Camera Tripods

[Cyrano]

I have a Tiltall original tripod, about 10 years old. The arrangement that locks the extended legs in position is broken on one of the legs.

Tiltall does not repair this model tripod, their advice is to get a beat up one on Amazon, cannibalize the parts you need and part out the rest. They've lost my business.

Anyone have recommendations on a fairly sturdy tripod?

 

[Watchdog]

Anyone have recommendations on a fairly sturdy tripod?

I think I'd need to know what kind of camera (size and weight) you're using, and what sort of use the tripod would see, before I could make a real recommendation. And would you need a new head?

I use a sort of vintage Manfrotto (Bogen) 3036 with a Manfrotto 3030 head. Bought it used back around 2002, I think. It's extremely sturdy, strong enough to hold large format film cameras steady. The illustration of it in the above link really doesn't show how sturdy and thick it is. Mine isn't black, either. It's also heavy, but I do lug it around on location shoots. Carried it for a few miles back in the winter doing night photography of the city.

I also use an old Majestic, too, but it isn't something you're gonna carry around. I could probably use it to jack up my truck.

I mean, you can't go wrong with Bogen...just depends on how much you want to spend, I guess.

 

[snubbyfan]

I use a Bilora 810 fluid head tripod.
Seems like I've had it forever.
I used to use it to support one of those camcorders that used a full size VHS tape.
Now it's used to support a dinky little digital camcorder.
Don't know if it's made any more.

 

[Bill Bates]

Buy a Gitzo Mountaineer Carbon. If you do much photography or video work sooner or later you end up with a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and it will be the last tripod you ever buy. I've been using Gitzo tripods for years, there is none better.

Beginner photographers talk about cameras, advanced photographers talk about lenses, pros talk about lights and tripods.

 

[Cyrano]

OK, added info. I mount a Canon 70D on it, and also a 20X spotting
scope so I don't need something you might find in a TV studio. I lug it around some: out to the range for spotting and back for taking gun pictures. I think I'd need a new head, too; it doesn't look like the head on the Tiltall comes off.

 

[coltle6920]

I bought a "Dynex" from BestBuy for $19.99. It goes from 22" up to 58".They have more expensive ones but this one is made very well.

Holds almost 8lbs...fully adjustable...Can tilt in any direction...Compatible with most cameras.

I take it with me shooting.Use it for either my camera or spotting scope.

Cheap enough to buy a couple.

 

[jimbo728]

My old Slik holds my 4" Maksutov spotter and my Chrony F1.
If you can find one, grab it. It saw service lots in my 35mm days too.
Jim

 

[Bill Bates]

For cameras other than big cameras with big glass I prefer ball heads. Mine are Manfrotto Hydro statics. For big glass gamble heads are the only way to go. I like Wimberley Gimbles but there are others that work well.

For a spotting scope a pan head will do the job. Fluid heads are the cats meow.

You can use a ball head with a scope but it is bit of a pain and you can use a pan head with camera but is isn't ideal.

I'll still recommend Gitzo carbon fiber tripods. They are super sturdy, dead stable and light. Light is nice if you ever wander into the back country. If you like sharp photos sturdy and stable are a must.

Here is photo of the perfect setup for wildlife photography. Gitzo tripod with a Wimberley gimble head and a Canon DSLR with a Canon 500mm f/4 L IS lens.

 

[vt_shooter]

You truly can spend anywhere between $25 and $1,400 for a tripod with a head of some sort. 'All depends on where you are in photography. You're not at the expensive end or you wouldn't be asking, so I'd pick a number for what you're willing to spend and then check the reviews on tripods around that price at Amazon.

 

[Cpo1944]

The above recommendations are very good and the equipment is outstanding, but if your a" tightwad" like me , you might want to look at a ; Dynatran model AT-828BL from Amvona.com I have one and it has been excellent and I`m very pleased with it. I have a Vanguard BBH-200 head and it is great. I use a Nikon D-800 with lots of lenses some quite heavy IE Nikon 300 mm F:4 and it holds them all nice and steady. This shot was with the 300 mm off of the tripod.

 

[quinn]

Have yu been to a flea market lately? It seems as if camera tripods are out of fashion given cell phone capability. I've recently picked up several nice tripods for almost no $. Not paying much attention to brand...just construction. I've seen stuff ranging from studio dolly to ultra light back pack versions. Until you get into fluid heads, etc. it seems nothing cost more than 10 or 15. I did see a really nice, commercial grade, fluid head for about 25. JMHO

 

[H Richard]

I always had good luck with Bogen, and they have enough different models to suit just about weight and configuration. They are mid priced, so unless you have some specific needs they should be able to accommodate.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I use a Manfrotto 055XPROB for all of my personal and professional work. It's currently paired with a Pentax K3, or occasionally a Pentax K5. I have found it easy to use and quite sturdy. This is an aluminum-legged type, not as light as some, but it always gets the job done admirably. The extension releases can be adjusted for tightness with a supplied hex key.

John

 

[PatriotX]

I second Bogen as my fave. The lightweight tripods are of good quality, and the heavy-duty options, such as the one used with my view camera, are nigh indestructible.

 

[cmort666]

I've got two, a crappy Sunpak I got from Target(?) and a ProMaster I got from Dodd Camera.

The Sunpak is the typical cheap tripod that all of the low end companies make or rebrand, with the collar for the center column attacked to the legs. It has the typical cheap pan and tilt head. As per SOP, the head has various minor issues, in particular, the non-removable mounting platform, failing to lock in position. I bought it when my older, similar (but more versatile) tripod went MIA. I'm into macro-photography, so needless to say, it's largely inadequate for that. The center column isn't INTENDED to be reversible, making it hard to shoot straight down. I actually made a conversion kit using threaded rod, threaded couplers, and PVC pipe. That tripod gets used only rarely now.

The ProMaster is their budget model. It has a ball head and a reversible center column. I use it mostly for macro work, although I do take it outside sometimes. It has removable mounting plates for different cameras, although it only came with one.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

TRIPODS

I have a Tiltall original tripod, about 10 years old. The arrangement that locks the extended legs in position is broken on one of the legs.

Tiltall does not repair this model tripod, their advice is to get a beat up one on Amazon, cannibalize the parts you need and part out the rest. They've lost my business.

Anyone have recommendations on a fairly sturdy tripod?

Yes, you need one to hold your heaviest camera & lens. Cheap is just going to let you down when it REALLY counts. 'REALLY RIGHT STUFF' ia all made in the USA, right down to the last screw. You get what you pay for, pay cheap, you get cheap. In the case of RRS, you get more than you pay for. Carbon fuber is the answer here.

 

[anoblefox]

Gitzo carbon fiber, pricy but the last one you will buy