Need a tripod, please help!

[stupot]

Hey, im looking for a cheap tripod, don't want to spend more than £50, and i'm prepared to go second hand.

i dont know anything about tripods... and what best suits my needs. whats the difference between ballheads/pan and tilt heads/other heads etc... i obviously understand what they do but for what situations would you use them, and whats best as a general purpose head?

i also want to get the smallest tripod possible... i dont mind if it doesnt extend to eye level... but one that closes up to about 40 or 50 cm in length would be ideal.

am i asking too much for the budget? really dont have the funds for anything more expensive... and i'd rather spend my money on lenses.

thanks

stu

edit: the most it will have to carry is a 350D and 70-200f4. would something like the velbon cx-mini (http://www.warehouseexpress.com/index.cfm?binsandscopes/Tripods/velbon.html?cd=1061316#dx888) be a waste of money?


or... manfrotto 714SHB?

ok keep finding more options...! how about a giotto "traveller tripod" it only supports 0.8kilos though.. does anyone know if this tripod allows you to change heads? its only £17 so if it does allow that then i could get a cheap head off ebay if i find the one that comes with it wont support my camera. its only 28cm long when closed also...

[Wilt]

Realize that your budget constraint AND your 'smallest possible' constraint in combination will doom you to a tripod that merely holds the camera up in the air on a farily unstable base, so that winds can more easilty deflect it and possible hurt your photos.
Short collapsed length comes with the need for a large number of leg sections, and that means the smallest diameter 4th leg section is smaller in size than if it only need 2 or 3 leg sections, so that smallest section can deflect more easily, hurting the stability. The absolute smallest I would use for myself is the Bogen 2001 (not sure the Manfrotto model which this is). But the price is at or over your budget and you still need to get a head!

[stupot]

thanks, did you mean the 3001? cant find a 2001.

i know it would be nice to have something sturdier but i really dont fancy having to carry it around (would like to take it on holidays etc)

so... call it a travel tripod!

does anyone have an opinion on this. giotto "traveller tripod" (http://www.warehouseexpress.com/index.cfm?binsandscopes/tripods/giottos.html?cd=1061316#tt)

[kaitanium]

that definetly wont give you much stability with your 70-200. and a 70-200 f1.4? you sure you labeled that correctly in your "my gear"? =P or am i missing something here

giottos quailty usually isnt that much up to par since its a knock off of the more expensive brands like gitzo. you should see if you can win this one for cheap
http://cgi.ebay.com/Giottos-Professional-Aluminum-Tripod-MT9180-New_W0QQitemZ7604981387QQcategoryZ30095QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem

amvona.com has some cheap tripods too. check them out at the site and bid for them (ebay sn amvona.com) on ebay for an insane price, usually $50 USD or less end prices.

this is an expensive hobby. and once you start, be prepared to spend and spend BIG

[stupot]

thats a : not a .

:) thanks for recommendation, still a bit big though, and im in the uk.

in case anyone is interested... this is the piece of junk i have at the moment.
http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/Cameras+and+Camcorders/Camcorder+Accessories/Tripods/MIRANDA/TP25/058944

[85lesabre]

I have a Bogen tripod, and im relitivily happy with it. I dont think it cost that much either. they have a wide variety of tripods for every price level, there all pretty good quality too.

[Wilt]

I meant Bogen 3001 not '2001'. In the US the 3001 comes headless at $90 (£52) plus shipping (and then there's that troublesome VAT!)

[stupot]

thanks for help guys, but is anyone able to give me some info on mini tripods? ideal for travelling? i know they're not great but whats the best one for my budget?

[irv]

i got a cheap dynatran/amvona cf tripod for about £60 here in the UK on ebay. it weight 800g so its the one i use for travelling. stick a decent ball head on (which costs as much if not more than the tripod. my manfrotto 222 was about £65) and its not a bad combination. holds a 20d with 100-400L pretty well. taking it with me to japan this week. don't remember which model it is exactly but something like cf80.

[stupot]

thanks irv, had a look but couldnt find one anywhere!

anyway, just bought a manfrotto 718hsb from www.warehouseexpress.com for £60... so... hopefully its what i need!