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View Full Version : Tripod/head recommendations?


Lysendriel
22nd of August 2009 (Sat), 18:40
OK, so I seriously need to get a new tripod. The only one I own was given to me by my father, who got it for free years before I was even born. Lets just say, it's just shy of worthless.

The hard part is, I'm a college student, and have a very limited budget. I have neither legs, nor a head, so I will need to get both. I'd like to spend around $200, $250 max.

I've looked at both ball and pan heads, and am favorable towards either one. Because this will be my first real tripod, I'm not used to one over the other. I've tried looking online, mostly at Manfrotto's, the problem is, I can't keep any of them straight. There are so many in my price range, and I can't really tell what the difference is, they are just called by a long string of letters/numbers. I'm so confused! I don't know how you guys remember them all.

So any advice on which head or which legs would be great. I've looked at Manfrotto's for the most part, but would be willing to buy anything that is of relative quality. (Oh, and I'd really like it to have a quick release plate if possible)

Oh, almost forgot, what I'm using it for... I'd like to be able to hike with it, I do live in the mountains, so it would be nice to take with. But it doesn't need to be super light, I'll probably end up strapping it to a backpack, so weight isn't a huge concern. And, even though I'm a girl, I am 6 ft tall, so I would like the tripod to be on the taller side, so I don't have to stoop so far to look through the camera!

jeromego
22nd of August 2009 (Sat), 19:25
you can check out Manfrotto 055XB with the 488RC2 head...not the lightest for hiking but should be withing your budget.

stax
22nd of August 2009 (Sat), 19:31
What kind of gear do you have?

This could work, depending on what you want to use it for: http://www.adorama.com/BG190XB486RC.html

These legs are ratted to support 11lbs. I'd keep it around 6lbs.

Lysendriel
22nd of August 2009 (Sat), 19:43
Right now I have a XS/1000d, and my largest lens is a Tamron 75-300mm. Nothing too massive, so it should fit within that weight limit.

Jeromego-It seems together it would cost about $315 for both together, which is a little more than I can afford.

What is the difference between the 488rc2 head and the 486RC2 head?

jeromego
22nd of August 2009 (Sat), 21:03
Right now I have a XS/1000d, and my largest lens is a Tamron 75-300mm. Nothing too massive, so it should fit within that weight limit.

Jeromego-It seems together it would cost about $315 for both together, which is a little more than I can afford.

What is the difference between the 488rc2 head and the 486RC2 head?
the 488 has a panning mechanism and is a bit bigger in size than the 486