Tripod & ball head: I'm shopping for a decent mid-price (under $200) tripod and ball head. I'd like to get something that can handle a full frame camera and zoom lens (18-300). I've...

beng69

I'm shopping for a decent mid-price (under $200) tripod and ball head. I'd like to get something that can handle a full frame camera and zoom lens (18-300). I've read reviews of Vanguard, Pro Master, Mefoto, Zomei and several others on Amazon. Most get many good reviews and a few terrible ones. Can anyone recommend something that's a good value and won't break easily? A friend gave me an Xit. It broke the second time I used it.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

By best ball head is a Sirui K20X and so far it has handled anything I can throw at it and it fits in your budget. They have larger ball heads if you need to go bigger.

https://www.amazon.com/Sirui-K-20X-Ball-Head/dp/B004QC3COO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1479135756&sr=1-1&keywords=sirui+k20x

SteveLew Loc: Sugar Land, TX

To be honest you have trouble buying a "decent" tripod and ball head for $200. You can buy a light weight good tripod for $200, however, with a decent ball head to would add to the $200. The conventional wisdom is to buy a tripod and ball head either as a unit or separately that is good quality and would last you a long time. Often people buy low and find that they want something to support extra weight and then buy another tripod and ball head. For about $330 you can buy a tripod and ball head that would last you a long time and in the long run may save you countless dollars later. I recommend that you look at the Induro line of tripods and ball heads. Good luck.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

WayneT wrote:

By best ball head is a Sirui K20X and so far it has handled anything I can throw at it and it fits in your budget. They have larger ball heads if you need to go bigger.

https://www.amazon.com/Sirui-K-20X-Ball-Head/dp/B004QC3COO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1479135756&sr=1-1&keywords=sirui+k20x

I have to agree, ball heads from Sirui are decent heads. I would not put them in the same class as the top notch heads, but they are worth their money.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

beng69 wrote:

I'm shopping for a decent mid-price (under $200) tripod and ball head. I'd like to get something that can handle a full frame camera and zoom lens (18-300). I've read reviews of Vanguard, Pro Master, Mefoto, Zomei and several others on Amazon. Most get many good reviews and a few terrible ones. Can anyone recommend something that's a good value and won't break easily? A friend gave me an Xit. It broke the second time I used it.

I use two. For my heavy duty applications I have an Arca Swiss Z1, which costs about $375. For backpacking and on a lighter tripod I use a Sirui K30X which I bought for $142. It is noticeably better than the K20X, but a little heavier. It is the biggest head that I could get that allowed me to fold the legs on the tripod "over the top" to minimize the folded length without having to remove the head.

The Arca is a great ball head. Without torquing it down, it easily locks and doesn't move. If you dial back the tension just a bit, you can get it to move when you push it, and stop when you let it go. It is the only ball head I know of that uses an elliptical ball, which, by design, increases the friction as it approaches the point where the stem comes in contact with the edge of the ball socket. So if you let the lens/camera go it will slow down. But the biggest difference between the two is the smoothness of motion with the Arca, though I must say for a third of the price the Sirui is pretty good, and decently smooth as well.

rdubreuil Loc: Dummer, NH USA

Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB w/ BH100 ball head is currently running about $149. Have used one for years and have had no problems.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I have an almost new Sirui K40x ball head that I would sell for $150. It is their strongest ball head. Very cheap tripods I would not recommend. Especially if you are putting good and valuable equipment on it.

Best,
Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

beng69 wrote:

I'm shopping for a decent mid-price (under $200) tripod and ball head. I'd like to get something that can handle a full frame camera and zoom lens (18-300). I've read reviews of Vanguard, Pro Master, Mefoto, Zomei and several others on Amazon. Most get many good reviews and a few terrible ones. Can anyone recommend something that's a good value and won't break easily? A friend gave me an Xit. It broke the second time I used it.

One thing you could do, is go to websites like B&H or Adorama, and look at what they offer in their Used department. These are what I call trusted vendors, you can purchase something knowing that it has not been misrepresented as to condition. This might make it possible to get what you need for a better price. The only problem with this is that they do not always have what you want, the inventory changes regularly, so it is necessary to keep checking back.

With a full-frame camera and a long zoom lens, you need a head that will not slip under the weight. My first tripod's head had that problem, and although the tripod itself was sturdy, it still transferred vibrations. Get the best you can afford, do your research and decide which ones will hold up under the use you will give it. Then take your gear, go out and have fun!

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

beng69 wrote:

I'm shopping for a decent mid-price (under $200) tripod and ball head. I'd like to get something that can handle a full frame camera and zoom lens (18-300). I've read reviews of Vanguard, Pro Master, Mefoto, Zomei and several others on Amazon. Most get many good reviews and a few terrible ones. Can anyone recommend something that's a good value and won't break easily? A friend gave me an Xit. It broke the second time I used it.

If such a thing existed there would be a line around the world to buy it. Long story-short: NO SUCH THING! Do you own a "decent mid-priced (under $200) camera? You will buy several of these non-existing items or you can "save" money and buy correctly the first time. Tripods and heads are the "necessary evils" of photography. Buy cheap-buy often. That is just a fact of life. Try calling MTShooter at the Camera Cottage in Billings, MT. Well with your time and effort.

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

Where are you located. I have a Vanguard carbon tripod and Manfrotto 486 ballhead that is "surplus". And within your budget. Excellent condition but my wife switched to a travel tripod that fits in her carry on.

Mundj Loc: Richmond TX

I have a Vanguard Altra Pro with Manfrotto ball head. It is very versatile and has given good service. My mistake though was the Manfrotto ball head with their quick release system. There is no visible feed back of a proper connection. I strongly suggest an Acra-Swiss type connection. I have discovered several favorable reviews for the Mefoto tripods and will be purchasing one for our planned upcoming overseas trip. You might want to check their site, http://www.mefoto.com/. Their offering allows you to convert the tripod to a monopod.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

beng69 wrote:

I'm shopping for a decent mid-price (under $200) tripod and ball head. I'd like to get something that can handle a full frame camera and zoom lens (18-300). I've read reviews of Vanguard, Pro Master, Mefoto, Zomei and several others on Amazon. Most get many good reviews and a few terrible ones. Can anyone recommend something that's a good value and won't break easily? A friend gave me an Xit. It broke the second time I used it.

Slik pro 700 DX tripod for inexpensiveness. For ball heads, I like the Manfro grip action #222 or #322 for small to medium size combos - but that is just me. For heavier stuff with a tripod collar, I like pan/tilt video fluid heads.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

beng69 wrote:

I'm shopping for a decent mid-price (under $200) tripod and ball head. I'd like to get something that can handle a full frame camera and zoom lens (18-300). I've read reviews of Vanguard, Pro Master, Mefoto, Zomei and several others on Amazon. Most get many good reviews and a few terrible ones. Can anyone recommend something that's a good value and won't break easily? A friend gave me an Xit. It broke the second time I used it.

One of the best things you can do is mount a plate on the camera that allows the balance point of the camera/lens combo to move forward over the pivot point of your head - this is called keeping the combo IN BALANCE and makes for easier/smoother/quicker adjustments.

Bob Boner

My advice for buying a tripod is that you try to anticipate future needs. I learned this the hard way, buying tripods that were insufficient for lenses that I bought later.You will end up spending less money this way and have only one or two tripods and heads that you really use. In any case, I recommend that you buy something slightly stronger than you think you need. Nothing is more frustrating than having a tripod that isn't steady and/or won't raise high enough.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

imagemeister wrote:

One of the best things you can do is mount a plate on the camera that allows the balance point of the camera/lens combo to move forward over the pivot point of your head - this is called keeping the combo IN BALANCE and makes for easier/smoother/quicker adjustments.

This is with special regard to lenses WITHOUT a tripod collar - like the 18-300's and similar ....