I need a tripod

[knightmaric]

Hey all,

I really need a tripod and soon.
I'm not looking at spending anymore than £30 really.

I need something that I can preferably adjust the height on ansd obviously tilt the top to djust the camera angle.

Is there anything I can get besides a gorillapod as they look a tad small.

Thanks.

[codemonkey]

Something like this?

http://www.premier-ink.co.uk/photographic/tripods/pan-tilt-heads/manfrotto-056-junior-threeway-head-050kg-3kg-p-2162.html

[knightmaric]

I think so lol
Will that attach to the top of any tripod?

But I need a tripod base too.

I'm going for lunch soon and if I can get to PC world I might see what they have there.
I hate that place but it's close lol

[bezza]

Trouble with cheap tripods is that they wobble too much so don't always get the benefit. Velbon tripods give a good balance between cost and performance. As with all thing - I'd try and push the budget if you can.

[knightmaric]

How much is too much to spend on a tripod?
Simply because I don't want to spend more than £50 on a tripod, but £30 would be the prefered price.

[codemonkey]

This might fit the bill

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-velbon-cx-440-tripod/p1000288

[Matt Harris]

This might fit the bill

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-velbon-cx-440-tripod/p1000288

+1.

I've had a couple like that, different sizes. Great for a light camera.


How much is too much for a tripod? Depends what you're doing it.
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-gitzo-gk1581ot-ocean-traveller-with-ocean-g-lock/p1033327 Thats what I'm looking into, cause all my works seascapes, so my tripod gets full of salt and sand.
And there are more expensive ones...

Horses for courses though. All depends on what you need it for.

That Velbon up there that code linked to will be fine.
And Warehouse Express are the don.

[Dio]

What camera and lenses do you use and what will you use the tripod for?

If you have a DSLR with a long zoom lens, then you will need a better quality tripod than you would need for a point and shoot compact.

Similarly, if you want to take indoor photos in good light (flowers, for example) you will get away with a different tripod than you would if you were out on a windy hill side.

I know that expense is an issue for a lot of us at the moment, but if you don't buy a good one now, you will have to spend on another quite soon. The vibration that you suffer will detract from your photos quite badly.

[Mr Grapes]

+1 for a decent one.

my wife got me a cheap one for a birthday and now i *have* to use that one. it's light weight, but doesn't hold still if there's a butterfly flapping within 1/4 mile, (especially with my v.heavy old skool 70-210mm lens on...)

[TheTranquilEye]

Manfrotti FTW!

[bezza]

And Warehouse Express are the don.

Agree with that - have a look on their site. They have a bit of a write-up on choosing tripods. And also try Jacobs (who have a shop in Cardiff) - they're very good too.

[PeteA]

Like others said. Cheap tripods are fairly bad. You might be able to get a second hand one of ebay.
Cheap ones wear very quickly so more often than not you'll find you cant secure the legs. They also have problems with adjusting them. As the heads are generally fixed, you cant change your mind if you want a different head.

I use Manfrotto and ok mine were £200 a piece I have used the lower budget ones and they cant really be faulted.

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-manfrotto-785b-modo-maxi-tripod/p1014517
The above one is a good tripod and has a gun style grip which make it extremely good if you ever want to do tracking. Also you can get away with using it as a video tripod.


I use manfrotto and their quality cant be faulted.

[knightmaric]

That manfrotto you pointed out PeteA is actually rather good O:
I did see a cool one in pc world but it was well overpriced.

Does that manfrotto come with a mini spirit level to check if it's balanced?
Because if so I think we may be on to a winner =P

Matt that tripod is insane O_O

Just for the record I use a Lumix G1 with the standard lense.
Would get a nice zoom one but it's just too much atm lol

[PeteA]

I believe so yes. Most of the tripod heads that they make come with them.

The advantage with a company like manfrotto is they don't make low quality or budget products so you can pretty much guarantee they anything you get is going to be good quality.

Talking of insane tripods (ok it's a video one but)
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-manfrotto-519542art-carbon-video-kit/p1008019
Used one of those a couple of times, they're so smooth in movement.

[thehitmen]

manfrotto is the "Apple" of the tripod world IMMO

[knightmaric]

Jesus that's just...... well you know lol

They do seem like it hitmen :P

But I might actually get one :3

[Vigoro]

Not sure that is an "Apple" of the tripod world as it looks like it is worth the money

[Matt Harris]

Not sure that is an "Apple" of the tripod world as it looks like it is worth the money

Agreed. Manfrotto are like old school Nokias. Reliable, fancy free, and hard to break.

Gitzo are the Apple of tripods. Cost a fortune, quite gimmicky, and good looking.

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

another for the decent tripod.. if you wanna cheapy look in argos they sell some ok cheap ones for sub 30.. but if you are using an expensive camera you want a decent tripod there is a massive difference.. some cheaper tripods at full height are very flimsy. i have a desktop tripod and 2x full size tripods.. 1 light one which cost me £75 on sale and another which was about £170 which is pretty heavy duty. personally i think tripods are a rip but with everything you get what you pay for..

[PeteA]

Not sure that is an "Apple" of the tripod world as it looks like it is worth the money

Bit off topic but I wouldn't use that comparison either. I presume the statement was comparing Apple to Microsoft how ever IMO they are not comparable.

Anyway, Manfrotto make some of the top (and I use this term loosely) low budget tripods ie £50-£150 range.
One big advantage that Manfrotto have is all the tripod heads that they make will fit all of the tripods so if you want to interchange you can. For example you could use your Photography tripod for video if you change the head.


Agreed. Manfrotto are like old school Nokias. Reliable, fancy free, and hard to break.
Fallen on mine once and if they survive my fat *** they must be strong

It's defiantly worth spending the extra money on a tripod.

Review
http://www.cameralabs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4684
Got some good pictures of the tripod I suggested. I do agree with the reviewer when he says it wont support a large SLR lens. Would be fine with the camera you have.

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/home/?/chris_packham/reviews/manfrotto-785B-Modo-Maxi-Tripod-review.html

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

ive only really used velbon (not including early cheapies) imo manfrottle are well over priced even if they are some of the best..

[PeteA]

ive only really used velbon (not including early cheapies) imo manfrottle are well over priced even if they are some of the best..

I got put off by the Velbon tripods by the cheapies. Never used the more expensive ones.

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

their 70-200 stuff is fine and meets most needs

still i would never spend more than £200 on a tripod unless it can s**k moi

[PeteA]

Depends what your putting on it. If your using £1000's of pounds on a lens I wouldn't want to trust a £200 tripod. Plus they're guaranteed for weight.

[knightmaric]

I really do like that tripos you pointed out PeteA.
I get paid soon so that's on the wishlist :3
Along with insurance :P

I'm sure my camera will be fine on top of that tripod =]
If it does somehow "break free" then it's covered by the warrantee and insurance at least.

[thehitmen]

I really do like that tripos you pointed out PeteA.
I get paid soon so that's on the wishlist :3
Along with insurance :P

I'm sure my camera will be fine on top of that tripod =]
If it does somehow "break free" then it's covered by the warrantee and insurance at least.

Simple rule i try to keep with is, when you use the tripod, wrap the strap around your neck :)

Obvious you can't do this all the time..

Better safe than sorry.

[IainK]

and make sure it's insured :)

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

Depends what your putting on it. If your using £1000's of pounds on a lens I wouldn't want to trust a £200 tripod. Plus they're guaranteed for weight.

yeh prolly but if i had the money for £1000s on a lens i would be able to afford a better tripod :P still tripods are over priced no matter how you look at it.


Simple rule i try to keep with is, when you use the tripod, wrap the strap around your neck :)

Obvious you can't do this all the time..

Better safe than sorry.

yip its what i do :D


and make sure it's insured :)

im the kind of person that enjoys smashing expensive things.... :S bad habit really... if i had insurance...<< i would definately be breaking things and making porkie pies..

ok the only real example of this i have is smashing the **** out of a very expensive pioneer 50" plasma... was dangerous reallly.. and reallly fun...

though i still feel the urge..< lol

[Matt Harris]

I'd trust my 055ProB with a heavy telephoto... though I'd use a different head, probably an Arca Swiss or Kirk, as three-way heads are **** when swinging a telephoto around.

Most things in photography are over priced. Thats just how it is.

But I'd rather pay out more for a great tripod, than skimp on it and have my over priced camera, lens and filters take a tumble.

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

i understand i just like to moan... like uurrraaahhhhhhh :D


talking of tumbles i knocked my cam off my kitchen table the otherweek. the strap was hanging off and i put my bag down on the chair and on hte strap.. it fell onto the chair and i caught it with my foot before it hit the floor...:ninja:

i did brick it...... a little

[Janesy B]

manfrotto is the "Apple" of the tripod world IMMO

Hideously overpriced, gimmicky and offers less for the money?

[PeteA]

yeh prolly but if i had the money for £1000s on a lens i would be able to afford a better tripod :P still tripods are over priced no matter how you look at it.

Well, probably but Manfrotto put a **** of a lot of research into their products. I suppose your also buying the guarantee that the tripod will support x amount of weight.

I suppose you could say a lot of products are over priced. CPU's cost next to nothing to make but the research that goes into them is why they cost so much.

I find it strange that some people use big telephoto lenses and then mount the camera instead of using the lens ring. Saw someone doing that once, about 10 mins later there as a few choice words, a loud bang and the tinkling of glass as a Canon 500mm L series lens hit the floor. Also the tripod wasn't good enough for the job anyway.

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

Well, probably but Manfrotto put a **** of a lot of research into their products. I suppose your also buying the guarantee that the tripod will support x amount of weight.

I suppose you could say a lot of products are over priced. CPU's cost next to nothing to make but the research that goes into them is why they cost so much.

I find it strange that some people use big telephoto lenses and then mount the camera instead of using the lens ring. Saw someone doing that once, about 10 mins later there as a few choice words, a loud bang and the tinkling of glass as a Canon 500mm L series lens hit the floor. Also the tripod wasn't good enough for the job anyway.

thats a good point..

but just to play devils advocate
how much research can you do into tripods... off the top of my head..

COG< centre of gravity.. some basic physics
materials<
...
:confused:

design of making something compact.. strong light ie the way it folds whats the best materials for grips of legs and set up.. levelling? and the design of the heads..

soory but most of that is basic stuff.. and imo you dont need to label your tripod 'made with spaceage materials. slap £600 onto it and say thats all gone into research.. still its a smal niche so i guess we're at their whim.. i once made a tripod myself.. it was made from small branches of a birch... i ended up using it to hanG a kettle over a fire fror some tea :D

[bezza]

So having requested info on a cheap lens, the advice is:

1) Spend £200 on a tripod
2) Spend another load of money on insurance
3) Get some L glass

I'd probably go for a complete PC build at the same time too. You need at least 2 x 5970s to get the most out of a tripod.

[PeteA]

i once made a tripod myself.. it was made from small branches of a birch... i ended up using it to hand a kettle over a fire fror some tea :D

haha :)

I know its simple maths, but I'd rather pay the money and have a guarantee that not going to buckle, than have my insurance company say sorry sir but its your fault for buying a low quality tripod. Everyone knows what insurance companies are like paying up.

[I3R0K3N7FEET]

so having requested info on a cheap lens, the advice is:

1) spend £200 on a tripod
2) spend another load of money on insurance
3) get some l glass

i'd probably go for a complete pc build at the same time too. You need at least 2 x 5970s to get the most out of a tripod.


lmao QUADTRIPODCORE ftw