Tripod .. please help!!

[debbie_liane]

Hi,

I am wanting to try some long exposure shots and a few other things but i need a tripod. Very low on funds at the moment but was wondering if anyone could recommend a tripod or give me any tips on what im looking for when buying a tripod?
I would like to get one in the next couple of days so any advice would be great! Thanks in advance.. :)

[SkipD]

Hi,

I am wanting to try some long exposure shots and a few other things but i need a tripod. Very low on funds at the moment but was wondering if anyone could recommend a tripod or give me any tips on what im looking for when buying a tripod?
I would like to get one in the next couple of days so any advice would be great! Thanks in advance.. :)I would suggest that you use something alternate until you can afford a decent tripod such as a Manfrotto 055XProB topped with their 488RC2 ball head. That rig will do very well for you for a long time to come.

In the meantime, you could possibly work with a very low-cost substitute such as a bean bag or a sand bag that you can nestle the camera/lens into. What you put the bean/sand bag on will dictate how stable it is. If you have something solid to put it on (tree stump, concrete post, etc.), your camera will be at least as stable as it would be on a good tripod.

Cheap tripods are something to avoid, as they either are not stable (likely to fall over or wiggle) or can fall apart. Either scenario is not good.

[debbie_liane]

What i want to do i wont have anything to rest it on. I was looking at these, what do you think?

http://www.jessops.com/Store/s49986/1-132-166-342/Home/Accessories/Tripods-and--Supports/Tripods/Manfrotto/190XB-Tripod-%2b-390RC2-Head/details.aspx

and...

http://www.jessops.com/Store/s49003/1-132-166-342/Home/Accessories/Tripods-and--Supports/Tripods/Manfrotto/190XPROB-Pro-Tripod/details.aspx

[canonloader]

Get the second one listed. I have one like this where the column can go horizontal and it comes in handy. Buy without the head though and then get a separate ball head. It's the only way to go.

[debbie_liane]

what about this one?

http://www.jessops.com/Store/s47090/1-132-166-342/Home/Accessories/Tripods-and--Supports/Tripods/Manfrotto/Modo-Maxi-785B-Compact-Tripod/details.aspx

[SkipD]

I don't think you'd want anything less than the Manfrotto 190. If your height is 5'10" or taller, you'd appreciate the greater height of the 055. The 055 is also sturdier which would be very good when you try to use a 300mm lens on the tripod.

[debbie_liane]

I am 5'2"!

I know nothing about tripods really, what do you suggest for the equipment that i use? What should i look out for when buying a tripod?

[argyle]

Jessops must be a UK store? Anyway, here's a recent thread concerning a Jessops tripod that you may want to look through:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=546542

[canonloader]

What should i look out for when buying a tripod?
I have been into photography since I was 8 years old, maybe younger. My Dad was a WW2 Army Photographer, so I got into it early. That said, I have pretty much owned a tripod since I was old enough to leave home. 40 some years. They all lived in the darkest corner of my basement or my closet, un-used. But I always had one, just in case. I hated using them, it was easier to buy fast film.

Now I'm getting older and wiser I hope. I bought my first really decent tripod a couple years ago, forced myself to carry it everywhere and use it. After all, it was a pretty stiff investment with the pod and the grip action ball head, so I had to give it a fair shake.

Well, immediately, my pictures got sharper, and I didn't have to stand around holding a heavy, and getting hevier every minute, camera and lens all day. I could pick it up, throw the whole thing over a shoulder and walk anywhere with it, put it down and it would take the weight of my camera and lens, leaving me to huff and puff and get my wind back, and yes, lean on it when I needed to also. And it still takes sharper pics than I ever could hand holding.

Now throw in shooting eagles for two hours while standing out in 22 below zero weather with a 25 mile an hour wind. A tripod is worth getting use to. If not for the extra sharp keepers you will start getting immediatly, then for something to lean on and steady you when you got your eye to the peephole and hand on the ballhead and you get vertigo or your hands are freezing. ;)

So look for a sturdy yet light weight pod, which means a little money spent, and get a decent ballhead, or, get the cheap junk and then buy the good stuff later, cause you won't be happy with the cheap junk for long.

[debbie_liane]

I dont want a cheap one i just want the cheapest decent quality one, if that makes sense? Are the Manfrotto ones a good idea? For my first tripod i dont want to spend a fortune but i do want good quality, one that will hold my camera etc without me worrying about the thing falling over or something!

[canonloader]

The Manfrotto you listed above is very nice tripod (http://www.jessops.com/Store/s49003/1-132-166-342/Home/Accessories/Tripods-and--Supports/Tripods/Manfrotto/190XPROB-Pro-Tripod/details.aspx), it will hold your stuff solid and last you for a long time.

Get to the store and handle one if you can. Grab the head, push down and try and wiggle it. It should be fairly stable. Of course you will be able to move it, but if you tap it with a finger, then it should not keep vibtrating. Sounds odd, but some of them do. ;)

[nwa2]

what about this one?

http://www.jessops.com/Store/s47090/1-132-166-342/Home/Accessories/Tripods-and--Supports/Tripods/Manfrotto/Modo-Maxi-785B-Compact-Tripod/details.aspx

What is your budget Debbie?

This Tripod looks OK for a low cost model. The advice given previously is good in that you should, if possible, avoid "cheap" tripods. However back in the real world where we can not all buy professional gear you have to go with what you can afford.

The magazine "Photoplus" (canon edition) had a review of lightweight tripods this month (still on sale), they recommend: "Slik Sprint Pro GM" - best value at £50.
http://www.charleseaglesandson.com/slik%20sprint%20pro%20gm.htm (£40)

or the "Velbon Ultra LUXi L" at £85 and descibed as best on test.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Velbon-Ultra-Luxi-L-Tripod/dp/B000WMGPB4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1217952772&sr=8-1
(£79)


Neil ....

[debbie_liane]

I dont think i want to go too far over £100. I would prefer one under that, i'm going to have to stretch to get one for £100.. so anything too over is a no no. I would like a Manfrotto one i think... what do you think to these?

[Wilt]

Buy used...Bogen 3001 or Bogen 3021 are the older predecessors of the current Manfrotto 190 and 055, respectively. Search eBay for your country.

[SkipD]

Buy used...Bogen 3001 or Bogen 3021 are the older predecessors of the current Manfrotto 190 and 055, respectively. Search eBay for your country.I do believe that the 3001 and 3021 model numbers were for the U.S. market only. The 190 and 055 lines have been around for quite a while in Europe, though there are variations of each over time.

[Wilt]

I do believe that the 3001 and 3021 model numbers were for the U.S. market only. The 190 and 055 lines have been around for quite a while in Europe, though there are variations of each over time.

'a while'...does that cover 15 years ago?

[SkipD]

'a while'...does that cover 15 years ago?Dunno....

I do know when I was shopping for tripods and settled on the 3021BPro six or seven years ago (?), the same thing was known as one of the 055 variants in Europe at the time.

[jag1]

Have a look at this http://reallyrightstuff.com/tripods/index.html before you decide.

[Wilt]

I do believe that the 3001 and 3021 model numbers were for the U.S. market only. The 190 and 055 lines have been around for quite a while in Europe, though there are variations of each over time.

At Bogen's web site, repair page quite distinctly lists different repair prices for 3001 vs. 190, and 3021 vs. 055, and also gives specific TRADE in prices, so that proves the point about these NOT being same tripod with different labels.

http://www.bogenimaging.us/Jahia/site/bius/cache/off/lang/en_US/pid/14128

For example 3001 repair is $42-61, 190 repair is $33
3021/3221 repair is $66-73, 055 repair is $45

Trade in 3001 for 190 are shown at $81-122
and trade in 3021 for 055 are shown at $133-141

[René Damkot]

Colleague of mine has an old 3001 (I think), with screw locks (not twist, but screw) instead of flip locks.

[Wilt]

Colleague of mine has an old 3001 (I think), with screw locks (not twist, but screw) instead of flip locks.


Yeah, unless at some point in time 15 years ago, you could find a reference to the Bogen 3001 being identical to Manfrotto 190, it gets muddied. The references to 3001 and 190 'same as' are all only within the past 2 years or so on the web. Even a 1893 3021 is not 'the same' as a 2007 3021Pro! Different specs entirely. Sort of like saying BMW 325i (from 1987) is 'same as' BMW 325i (from 2001) what was delivered is entirely different!