Tripod for around $100

[Kaigler]

I have no clue about how tripods work and what to look for in a good tripod. I have read that ball heads are very good - but many of them look to be out of my price range.

So please help me pick a tripod for around $100 dollars. It needs to be a general purpose tripod that is easy to travel with. It also need to support the weight of each lens shown in my signature. So at least five pounds would be ideal. I'm not a pro at this point so this is really all I am willing to spend on a tripod.

Thanks guys/gals!

[Saint728]

Manfrotto make a 4 section tripod that can handle 7.7 pounds and it has a ball head with quick release for $124.95. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/602430-REG/Manfrotto_by_Bogen_Imaging_7302YB_7302YB_4_Section _Aluminum_Tripod.html They have some for a little less with ball head, but it doesn't come with the quick release.

Take Care,
Cheers, Patrick

[rambusanna]

I'm in the same boat looking for a $100 tripod. I found one and it looks really good. It's really tall and really heavy (7 lbs). It can handle 15 lbs. It comes with a pan/tilt head.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/131427-REG/Slik_615_315_Pro_700DX_Tripod_with.html

[Saint728]

The pan and tilt heads are a pain in the butt to use. Ball heads are much easier and nicer to use.

Take Care,
Cheers, Patrick

[JHunter]

I was actually trying to use that exact tripod today, and fond that head to be awful. It's impossible to adjust precisely, it sticks and jumps around, and there's no tension control. While the legs are decent, that head is awful and you really do want a ball head.

[rambusanna]

Can you tilt the camera 90 degrees for portrait shots with a ball head?

[FlyingPhotog]

Can you tilt the camera 90 degrees for portrait shots with a ball head?

Yes...

Most ballheads have a notch into which you position the "stem" running from the ball to the plate and that allows you to shoot in portrait.

[Kaigler]

That Manfrotto looks pretty good. And from what I hear - a very solid brand.

[rambusanna]

Yeah, now I'm looking at the Manfrotto 190XB with the ball head. It weighs about 5 lbs. Looks pretty solid to me, but I am gonna wait and see if I can find a used one.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/480298-REG/Manfrotto_by_Bogen_Imaging_190XB_486RC2_190XB_Trip od_Legs_Black_.html

[fotoworx]

My advice is to save money now and spend more than $100.00 on a tripod.

I think you'll just go the route of many photographers before you and feel utterly frustrated with your cheap purchase. Throw it in the back of a cupboard and go and buy what you should have in the first place.

[Jon]

There's a lot of good info in the tripod stickies here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=53864) and here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=681408).