Starter tripod recomendations for 20D??

[suse]

Hi

Can anyone offer a few recommendations for a good starter tripod for the 20D which won't break the bank?

I need something not too heavy as I have ME/CFS, but something stable for outside work. Most of its use would for either macro with a 100mm or for infrared stuff which I'm going to start exploring.

I'm based in the UK, and any generic names like Jessops etc would be considered.

Suse
UK

[tim]

My recommendation is to buy a decent tripod to start with, because if you buy a cheap one you'll get sick of it and buy another eventually. I just bought manfrotto 3021BPRO legs (number might not be quite right) and the pistol grip/ball head, which seems to work pretty well, it was around US$230 from B&H.

[erik-nl]

I also wanted something light but sturdy for 'the great outdoors' and after some research chose this assembly:

Manfrotto 460MG head (Bogen 3437)
Manfrotto 438 levelling plate (Bogen 3502)
Manfrotto 190 BWB Tracker tripod legs

It fits my unpadded Manfrotto tripod bag very snugly.

For me this setup has proven itself very well for landscape and industrial photography.
It is not overly heavy, not horrendously expensive, reasonably stable and quick to set up and adjust.
However it is not a piece of studio equipment.
If you want really sharp pictures using it, extending the central column is not a very good idea.
In that case also use a remote shutter release and/or the mirror-lockup+two second self-exposure function.
For macro work a positioning slide really is indispensible, but adding one will also reduce ease of manouverability in the field and robustness.
I wouldn't bother buying anything lighter or cheaper if I were you, I consider this tripod to be the bare minimum for stability when used with a 20D and a lens of 80mm or more.

[erik-nl]

This picture shows the Manfrotto 460MG head (Bogen 3437) with the 438 levelling plate (Bogen 3502) in a normal landscape 'mode'

[erik-nl]

and these show them in 'portrait mode'.
I use it a lot this way to make reallyreally BIG landscape and interior stitches.

[CyberDyneSystems]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=53864

[the.digital.guy]

Take a look at these on Ebay.
They usually go for $76.00-110.00
I have 2 of them and love them.
Check it out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30094&item=7514749601&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[ScottE]

Don't buy too cheap a tripod. I have a series of about 3 slightly more expensive tripods in my closet that I purchased, used for a while and then set aside when I decided I needed something more substantial.

The tripod I finally kept for a few years is a Manfrotto 055PRO (Bogen 3021PRO in USA). I prefer a ball head and was satisfied with the Manfrotto 468RC for a few years.

I have now switched to a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and Acratech ball head, but the Manfrotto combination is still useable.

Scott

[mbze430]

For tripod, its all about what you plan on going to put on it. If your heaviest setup is over 12lbs, get something that is stable and tested for 12lbs+

I personally use the Manfrotto 055MF4 w/ 468MG-RC2. This setup is around $800 retail, not sure if that's within your budget. Of course you don't really need the MG. the regular 468RC heads are pretty good too.

[Toogy]

I will agree with what everyone else has said, I have went through about 3 'cheap' tripods thinking that was all I needed. I finally settled on a Manfrotto 055CL with 488RC2 Ball head and am very happy.

[Andy_T]

Same here.

Manfrotto is the way to go, IMO.
70$ on a cheap tripod are 70$ wasted if you do not use it again after a month.

Reasonably cheap and pretty sturdy.
Downside is that a sturdy tripod tends to be heavier.

Best regards,
Andy

[SkipD]

I'll echo all the advice to get a sturdy tripod. My "small" tripod is a Bogen 3021BPRO (the B is for Black). I use a Bogen 486RC2 ballhead for general purpose work. This tripod rig, with a good strap for carrying it across my back, does pretty well for most of my uses for a tripod. I would highly recommend this rig as your first tripod.

I have a much bigger and heavier tripod (Bogen 3251) and a couple other heads - a 3130 fluid head and a 3275 geared head - as well as a 3502 leveller for use in various applications, particularly in the studio. The 3251 tripod with the geared head does pretty well for my 6" reflector telescope as well.