What tripod under $200

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Stan

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#1222143 25-Jan-2015 23:03

BigHammer: Will see how pricing goes with the Manfrotto. If there's not much in it I'll go local. At least I won't have to wait as long for delivery ;-)

(I'm looking at Manfrotto based on online comments, not spoken to anyone personally)

Just so you know there is normally a fair amount of retailer markup on tripods

I would suggest the compact action should be able to be had for 110ish and the compact advance for maybe 150ish

The reason I want the advance is that it can hold 3kg as opposed to 1.5kg my camera with no lens weighs in at around 850g

Stu

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#1222147 25-Jan-2015 23:21

I've found many (maybe most, but not all) non-electronic items/accessories seem to have pretty good markups. It's often just a matter of finding the right sales person able to sharpen the pencil enough!

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TLD

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#1222198 26-Jan-2015 05:45

Not sure about the price, but the cheaper Manfrotto carbon fibre tripods are remarkably stiff for their size and weight. A lot stiffer than comparable aluminum camera support systems.

There's an adage that most photographers work through several tripods before accepting that you have to spend serious money to get a really effective tripod. I kind of followed this route in that I have a lot of tripods, but they are, for the most part, horses for courses. My stills tripod is an 055CXPRO3 CF which cost me about $650, but when I got these legs, I discovered that the head became the weak link, and had to add a Hydrostatic head for another chunk of money, (an unfortunately, more weight). I still don't think this completely secure. In fact some of the sharpest pictures I've taken where with the camera supported on brick and stone walls.

When the 2011 PSNZ National was held at North Shore, one of the trade stands had a Canon 500mm lens mounted on a high end tripod (but not a gimbal head). This was on the first floor of the stadium/convention center which was not as stiff as a ground floor. Looking through the camera and lens it was surprising how much shake there was from people just walking past. If you stamped your foot even fairly lightly, the image would jump alarmingly! I suspect no tripod could have fixed this completely because of the suspended floor, but I think a gimbal head and better legs would have made things a lot better.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

Stu

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#1222238 26-Jan-2015 09:15

TLD: Not sure about the price, but the cheaper Manfrotto carbon fibre tripods are remarkably stiff for their size and weight. A lot stiffer than comparable aluminum camera support systems.

There's an adage that most photographers work through several tripods before accepting that you have to spend serious money to get a really effective tripod.

Because I'm only playing with a bridge camera (but still want some stability), I think the cheaper Manfrotto will probably do the trick. I'll worry about the really good stuff if I geta serious camer. Cheers!

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Stan

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#1222639 26-Jan-2015 18:47

TLD: Not sure about the price, but the cheaper Manfrotto carbon fibre tripods are remarkably stiff for their size and weight. A lot stiffer than comparable aluminum camera support systems.

There's an adage that most photographers work through several tripods before accepting that you have to spend serious money to get a really effective tripod. I kind of followed this route in that I have a lot of tripods, but they are, for the most part, horses for courses. My stills tripod is an 055CXPRO3 CF which cost me about $650, but when I got these legs, I discovered that the head became the weak link, and had to add a Hydrostatic head for another chunk of money, (an unfortunately, more weight). I still don't think this completely secure. In fact some of the sharpest pictures I've taken where with the camera supported on brick and stone walls.

When the 2011 PSNZ National was held at North Shore, one of the trade stands had a Canon 500mm lens mounted on a high end tripod (but not a gimbal head). This was on the first floor of the stadium/convention center which was not as stiff as a ground floor. Looking through the camera and lens it was surprising how much shake there was from people just walking past. If you stamped your foot even fairly lightly, the image would jump alarmingly! I suspect no tripod could have fixed this completely because of the suspended floor, but I think a gimbal head and better legs would have made things a lot better.

I am using a very short lens (24mm) on this in the middle of nowhere so vibration should not be an issue.

For my use I can not accept that every tripod under $700 is rubbish

Stu

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#1223273 27-Jan-2015 13:59

Have secured a Manfrotto Compact Advanced.

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Fred99

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#1223444 27-Jan-2015 18:46

I have a cheap CF Chinese made tripod with Chinese ball-head. The tripod was a knock-off of a Manfrotto - they got almost everything right except where the mount fits in to the tube, it was loose - completely defeating the purpose of the thing.
This is the main issue I have with Chinese cheap products - made by people who can't afford/don't use the things they're making. They get everything so close, then because nobody actually knows how to use the product - miss out on some fundamental property. However, it was reasonably easy to fix this by drilling, inserting SS pins, epoxy resin etc. The cheap chinese ball-heads seem fine. It's very light and strong - but stable now.
Ergonomics are important. I like lever-lock legs - you can rotate the tripod in one hand while releasing the locks quickly with one hand, extend then close the locks. Longest lens I use is 200mm with tripod mount - it's fine. For twitchers etc with long lenses, then it's another story, heavy, solid, gimbal head etc seem to be the wtg.

Zippity

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#1223452 27-Jan-2015 18:56

Try a Benro

Stan

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#1223471 27-Jan-2015 19:20

BigHammer: Have secured a Manfrotto Compact Advanced.

Be good to see a review when you get it :)

Stu

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#1232035 5-Feb-2015 22:33

My tripod has finally arrived. Only had a quick look at it so far and it seems like it will do the job (for me, at least) quite nicely. Will hopefully have a chance to use it this weekend.

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Stan

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#1232042 5-Feb-2015 22:59

BigHammer: My tripod has finally arrived. Only had a quick look at it so far and it seems like it will do the job (for me, at least) quite nicely. Will hopefully have a chance to use it this weekend.

Got mine too first impression are its really light seems to hold my d610 much better than my cheap tripod :)

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

dman

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#1233554 9-Feb-2015 16:20

This guy does wonderful reviews:

https://www.youtube.com/user/NitsanPictures/search?query=tripod

Personally I have and love a Beike BK-777

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KLfE0FBCag

https://www.youtube.com/c/SoundSpeeding

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