Cheap, heavy tripod recommedations?

I'm looking for some more tripods to allow me to do some more star trail shots simultaneously. Must be sturdy to support medium format size cameras. $200 is absolute top end of the budget. I don't care about carbon fiber or other exotic materials. I just want some sturdy sticks. I've been looking to see about sticks rated to support more than 20 pounds, as I figure those are going to be really solid.

Can anyone recommend some sturdy legs that don't cost too much? They are never going to be too far away from my vehicle. They just need to stay put for hours on end.
I just got a set of Benro A-258M8 and they seem too flimsy for this task. I have a pair of 3021 / 3221's but Manfrotto doesn't make those anymore, and the 055BXPRO seems more like the older 3011 model. Doesn't anyone make a massive aluminum set of sticks?

-K

$200 for just the legs, or legs and head?

Just legs. I have spare tripod heads. That's the absolute max though - I'd like them to be cheaper.

I have and love an induro CT 313. It's carbon and out of your price range, but they have awesome aluminum legs that are the same and fit your budget, but the whole budget:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …lloy_8M_AT313_T​ripod.html
http://www.adorama.com​/INDAT313.html

if you can go to $217, the 413 is even more solid (and massive):
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …lloy_8M_AT413_T​ripod.html
http://www.adorama.com​/INDAT413.html

the AT213 is great, and $150ish:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …lloy_8M_AT213_T​ripod.html
http://www.adorama.com​/INDAT213.html

some of those are also available in versions that end in 4. The last # is the # of leg sections. 4 means one more joint over 3, so less stable, but it'll pack up smaller.

Don't bother with a tripod. Ball heads have a standard 3/8" thread in the base so you can build a heavy base from stuff at the hardware store.

Like Ansel Adams once said, the ideal tripod is a cubic yard of solid concrete with a 1/4" X #20 bolt head sticking out of the top.

Ugh. I need to get the new sticks by Friday. Amazon is out of stock on the induros (I have prime).

Hey,

How about Slik, I've had a few Slik tripods and they are not too expensive.

From the "better" line there's the Pro 700DX and they also have a "Heavy metal construction" legs available.

Clicky here.

Janne

kurt765 wrote in post #12420664
Ugh. I need to get the new sticks by Friday. Amazon is out of stock on the induros (I have prime).

where do you live? Adorama will get them to you fast...

I'll check with Adorama, though I'm annoyed that they can't be bothered to list whether items are in stock or not. Since everyone else seems to be out of those Induros, it doesn't seem likely that they have them. I dont' want to pay tons for shipping, hence Amazon where I have free 2 day shipping.

Most of those Slik tripods seem small, except for their heavy metal ones which are not cheaper than the Induro, which makes the Induro the front-runner assuming I can find them.

-K

jacobsen1 wrote in post #12421123
where do you live? Adorama will get them to you fast...

West coast. About as far away from NYC as I can get.

I was thinking of something more like this:

http://www.homedepot.c​om …eId=10051&catal​ogId=10053

and then drill a hole in teh center for a 3/8" bolt to hold the ball head. Doesn't adjust for uneven terrain as easily but on level ground they should be very stable.

Can you weigh down your existing tripod? Weight plates, sand bags, ankle weights on the legs?

Kinda funny everyone says "cheap, light, sturdy - pick two". But where are these heavy, cheap sturdy tripods?

And a block of concrete is by definition NOT a tripod!

1000arms wrote in post #12421762
How about three blocks of concrete?

I suppose if you could fashion them in a freestanding pyramid...

Blurr Cube wrote in post #12421747
Can you weigh down your existing tripod? Weight plates, sand bags, ankle weights on the legs?

I have 3 tripods right now.

Gitzo 2531, Manfrotto 3021 and Manfrotto 3221.

I have 3x Mamiya 645's, and will be renting a Mamiya 7 on my next outing.

I'm just going to buy 2 more tripods to cover an eventual purchase of another medium format camera. So, I want two more solid tripods.

-K