I am looking for a good, sturdy tripod that is also very portable. Just want to see what people can suggest.
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Portable tripod?
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How portable is portable? And how much are you looking to spend?
There are some Gitzo legs that are very light (being made of Carbon fiber), but they cost on the order of $600 just for the legs.
Anything made by Bogen Manfrotto is very nice, and there are some very nice support systems that can be had for about $300, granted that they aren't going to be as light as the Gitzo.
Most everything else that you look at will be crap- some will vouch for the longevity of their Silk and Velbon tripods, but from what I've experienced, they tend to break 6 months after you get them.
You can also spring for a tabletop tripod, which will certainly be more portable, but perhaps not quite as useful.
There are some Gitzo legs that are very light (being made of Carbon fiber), but they cost on the order of $600 just for the legs.
Anything made by Bogen Manfrotto is very nice, and there are some very nice support systems that can be had for about $300, granted that they aren't going to be as light as the Gitzo.
Most everything else that you look at will be crap- some will vouch for the longevity of their Silk and Velbon tripods, but from what I've experienced, they tend to break 6 months after you get them.
You can also spring for a tabletop tripod, which will certainly be more portable, but perhaps not quite as useful.
Tripods that are very "portable" (ie light...) tend not to be very "sturdy". That's just the way it is. The tripod's own weight adds rigidity; fewer leg extensions = more steady.
I've got an ancient Manfrotto tripod for when I'm close to home (or close to the car). I bought a terrific 'one-touch' head for it: pull a kind of long trigger to compose the shot, and let the trigger go to lock everything up tight. Result: no camera shake at all...
For trekking over the hills I have a smaller, lighter tripod that attaches to my shoulder-bag with straps. It's a compromise: in breezy weather not every shot will be pin-sharp (so I shoot a few frames to cover myself).
Instead of seeing a tripod as an inconvenience, I try to see it as 'freeing up' my photography. I love to keep photographing after the sun's gone down, and I don't want to change the ISO from 100... so my tripod actually offers me more options than any new lens I might buy.
No need to buy new; tripods are fine to buy second-hand. Take your camera along and see how the camera/tripod combination feels to you...
I've got an ancient Manfrotto tripod for when I'm close to home (or close to the car). I bought a terrific 'one-touch' head for it: pull a kind of long trigger to compose the shot, and let the trigger go to lock everything up tight. Result: no camera shake at all...
For trekking over the hills I have a smaller, lighter tripod that attaches to my shoulder-bag with straps. It's a compromise: in breezy weather not every shot will be pin-sharp (so I shoot a few frames to cover myself).
Instead of seeing a tripod as an inconvenience, I try to see it as 'freeing up' my photography. I love to keep photographing after the sun's gone down, and I don't want to change the ISO from 100... so my tripod actually offers me more options than any new lens I might buy.
No need to buy new; tripods are fine to buy second-hand. Take your camera along and see how the camera/tripod combination feels to you...
also, what are you shooting? I am not sure this is your case, but alot of people shoot pass the monopod idea without a 2nd thought and skip right to tri-pod. Take a look at what your shooting and see if maybe you can get by with a mono. Could save you some weight.
Light weight, Sturdy or Inexpensive? Pick two.
The above really works. You can have any combination of two you want. But a good tripod will literally last you the rest of your life and then someone else will get to use it. So you can justify spending some money on it. You will buy five more cameras before the tripod needs replacing so even an expensive one is not when you look at the years of use you get out of it.
A steel Gitzo is likely good enough. But I'm not a fan of Gitzo's heads. Get a Bogen pan tilt head and Gitzo legs.
One trick. You can make a light tripod more sturdy of you suspend a weight between the legs. A water jug works good or a rock in a plastic bag. It tends to mash the legs down and makes it shake a little less
I found my dad's old tripod while moving him this last week. Looks like it will do the job just fine, all I need to do now is find a good strap to put on it.
Thanks for the suggestions and advice.
Thanks for the suggestions and advice.
Handy Tripod Tip
If you're going to make a carry strap for it, then you may be handy enough to make a strap that hangs a little bit down from the top when it is in use.
What for?
To add your camera bag with accessories, as an extra weight to give you that extra rigidity.
I do this all the time for night shots, and I'm a weak and feeble little old lady, so I can't have a heavy tripod.
If you're going to make a carry strap for it, then you may be handy enough to make a strap that hangs a little bit down from the top when it is in use.
What for?
To add your camera bag with accessories, as an extra weight to give you that extra rigidity.
I do this all the time for night shots, and I'm a weak and feeble little old lady, so I can't have a heavy tripod.