I need a decent tripod and I have no money!!!

[Sam|McGuire]

I need a new tripod. Right now I have a flimsy tripod that cost me $12.99 in china town in NYC. I'm looking to spend in the $0-65(maybe a little more) range. I shoot portraits, landscapes and I'm also an urban explorer so I need something light. I have an XSi (soon to be 40d) with a 70-200mm F4 L, 18-55mm IS. Any recommendations?

[4x4rock]

Maybe someone can sell you a Dynatran tripod for that price. I sold my AT-877 with head for $60.

[imahawki]

Check around local places where someone might have unloaded something they didn't really care about getting a good price for like thrift store type places.

[Karl Johnston]

Try a gorillapod

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/476533-REG/Joby__Gorillapod_SLR_Zoom_Flexible_Mini_Tripod.htm l

[1ruffryder]

craigslist??

[SkipD]

I need a new tripod. Right now I have a flimsy tripod that cost me $12.99 in china town in NYC. I'm looking to spend in the $0-65(maybe a little more) range. I shoot portraits, landscapes and I'm also an urban explorer so I need something light. I have an XSi (soon to be 40d) with a 70-200mm F4 L, 18-55mm IS. Any recommendations?"Light" and "Sturdy" only come with "High Price" when considering new tripods. One of the three variables - weight, strength (sturdiness), and price will always be high to balance the other two.

As others have said, you could look for something in the used market.

An option would be to make a "bean bag" which you could fill with various materials including sand to use as a support for your camera. You'd just have to find or create an elevated surface to use for most cases where you would like to have a tripod.

[Lowner]

Sam,

We have all learnt the same lesson you are about to learn the hard way. Buying cheap tripods is just throwing money away. Anything less than £150 (or US dollars the way the exchange rates are at the moment) will be suspect and personally I'd be looking at at least double that.

Save your cash. Stick with your existing tripod until you can afford something that is likely to satisfy you for a long time.

But you wont. I did not listen when I was given the same advise and neither will you.

[Sean]

Sam,

We have all learnt the same lesson you are about to learn the hard way. Buying cheap tripods is just throwing money away. Anything less than £150 (or US dollars the way the exchange rates are at the moment) will be suspect and personally I'd be looking at at least double that.

Save your cash. Stick with your existing tripod until you can afford something that is likely to satisfy you for a long time.

But you wont. I did not listen when I was given the same advise and neither will you.


Listen to this advice. It's the best bit of advice concerning a tripod. You can also read this explanation (http://www.bythom.com/support.htm) from Thom Hogan.

[Balliolman]

That's a great line and all each of us needs do is insert a much wanted bit of kit ...


I need a decent ______________ and I have no money!!! :)

(Hope you get your tripod.)

[lostid]

Actually I don't think it's that hard you make one your own, seriously. I might try one day myself.

[twiggles]

Listen to this advice. It's the best bit of advice concerning a tripod. You can also read this explanation (http://www.bythom.com/support.htm) from Thom Hogan.

Great article, thanks for sharing!

[Lore]

I just got a nice monopod for myself for christmas, I LOVE IT! ;) great for traveling.

Ever think about picking up one of those? :cool:

[jhom]

As already stated, light and sturdy comes with a price. For $65, you are likely to get something marginally better than what you already have. In fact, you will probably do better shooting without a tripod. Save your money and buy a good tripod setup when you can afford one. Don't get on the tripod merry-go-round.

[Sam|McGuire]

Thanks for all the replys. I'm going to be checking craigslist and a few used stores around the Burlington area. My roommate has an old Bausch and Laumb tripod from a telescope that is great but so heavy, but I guess since I'm a young guy I can deal with the weight.

As already stated, light and sturdy comes with a price. For $65, you are likely to get something marginally better than what you already have. In fact, you will probably do better shooting without a tripod. Save your money and buy a good tripod setup when you can afford one. Don't get on the tripod merry-go-round.
The majority of the shots I'll be taking with a tripod are long exposures at night. I do some indoor shots with 30 second exposures and outdoor exposures that last minutes. As much as I'd love to hand hold those I don't think it's possible. :lol:

[dashotgun]

I have a like new Velbon cx 440 make me an offer and it is yours. I used to live in Burlington some years ago ( actually winooksi Fort ethan allen) but Burlington sounded better. David

[jhom]

Thanks for all the replys. I'm going to be checking craigslist and a few used stores around the Burlington area. My roommate has an old Bausch and Laumb tripod from a telescope that is great but so heavy, but I guess since I'm a young guy I can deal with the weight.


The majority of the shots I'll be taking with a tripod are long exposures at night. I do some indoor shots with 30 second exposures and outdoor exposures that last minutes. As much as I'd love to hand hold those I don't think it's possible. :lol:

All the more of a reason for a good tripod unless you want motion blur as an effect.

[JWright]

The three most desired qualities in a tripod are stable, light weight and inexpensive. Unfortunately you can't have all three in one tripod. You might be able to get two, but you will never get all three...

[Lowner]

I'm not convinced it's possible to get even two of those in the same sentence when describing any particular tripod.

[jsinon]

Check out Lumieretech on ebay. They have carbon fiber tripods rated at 17.9 lbs for less than $100. I just received one of their Fancier brand ball heads (model 6665H from another vendor) and it looks real good for the $40 I paid for it. I've got my eye on one of these in the near future, or most likely their 22lb rated one, for my bush wacking tripod.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130262988798&refid=store&ssPageName=STORE:HTMLBUILDER:SIMPLEITEM