Tripod?

[mom0299]

I have a Nikon D3000. I'd like to get a tripod. What would you recommend and where should I buy it?

 

[Frantasmic]

http://www.wolfcamera.com/product/2...d-video;citripods-supports;citripods-complete

I love the pistol grip on this. It works great for my Canon XSi.

 

[mabas9395]

We have to know two things to properly answer your question.

1) What type of photography do you plan on doing with it?
2) What is your budget?

 

[NUguyinCrew]

I would like to know this too. I would like something fairly portable that I could take in the parks but also use for shots outside the parks (Wishes from Poly). I was thinking of the Gorilla Pod just because of its size but I am afraid it will not keep the camera still enough whether it is wrapped around something or free standing.

 

[ssanders79]

The first step is to establish your budget. There are tripods from $15 to $2500.

 

[Bstanley]

I bought my first DSLR last fall. I already owned a typical $30 Big Box store tripod and used it to get some very nice shots (especially fireworks) on a trip to WDW last December - but I noticed that it was a bit wobbly and the so-called 3-way head was a genuine joke.

So in preparation for an upcoming trip I bought a new tripod and ball head from Adorama - I'm sure B&H would also have some similar items - balancing weight versus price versus sturdiness I ended up with an aluminum version (3.75 pounds) that will support 4 times the weight of what I presently own (being hopeful and it ended up costing about $120. The new ball head is such an improvement - the quick-realease plate 'snaps' into place so easily, the camera/lens moves smoothly in any direction and stays where I leave it (when the 'drag' is set correctly), there are markings on it for shooting panoramas and levels all over the tripod and the head - yeah that's right I'm a gadget guy.

I could have got the same sturdiness with a 2 Lb version if I had picked legs that were made from carbon fiber - but it would have cost roughly twice as much. There are also ball heads made from magnesium instead of aluminum that will be lighter, smoother and longer lasting - but you guessed it - they cost significantly more. So all these factors have to be balanced.

I really recommend a tripod, whichever one best suits your needs. The best advice I got from folks here about fireworks shots was to use a tripod - not to depend on a 'Gorilla' solution.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Tripods are 'almost' like the discussions on 'which camera bag is best'. There doesn't seem to be a right answer. One for travel probably won't do for everyday (heavyduty use) and vice versa. Everything seems to be a compromise. Personally, I have three tripods. A more stable Slik that is relatively heavier than my travel tripod, Cullmann Magic 2. I really like this one because its lightweight and folds flat and is fairly stable. I just recently purchased a Gorillapod DSLR Zoom as a back up to the Cullmann for our upcoming trip to WDW. That hangs on my DW's bag. For travel, its hard to beat the Cullmann, it comes with an ok ball head and also converts to a monopod. Its 2 1/2 lbs and when folded is 13" x 5". It fits easily into a suitcase for air travel. It also serves as a stand for my external wireless flash when I am doing portrait work. It gets a workout. At $140 it doesn't break the bank.

 

[zackiedawg]

Agree with Gianna'sPapa...you need to pick based on what you'll be shooting, how much to compromise between stability and portability, and budget you're willing to spend.

I personally have been happy with my Slik Sprint Pro EZ - it's compact (19") enough to fit in Disney lockers and carry-on bags, light enough (2 1/2Lbs) to carry all day, extends enough (65") for me as a 6'1" guy to not crouch, has flip-lock legs which are my personal preference, can handle 5lbs stabily, which makes it good for my heavy Tamron 200-500 lens and camera combo, and it's solidly built with independently adjustable legs...and the budget was up my alley too, at around $100.

Some folks need more stability, more height, more compactness, less weight, like twist-lock legs, want less segmented legs, etc etc etc. Tripods can be Timex-priced or Rolex-priced, depending on all of your wants and needs.

 

[mom0299]

OK, here are some more details. I don't want to spend over $50. I would like something lightweight for travel. I plan to use it at the beach this summer to take family pictures. I will also use it to take fireworks pics of July 4th. I will proabably use it when I take pics at my kids' ball games.

 

[disneyboy2003]

OK, here are some more details. I don't want to spend over $50. I would like something lightweight for travel. I plan to use it at the beach this summer to take family pictures. I will also use it to take fireworks pics of July 4th. I will proabably use it when I take pics at my kids' ball games.

Hmmm, I could be wrong, but I don't think you'll have many choices except for 1 or 2 tripods under $50. For sure, you can head over to your local Best Buy or Walmart, and they'll have a sub-$50 tripod available.

As zackiedawg mentioned earlier, when shopping for tripods, you're basically looking to compromise among 3 important features (ie. choose any 2 of the 3):

1. price
2. weight
3. stability

For the sub-$50 tripod, you've got low price and lightweight. However, you will likely seriously sacrifice tripod stability.

There have been several recent threads about tripods, where other folks have recommended different tripods that have worked for them. Do a quick search. Sounds like you can get a pretty good tripod for about $100-$200.

 

[YesDear]

I really need to stop reading tripod threads.

So you have spent over $600 on a new DSLR and you want to trust it to a $50 tripod at the beach and for fireworks and games.

I sincerely doubt you will be happy or your camera be safe and stable with a $50 tripod. As stated earlier, stability equates to price.

I know this is the middle of the other end of the spectrum but my travel tripod and head that I trust my D300 to was almost $800. Now it is carbon fiber and weighs less than 4ilbs, but I know when it is set up it is stable. And I am using an "off" brand tripod!

Please spent some time and read some more about tripods. I have seen too many DSLR's falling to destruction on cheap unstable tripods. And that means the head as well. Nothing worse than standing next to your tripod and seeing the camera starting to slip over with a cheap head that has slipped.


Here is a great article by Tom Hogan that will get you started.

 

[boBQuincy]

I have been in a similar situation where I only had a small amount of $$$ to spend on a tripod. I bought a Slik for about $50 and while it is heavy and not the most steady it is not in any danger of dropping a dSLR with a medium size lens. The head that came with it however, is junk!
The quick release clamp is even worse and will barely hold the camera in portrait orientation. My experience is that inexpensive tripods are usually not so bad but the head/quick release that comes with them is *really* bad.

My suggestion is if you have very limited funds with which to buy a tripod (say under $100), get one that is heavy but sturdy and buy a decent ballhead to put on it. A cheap tripod with a decent head is much better than the other way around!

And hold onto the camera strap...