PLEASE, recommend a budget TRIPOD

[lukasgunar]

Hello,
I'll be coming to USA for a business trip in 2 weeks for 1 week. I plan to buy some photo equipment over there. I do own one really cheap tripod I bought maybe 5 years ago, but I found it not stable enough. As I don't shoot pictures using a tripod too often I would like to buy some better one but not too expensive (I plan to spend up to 100 dollars). I was just checking some tripods on the web and found this one (SUNPAK 3300 PRO): http://www.adorama.com/SU3300B.html

Does anybody have any experience with this tripod or which one would you recommend to me?

Many thanks for any advice.

lukas

[ducko]

The one that I use is pretty sturdy. It also doubles as a monopod, which I think is pretty cool. It's not a monfroto but it's around 100 bucks and works well for my needs.

Cullman Serie 3000

Enjoy your visit :-)

[lukasgunar]

The one that I use is pretty sturdy. It also doubles as a monopod, which I think is pretty cool. It's not a monfroto but it's around 100 bucks and works well for my needs.

Cullman Serie 3000

Enjoy your visit :-)

Many thanks Ducko.

Anybody else would like to recommend some solid tripod?

[Paparazzo]

I have a Zhumell Goldphoto heavy-duty tripod 6.5’ with a Zhumell Goldphoto YH410 head. It is basically a Manfrotto clone, but half the price. All parts are interchangeable with the Manfrotto equivalent.

I believe they are readily available in Europe.

[40d]

I totally recommend Amvona for the price, (buy from eBay for the best bargain).

I bought a DynaTran AT 858BL from them for $51, (+$20 shipping), and am totally happy with it's solid build. Search Amvona on here and you will find plenty more satisfied customers. (if you buy directly from the site they sell for $199 so eBay is definitely the way to go).

Search for DynaTran or Amvona on eBay and find something sold by them - shipping took about a week so if you order in the next couple of days you should be able to get shipping to your hotel.

Other's have said that the Amvona's compare favorably with Manfrotto's but I've never tried one so can't comment on that.

[cfcRebel]

Many thanks Ducko.

Anybody else would like to recommend some solid tripod?I would recommend Amvona's Dynatran series because they offer the best quality budget tripod you can find here, but too bad you will be here only for a week. It's not enough time for them to ship to you, i think. If you have friends over here who are willing to help you get one and let you pick it up when you come over, it's worth a try.
I know Amvona ships worldwide. Check with them and see if they ship to your country. A few suggestions:
AT-858 (http://cgi.ebay.com/PROFESSIONAL-CAMERA-TRIPOD-KIT-BALL-GRIP-HEAD-AT-858_W0QQitemZ200159136478QQihZ010QQcategoryZ30094Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)heavy but rock solid
AT-6703 (http://cgi.ebay.com/PRO-CAMERA-TRIPOD-KIT-BALL-GRIP-HEAD-MONOPOD-AT-6703_W0QQitemZ200159175443QQihZ010QQcategoryZ30094 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) combination of tripod and monopod
AT-L105T (http://cgi.ebay.com/AMVONA-PRO-PHOTO-CAMERA-TRIPOD-BASE-LEGS-AT-L105T_W0QQitemZ200159193943QQihZ010QQcategoryZ3009 5QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) legs (lighter option) with a ATH-A03 (http://cgi.ebay.com/AMVONA-PRO-CAMERA-TRIPOD-ACTION-BALL-HEAD-ATH-A03_W0QQitemZ200159522722QQihZ010QQcategoryZ30095Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)large ballhead

[lukasgunar]

Many thanks to all suggestions,
I going to check them all and see which one I'll order.

I would recommend Amvona's Dynatran series because they offer the best quality budget tripod you can find here, but too bad you will be here only for a week. It's not enough time for them to ship to you, i think. If you have friends over here who are willing to help you get one and let you pick it up when you come over, it's worth a try.
I know Amvona ships worldwide. Check with them and see if they ship to your country. A few suggestions:
AT-858 (http://cgi.ebay.com/PROFESSIONAL-CAMERA-TRIPOD-KIT-BALL-GRIP-HEAD-AT-858_W0QQitemZ200159136478QQihZ010QQcategoryZ30094Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)heavy but rock solid
AT-6703 (http://cgi.ebay.com/PRO-CAMERA-TRIPOD-KIT-BALL-GRIP-HEAD-MONOPOD-AT-6703_W0QQitemZ200159175443QQihZ010QQcategoryZ30094 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) combination of tripod and monopod
AT-L105T (http://cgi.ebay.com/AMVONA-PRO-PHOTO-CAMERA-TRIPOD-BASE-LEGS-AT-L105T_W0QQitemZ200159193943QQihZ010QQcategoryZ3009 5QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) legs (lighter option) with a ATH-A03 (http://cgi.ebay.com/AMVONA-PRO-CAMERA-TRIPOD-ACTION-BALL-HEAD-ATH-A03_W0QQitemZ200159522722QQihZ010QQcategoryZ30095Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)large ballhead

Hey cfcRebel,
I've noticed that you're from Austin, TX. This is where I'm going for my business trip. I think I have still plenty of time to order it from home and have it shipped to my hotel where I will stay in Austin as I'll be coming on October 19th and staying there until October 27th.
Btw. what would you recommend me to see and take picture of over there. When you have some time we could actually meet somewhere in your area. I would be more than pleased to meet someone from this forum once I'm in USA.
Thanks for your suggestions.

cheers

lukas

[cfcRebel]

Hey cfcRebel,
I've noticed that you're from Austin, TX. This is where I'm going for my business trip. I think I have still plenty of time to order it from home and have it shipped to my hotel where I will stay in Austin as I'll be coming on October 19th and staying there until October 27th.
Btw. what would you recommend me to see and take picture of over there. When you have some time we could actually meet somewhere in your area. I would be more than pleased to meet someone from this forum once I'm in USA.
Thanks for your suggestions.

cheers


lukasWow, what a coincedent!:D Austin is quite photogenic, especially if you live in downtown. The best spot to take night scenery of the downtown is at Joe's Crab on Riverside Drive (http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=joe%27s+crab&near=Austin,+TX&fb=1&cid=30252502,-97742295,17517245355392385859&li=lmd&z=14&t=m). Head there around 7 ~ 8p.m. you shall be rewarded. :)

Bob Bullock Museum (http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-16,GGLD:en&um=1&q=bullock+museum&near=Austin,+TX&fb=1&sa=X&oi=local_group&resnum=4&ct=image)is a good place, very "Texas" like.

Also, this is sort of chance of a life time. Gibson has put 30+ giant guitars around Austin. Some autographed by famous celebrity. If interested, go to this website (http://www.gibson.com/AustinGuitarTownWebsite/) and download the map (http://www.gibson.com/Files/_austin/AustinMap.pdf). We drove around whole day to capture as many guitars as possible. It was fun. :)

If you like birds like i do, go to Central Park (http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/centralpark.htm) at Austin. Most of the time you can find some Yellow-crowned night herons, and some wood ducks too. Kids love to feed the ducks there. Sometimes the wood ducks will join in and grab some bite. Make sure you walk down to the edge of the ponds. They are hiding in there. ;)

If you like to photograph dragonflies, butterflies, and flowers, head to Zilker Botanical Garden (http://www.zilkergarden.org/). Plenty of photogenic species there, including the Spiny Texas Lizard.

Also, check out the Texas Photo Forum (http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum/portal.php)for more ideas. :cool:

[vento]

Don't forget Mt. Bonnell! A staple for any visit to Austin. Catch it during sunset and you wont be sorry. Also, Oasis is good for a few great shots and definitely visit the Hill Country/Lake Travis

[lukasgunar]

Don't forget Mt. Bonnell! A staple for any visit to Austin. Catch it during sunset and you wont be sorry. Also, Oasis is good for a few great shots and definitely visit the Hill Country/Lake Travis

Thank you Vento.
I'll definitelly try to see as many places as possible.

cheers

lukas