I spent 3 weeks screwing around with a cheap tripod...

Except $70 isn't really that cheap. It's cheap for a tripod, but it's still $70, y'know? And it was actually the second tripod; the first one was $25 wasted. So, $100 on crappy tripods before....

Anyhow. After 3 weeks of being frustrated by the goofy 3 way knuckle movement at the top, and joint lash causing movement after all the clamps were set, I finally looked through the recommendations here (using search rather than starting a new discussion) and ordered the Manfrotto 055ProXB and the 488RC2. And now I can say, "Oh. Now I understand."

The difference in build quality is substantial. Even as a starter unit, this is absolutely a quality tool, which makes the other tripod seem like a toy.

Thanks for having the information available, POTN contributors!

Word to others: don't waste the first $100; either stick to hand-held, or save for the good tripod. A cheap tripod is the worst of both worlds; more difficult to use than hand-held, and not steady and stable enough to be worth the trouble.

Mosca wrote in post #6514699
Word to others: don't waste the first $100; either stick to hand-held, or save for the good tripod. A cheap tripod is the worst of both worlds; more difficult to use than hand-held, and not steady and stable enough to be worth the trouble.

Bears repeating in very large type..."don't waste the first $100; either stick to hand-held, or save for the good tripod. A cheap tripod is the worst of both worlds"

you speak truth... sorry you had to find out by trial and error!

Another lesson learned the hard way. We all went through it at one time or another. Myself, I bought a cheap lens only to have it fail and not be able to get it repaired... I think everyone that has any lengthly experience with photography can relate a story where they let low cost get the better of them.

No matter how much those of us with lots of experience say not to skimp on a tripod, someone lets the lure of a low price seduce them into buying a poor quality tripod.

I have a bunch of cheap tripods, that came with camera system purchased over the years. They all work just fine for holding flashes, reflectors and the what not, so maybe your $100.00 lesson wasn't a total waste of money.

cheap tripods can be handy for extra flashes... don't get rid of them too quickly

Congrats on the purchase!! I am looking at that same setup.

Mosca wrote in post #6514699
don't waste the first $100; either stick to hand-held, or save for the good tripod. A cheap tripod is the worst of both worlds; more difficult to use than hand-held, and not steady and stable enough to be worth the trouble.

When it comes to tripods, truer words were never spoken.

Now just wait till you get your hands on a Gitzo CF tripod and a Markins head with an Really Right Stuff lever clamp! Youll have that same good feeling all over again!

On the bright side :
Now you have two lighting stands

I felt like that when I went from a 055 pro-B to a Gitzo 3540LS with RRS head.

When photography is not your profession, but your hobby (and a new one at that), it is really hard to find that proper balance of expenditure vs return; "How much am I really going to use this? Am I going to prefer shooting street scenes and sports? Am I going to give it all up a couple years from now?" And it's not like the lenses, which I see you can get out of for over 90% of their value as long as you care for them. When you decide to spend the money on a good tripod, that's when you've take the deep breath and jumped in with both feet, I think. The act of buying the cheap tripod is more resisting accepting photography than it is trying to get off cheap.

One sentence I found most useful: "Strong, light, cheap: pick two." Since I'm not trekking around the forests or backpacking my gear to the top of the hills (and the distaff half is starting to remark on the amount of gear), I chose strong, and cheap, and figure I'll carry the sucker and not complain.

http://bythom.com/supp​ort.htm

Another proof of Hogan's Law.

J.