Multi purose tripods for beginner

Ok I have read the threads on Tripods but I am one step from buying now and Im all alone in Shanghai and need some advise.

I dont speak much Chinese so I cant rely on any shop advise so you are my only help!!

The shops in Shanghai seem mainly to sell Velbon tripods and both Velbon and Giotto to bits! Are both these brands OK. Their Manifrotto all seem very heavy which is out for hiking.

I see the "top bits" have either a ball thing or a handle that sticks out. Which is best?

Is a little level bubble a must ( I will use my 10-22 wide angle)

These quick release switches - I cant understand how they "release quickly" so what is a good type to go for.

Tripods seem basic enough to understand - either a very light one or a not so light one (seems like 4-6kg is standard). Should I be looking for certain features?

My buget is about 250 for top bit and tripod. Do I need a shoe (what every they are!)??

Thanks - Simon

I'd go for my choice again ...

Feisol Carbon Fibre and Manfrotto ballhead 10/10. Light and stable and extremely flexible in use.

Will be in budget. You can import the Feisol direct from maker. See www.feisol.com

Condyk -or i could get it in the UK next month but does it work out more expensive buying in the UK. seems everything costs 50% more than the rest of the world.

Even in the UK you need to import direct as they don't have a retail distributor here. They do in the US. You could buy now online with Paypal and have it sent to a UK address. Check on their site as maybe a registered Paypal address isn't needed. Takes around 5 working days to arrive.

For the ballhead www.t4cameras.co.uk in Uk have it for £59 incl P&P, which was actually cheaper than B&H in US when I bought mine

I think the combo together came to around £190 door to door. Tripod was around $185 and $37 delivery.

When I asked about tripods a while back I thought the Feisol you (Condyk) mentioned looked good and also thought mainland China would stock them, but so far no luck. It is what I plan to get when I can.

Have you looked about up there in Shanghai specifically for Feisol. They tend to have a wider selection of stuff than down here in the south.

PS. Simon, how do you find it in Shanghai?

Well today i found a shopping centre opposite the Main Train station that caters to the Local Professional Photgraphers. They may have Feisol but I did not notice.

They do have a lot of choice but really Im a novice to this "dare I say" hobby!

Shanghai is probably the most westernized part of CHina, but still has many western "comforts" sadly lacking. I think you will like it here if only because I have heard from many people that Guangzhou is rather a ruff place with alot of crime and theft. I heard the police have long poles to hit motorcycle snatch and run criminals!

Although at least your end of China is close to HK so you can get anything there!!

Simon

I have Bogen with quick release ballhead works fine for me

Good to hear you found the Feisol. How much was it...in RMB.

Hahaha. Guangzhou is a little ruff... When I first came here a couple of years ago I bumped into the guys with the long poles for the first time and thought they were criminals, wearing combats and looking threatening. They are actually common place, but rarely do much apart from observe!!

I have travelled around China and went to Shanghai for a while and am considering moving that way in the future or down to Kunming. HK is close, but it was only two weeks ago I went there to get my camera and lens. Going back in September, so will grab a tripod then.