Least Expensive CF Tripod needed. Any Suggestions?

Addicted2EOS wrote in post #8821475
Great point. I must admit I was getting a little nervous!

sorry.

No worries. With the ball head I am great shape!

Addicted2EOS wrote in post #8821360
Sure, rub it in. I am 5'6" (on a good day)



It was a buy it now auction w/ 8% Bing Cash Back. I just went thru Bing, searched for "CF tripod", clicked on the 8% Ebay link, and then chose the auction I already wanted. As long as you click thru Bing you can still go to your MY EBAY page and purchase any auction in your watched list.

Ebay bucks is by invitation only. I assumed everyone was invited. It gives me a percent back on all my Ebay purchases over a 90 period. Then, it automatically credits my next purchase. You have to use Pay Pal to pay for everything. I had almost $20 in Ebay bucks to spend. I think this is the third or fourth 90 day period I have collected Ebay bucks.

thanks. i'm 5'10", so i'd probably look at something taller.

RiaGurl wrote in post #8821632
thanks. i'm 5'10", so i'd probably look at something taller.

Their other models go taller, but also go up in price a bit.

http://cgi.ebay.com …ain_0?hash=item​56353cc22e

This is their 66"model (before the head)

good find. i can wait. let me know your review when you get it. thanks.

Addicted2EOS wrote in post #8821360
It was a buy it now auction w/ 8% Bing Cash Back. I just went thru Bing, searched for "CF tripod", clicked on the 8% Ebay link, and then chose the auction I already wanted. As long as you click thru Bing you can still go to your MY EBAY page and purchase any auction in your watched list.

Thanks for the tip. I used Bing to search for the Lowepro Slingshot 200 and will get the 8% discount from PayPal, so it ended up being $52.89. Now that's a bargain (Free shipping, too).

snap_it wrote in post #8838221
Thanks for the tip. I used Bing to search for the Lowepro Slingshot 200 and will get the 8% discount from PayPal, so it ended up being $52.89. Now that's a bargain (Free shipping, too).

My pleasure! Glad it worked out for you!

I'm new here, and just getting back into this after 6 or 7 years out so please bear with me. You want a tripod to "beat up" so I'm wondering why it has to be CF? Don't get me wrong, CF is cool and all, but based on various other hobbies (mainly cycling, both road and mountain) CF isn't exactly my first choice for durability. Plus, higher quality aluminum usually weighs a little less than low end CF, which is probably what a low cost CF tripod will be made of. Again, I'm not an expert on this, so please correct me if I'm wrong. Heck, I'll be getting a new tripod pretty soon, so any info is super welcome.

sgilder wrote in post #8848175
I'm new here, and just getting back into this after 6 or 7 years out so please bear with me. You want a tripod to "beat up" so I'm wondering why it has to be CF? Don't get me wrong, CF is cool and all, but based on various other hobbies (mainly cycling, both road and mountain) CF isn't exactly my first choice for durability. Plus, higher quality aluminum usually weighs a little less than low end CF, which is probably what a low cost CF tripod will be made of. Again, I'm not an expert on this, so please correct me if I'm wrong. Heck, I'll be getting a new tripod pretty soon, so any info is super welcome.

You missed the part where I want it to be less than 3# for hiking. Most Aluminum tripods are over 5#.

Addicted2EOS wrote in post #8821679
http://cgi.ebay.com …ain_0?hash=item​56353cc22e

This is their 66"model (before the head)

No its 53" without center column extension and 66" with center column extended, ideally you DON'T want to extend the center column. Compare this to the standard workhorse Manfrotto 055XPROB which is 56" without and 70" with center column extension respectively.

So if you apply Ball head + Battery Grip (if you have one) + camera = 6-9 inches then with 53" you get to 59" to 62" or 5 ft 2 " and if you are 5" 6' then your eyes are ideally 5" 2" from the ground or there about. So it might turn out to be a good fit even without center column extension...which is what you want ideally.

Remember if your tripod + ballhead + camera is TALLER than you are you can always shorten the legs, but its shorter than you then you will have to raise the center column and you just got yourself pretty stable monopod rather than a pretty stable tripod.

That said, I am too cheap to spend money on a CF tripod......

You can see the difference in height between a 3021BPro and my Slik Sprint Pro. The center column has to come out quite a bit just to make up for the height. But its cheap and light (and probably not very sturdy)....so I invented this thing called BENDING to compose the shot and use a shutter release to take the shot.

OK, the eaby Cf tripod arrived. I am work with a cheapo Point and Shoot but I am excited so I will start the review no and do more as time warrants.
It arrived via UPS undamaged and very well packed. The carry bag is surprising well padded for a freebie! The tripod feels light (which is exactly what I wanted). I have to go into a meeting but I thought I would throw some pictures up for everyone to see. More to foillow:

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More photos:

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A couple more!

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Definitely double-check all allen screws for tightness, I don't remember having any that were loose on mine, but it is something you want to go over just in case. Heck, even my Ninja ZX-14 superbike had loose panel screens just at a glance, and you hang your entire life on something like that.