cheap tripod vers no tripod?

hi doing some outdoor shoots of friends soon ..(on grass). ill be using the 17-40L but the problem is at the moment i only have a 'cheap tripod' (hama gamma series) will this tripod suffice or will it cause more trouble than what it's worth, or would it be better to hand hold?
set up consist of....
canon 20d,580ex flash,17-40L lens, flash bracket and off shoe cord.
will the tripod handle this set up??
BTW if i use the tripod i will also be using the remote switch..RS-80N3
thanks phil

Any tripod is better than nothing.. But I dont know what that lens weights, you should be fine tho "should be"... Only one to really find out!!! Good Luck

Definitely, a cheap tripod is better than none. Just mind the weight so that the legs don't buckle or anything falls over (it'll be obvious if the tripod can't handle it).

Even a cheap tripod gives you the important thing (most of the time) - stability. From there it's better/more features, smoother operation/ergonomics and additional stability.

When you're ready to take the shot and done fiddling with the camera, give it a second or three to settle down - click.

Good question ... use the tripod unless you shoot during an earthquake but you will be fine handheld too if the shutter is fast enough: not hard if light is Ok at this length IMO.

True... Especially with an f/4 lens and a 580EX. Daylight should be no problem. With the 20D even higher ISOs won't be noisy.

Unless he wants to get in the shot? Heh.

A cheap tripod is better than no tripod EXCEPT when it - with your camera and lens mounted - falls over because it is not stable. Stable, in this context, means that the tripod is heavy enough and strong enough to stay where you put it even with a minor accidental push or wind blowing on it.

One way to add to the stability is to hang your camera bag somewhere down low on the tripod.

Handholding your shots - or at least keeping your hands on the camera while on a flimsy tripod - is one way to prevent accidental damage to your camera.

I have a cheap tripod from WalMart because I was out of town and didn't have enough money or time to get a good one. It was not too heavy and came with two base connectors. It is fine for all that you listed. When I have a chance, I will get a more collapsable one that is a lot lighter, but for right now, I just put it with my other gear. Better to have a cheap one than none at all.

Oh, and I also saw a pro with the remote shutter release while her camera was on the tripod. She said it is great for night photography. I got one right away. I am going to us that a lot more as well.

Oh, without a doubt... If my camera's on the tripod, I click in the remote.

Any support is better than none. But like Skip says, watch it doesn't all come crashing down when you're not looking.

A cheap tripod will be fine, they are not as rock solid, so watch that it doesn't fall over or drop your gear when you are not looking.
What I found with my cheap 'pod was that it was really hard to make fine adjustments in positioning the camera head - small movements to get the horizon level would be jerky and I'd end up taking ages to get it right.
But they do have the advantage of being a fair bit lighter than a serious tripod, so thus may be more useful in that you use it more often...

Does it help you see what everyone is doing in the shot instead of trying to see through the little viewfinder?

It makes it easier to notice the little things - a spot of glare off someone's watch, someone not smiling, twisted clothing - that kind of thing. Also it's easier to get people's attention and give them directions when they can see your face.

A couple of people have mentioned the possibility of the whole rig crashing to the ground if the stability isn't the best. I use a cheap tripod at the moment (partly because I can't make up my mind which new one I want to buy) - I always have the camera strap hung round my neck so that if the tripod does flip over the camera isn't going to go far.

Wow, that's really being careful. I try not to trip. I have bi-focals and can't see well walking around with them on, my feet are not in focus. I just try to stay behind the tripod. If I walk backwards, it would be disastrous.