What to look out for in getting a Tripod?


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Liangerism

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Jul 25, 2007
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sidewaysphotographique.com
Hi,

another newbie here, juz wanna know what shd i look out for in getting a tripod.
any recommendation or suggestion?

Thanks!
 

1) weight of tripod - what you can take
2) cost of tripod - how much you can pay
3) weight tripod can take - how much your equipment weighs
4) brand - linked to weight and cost, along with perceived quality

What is your budget?
 

Welcome to ClubSnap bro. Saw that this is your 1st post. :)

Need to find out what is your budget and set up. Like what bro Night86mare mentioned, those are the things you have to consider when getting a tripod.
 

i'm actually looking for something light and allows me to adjust to variable heights.
but i believe everything has a price to pay. can u tell me how much does a decent tripod cost?
 

i'm actually looking for something light and allows me to adjust to variable heights.
but i believe everything has a price to pay. can u tell me how much does a decent tripod cost?

The trouble is, definitions of "decent" vary, that is why.. It is best to tell us what your set up is, and therefore best advise you what to get.

Almost every tripod I've seen can adjust to variable heights, you see. =D
 

I just bought a SLIK tripod recently, it's less than 5kg in weight, forgot how much it can take but it's good enough to accommodate my 70-200mm len and my camera's body weight. It came with a quick releace cap, and there are two handles for the directional control.

After discount, it cost me $170. I decided to get this tripod because it's the only one that is within my shallow pocket. The sling strap cost me $29.

This is my first 'high class' tripod, so I'm still learning about tripod also, one thing for sure, it helps me to take great pictures.
 

haha... guess i've juz post a stupid question regarding the variation of heights.
alright, hmm...well, i'm currently using a nikon d80 with the zoom lens tat come with it.
in the future, i'll be getting prime lens. so i believe this zoom lens would be my heaviest lens of all in near future. and thus this will be my heaviest setup. so if i want to have something light and portable, how much u think the tripod would cost to fulfil a setup like this?
 

sorry! forgot to mention my zoom is 18-135mm. think u guys shd know how much this weights. :)

Well, it depends once again on what you feel about brands like Manfrotto, Gitzo, etc. Those are premium brands, with premium pricing.

For me, my view is that for Singapore (and I have been to a lot of funny places) you would probably not need anything too expensive, something like a Benro (sold by Jack006, if I'm not wrong, he has threads in B&S and CS, so keep a lookout) or a decent Slik would be sufficient.

My personal recommendation is Slik Sprint Pro, very light, I think slightly less than 1 kg, comes with bag too, for I think less than $100 last I checked. Others have also given good comments about the 330DX and 340DX.

If your budget is higher, of course feel free to pay more, I somehow get the idea that it is limited though, so if I'm wrong please correct me. Don't know much about Manfrotto or Gitzo, never had the money to touch those brands either.

In short, sturdiness and carrying weight are like a give-and-take thing. You want something more sturdy, you need something heavier, you want something which is lighter, then you will have to sacrifice a little bit of sturdiness. And then the third factor - price comes in. For er, exponential pricing, you will trade-off less of sturdiness versus carrying weight. =)
 

If you really are keen to get a tripod and planning to get a new one, then make atrip to Cathay Photo at Peninsula Plaza, North Bridge Road to take a look and ask for assistance there. They have a shop outlet that is specialise in tripods, they can recommend according to your requirement and budget.
 

You can try the Benro one or the one sold by PPCP. Both are pretty good. You can check out the B&S Mass Order section for more info on the tripods.
 

I just bought a SLIK tripod recently, it's less than 5kg in weight, forgot how much it can take but it's good enough to accommodate my 70-200mm len and my camera's body weight. It came with a quick releace cap, and there are two handles for the directional control.

After discount, it cost me $170. I decided to get this tripod because it's the only one that is within my shallow pocket. The sling strap cost me $29.

This is my first 'high class' tripod, so I'm still learning about tripod also, one thing for sure, it helps me to take great pictures.

I look up for the user manual for my tripod:

It's SLIK Pro 500DX
Length Folded : 695mm (27 1/3")
Max Operating Height: 1625mm (64")
Max Center Column Ext.: 265mm (10 5/12")
Weight: 2.48kg (5 lbs 8oz)

It can handle up to 6kg of camera equipment, body and len.

Hope this helps.
 

i juz wanna say i really appreciate all these suggestions and recommendations posted by you guys.

thank u, night86mare, bored dad and galdor!

i'll keep a lookout for all these models u have mentioned. i think i'll be heading down to peninsula plaza this weekend also.

once again, thank u all! :)
 

No worries bro.

If you need the specs of the tripods, you can visit the websites:

http://www.manfrotto.com/

http://www.benro.cn/

http://www.perfectpixelcameraparts.com/index.htm

http://www.slik.com/

Do check out the specs and zoom in to the ones that fit your requirement before going to the shops to enquire. That should save you some time. If you are getting the Benro or PPCP ones, there are threads in the Mass Order section you can refer to and place your order. For PPCP ones, they can be found at MSColor in AMK too. :)
 

I just bought a SLIK tripod recently, it's less than 5kg in weight, forgot how much it can take but it's good enough to accommodate my 70-200mm len and my camera's body weight. It came with a quick releace cap, and there are two handles for the directional control.

After discount, it cost me $170. I decided to get this tripod because it's the only one that is within my shallow pocket. The sling strap cost me $29.

This is my first 'high class' tripod, so I'm still learning about tripod also, one thing for sure, it helps me to take great pictures.

Is this tripod also compatible with video cams?
__________________
Hale's Twilight sucks bigtime!
 

video cam tripod have a special head that allow easy movement
while still cameras need to be kept still

and yes the video cam can be mounted on a still camera tripod head
 

well. if buying new...

i guess the best would be the weight of the tripod, the maximum load, the material of the joints (which i feel it is very important)

and of course the head.

the joints you will need to take extra look into it esp buying 2nd, who knows when u buy already, a few months later, u gotta change it because it rusted or something...

but most important of all is that you must like and love ur purchase.. no point buying something you don't like either. my 2 cnts.
 

i juz wanna say i really appreciate all these suggestions and recommendations posted by you guys.

thank u, night86mare, bored dad and galdor!

i'll keep a lookout for all these models u have mentioned. i think i'll be heading down to peninsula plaza this weekend also.

once again, thank u all! :)

hey..some1 is selling PPCP V2...

http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=299039
 

hi,

just updating u guys.

i've went down to cathay photo at peninsula plaza to check out the tripods.
and was recommended this model, manfrotto 725B (ball-head).
i liked it and bought it straight away. it costs me $160 after discount.
 

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