Tripod for 100 bucks?

[SgtDisturbed]

I've been doing some searching and so far I've found a couple of very nice tripods on Adorama.com that fits my price range. One is a Tiltall tripod, with 3-way pan and a 12 Lb weight limit, there is a similar one to that by the same brand but it's a ball-type head (never used that kind before) which holds 7.7 Lbs. These two look very nice. I plan on using it for macro, portraits, landscape, and long exposure of the moon. I would think that the 3-way panning would be more accurate and steady, but as I said, I have never used a ball-type head.

My previous tripod was a Hakuba s-4500, with a supposed 15lb limit but even with my D50 and 18-70mm the head would flex and distort, making it hard to come out with level pics (I am assuming that the 15 Lb limit means that it will BREAK under 15 Lbs). That and it was very light, so even a slight breeze would cause problems. Now that I am getting a D80 (arriving Oct 12th), with an 18-70, a 70-300 VR, and a SB-600, I need a tripod that will keep things bolted down when I am working.

If you guys have any suggestions on different tripods, let me know but remember, I am strictly limited to 100 bucks.

[gryphonslair99]

For $100 you may be not be doing yourself much of a favor or upgrading from what you have. This is a good article about buying tripods. Read it first.
Tripods and Ball Heads by Thom Hogan

Now you do not have to sped what Thom Hogan has. That was not the point of the article. But you seem to be heading down the buy really cheap, doesn't preform buy a little better road.

For around $300 you can end up with a tripod/head combination that can last you for years and be something you feel comfortable in putting your equipment on. I have used both of these and they are quite dependable and popular.

Bogen / Manfrotto | 3021BPRO Tripod (Black) with 322RC2 Grip

Bogen / Manfrotto | 3021BPRO Tripod (Black) with 488RC2 Ballhead

You might want to consider doing with out for now and saving for a tripod that will last you for several years if not a lifetime. Good luck.

[jfrancho]

You really cannot go wrong with the two kits listed above. I have a 190MF4 with a 322RC2 head, and its the best $400 I've spent.

[blumesan]

Couple of years ago I bought an Amvona tripod, (amvona.com) model AT-12T along with one of their heads. Total cost about $100. The tripod itself is extremely stable, rigid, well made and HEAVY (about 7 lbs.). The weight is both a disadvantage (you don't want to carry it any distance) and an advantage (really stable even in a high wind and when mounting heavy equipment). It has a rated capacity of 13 lbs. but I am sure it would support a bit more.

Now as for the head, it was worthless. I came to the realization, as have many before me, that the stability and useability of a tripod is only as good as the head. A high quality ball was the only way to go. I eventually bought a Markins ball head. Unfortunately any high quality ball head is way outside your budget. My advice: get the Amvona tripod; it will give you the stability you are looking for. Get the simplest and cheapest head you can use and then start saving for a good ball head.

Cheers/Mike

[SgtDisturbed]

Does using a ball head give the kind of accuracy that a panning head does?

[dougsmit]

Originally Posted by SgtDisturbed

Does using a ball head give the kind of accuracy that a panning head does?

I'll agree with Mike that Amvona is a good place to look for the under $100 models but I'm more tolerant of the head I got from them. They have many models. A ball head can be very accurate if it is a good one but less so in the cheap ranges.

[jnaus]

Take a look at the Slik 700DX probably the best tripod in the $100 price range. Keep an eye out and you can find it on sale.

Slik | 700DX Pro Tripod | 615-315 | B&H Photo Video

John

[D.Rodgers]

Originally Posted by jnaus

Take a look at the Slik 700DX probably the best tripod in the $100 price range. Keep an eye out and you can find it on sale.

Slik | 700DX Pro Tripod | 615-315 | B&H Photo Video

John

That looks like a fair tripod for the money,do you know if it has a saftey lock for the quick release trigger?

[richardpcrowe]

If you continually peruse both eBay and FM; you occasionally come accross good values in used tripods. Unfortunately, eBay seems to have turned into an outlet for new Chinese manufactured merchandise than a place to find used values.

[dougsmit]

While I agree that used tripods can be a good thing, it seems often that they lose value so slowly that finding them at a good price is more a matter of chance than skill. I onw ten tripods now including one older than I am and another I bought the first year I was into photography. Well made ones last a long time. There is even a place for trashy ones. I have bought little things in yard sales for a dollar and used them for light stands for macro work. Some of the cheap Chinese models are not poorly built (others are trash). It is too bad that it is hard to tell the difference when buying online and few storefront dealers stock them.

Some will disagree but I suggest buying a cheap Chinese (Amvona) tripod if you can not see your way clear to pay the big name prices for the top brands. Only the very worst tripods will introduce more troubles than they will solve. Just avoid something so flimsy that it will break and drop your camera.

[richardpcrowe]

The Tiltall Tripod is an old warhorse that is extremely stable and not really excessively heavy. The only problem, as I see it is that you are limited to having the camera sit right on top of the tripod. This limits how low you can shoot and will often limit how close you can get the camera to the subject. The Manfrotto 3001P (as an example) has a center column which can be reversed to place the camera beneath the apex of thee tripod legs; thereby enabling you to shoot at a very low angle. Some other tripods will allow the camera to be set off at an angle to the apex; allowing you to get really close to the subject.

[20DNewbie]

Another plug for Amvona, check out their ebay store, for $100 you should be able to get a pretty rock solid set up. I just got a set of legs from them last week for $15 that supports 17.64lbs. and I'm more than happy with them.

[Sidebyte]

Originally Posted by jfrancho

You really cannot go wrong with the two kits listed above. I have a 190MF4 with a 322RC2 head, and its the best $400 I've spent.

Doesn't answer his request.....
I went out shopping for a new car and was looking for a Camaro but then I saw this Porsche 911 and bought it. I really liked it but it cost 4 times as much, best $62,000. I ever spent.

[jfrancho]

$100 will get you crap. My recommendation is to buy a better kit.

[blumesan]

I stand by my recommendation of the Amvona tripod mentioned in my earlier post. It is heavy, but it is not crap. I would pit its stability against any gitzo or manfrotto. I have had it for 3 years and it has seen a good bit of use, almost always in the field. I shows no perceptible deterioration. Maybe it will fall apart in the next 5 or 10 years; maybe not. But if you need a sturdy tripod now and your budget is limited, this is a good choice.

[jfrancho]

Then again, what do I know. Michael always says that my Manfrotto is crap, and will fall apart in less than a year. His did, but mine didn't, and I'm not real nice to my stuff. Now where is that third tripod foot? Oh yeah, its in the river. Woops!