I've never really had to shop for tripods, I try to do almost everything freehand, and only when I seriously feel it won't work do I grab a tripod. Anyway, now I'm starting a few things that will require a decent tripod, so I'm looking to ditch my horrible little contraption and get a decent one, Does anybody have any personal experience they can share about whats good or what to stay away from in the wide world of tripods?

Must say I'm interested in suggestions too, as the one I own is horribly cheap, it is very light however which is means it isn't too bad to lug around. I would think something made of of those light carbides would be great but they are terribly expensive.... Also to add to Crakmine's question, which type of head is better? I've noticed you can buy ballheads to add on but they are also not cheap......

Oh, yes, mines light, its a little short, with a raising head, but it gets painfully unstable with that extended, with any wind at all I might as well shoot freehand, but aside from that mine isn't exactly of the highest quality, and its begun coming apart as well .)

Wish I could afford a Gitzo - but I have been extremely happy with my Bogen 3020. I don't care for the "lightweight" tripods - kinda defeats the purpose of having one to begin with. I like one that will extend to eye level without using the center column. (After all - once you start using the center column - you're turning your tripod into a monopod on a stand). As for the head - I guess it's a matter of personal preference and what type of photography you do. If you're shooting static subjects (archetecture, landscapes, etc.), a good 3-way pan head is probably the way to go (something in a Bogen 3047). This allows you to adjust separate directions without moving the others. For shooting, say, wildlife - I like a good ball head with a tension adjustment. Arca-Swiss makes a beautiful one (with a beautifully high prce sticker!). Bogen also makes a good, heavy-duty one - as well as a medium duty one. Bogen also makes a light weight ball head, but in my opinion, it's too light duty to be steady. Anyway - my few cents worth.

Thanks Wolfsnap, I definately would like one that comes to eye level without the help of the column. Still looking on and off those, but still thanks for the information

4 legged tri-pods are the best in my opinion, go for one of those.

Lightweight is good for the back, terrible for shooting. You want a stable platform. One that doesn't vibrate or sway with wind. I had one that was nice and sturdy, but the locking mechanisms on the legs were kind of crappy. They would creep just a bit so that I didn't notice it while standing there, but I could see the slight bluriness in the image after I got them developed. Go with Bogen, you won't be disappointed. A lot of tripods try to "look" like it, but once you set up a Bogen and feel the sturdiness of the platform, you'll understand why so many people swear by them. Yea, looking at Bogen's can give you sticker shock (especially if you look at one of the top of the line carbon fiber deals), but you can get a Bogen Manfrotto 3011/3025 combo (3011 legs - aka stick - and 3025 3D head with 3 axis locking movement) for under $135. That will support up to about 6.5lbs. Top of the tripod is at about 5' without extending column (over 6' with column extended). That's without the head on it. -=>Donald

Camera movement is the #1 killer of sharpness; I can't believe how much better a tripod makes my lenses look! People get out of the way because I look "professional." Or maybe just crazy... That being said, I usually use a cheapie $75U.S. because it is light and easy to carry. With these light jobs it sometimes helps to weigh them down with the camera bag. [Cable releases, self timers, and mirror lockup also help.] Sometimes I also carry a mono-pod. My recent Faire pictures were handheld, and the sharpness is lacking. I do own a Bogen #40-something. [Old one. Heavy aluminum tubes.] It's a great piece of equipment, but I very seldom carry it into the field. And even it benefits from the cable release, self timer, etc. I do somewhat lust after the new carbon composit jobs. I eagerly await hearing about any experiences. But right now, I think it's better spending the money on a couple 18-year olds (preferably cute) to help carry the equipment...

Manfrotto rules. I own 2 tripods and a Monopod made by Manfrotto. This company has a large array of products that fit most of the needs of a great variety of photographers. For example. I own a Manfrotto PRO 190 to carry on the back when i walk a lot. It's very light... (1,5 Kg) and incredibly stable. In it's full extension is 2mt highand in it's minimum it's only 25cm. every leg can be opened independentely at different degrees and let you photograph with the tripod opened in irregular surfaces. The central vertical column can be detached and repositioned orizontally instead to take ground subject or for macro-photography. On every Manfrotto tripod can be mounted one of the hundred heads the company has available. My favourite is The Joystick one. Very handy, very cheap, very accurate. It has a level bubble incorporated. Manfrotto do a lot of other accessories to combine with tripods and head... like QTVR Heads and supports... Levels, vertical camera supports, eccetera eccetera... and... hey it's ITALIAN... =P

If the "Joystick" model is what I'm thinking of - unless you have a tripod mount on your lens to rotate the camera to vertical, it really makes it difficult to shoot verticals with that particular head. Of course, I'm thinking back some 10 years about Bogen's "Joystick" head. (Didn't Bogen and Manfrotto merge - or are the same - or something? My memory is slipping). I did think of a few additional things about what to look for in a tripod - at least for nature photography: 1: The heavier - the better. Often I'm shooting at shutter speeds of 15 sec or longer, and I need a platform that is stable as can be - something a wind will not shift. Yeah - it's a pain to lug the sucker into the field (get a set of Tri-Pads - cushions that wrap the tripod legs (or wrap them in pipe insulation). This makes it much easier to carry across your shoulder - and the wrapping keeps you from freezing your hands on the metal when shooting in the cold. Heavy does come in handy in the field at times - I've used mine to pole-vault streams! 2: I needed a tripod that has no center braces extending from the leg to the center column. i needed one that allowed spreading the legs out to enable low-level composition - and center braces won't allow that (at least, not to the degree that I required). 3: The main reason (other than stability) to have a tripod that comes to eye-level without center column extension is to allow the tripod to get low without the center column getting in the way. Bogen (on their, at that time, 3020) had a split column. I cut the top section to the quick and drilled new holes (also filed down the stops on the legs to where it would go just about flat). That way, when I needed center column extension, I could add on a section of center column and be set. 4: A healthy quick release. Bogen offers several types of quick releases - but I prefer the large, hexagon plate. It grips tightly into place, is stout enough when mounted on the tripod to be stable, and is quick to get the camera off the tripod for "hand-held composition". The verdict is still out whether the rubber or the cork is better. the cork seems to be more secure (when it's new) - once it gets some age on it, you gotta scuff it up some or the camera is going to slip around. (Got so bad I had to modify my plates with a piece of metal that fit the rear of my camera body to keep it from slipping). the rubber ones seem a bit to "spongy" - never really felt secure to me. 5: Just for grins and giggles - I bought a Benbo tripod. If you want to get into weird positions, get super low on a subject (I've actually dug holes in the dirt to get the lens right on the ground) - this is the tripod for you. It's a bit weird - has one "securing" screw that clamps the whole thing down. When it's loose, it's a lot like an unfolding lawn chair (keep your hand on the camera when you release this thing - 'cause everything goes like a limp noodle when you loosen it) - but you can get into positions with this tripod that you simply can't get into with any other tripod on the market. It has the usual three legs, and a center column that is about as long as the legs - with it's own release allowing it to slide. on the center column, one side has a standard 1/4" screw - the other has a 3/8" screw - so you can mount about any head available on one side or the other - or mount two separate heads on it. It's a little weird to describe - and I couldn't find the manufacturers site - but here's a review: http://www.photographyreview.com/pscTripods/Tripods/Benbo,Tripods,1,%E2%80%9CStandard%E2%80%9D/PRD_84598_3114crx.aspx Just another few cents worth.

That link's a mess - try this one: http://www.photobooksonline.com/gear/benbo.html

well... my Manfrotto pro190 has the central column but... you can mount it upside down... so you can mount the camera UNDER the legs. You can easily reach ground-level. I've done it hundreds of times. Manfrotto offers hundreds of exagonal locks. and as an option a converter from quicklock to exagonal. Anyway... you can benefit from an exagonal plate only if you have a really heavy camera. I've had no problem with my Mamiya 645 with a very long tele. But if you shot with a Bank maybe you need an exagonal plate. ah... a little info. No Manfrotto quick-locks are in plastics. only metal and of really good quality. i've tghat joystick head since 1994 and it's PERFECT today. Anyway... surely tyou have some problems with vertical shooting with joystick head. i've solved the problem with an "L" adapter from manfrotto. Has 2 quicklocks (or 2 Hexagonal) on both side... so you release the quicklock twist the camera 90degrees and relock it in place... et voil.. very handy and in vertical position. =) I've tried a LOT of tripods, monopods, Quadpods in my short shooting-life. But i've never found a system more complete and affidable than Manfrotto. You could buy a Gitzko tripod and surely yopu would have one of the best tripods available... but you can have a really high-quality product at a fraction of the cost. Then you have a lot more options to install and alla is made in solid metal. Many pieces are in carbon or even titanium. everythig is made with maximum accuracy. Never had to change my gear for years. This year i've bought some new tripods for the office and new statives. No complain.

hee hee @ Misha - crazy - ppl think that of me already!

I have a Manfrotto 484RC2.It's a bit heavy in hand but not, I think,on your shoulder...So far it's worked really well for me.

But...until this thread,I didn't even know there was a thing such as 'quick release',lol.And that is definately something I would like...I hate having to spin the cam around and around and the camera strap keeps getting caught over and over again!

For my birthday I got a humidifier and a de-humidifier... I put them in the same room and let them fight it out.
Steven Wright

hee hee you had me laughing picturing the strap and the expression of frustration on your face! That's one of the first things that I look at is the quick release, it's so nice to have, it's so small you can even leave it on your cam!

I'm pitiful,I know...sigh... ;^P

I use a Manfrotto tripod with a ball head. For the photography I do, the ball head is quick and easy. Next time, I would likely get the "quick release" style ball which I do not have now.  I chose a sturdy model which is not a lightweight but not too heavy either.  I don't carry  a tripod for much distance and chose the strudiness over light weight.  

For moving around alot, I use a Manfrotto monopod. A monopod takes some getting used to but will work very well overall and is great for taking little space and easy to carry, much like a walking stick but short when collapsed. You become the "other legs".

Suggestion: Take you camera to a photo store and actually try the tripods with different heads. The feel to you is an important factor in this personal choice.

Peace to All.       TomDart.

LOL.. hey 'chelle & company! bet it was a surprise to get ebots on this one bumped up 4 yrs later :0)))))))

but good to see the search & archived info put to good use!

Dang, this IS an old thread, lol! I don't have anything expensive and I know there is a whole world of neat tripod stuff out there. I have a couple of them, but my favorite is the one at work, a SLIK U8000. It has the standard (cheap) attachment method, but it is light, very sturdy and easily adjusted. The legs slide smoothly and there is a quality feel to all the adjustment knob lacking in other tripods I have used. Just my 2.

I have a Manfrotto 550 Classic it weight is just over 2kg I dont think the carbon ones are in fact much lighter so worth checking as the cost is nearly doubled for  very little difference and it is very stable has great height and was on offer with the MN141RC head which I like a lot it can handle an 8kg load and also has a hook to put your bag on to add extra stability I have used this in very windy conditions and it has never let me down.. Well made too ..

I also use a Monopod made by Manfrotto, most of my shots are taken freehands too. I bring it with me all the time and cary it on my shoulder, and if I need it I just take it off....very handy. I have also 2 other tripods, I only use them if I make some studio shots.....

Ilona, glad to see another monopod user! These are real handy.      TomDart.

I use a Manfroto 055CLB with a 141RC pan and tilt head and love it, my preference is always toward pan and tilt heads, as IMO they are better for landscapes (matter of opinion I guess)

I don’t like ball heads (that opinion excludes the Hydrostat range (see below)

I have been looking at the Manfroto 055MF3 Magfibre (Deep pockets required) but feel that there is little or no advantage over the standard 055, weight is about the same cant go quite as low as the 055CLB (that matters for me) so will probably stick with what I have.

The Manfroto “Hydrostat” range of ball heads are excellent (need more DEEP pockets) I haven’t got one, but I know a couple of guys that have. The heads are really robust, versatile and solid. In general I would never have a ball head as I cant stand them, but I would have one of these (if I win the lotto lol)

The Manforto 055 tripods are very sturdy and solidly built, and will hold steady in highland wind, they also have a strap hook that you can hang a bag from as a counter weight for extra stability, that will also lower the centre of gravity.

The 055 (maybe others I guess) have the ability to have the legs at various angles (up to flat on the ground) for extra stability.

I have shot a 2 min exposure with a 100-400mm lens @ 400mm with no visible cam shake, (tripod legs wide for extra stability)

PS For those of you that might shoot a dual system (say 35mm and MF) the

Manfrotto clamp 035 "Super Clamp" is a neat little gadget that clamps to a tripod leg (or your roof rack it you want) that you can attach an additional head to so you can shoot from two cameras/formats with just one tripod.

(ok getting nerdy now lol)