Cheap tripod

Heya this is my first post on this site...

I just bought my first dslr less than a month ago, the XSI.

I need a tripod for night photography/city lights (for fun) ... i dont really want to spend anything over $50 (maybe $100?) ... im not too concerned about features, but i just need it to be cheap, and able to last...

any suggestions?


also, the gorillapod seems like an awesome idea, how well does it work in practice?

Two possibilities...

You can often get a good used Manfrotto 3001 or 3021 tripod on eBay with a relatively decent head for under $100.

As an example:

http://cgi.ebay.com …ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcm​dZViewItem

Buying new, a SLIK Pro 330DX will support a decent weight. I purchased on on sale from Calumet for $75. The normal cost is about $90.

It weighs less than 3.3 pounds with a head (I replaced the center column with the optional shorter model to save an ounce or two) and can support a package of over 6 pounds.

I use this tripod for boonie tromping and most often for shooting panos. I never mount anything heavier than my 30D with a 70-200mm f/4L IS lens.

I had good luck with SLik u212 s before I went to Bogen Manfrotto 3021s.

I don't remember the brand but at a local Meijer I saw a tripod for about $70 that looked like you could kill a mammoth with it. Very solid. They also had cheaper ones that were also failry sturdy. I have a cheap $20 tripod that I bought for my camcorder - it's too light for DSLR (tends to shake when fully extended) but somewhat passable, I think anything bigger / sturdier would work OK, but that's just my opinion.

The Gorillapod should really be thought of as a variant on a bean bag, not a tripod substitute. It'll do OK with a moderate load (up to a 5D and 70-200 2.8) if you mash the legs flat on whatever you're placing it on. The advantage it offers over a bean bag in that situation is that it's a little less likely to slip on a vertical or near-vertical surface. I'd say go with a used Manfrotto 3001 or 3021 as suggested above, or, if you don't mind lugging around the 7 lb. of tripod, the Slik U212; it's been around long enough to be a known factor.

If price is a concern, have you checked Amvona?

Prices are fairly low there, even lower if you get something off their Ebay auctions.