Newbie needs a new tripod!

[swimmergrl]

Hey all!

I'm a beginner, and funds are REALLY tight right now, but after dealing with my cheapie tripod from Walmart (Made you shudder, didn't I!) I'm either never going to own a tripod again, or I'm going to get something that will tide me over until I'm not eat cereal and $1 macaroni and cheese every day! I'm really trying to get into wildlife photography, and some landscapes. I've been trying to do some research, and I've been getting overwhelmed by all the options! What I want is a ball head tripod that is light enough to take hiking for around $100. I realize this is probably just a dream. If it is really worth it, I would consider saving up and waiting a bit longer to get a better quality tripod. My end hope is to have a decently light tripod to take to Alaska for hiking, etc. if I get a job there this summer.

Any and all suggestions are welcome!

Rachel

[Jim G]

Quality, low weight and reasonable cost... Pick two. :p

Manfrotto 055xProB and 488RC2 head is an incredibly popular combination but it's not light nor under $100...

I wanted something lightweight and quality and the most cost effective solution I found was Feisol legs - I got the CT-3442 legs - and a Markins M-10 head... though you could go for a cheaper head.

The Feisol legs are excellent and -very- lightweight - I hike and ride with them no worries.

[RPCrowe]

I have a full service Giottos MT-8180 tripod with a Giottos MH-1300 ball head. My Giottos is a great tripod, tall and sturdy, but, even though it is a carbon fiber tripod, the leg set and head weighs close to 7 pounds. That is simply too much for me to carry when I go boonie tromping.

What I needed is a tripod/head which would support my 30D with 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens or my 40D with 70-200mm f/4L IS lens. I wanted the absolute lightest tripod and head that I could find that would not cost a king's ransom.

I modified a SLIK Pro 330DX tripod by switching to a shorter center column which reduced the weight of the leg set to exactly two pounds without a head. I also switched from the SLIK pan-tilt head to an Adorama Flashpoint F-1 Arca Compatible Magnesium Ball Head which weighs eleven ounces.

My leg set and head weighs a total of two pounds and eleven ounces and supports my gear very well, I used it in some brisk winds near Bryce Canyon, Utah and the set-up worked just fine.

There is one drawback. The modified SLIK is fairly short at 48 inches. At 6'1", I need a tripod/head about 59" tall to shoot without stooping over. When using the SLIK/Flashpoint combination, I either stoop or use my right angle finder.

I use this setup mostly for landscape photography including panos and HDR images. The height is fine for this use. However, if I were going to use this tripod for following moving subjects; I would opt for another combination.

Since the Flashpoint F-1 is an Arca Compatible head, I can use my Really Right Stuff L-bracket to mount my 30D and 17-55mm lens. The L-bracket makes the setup a lot more stable; especially when shooting in the vertical position. I don't have to cantilever the camera over to the side as I would with a standard ball head. The tiny F-1 head really does a nice job supporting my camera/lens combinations.

I got the SLIK Pro 330DX on sale at Calumet for about $70 and I got the F-1 head for about $50. Not a bad total price for a two pound, eleven ounce tripod as stable as this one.

[Nimitz87]

Rachel take a look at this thread...I'm in the same boat.

sucks to be a poor college student!

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=602249

sadly I don't think there is to much under the $100 range.

I'm saving up for the http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/505863-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto__055XPROB_Tripod_Legs_Black_.html

looks like that will last a LONG time.

[Wilt]

'Cheap', 'light', and 'good'...pick TWO, when buying new.

Look for a nice used Bogen 3001 or Manfrotto 190. The Bogen would enable you to get all THREE (albeit used)

I sold a Bogen 3021, a very widely respected tripod that was the predecesor to the Manfrotto 055, for only $120 (without head) just within the past year.