Why spend so much on a tripod?

The tripod is one of the most under-rated pieces of equipment out there.. People spend thousands on the their camera, lenses, lighting etc but aren't willing to spend a few hundred bucks on a tripod.. In my opinion,,silly..

A good tripod will last you a lifetime and will outlast any camera or lens..

I still have an old Benbo Classic with Manfrotto head, I bought in the 1980s.. Cost me an arm and a leg,, and built like a battleship..

I just bought a Gitzo GT2541 with RRS BH-55 Ballhead. From my experience, its so frustrating when the camera droops down or vibrating and causes bad shots. In any long exposure also. If I'm hiking long mileage or spending too much money on the trip, I'd like to get the best shot I could posibly have. Tripod is one of those one time investment deal that if you get the best you can get now, you won't have to worry about it in the next 10 years or so.

Hello from France

There is an interesting article from Tom Hogan about tripods and prices....

http://bythom.com/supp​ort.htm

Sincerely yours

Habu

Up until today, the only tripod I have ever had was a $30 POS that I bought years ago for use with a digital camcorder. Well, long story short, it's a useless, weak, droopy piece of excrement and I more or less just refuse to use it, to the point where my photography has doubtlessly suffered as a result.

My new 055XProB + 498RC2 came today and I can't wait to give it a run.

Viva-photography wrote in post #10382578
I'm buying a better tripod, I'm just not sure whether a $300 tripod is any better than a $150 tripod.

for $150 you'll get a very solid tripod (if you pick the right one). The money beyond that basically adds features and reduces weight. That's assuming you're looking at $150 for just the lets though.

This all comes down to how much you use your tripod though. I used to have an old bogen set in this price range and rarely used it because it was heavy and a PITA to set up. I've since upgraded to a much nicer tripod and I now use it ALL THE TIME. Partially because I need to, but partially because it gets out of my way now and I can just work faster with it.

portability...

weight, size, ease of use, and reliability...
nice tight grip on the photoclam, 14.5" mounted on my Gitzo 1550T and can handle up to my 7D + 70-200 with ease...
and it compacts into any small size luggage i have around...

I used a $30 tripod to hold a 200 f/2L IS with 1D mark III. It worked, but obviously not keen to leave it alone

I had this issue as well. Wondering why on earth someone would spend so much money on a tripod... that is, until I put my 70-200 f/2.8 on it, and I did not feel comfortable leaving my lens on there without the neck strap around my neck. I have now bought a $130 tripod, and MAN, the difference is humongous. This tripod makes my gripped 50D, with 70-200 f/2.8 lens look like a toy on it. I totally trust the tripod to hold my lens and camera stable. I do not always have to be watching it in the corner of my eyes. If you are a pure hobbist and take photos where the neck strap may not need to leave your neck when the camera on is on the triopod, then you can get by with the $30 tripod, but when you move up, you will realize how much more stability you gain. A friend of mine's camera with lens fell lens first off a park bench when he was taking a timer shot, and I am telling you, it is pain to see so much money falling to the floor and breaking.

Viva-photography wrote in post #10382462
I have a $30 tripod.
It came with the camera when I bought used locally.
It holds my camera up and steady and the only problem is that its mostly plastic and feels a tad flimsy and when I put my camera AND a heavy lens, the camera swivels around on the little screw you put in the bottom of the camera.

So why do people pay $$$$ for a tripod? Materials?

Mount it up...
extend the neck, get it ready for a shot

and then, as a test, turn live view on, zoom in once, and blow on your camera

I suspect that just from your own hot air, that camera will be moving like crazy
now imagine you're outside, with a slight wind, trying to be as stable as you can...

no $30 tripod will ever pass that test

If you're using a tripod, that means you're needing a steady/sturdy platform to shoot from. And if what you need is a long exposure, that movement will either turn your shot to useless, or "art" if you're a glass half full kinda guy...

if all you want is something to hold your camera so that you can trigger it remotely and be in the shot, then that $30 tripod will be fine, as long as you don't overload it

Buy an expensive one and youll understand...

I use $30 SunPak tripods to hold my trash bags, car keys, maybe a flashlight... That's about all they're good for.

because i paid (ridiculously) for the portability in size and weight...

i could take opportunity to take pics as those i have in my florence thread at urban life and travel section...

Viva-photography wrote in post #10382578
So its more of a peace of mind thing than anything else?

I'm buying a better tripod, I'm just not sure whether a $300 tripod is any better than a $150 tripod.

Some of it is peace of mind; some of it is features/qualities. About a year ago I bought the Manfrotto 055XPROB for around $150; it had all of the things that I thought I wanted at the time (adjustable legs can go flat to the ground, adjustable center column can lay horizontal as well as stand vertically, high enough that I don't have to crouch to look through the view finder). After owning it for a couple of months, it stopped being used because it is W-A-Y too long when collapsed to comfortably sling on my backpack.

So NOW, I'm looking at dumping another $400 on a new, carbon fiber, 4 section model that I believe fits the remaining requirements.

So, just be sure to do your research on features that you want and what the different tripods offer. Also, keep in mind that the legs have different mechanisms for extending/collapsing/f​olding out and some work better than others.

I found a Giotto tripod that I REALLY liked, but the mechanism for extending the legs to the side was a paddle system with a tendency to stick and bite.

Just some stuff to consider.

What do you all think of this kit?
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …PROB_Pro_Tripod​_Legs.html

Viva-photography wrote in post #10387806
What do you all think of this kit?
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …PROB_Pro_Tripod​_Legs.html

Great legs; heavy, though. If you plan to carry them around, it gets tiresome fast. On the upside, if anyone tries to take your camera you can club 'em with the tripod.

I don't know about the head; haven't used one like that before.