Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Pistol Pete

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 6, 2005
616
5
California
I need a sturdy tripod that will last, I have broke 2 $60 dollar tripods and I need to get a good one, so I am hoping for some recomendations...

Thanks.

Peter
 

Clix Pix

macrumors Core
Pistol Pete said:
I need a sturdy tripod that will last, I have broke 2 $60 dollar tripods and I need to get a good one, so I am hoping for some recomendations...

Thanks.

Peter

Bogen and Manfrotto make excellent tripods, as does Gitzo. A good tripod does not come cheaply, and, yeah, $60 would be considered cheap. Go to your local camera shop and talk to someone there, look at what they've got available, put your camera and your heaviest/longest lens on and see what works best for you.
 

p0intblank

macrumors 68030
Sep 20, 2005
2,548
2
New Jersey
Any tripod recommendations?

I have a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT and am in the market for a tripod. It doesn't have to be absolutely top quality, but I would like a well-built product for a good price. Does anyone have any recommendations? Greatly appreciated... thanks!

Edit: Bah! There's already another tripod thread... :p Mods, please close.
 

p0intblank

macrumors 68030
Sep 20, 2005
2,548
2
New Jersey
While we are on the topic of tripods, I am new to them when it comes to still shooting. I have a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, so does it matter what tripod I use? Is there a specific size I should look for? I'm not trying to hijack the thread... just relating to it. :)
 

ChrisA

macrumors G5
Jan 5, 2006
12,828
2,033
Redondo Beach, California
I use a Bogen 3221

p0intblank said:
.. in the market for a tripod. It doesn't have to be absolutely top quality, but I would like a well-built product for a good price.

I use a Bogen 3221. It's sturdy, will last a lifetime. It you want top of the lie look at Gitzo.
It depends on if you want the best tripod for the weight (gitzo) or the best for the money (Bogen). I prefer Bogins flip levers to Gitzo's twist locks.

The reersing center colum makes it possable to put the camera right at ground level for shot bugs or wild flowers

I use either the 3047 head or the 3028. THe 3028 looks odd but works well for macro work and with the center colum reversed. The 3047 is total overkill for a small camera try the 3030. I got the '47 for a medium format system. but if you are not hiking in the wood the 3047's built in level and extrean rididity is nice to have

Don't worry about cost you wil retire your camera, buy new and do that three times and still keep the tripod. It's a lifetime investment
 

cr2sh

macrumors 68030
May 28, 2002
2,554
3
downtown
If this thread does get closed that's fine.. but I just thought I'd say that I own a Bogen Manfrotto 755B, with the twisting center column for leveling... its very easy and quick to get level and it works amazingly well. I bought it off eBay for $140 and I really think it was a steal. I'd recommend at least looking at it before you buy one!
:)
 

Mike Teezie

macrumors 68020
Nov 20, 2002
2,205
1
As stated in another thread, I use Bogen/Manfrotto 3021 Pro legs and I'm about to get the Manfrotto 322RC2 grip action ball head.

I love using this system, and I can't imagine not having it.
 

Pistol Pete

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 6, 2005
616
5
California
cool sounds great what i am hoping to get one that I can carry around without to big of a hassle on hikes, but durable enough so it will not fall apart.

I know I know I am dreaming ;)

Thanks all. I may Ebay one.
 

Rocky3478

macrumors regular
Mar 7, 2005
115
0
I'd look at either the Bogen 3001N or Bogen 3011N tripods, depending on your height, and the Bogen 484/486RC2 ball heads. That combo is under $150 if you're a student..... :)
 

Abstract

macrumors Penryn
Dec 27, 2002
24,868
898
Location Location Location
Well the best tripod depends on what you need it for. Some are lightweight and portable, while others are heavy and durable.

Personally, I'd like to get one where I can lower the camera all the way to the ground, which would allow me to take some low shots. I think the Manfrotto 3021 is what I need (read that in this forum at some point), but I'm not sure what the difference is between the 3021N, 3021PRO, 3021BPRO, etc. There's too many of them, and they all seem so similar.
 

Rocky3478

macrumors regular
Mar 7, 2005
115
0
Abstract said:
Well the best tripod depends on what you need it for. Some are lightweight and portable, while others are heavy and durable.

Personally, I'd like to get one where I can lower the camera all the way to the ground, which would allow me to take some low shots. I think the Manfrotto 3021 is what I need (read that in this forum at some point), but I'm not sure what the difference is between the 3021N, 3021PRO, 3021BPRO, etc. There's too many of them, and they all seem so similar.

Go to http://www.bhphotovideo.com and compare them :) By the way, the ones with B in the name are black.
 

-hh

macrumors 68030
Jul 17, 2001
2,550
336
NJ Highlands, Earth
Pistol Pete said:
cool sounds great what i am hoping to get one that I can carry around without to big of a hassle on hikes, but durable enough so it will not fall apart.

I know I know I am dreaming ;)

Since lightweight carbon-fiber based tripods do exist, that's not really the hard part of what you're asking for: The hard part is getting the whole kit, with a good ballhead, for under $300.


-hh
 

p0intblank

macrumors 68030
Sep 20, 2005
2,548
2
New Jersey
B&H has some expensive tripods! :eek: I didn't think they went that high... okay, to further my search some more... I do like to take macro shots, so are there any specific tripods that come to mind, say under $100? Sorry for being such a pain. I've never purchased a tripod for still shots before and want to make sure I get the correct one.
 

Rocky3478

macrumors regular
Mar 7, 2005
115
0
p0intblank said:
B&H has some expensive tripods! :eek: I didn't think they went that high... okay, to further my search some more... I do like to take macro shots, so are there any specific tripods that come to mind, say under $100? Sorry for being such a pain. I've never purchased a tripod for still shots before and want to make sure I get the correct one.

Under $100, eh? Look at Velbon, and Slik. That's about it for that price range. For $180 you could go Bogen, but that's almost double.
 

ChrisA

macrumors G5
Jan 5, 2006
12,828
2,033
Redondo Beach, California
Pistol Pete said:
cool sounds great what i am hoping to get one that I can carry around without to big of a hassle on hikes, but durable enough so it will not fall apart.

I know I know I am dreaming ;)

Thanks all. I may Ebay one.

These are available. You don't state a budget. But if funds are not limited both Bogen and Gitzo make carbon fiber tripod legs that will likey never break in 20years of heavy use and are pretty light weight. If you can stand the weight in your backback Bogen is the way to go the flip levers are feild repairable with the allen wrech they include with the tripod. They don't break but the levers need adjustmet now and then as they wear in.

You really should go into a good camera shop and play with the tripods. Find a shop that carries a fullline of both Gitzo and Bogen. Price is "not cheap" but they realy do last a lifetime
 

Abstract

macrumors Penryn
Dec 27, 2002
24,868
898
Location Location Location
Rocky3478 said:
Go to http://www.bhphotovideo.com and compare them :) By the way, the ones with B in the name are black.

Yeah, but the others are all like quintuplets. I mean, they all so seem so similar, so if they're supposed to be different, why not just give them a separate model number? Or if they're so similar, but do have subtle differences, why not clearly point the difference out?
 

valiar

macrumors regular
Mar 14, 2006
222
0
Washington, DC
Bogen and other brand-name tripods are nice, but horribly overpriced (IMHO, at least). A good Bogen tripod may cost almost as much as a decent lens!
I recommend you to go to Ebay instead, and look around for some cheaper "knock-off" tripods. You would be pleasantly surprized at what you will find.
A year ago, I have paid $75 shipped for a new tripod made in (you guessed it right) China.
The tripod is all-metal, *including* the head. The head is removable, and 3-way adjustable (with built-in levels). Adjustment knobs are removable, and have those big Bogen'ish soft plastic grips on them. Tripod itself is really, really well made (no worse than Bogens in my local Ritz Camera), and is quite heavy and stable. Did I already mention there is not a single plastic part in the whole unit?
It did come with 2 removable camera mount plates, and a (rather shoddy) carrying case. I got another (nice) carrying case for about $30.
My camera, if you are wondering, is a Sigma SD9, and I mostly use the tripod to support this body in combination with a 70-200 2.8 EX lens. This whole setup is one big mama...
Would I be able to make better pictures with an $400 Bogen piece of metal? Definitely not. :)
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.