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Recommendations for a Tripod?
5 replies 220 views
11-15-2011, 08:38 PM Chris Frazier
I've decided it's time to consider a new tripod. Any recommendations from other members? For me, the biggest considerations are that it be fairly lightweight, so I can hike in to places, and reasonably priced. I operate on a pretty limited budget.

Thanks - Chris Frazier
11-16-2011, 10:30 AM Ronald Eberhart
Here is my suggestion Chris and others considering a tripod. Rethink your priorities a bit in regard to price. A tripod, head, and attaching plates are an investment in your photography that will span several camera bodies if you make a good selection. Get a srurdy, well built tripod that will last and then invest in a good ball head that will last. The price you pay here will be greater than getting something cheap that you wil lneed to replace in 1 or 2 years and sometime just months. If you are a new photographer and figure that you will never use a tripod that good, think again. A few years ago I had purchased a fairly good tripod and head only to find that the mounts slipped and the head was awkward to use for what I was doing. It was a brand name and a fairly good head, but I spent over $1000 replacing the head and attachment plates with top of the line "Really Right Stuff" and have never regretted doing that. The tripod legs are getting a bit worn, but they are 12 yeas old now and still provide a dependable, sturdy place for everything else to happen. My advice .... put in a request for Christmas, or at least some money toward it. This is no time to go cheap because nothing good comes out of a shaky foundation.
11-16-2011, 10:42 AM Russ Burden
Ron - I couldn't have said it better. It's better to wait for a good one that you can save up for rather than buy one that fits the budget but requires an additional purchase down the road. Ask Santa for a contribution!
11-17-2011, 03:21 PM Ronald Eberhart
Mikes Camera is having a sale this weekend on tripods. tanke a look and check this out.
Trade-in your old TRIPOD
Bring in your old tripod and trade-up for a Quality Bogen or Gitzo Tripod!

Friday and Saturday ONLY at all stores!
$25 Trade-in for a tripod HEAD
$75 Trade-in for a TRIPOD
$100 Trade-in for a KIT
11-20-2011, 09:24 PM Chris Frazier
Ron - I got that same email from Mike's - bought a Manfrotto (which I guess is the same company as Bogen?) tripod and head. As good a deal as I was going to get - I don't think I even paid $75 for my old tripod....
11-25-2011, 05:34 PM Roger Clark
Chris,
There is a huge difference in tripod stability and vibration damping between a carbon fiber (CF) tripod and an aluminum tripod, with the CF winning with no contest. They are also the lightest weight relative to their load capacity. Once I got over the shock of the price of a CF tripod, and started using one, I would never choose an aluminum tripod again. There are a large range of sizes of CF tripods to choose from. When you are hiking, what size camera and lens do you want to mount on the tripod? And what height do you want the tripod to reach? One also needs a good head to go with the tripod.

Roger

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