Suggestions for good Dreb Tripods?

[FlipsidE]

I plan to do mostly Landscape, Macro, and Portrait work...so I guess it needs to be versitile. That said, though, with the type of photography I want to do, I don't think I'll need to be moving that tripod too much. So, weight probably wouldn't be a big factor.

This will be my first look ever into tripods that cost more than like $30. I am a complete newbie to decent tripods. So, I'm up for any suggestions.

Thanks in advance

FlipsidE

[tofuboy]

I am thinking about getting this one...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=206491&is=REG

Not sure when though, I'll probably buy a monopod first though. Will get plenty of time to poke around at things tomorrow when I go to the fairly large camera store in my area for a backpack :)

[Andy_T]

Doesn't matter as long as it is solid, eh?
Go with a good product then, like Manfrotto or Gitzo.

I use one of the less expensive Manfrotto (Bogen in the US) tripods and am quite happy with it. Less expensive means $120-$150 including the head.

The version I have (3405: http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/templates/itemalone.php3?itemid=784 ) is no longer available.
The most similar one with integrated head and tripod (cheaper than set) is the 728B

Advantage: very stable, takes up to 11 lb (NOTE: only 7.7 on the new 728B)
Disadvantages: heavy, large, no change of head possible, quick release might wear out.

The only thing I don't like very much about mine is the quick release screws for the legs. Sure, they are quick, but I am afraid they will wear out sooner than normal fittings.

So I would suggest to invest a bit more and get a set of tripod and head, selecting the tripod with wing type fittings: (3001BD) http://www.bogenimaging.us/product/templates/itemalone.php3?itemid=796 and a corresponding head to go with it.

Best regards,
Andy

A little more expensive,

[cmM]

What they said.
Get a good, sturdy tripod w/ a pan/tilt head (especially if you want it for landscapes - panoramas)

[snibbetsj]

I have a Slik 330DX which I really like. It's got a tilt pan-head and is quite stable.

Jeff

[Olegis]

This combo (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=45894) is very popular - not that light, but steady as rock and hight quality product.

[Molydood]

What is it exactly that cause the vibrations which results in a strudy tripod out performing a cheap one?
Is it wind? Shutter/mirror vibration? Ground shake?
(lets assume you are using a timer so it's not the user)

Even if the tripod is cheap, once in equilibrium, it will not move unless some external force acts upon it to expose its weediness. Just wondering what those forces are?

Sorry if this is off topic.

[wolf]

This combo (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=45894) is very popular - not that light, but steady as rock and hight quality product.

You have my vote on the above. It is a rock solid combo with a nice fluid smooth head, but like Olegis says it is not that light at 7.5 lbs. It is also quite reasonably priced.

[Olegis]

Even if the tripod is cheap, once in equilibrium, it will not move unless some external force acts upon it to expose its weediness. Just wondering what those forces are?


Even if the system is quite stable, it could quickly become unstable once the shutter fires - there's still some vibration caused by it. Cheap head may not hold the camera steady - you THINK that they do, but they actually don't, the camera doesn't have a steady support.

Moreover - cheap heads sometimes do not let you to adjust the camera in the position YOU want. I even can't level the camera 100% horizontally with my crappy tripod with built-in head - I always compensate with the opposite legs height.