rcdovala

I'm glad that nobody told me this advice years ago when I was lugging a 4" X 5" view camera across the plains, meadows, and hillsides of this great country. I must have been very lucky. Oh, and all of my photo friends from that era also must have been lucky as well.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

That is a very different camera than most carried today.

And you know that.

ballsafire Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

Here is a tripod you might like:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynatran-Professional-AT-CF85-Carbon-Fiber-Tripod-Monopod-Ball-Head-Mount/183924494695?hash=item2ad2c11167:g:FiYAAOSw2MBdWxix

philo Loc: philo, ca

what ever you do be sure to purchase a remote shutter release. or use a self timer on the camera.

rcdovala

Yes, I know that. Today's cameras are much lighter and put less stress on the mounting system. As a follow-up to my initial response, I'd like to also mention that, depending on the depth of the cut of the thread the pull strength of a typical 1/4"X20 bolt is anywhere from 723 - 3460 lbs. But hey........

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

It is all the plastic that surrounds the mount. If you are using a collar on long lens, carrying it over a shoulder is less of an issue.

GLSmith Loc: Tampa, Fl

When buying a tripod, it’s similar to Ford, Chevy, Dodge...etc....
My main thing I try to remember is weight of camera body, weight
Of lens..take combined weight & double it...then look for a tripod capable
Of supporting that weight.

philo Loc: philo, ca

Of all the choices out there is ...........never waste your money on a piece of junk. Buying a tripod is a two step process. Number one is the legs and number two is the head.
A good tripod will last you for years and years. I must own at least 10 of them. I have a new one from Peak Design on order but I won't get it until December.
On my upcoming trip I will be taking my 50 year old Gitco travel tripod. It is really the only one that fits into my checking bag.
There is nothing wrong with buying a good used unit. They don't wear out.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Yes, some cameras have plastic bodies whilst others have metal bodies. That is the reason I traded my plastic bodied Sony a6000 for the magnesium bodied Sony a6300.

knoxworks Loc: Western Mass.

rskoba and mark sturtevant make good points! I don't know enough about image stabilization in cameras to say if maryo's suggestion will work. It is worth considering however. I use two Canon lenses with image stabilization but when I have the shakes -- due to medicine wearing off -- I still get photos that are not sufficiently sharp. (One lens is f 2.8 through the entire zoom range, which is 28mm to 88mm when the crop factor is taken into account.)

gene 58

I, have a road trip s it is a great tripod for the money.

BrianFlaherty Loc: Wilseyville, CA

And, if you get a tripod. .Do you chew it slowly? Or, take it down in one large gulp to stop the shaking?

========
Sorry. . It's Graham's fault. . .I was just reading a few more of his "smiles" for what ails you. . .And, I couldn't resist yanking your leg.

zensu Loc: Montgomery, AL

I have Parkinsons and got a very fine Sirui carbon fiber tripod with Sirui head for about $400, which is out of your budget. The tripod works great for my shaky hands is lightweight strong and weather/dust proof on the legs sections. Maybe you should check out ebay and maybe re-think your budget.

rb61 Loc: Maple Grove, MN

[quote=John N]
Buy a remote release for the camera.
/quote]

I find that I still need a remote release with a tripod if hand shaking is an issue. Sharpness increased dramatically in my case.

Hope something works for you.

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

Maryo, the advice here is all good for the ones giving it, but a great deal depends on what we shoot and how we shoot it. I used large format cameras for 30 years, usually with shutter speeds around 1 second, so it never occurred to me to try hand holding it (even the "hand or stand" Speed Graphic). Finally I broke down and got a Canon t4 digital, but went right on using a tripod with the lowest ISO and usually F16, depending on the lens and the desired effect.

If you are used to a tripod it is not a nuisance. I found that the slow methods of large format improved my pictures as much as the large film did. With digital we can shoot lots of pictures at minimal cost, but for most of what I shoot it is better to take my time. I carry a chair in the car so if the light is not quite right yet I sit down and wait for the light. Or come back another time. Actually, I first bought the digital just to take quick "sketches" and if I liked them, I could come back with the 5x7 or other big camera. Even so, I used a tripod with the Canon.

For years I used a really strong and stable tripod of aluminum pipe for large format (or, sometimes, 35mm)--it did not have a brand name on it. I have also used lower end tripods that did the job for me if they were strong enough. The only top-brand I have used (and still have) is a Majestic--it is cast iron, made in Chicago until quite recently (not sure now). I bought it for the 50-pound Linhof 8x10 (heavier with a mammoth lens).

Think about your own shooting. If you want to walk around shooting snapshots (which is fine), just use a fast shutter speed and high ISO, or use flash, or just any old tripod depending on the demands you have in mind for it. If the camera is heavy it still depends on light and your style(s), but normal daylight or flash will freeze motion well with any tripod, even cheap ones. But high magnification either for macro or long telephotos will be sharper with a tripod than the steadiest hand would be. If you could handhold a shot in the past, you can get really sharp with any tripod because shutter, aperture, ISO, and magnification are already good.