Tripod suggestions: I need a new tripod and have checked the history here. Still confused as to which one to buy. I will be using it in sand and inside as well with a d7100 and 24-70mm...

gmccaleb Loc: East KY / South AL

I need a new tripod and have checked the history here. Still confused as to which one to buy. I will be using it in sand and inside as well with a d7100 and 24-70mm lens and flash. I would like to keep the price at $300 or less and would like one that is light weight also. Recommendations ??? Also, where's best to buy?

TIA

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

gmccaleb wrote:

I need a new tripod and have checked the history here. Still confused as to which one to buy. I will be using it in sand and inside as well with a d7100 and 24-70mm lens and flash. I would like to keep the price at $300 or less and would like one that is light weight also. Recommendations ??? Also, where's best to buy?

TIA

Purchasing any tripod forces you to evaluate the three main criteria:
Weight
Price
Stability

Pick two! Nothing on the market will fulfill all three requirements, many have tried and spent LOTS of dollars upgrading. I suggest saving your nickels until you can afford exactly what you need, it may not take all that long.
Good luck.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

gmccaleb wrote:

I need a new tripod and have checked the history here. Still confused as to which one to buy. I will be using it in sand and inside as well with a d7100 and 24-70mm lens and flash. I would like to keep the price at $300 or less and would like one that is light weight also. Recommendations ??? Also, where's best to buy?

TIA

Manfrotto 055XPROB with Oben BA-1 Head here :thumbup:

CO

If you can go just a little over $300 you can get a Manfrotto 055CX3 carbon fiber tripod. B&H has it for $329 right now. I've had that tripod for a few years and like it a lot. The carbon fiber makes it light weight and it's very rigid. You would still need to get a tripod head for it so I don't know if that would put it over your limit.

crimesc324 Loc: West Palm Beach, Florida

gmccaleb wrote:

I need a new tripod and have checked the history here. Still confused as to which one to buy. I will be using it in sand and inside as well with a d7100 and 24-70mm lens and flash. I would like to keep the price at $300 or less and would like one that is light weight also. Recommendations ??? Also, where's best to buy?

TIA

Not an answer to your question but another suggestion is,
When using it in sand, snow or soft/muddy soils, take 3 CD's and put one under each foot to distribute weight and help prevent the tripod from sinking into the sand, etc

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

MT Shooter wrote:

Purchasing any tripod forces you to evaluate the three main criteria:
Weight
Price
Stability

Pick two! Nothing on the market will fulfill all three requirements, many have tried and spent LOTS of dollars upgrading. I suggest saving your nickels until you can afford exactly what you need, it may not take all that long.
Good luck.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

dannac Loc: 60 miles SW of New Orleans

Though not as light weight as carbon fiber, I am very satisfied with my Induro.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/655224-REG/Induro_472_313_Alloy_8M_AT313_Tripod.html

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Do a lot of research before you buy. There are many, many options with legs, heads and release systems.

gmccaleb Loc: East KY / South AL

Thank you, all for your suggestions. Looks like another one of those things I'll have to spend some time researching.

razman5212

Check the Mefoto tripod. I just dragged this around New England and Canada. Light and easy set up. I linked you to the Carbon ones ($369) but they have in Titanium ($200).

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=mefoto+carbon&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

twowindsbear

Get 1 tall enough so ya don't have to 'hunker over' to see your camera's view finder and strong enough to securly hold the next camera you want.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

crimesc324 wrote:

Not an answer to your question but another suggestion is,
When using it in sand, snow or soft/muddy soils, take 3 CD's and put one under each foot to distribute weight and help prevent the tripod from sinking into the sand, etc

Or, use 3 plastic Coffee Can lids- anything to increase the surface area the legs stand on in the soft surface.

gmccaleb Loc: East KY / South AL

romanticf16 wrote:

Or, use 3 plastic Coffee Can lids- anything to increase the surface area the legs stand on in the soft surface.

These are such good suggestions! I never thought of that and would just try to push the legs down to find a solid footing. I'll be packing something for a sold surface for sure. Just as soon as I determine what and where to buy!

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

gmccaleb wrote:

I need a new tripod and have checked the history here. Still confused as to which one to buy. I will be using it in sand and inside as well with a d7100 and 24-70mm lens and flash. I would like to keep the price at $300 or less and would like one that is light weight also. Recommendations ??? Also, where's best to buy?

TIA

Until you learn enough about tripods to make a valid decision you might consider getting a monopod. It does much of what a tripod does for lots less money. It is lighter, much more maneuverable, and far less expensive. A monopod needs no fancy ball-head or gimble, just a pivot head. Aluminum or fiber, they are very light and will allow you to see what tripod shooting is like. If your ceiling is $300.00 usd you will need to replace a tripod every few years. A $300.00 tripod will not last very long, nor give you the freedom you want. Tripods are one of the "bottomless pits" of photography: buy cheap-buy often. Buy good-buy once! This is also true in life.