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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: sleepy916 on Sat, 19 July 2014, 23:18:06
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Hello!
I'm looking for a tripod for my Nikon D7100, budget is no more than $150. I have looked online but there are so many options. I know many of you have tripods taking those great pictures! What are you guys using? Thanks for any help. ^-^
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I can't remember the exact model of mine and it's not with me right now, but I got a Manfrotto ball head tripod from Costco a while back. It was a little over $100 and I have no complaints about it at all. Awesome tripod.
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I'm not a tripod expert, but I can tell you what I'm using right now.
I got this at Costco for $90 a couple months back. http://www.amazon.com/Dolica-ZX600B300-Proline-Series-60-Inch/dp/B007HO50NO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405836030&sr=8-1&keywords=proline+carbon
carbon fiber hype
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I can't remember the exact model of mine and it's not with me right now, but I got a Manfrotto ball head tripod from Costco a while back. It was a little over $100 and I have no complaints about it at all. Awesome tripod.
Thanks, I have been looking at that brand. It seems to have good value for the price.
I'm not a tripod expert, but I can tell you what I'm using right now.
I got this at Costco for $90 a couple months back. http://www.amazon.com/Dolica-ZX600B300-Proline-Series-60-Inch/dp/B007HO50NO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405836030&sr=8-1&keywords=proline+carbon
carbon fiber hype
Do you like it?
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My wife is the photographer in our family, and she swaers by manfrotto. I bought her a ball head last fall of that brand when a local camera shop had a going out of business sale and she loves it. I can check to see what the brand name is on her tripod. I know she bought it when she was in college for photography and hasn't had one issue with it yet aside from being on the heavy side for walking trails with.
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GorillaPod. It's amazing!
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I can't remember the exact model of mine and it's not with me right now, but I got a Manfrotto ball head tripod from Costco a while back. It was a little over $100 and I have no complaints about it at all. Awesome tripod.
Thanks, I have been looking at that brand. It seems to have good value for the price.
I'm not a tripod expert, but I can tell you what I'm using right now.
I got this at Costco for $90 a couple months back. http://www.amazon.com/Dolica-ZX600B300-Proline-Series-60-Inch/dp/B007HO50NO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405836030&sr=8-1&keywords=proline+carbon
carbon fiber hype
Do you like it?
Again, I don't have much else to reference, but I've been digging the tripod. After watching some tripod reviews, I realized that tripods can't be TOO light or else the camera is easy to tip over. This is actually somewhat important for me now that I have a new lens that makes my camera front-heavy. My friend does have a $300 carbon fiber Gitzo tripod and I can tell you that it's only marginally better to use than my tripod. I go out and shoot and night for fun sometimes so a tripod is a must have for me when I do that. At around $100, idk how much better you can do. I would recommend it.
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Picked up a used Manfrotto silver aluminum tripod years ago (discounts ftw). Built like a tank, yet is surprisingly lightweight. Use it for still, indoor setups when I need it, although with enough light it's not needed for most shots I take.
Have several friends who never use their tripods, even though they take one everywhere :p Really depends on what you need one for. For night time/low light shoots especially they can be immensely useful, unless you happen to have a great open lens.
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I also recommend getting a Manfrotto tripod.
I had an el-cheapo tripod that I used for taking group pictures with me in them with the help of a remote trigger. One time I got back to the camera to detach it from the plastic mounting of the tripod and the mount broke off from the tripod. I was lucky my camera didn't fall.
Anyway, after that I invested in a 055PROB (http://www.manfrotto.com/pro-tripod-black) with a 486RC2 Ball Head (http://www.manfrotto.com/compact-ball-head-with-rc2-rapid-connect-system). The thing is a beast and a bit on the heavy side but it can safely support 6kg. I also like the flexibility of the leg angles and the center column that can be mounted horizontally as that helps when shooting low to the ground.
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Depending on your lenses and how and where you shoot, going cheap on a tripod can end up being frustrating in the long run - small tripods transmit vibrations easier than bigger tripods, metal moreso than carbon fiber or wood, more tripod leg segments are less sturdy than fewer, having to to extend a tripod central column will further reduce stability and transmit more vibrations so a taller tripod where the column can remain descended or no central column at all is preferable. With tripod heads, where you are better off getting a head over-rated weight wise for what you are putting on it so that movements remain smooth, applying the right amount of friction is easy, and clamping force is firm. Also don't bother with a three-way head unless doing video, quality ball heads are great. Arca-Swiss is the only standard quick-release plate that's not brand-proprietary, so if you like to maximize your flexibility look for heads that are Arca-Swiss compatible. If you can wait for sales, you can get some terrific deals. For instance, I recently purchased the Vanguard Auctus 283CT Carbon Fiber Tripod for $169.99 on sale at Woot (list price was $559.99). Then I picked up the Vanguard ABH-340K Semi-Elliptical Ball Head for $99 (list price $369) from an Amazon seller. Both are slightly older (now discontinued) models, and I saved a lot by going that route. One of the other cool things about Arca-Swiss is you can things like this, which will turn a ballhead into a micro gimbal head:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/754602-REG/Jobu_Design_BWG_M1_BWG_Micro_Gimbal_Ballhead_Adapter.html (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/754602-REG/Jobu_Design_BWG_M1_BWG_Micro_Gimbal_Ballhead_Adapter.html)
More compact than a full gimbal, and since I see myself needing a gimbal head that often, it could be very useful.
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Just a quick update, I ended up getting a Manfrotto. This one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MKNJ9I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MKNJ9I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
It was not a bad price, less than $90, and has been pretty good. It feels stable and is easy to move around. I like the quick release feature as well.
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Good choice. I use a manfrotto as well. It was around $270 but solid as a rock and comfortable to carry.
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amvona. cheap manfrotto clones (but not too cheap). heavy but solid. good for putting in the car. bad for hiking. for hiking, just bring a beanbag until you really really really need a hiking tripod.