Do you need an expensive tripod? (Page 2): I have two '80-'90s vintage Gitzo tripods. One was new, the other used. The older style metal ones are actually not all that expensive on...

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

lianetdiaz wrote:

Hi there,

I was wondering if you need to invest on a exoensive tripod or with a regular cheap one you can do fine? I have a Proline Dolica.

Thank you

I have two '80-'90s vintage Gitzo tripods. One was new, the other used. The older style metal ones are actually not all that expensive on eBay. I have a newish Manfrotto but don't really like it so I plan to sell that one.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Whuff wrote:

My first tripod was a cheap one - about $60, thinking that a cheap one was better than not having one. It only lasted about 2 years tops and one of the legs came apart in such a way that I couldn’t get it to go back together right. I now have a great one that I paid a lot more money for. The $60 was totally wasted.

Walt

Walt, this should be kept in perspective. I fully understand your disappointment with the broken tripod. BUT did it do it’s job before it feel apart?
If it did it cost you $30 per year. You’ll have to use a $1000 RRS for 33 years to get it as low as $30 per year.
VERY good tripods can be found for much less than new if one is patient.
A $1000 Tripod is the same tripod whether you pay $500 or $100.
But shopping used is not for everyone!
SS

blackest Loc: Ireland

SharpShooter wrote:

Walt, this should be kept in perspective. I fully understand your disappointment with the broken tripod. BUT did it do it’s job before it feel apart?
If it did it cost you $30 per year. You’ll have to use a $1000 RRS for 33 years to get it as low as $30 per year.
VERY good tripods can be found for much less than new if one is patient.
A $1000 Tripod is the same tripod whether you pay $500 or $100.
But shopping used is not for everyone!
SS

So would a RRS tripod last 33 years? I'm not convinced I will :)

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

blackest wrote:

So would a RRS tripod last 33 years? I'm not convinced I will :)

If not abused, I see no reason it wouldn’t. It is beautifully engineered, with top grade materials. Curious as to what makes you think differently. ?

coj Loc: NJ, USA

A good tripod costs good money, and it is money well spent. I just went through this process a few months ago. Ask yourself a few questions....will it stay in the back yard or do I want to walk through a state park or a woods with it. Will you ever take it on a plane? Will you ever buy big lenses or heavier equipment? How tall are you? Many tripods do not reach 6' 2", for example. Buy a tripod for the future, not the present. Do I want it to last for the next 15 - 20 years? What is my budget? As I found out, getting the quality and purpose you want may make your budget larger. These are some links I found helpful when I looked at tripods. The RRS equipment is top of the line, just read it. The last article seems a bit pompous, but it is 100% accurate. Other posters have mentioned various excellent manufacturers. For my purposes I wound up with a Gitzo traveler. I can carry it in one hand for hours on end, it fits in a travel carry on bag, and it is as sturdy as any aluminum monstrosity, including my Bogen that will be for my home shooting purposes. Good luck!!

http://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/choosing-a-tripod-part-1/
http://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/choosing-a-tripod-part-2/
http://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/choosing-a-tripod-part-3/
http://www.bythom.com/support.htm

coj Loc: NJ, USA

Sorry, this was a dup. post.

blackest Loc: Ireland

Photographer Jim wrote:

If not abused, I see no reason it wouldn’t. It is beautifully engineered, with top grade materials. Curious as to what makes you think differently. ?

I was less thinking of the tripod and more my own mortality :)

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

blackest wrote:

I was less thinking of the tripod and more my own mortality :)

At my age I can relate.

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

SharpShooter wrote:

Walt, this should be kept in perspective. I fully understand your disappointment with the broken tripod. BUT did it do it’s job before it feel apart?
If it did it cost you $30 per year. You’ll have to use a $1000 RRS for 33 years to get it as low as $30 per year.
VERY good tripods can be found for much less than new if one is patient.
A $1000 Tripod is the same tripod whether you pay $500 or $100.
But shopping used is not for everyone!
SS

On the other hand, if I had bought the better tripod in the first place that $60 would have gone towards the better one and I would have had a better tripod 2 years sooner.

Walt

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

lianetdiaz wrote:

Hi there,

I was wondering if you need to invest on a exoensive tripod or with a regular cheap one you can do fine? I have a Proline Dolica.

Thank you

Bottom line is, how much do your care about your camera and lenses?

blackest Loc: Ireland

via the lens wrote:

Bottom line is, how much do your care about your camera and lenses?

is it?

Isn't it more how stable a platform do you need? The longer the lens you are using the more movement becomes an issue. one useful option I have is a 200mm Arca Swiss plate which takes another arca swiss plate, not expensive but it does allow me to balance my camera and lens on top of the ball head. That helps a lot.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

coj wrote:

A good tripod costs good money, and it is money well spent.

Not necessarily.
For example, if one uses the tripod but once or twice a year and never for anything of real importance, an inexpensive tripod may be a more sensible choice than a more expensive, better tripod.
And in my case, I never use my tripod outdoors, only indoors on occasion. Because of this, I don't need a tripod that can take rough handling and withstand exposure to harsh weather, because my tripod never gets handled roughly nor is it ever exposed to outdoor weather.

CO

Try to purchase a carbon fiber tripod. Carbon fiber dampens vibration much better than aluminum. I've read reviews that did vibration testing of carbon fiber and aluminum versions of the same tripod. The carbon fiber version of the tripod stops vibrating in about 1/5 the time of the aluminum version. You can notice the difference just by tapping on the legs of tripods. The aluminum continues to vibrate longer than carbon fiber. They're lighter as well.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

I started out with a cheap Vanguard, all the leg clamps cracked.i now have a Slick and a tilt pan head for about $200.00 and an satisfied. as I never fully extend the legs, I have a lot of wiggle room. your needs may be different than mine, so I leave you to make your own choice.

blackest Loc: Ireland

bull drink water wrote:

I started out with a cheap Vanguard, all the leg clamps cracked.i now have a Slick and a tilt pan head for about $200.00 and an satisfied. as I never fully extend the legs, I have a lot of wiggle room. your needs may be different than mine, so I leave you to make your own choice.

Very fair point, stability is better when you don't go for maximum height. Which is a problem with many cheap tripods they don't extend high enough.