Discussion
Are cheap tripods OK?
Looking at ones around £40. Is it worth it?
If so any recommendations?
I have seen one in my local Dixons half price at £20 but have also seen some full price ones on Jessops.com for only £26.
Just going to walk to shops now to see if they are the right size (standard size).
Looking at ones around £40. Is it worth it?
If so any recommendations?
I have seen one in my local Dixons half price at £20 but have also seen some full price ones on Jessops.com for only £26.
Just going to walk to shops now to see if they are the right size (standard size).
The one in the shop is a Velbon. Half price at £20.
The only reason i didnt get it was that its my birthday Saturday and I have a sneaking feeling I may have been bought one. Dont want to upset anyone by buying it too early!
Perhaps I'll just buy it, keep it quiet and makes sure I keep the receipt!
(Although they only had one left so its probably gone now
)
The only reason i didnt get it was that its my birthday Saturday and I have a sneaking feeling I may have been bought one. Dont want to upset anyone by buying it too early!
Perhaps I'll just buy it, keep it quiet and makes sure I keep the receipt!
(Although they only had one left so its probably gone now
)It depends what you want to do, and how heavy your camera gear is.
I've got a couple of cheapo Jessops tripods, one of which I took up Mt Kilimanjaro last year. Unfortnately, the one time I used it (to take some long exposure shots of the stars), it couldn't take the weight of my SLR and lens, so over the 2 minutes or so I had the shutter open, it drooped very slightly!
I also wouldn't even consider using these tripods with the big lenses I've got, so I now have a decent Gitzo jobbie which is fantastic.
They are pretty good as long as you don't abuse them, or stick lots of weight on them, but you do get what you pay for.
I've got a couple of cheapo Jessops tripods, one of which I took up Mt Kilimanjaro last year. Unfortnately, the one time I used it (to take some long exposure shots of the stars), it couldn't take the weight of my SLR and lens, so over the 2 minutes or so I had the shutter open, it drooped very slightly!
I also wouldn't even consider using these tripods with the big lenses I've got, so I now have a decent Gitzo jobbie which is fantastic.
They are pretty good as long as you don't abuse them, or stick lots of weight on them, but you do get what you pay for.
Ed, you just solved all my problems!
Now if I dont get one on Saturday(my birthday) I can get yours of you the following week at VW. (In exchange for a coffee and burger of course!).
I cant believe the tripod you have. I saw how much it was today.
Then again, since I know you, I can well belive it. Only the best will do eh?!
I'll make sure you get extra cheese on the burger!
Now if I dont get one on Saturday(my birthday) I can get yours of you the following week at VW. (In exchange for a coffee and burger of course!).
I cant believe the tripod you have. I saw how much it was today.
Then again, since I know you, I can well belive it. Only the best will do eh?!
I'll make sure you get extra cheese on the burger!
DustyC said:
Ed, you just solved all my problems!
Now if I dont get one on Saturday(my birthday) I can get yours of you the following week at VW. (In exchange for a coffee and burger of course!).
I cant believe the tripod you have. I saw how much it was today.
Then again, since I know you, I can well belive it. Only the best will do eh?!
I'll make sure you get extra cheese on the burger!
And ketchup please!
Yep - it is pretty pricey, but is worth it. I just got hacked off with buying 2 tripods and a monopod that didn't really do the job I wanted them to do, plus I needed a hefty tripod to take the weight of my big lens (camera + lens weighs over 3kgs!). I then went for carbon fibre as I'm a puny git, and wanted to keep the weight down! :-)
From recent experience don't bother with a cheap tripod, the first time you put a heavy lens on it, it'll wobble all over the place, or at least that's my experience. The problem I have with the one I bought is that the head, whisy being fluid filled and capable of pan and tilt is primarily made of plastic, and as such has a degree of 'give' in it. It's that 'give' that will mean you can never hold the camera completely steady.
Tim
Tim
Cheap tripods can be ok depending on what you're using them for. I used to have a Velbon and found that it wasn't stable enough for my camera. It was light and fairly compact compared to others but it wobbled which defeated the object of having it. Also found that it was useless in windy conditions. I replaced it in the end.
You'll probably find that the cheaper ones are ok for lightweight camera/lens combinations but less stable for heavy cameras. Best thing is to try it out with the same or similar camera to yours. Put the maximum size/weight of lens on it that you plan to use and give it a light tap to see how steady it is.
You'll probably find that the cheaper ones are ok for lightweight camera/lens combinations but less stable for heavy cameras. Best thing is to try it out with the same or similar camera to yours. Put the maximum size/weight of lens on it that you plan to use and give it a light tap to see how steady it is.
I think the best optioon for me is to take up Eds offer then and see how I get on.
Its my first large tripod so I guess it will be a good way to learn what I want and need in the future.
The lenses are the next purchase (they were going to be sooner but I was less flush after Xmas than I previously thought!).
Its my first large tripod so I guess it will be a good way to learn what I want and need in the future.
The lenses are the next purchase (they were going to be sooner but I was less flush after Xmas than I previously thought!).
DustyC said:
The lenses are the next purchase (they were going to be sooner but I was less flush after Xmas than I previously thought!).
IMHO a tripod is the correct next purchase after the initial camera and lens combination. You can do so much more with the additional hardware and the quality of you pictures will improve noticeably. It'll keep you amused for hours !
One thing to note about video rather than dedicated stills tripods is the mounting plate. Video plates have a small locating pin sticking up from them. Mostly the pins are sprung so that they just collapse down under your SLR body, but if you get one that sticks up permanently (or some bit of dirt causes it to stay up) then it'll dig into the body of your camera. Not nice.
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