whats a good tripod for $150 or less ?

I have been looking at this http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_M_Y_Aluminum_T​ripod.html & http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Info&Q=&sku=554​141&is=REG

I want a fairly lightweight portable yet sturdy and quality tripod with body Quick Release

I wanted to spend as little as possible and still get a good tripod as well, I ended up choosing the 190XBpro which I felt was the minimum as far as a sturdy tripod. I don't think you'd want your camera with "the brick" tipping over. The 190-series are good for something as heavy as a 70-200 f/2.8 or maybe even a bit bigger. I got my 190XBpro with 804RC2 tilt/pan head for $230 (canadian) but I'm sure you can find a 190XB kit for under $200.

thanks for the reply

Before you go out and buy on price alone, there are some other items to consider.

1. What size equipment you plan on using
2. What type of shots you are looking to make
3. How tall you are
4. What you are willing to give up to get the price you want


To break it down, if you are looking to use larger lenses on your tripod, then you need to make sure you get a sturdy enough tripod so it doesn't flex with the weight you put on it. Last thing you want is a broken tripod, lens and camera for the sake of $50

If you are looking to do panoramic, landscape or portrait photography, there is no sense in paying for a tripod that can convert the vertical column to horizontal. Why pay for something you can't use. If you are shooting macro or ground up shots, then you want a tripod that can go to 3-5" from the ground.

How tall you are plays a big deal in what you get. If you are like me at 6'++ then a 5'2" tripod isn't doing you much favors. If you are using it on very uneven ground like on a hiking trip, you might need to extend one leg more than the others.. that takes away from the height you may think you have. Don't sell yourself short.

Its said too many times. Strength, weight and price... pick which two you want. I can point you to a great strong tripod that weighs just about nothing, but you will be paying over 10x your budget.

I sacrificed weight to get the strength, height and price I was willing to pay. I picked up the 055xprob, with the 498RC2 ball head. I could have saved over $150 with a 190 and a smaller ball head. But it wouldn't be tall enough or give me the features that I wanted. I had to compromise on the price and spend more to get what I need rather than my unrealistic budget. Better to spend now than regret and spend twice.

Matt.

mjmackinnon wrote in post #10170810
Before you go out and buy on price alone, there are some other items to consider.

1. What size equipment you plan on using
2. What type of shots you are looking to make
3. How tall you are
4. What you are willing to give up to get the price you want


To break it down, if you are looking to use larger lenses on your tripod, then you need to make sure you get a sturdy enough tripod so it doesn't flex with the weight you put on it. Last thing you want is a broken tripod, lens and camera for the sake of $50

If you are looking to do panoramic, landscape or portrait photography, there is no sense in paying for a tripod that can convert the vertical column to horizontal. Why pay for something you can't use. If you are shooting macro or ground up shots, then you want a tripod that can go to 3-5" from the ground.

How tall you are plays a big deal in what you get. If you are like me at 6'++ then a 5'2" tripod isn't doing you much favors. If you are using it on very uneven ground like on a hiking trip, you might need to extend one leg more than the others.. that takes away from the height you may think you have. Don't sell yourself short.

Its said too many times. Strength, weight and price... pick which two you want. I can point you to a great strong tripod that weighs just about nothing, but you will be paying over 10x your budget.

I sacrificed weight to get the strength, height and price I was willing to pay. I picked up the 055xprob, with the 498RC2 ball head. I could have saved over $150 with a 190 and a smaller ball head. But it wouldn't be tall enough or give me the features that I wanted. I had to compromise on the price and spend more to get what I need rather than my unrealistic budget. Better to spend now than regret and spend twice.

Matt.

thanks for the reply,I am 5'7",I shoot a variety of subjects,much of it landscape/nature/wildl​ife while hiking,much of it is macro,and a lot indoors of my family.my camera weighs 1.3 pnds,and my heaviest lens is 2.1,I am not shopping on price alone,and I really don't mind paying more if it's going to work great for me.

The unit that you linked to might not be the best choice. I have a friend who has that model and he curses every time we go out wishing he had one of the pro models.

What you might want to look for is one that doesn't have a center column or can be converted to a horizontal column.

When shooting macro, you want to get the camera body close to the subject. Fine if it's 2-3' off the ground, but if it's a flower thats 4-5" you are stuck. You need the tripod to get down to the 5-7" off the ground to shoot that. Can't be done if you have a 23" center column.

Take a look at the 190xprob. You gain so little in weight savings going carbon that its not worth it with Manfrotto. Also you might like the 486RC2 ball head.

The 190 is cheaper than the 055. not quite as tall, or as ridgid but costs less too. it sounds like you are not loading on very large lenses so it won't make a heap of difference to you.

Take you camera to a store and try it out.. Try getting it low down to where you will likely be taking macro shots.

There are plenty of threads on the 190 vs 055.

Matt.

RE: 190 vs 055

I really hate the 055 - it's neither here nor there in terms of weight and sturdiness. If I'm willing to carry it, it means I'm dedicated enough to carry something heavier.

I ended up getting a 190 and it's small and pretty sturdy without the column extended. If I want to have something actually sturdy, I think it's manfrotto 029 or 028 Art - huge 15 lb tripod and that gives you sturdiness.

A personal prefernce, but if you're shooting with more than one system I'd stay away from quick release plates and just go with a screw-on attachments.

Here are my thoughts.. Tripods are one of the most under rated pieces of equipment out there.. Never skimp on a tripod as a cheap rickety one can be worse than using no tripod at all..

A good tripod will last you a lifetime.. I still have an old Benbo Classic I bought in the mid 1980s.. This thing is built like a brick sh!thouse..

BTW,, I have three tripods. The Benbo, a Manfrotto and a Chinese copy of a Manfrotto.. All have their uses..

I bought a Dolica off of Amazon (about $40 if I remember right). It has served me well, in the few instances I've used it. It has a quick-release ball head and an adjustable center column. If you can heed the others' advice and get a better one, go for it, but if you are serious about your budget this might be a good short term one!

well,I ordered these after seeing them at a local store.
I went a little over my original budget,but like this choice,
thanks for the help

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ails&Q=&sku=680​139&is=REG

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ails&Q=&sku=479​927&is=REG

You will like it, good choice! The tripod is nice cause the center piece can swing out which is good for macro or other creative stuff. I thought about the joystick head but the ones in the store were pretty loose probably from people jerking around with them (hope yours holds up).

DStanic wrote in post #10208348
You will like it, good choice! The tripod is nice cause the center piece can swing out which is good for macro or other creative stuff. I thought about the joystick head but the ones in the store were pretty loose probably from people jerking around with them (hope yours holds up).

well,it comes with a pretty good warranty,and I hope it lasts(keeps fingers crossed)

have a good day

i bought a feisol carbon 3 yrs ago and its still going strong, legs lock tight. they start around $200.

http://www.feisol.net …0fio0o1cnk2gms3​hi7l2h0la4

mjmackinnon wrote in post #10170810
I sacrificed weight to get the strength, height and price I was willing to pay. I picked up the 055xprob, with the 498RC2 ball head. I could have saved over $150 with a 190 and a smaller ball head. But it wouldn't be tall enough or give me the features that I wanted. I had to compromise on the price and spend more to get what I need rather than my unrealistic budget. Better to spend now than regret and spend twice.

I had the same question - what can I get for the $200'ish range, and naturally I will most likely have to surpass that $ amount... what else is new!

Anyhow, reading the reviews on the 498RC2 ball head, most were very positive. There was one, however, that said the support weight should be 3 lbs instead of the 17 they claimed. Is this even remotely correct? Since every other review contradicts what he says, I'm guessing it's probably not the truth. I don't have a lot of heavy equipment I'd be using on it - probably the 70-200 with a regular sized body, 50D, would be about all that would go on there. Think that's a safe bet? I really like the looks and reviews of the 055XPROB tripod, so I will likely go with that too.

Any input would be much appreciated; I will probably be ordering over the next few days, perhaps next week. Thanks!

Trevor

well ! I pulled the trigger on these today

B+W XS-PRO DIG 77mm (MC) UV #010M FILTER - BWUVMCXSP77 1

Manfrotto 190XPROB 3-SEC. ALUMINUM PRO TRIPOD - MA190XPROB 1

Manfrotto 324RC2 LTWT ADAPTO JOYSTICK BALL HEAD - MA324RC2 1

Hakuba PRO TRIPOD CASE (MEDIUM) - HAPTCM 1

Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS EF USM LENS - CA241054LIS 1