my new addition to the family - the K-100 - has made me decide i need a tripod. not a cheap one of which i've had many over the years [uneconomic] but a proper one. you know what i mean by proper - very solid, heavy, able to take the k-100, it's unlikely i'll put much heavier on it. canon 814 az for s8. i do some stills as well but that'll be even lighter cams.
i like minimalist stuff. i detest things with too many parts. turn this, unlock that, pull this down then turn that etc etc. No, no, no. so the simpler the better. i want a proper head - smooth pan and tilt all that. straightforward release. not bothered about quick as long as its straightforward.
not really sure what else i should be looking for, really. any thoughts?
budget? £300. that's probably low, i'd guess. i've done no googling yet.
thought i'd open it up here.
thanks Mondo7777 [AKA Mondo77 and Mondo777]
Tripod
Moderator: Andreas Wideroe
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Charlie Blackfield
- Posts: 178
- Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 9:09 pm
- Real name: Klaus Huber
- Location: Bradford-on-Avon / UK
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Re: Tripod
I bought a Velbon D600 tripod years ago, which cost me less than GBP100 and does pretty much all you require. It's good for travelling (thanks to being lightweight), and I've used it for Super 8 cameras as well as digital camcorders (including Canon XM2). Only qualification is that it is a bit 'cheap' in the sense that it's not as rock-steady as more expensive ones. If you can afford GBP300, I'm sure Manfrotto will sort you out with a nice tripod. Maybe go for a second-hand one, as new ones may be slightly above your budget.
Charlie
Charlie
Re: Tripod
thanks for the advice. i did some research this afternoon but didn't really get anywhere. i want something solid really. secondhand might be the way to go.
Re: Tripod
A good tri-pod is one of the best investments you can make. Spend enough and it can be a something that
is as lifetime purchase. If you can go to a store and try out all the sticks to get an idea of how they
feel.
What you really want to look for is a good quality head, as the sticks are much cheaper and could be
upgraded later on when you have more money. I bought a Sachtler FSB-4 a few years ago. It cost me more
than I ever spent on a camera but is well worth it. It was a lot smoother to pan and tilt than the Manfrotto
in the same price range (I think it was the 501). The stock sticks were a little flimsy compared to the
Manfrotto ones but for me I felt the head was the more important part of the package, I'll eventually
replace those sticks but so far so good!
is as lifetime purchase. If you can go to a store and try out all the sticks to get an idea of how they
feel.
What you really want to look for is a good quality head, as the sticks are much cheaper and could be
upgraded later on when you have more money. I bought a Sachtler FSB-4 a few years ago. It cost me more
than I ever spent on a camera but is well worth it. It was a lot smoother to pan and tilt than the Manfrotto
in the same price range (I think it was the 501). The stock sticks were a little flimsy compared to the
Manfrotto ones but for me I felt the head was the more important part of the package, I'll eventually
replace those sticks but so far so good!