for handheld shots at an airshow with a 550D and 100-400L.
 
posiview said:
Yip, I'm sure you've heard/been told/read about the benefits of buying a quality tripod and that it will benefit your photography.

I'd heard/read/been given this advice.

Then I bought a cheap tripod - which broke.

It was replaced, speedily - then broke.

It was replaced, speedily with the next model.

After 12 months it gave up for good. I'm not sure how long it was supposed to last...:thinking:

I've just spent just under £180.00 on a tripod and head. I suspect this is still not enough.

The temptation to buy glass/stuff over a tripod is hard to resist - at least it was for me.

Quality tripod, I thought, pppffttt. I was glass...:D

Buy a quality tripod. You will thank me/whoever gives you this advice.

Here ends my sermon....:thumbs:

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Short Version;)

Good advice:)
 
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