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Cost Effective Tripods with Heads
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Dec 29, 2016 22:34:43   #
bkellyusa Loc: Nashville, TN
 
If you can't afford more for a new one I would definitely consider a higher quality used unit rather than a new entry level model.

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Dec 29, 2016 23:22:02   #
TucsonDave Loc: Tucson, Arizona
 
I have gone through a ton of tripods and ball heads this past week, both in person and on line. I ended up purchasing a Benro TMA38CLV3 Series 3 Mach3 Carbon Fiber Tripod with V3 Ball Head from B&H for use with my Nikon D5300 and 18-300 mm Nikkor lens. Holiday special for $349. It is very sturdy, has enough height to match my over 6 feet height and is very easy to set up. I also tried the Vanguard 263 with the STBH 250 ball head. Versatile tripod but seemed a little light and based on the consistent advice to by more than I need now, I stepped up my budget and did just that. Thanks to everyone for their input.

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Dec 30, 2016 05:42:42   #
bkellyusa Loc: Nashville, TN
 
I looked at it close. It's very nice. It has the three detents to set the legs up at different angles which is the fist feature to be removed from less expensive units. You won't be disappointed and you will have it for years.

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Dec 30, 2016 07:10:16   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
TucsonDave wrote:
I have gone through a ton of tripods and ball heads this past week, both in person and on line. I ended up purchasing a Benro TMA38CLV3 Series 3 Mach3 Carbon Fiber Tripod with V3 Ball Head from B&H for use with my Nikon D5300 and 18-300 mm Nikkor lens. Holiday special for $349. It is very sturdy, has enough height to match my over 6 feet height and is very easy to set up. I also tried the Vanguard 263 with the STBH 250 ball head. Versatile tripod but seemed a little light and based on the consistent advice to by more than I need now, I stepped up my budget and did just that. Thanks to everyone for their input.
I have gone through a ton of tripods and ball head... (show quote)


Good choice!

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Dec 30, 2016 07:11:23   #
DaveO Loc: Northeast CT
 
Gene51 wrote:
Good choice!


Oh,what do you know??

Good morning.Gene!

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Dec 31, 2016 14:19:26   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
DaveO wrote:
Oh,what do you know??

Good morning.Gene!


Good morning, Dave!

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Jan 2, 2017 16:31:27   #
mzee
 
First, I recently discovered this site and am very excited about the information shared. I feel like I learn something new with each visit. Like the original poster I also purchased a Nikon D5300 last year along with their 18-140mm and 35mm lenses. I am 5' 8" tall. I don't have the option to try out a wide variety of tripods first hand and I am looking for something that I can travel by plane with. Before finding this site I was looking at reviews of the 'best' tripods in general and for travel on thewirecutter.com. Their recommendation for travel is a Mefoto Roadtrip that folds down to 15" or so and weighs 3.6 pounds. Without ever seeing it the Roadtrip seemed a little spindly to me and some reviews I've read confirm this. I had been thinking of moving up to their Globetrotter for extra stability then discovered uglyhedgehog. The Benro TMA38CLV3 on this thread seems to have a lot going for it, however its folded length is listed as 27.4"...almost as tall as my tallest luggage! I realize size was not of the the original posters requirements. So how do people travel with a stable tripod? I've read carry on is hit or miss and the Benro might not even fit in my checked bag. If possible I'd like to have only one tripod. Thanks...

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Jan 2, 2017 16:41:42   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
mzee wrote:
First, I recently discovered this site and am very excited about the information shared. I feel like I learn something new with each visit. Like the original poster I also purchased a Nikon D5300 last year along with their 18-140mm and 35mm lenses. I am 5' 8" tall. I don't have the option to try out a wide variety of tripods first hand and I am looking for something that I can travel by plane with. Before finding this site I was looking at reviews of the 'best' tripods in general and for travel on thewirecutter.com. Their recommendation for travel is a Mefoto Roadtrip that folds down to 15" or so and weighs 3.6 pounds. Without ever seeing it the Roadtrip seemed a little spindly to me and some reviews I've read confirm this. I had been thinking of moving up to their Globetrotter for extra stability then discovered uglyhedgehog. The Benro TMA38CLV3 on this thread seems to have a lot going for it, however its folded length is listed as 27.4"...almost as tall as my tallest luggage! I realize size was not of the the original posters requirements. So how do people travel with a stable tripod? I've read carry on is hit or miss and the Benro might not even fit in my checked bag. If possible I'd like to have only one tripod. Thanks...
First, I recently discovered this site and am very... (show quote)


You must first realize a travel tripod comes with severe compromises - so your stability threshold must be lowered ! I would hate to have a travel tripod be my only one ! Finding the most stable travel tripod will be a challenge.

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Jan 2, 2017 16:54:08   #
DaveO Loc: Northeast CT
 
Measure the diagonal distance inside the suitcase you would be using. You can remove the head from the tripod for packing. I place mine diagonally and then pack around it.

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Jan 2, 2017 17:05:15   #
davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel
 
Haydon wrote:
I thankfully have missed Gene's "Sword of Damocles". I've been using a Gitzo 3530LS, a Markins Q20 and a Wimberley WH-200 for almost 6 years. Although, I'm guilty of buying junk when I first started out


Haydon, don't feel like the Lone Ranger about junk tripods. Who among us hasn't spend good money on bad when this subject comes around. Gitzo, RRS, Nest, and a small group of others are names we see from serious shooters who made the mistake of buying low cost tripods initially. Many of us learned our lessons on them. The brands that gave us our lessons are all too well known. Buy cheap, buy often applies to tripods and heads more than any other product in photography. It is also a lesson most learn there hard way.

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Jan 2, 2017 18:15:39   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
mzee wrote:
First, I recently discovered this site and am very excited about the information shared. I feel like I learn something new with each visit. Like the original poster I also purchased a Nikon D5300 last year along with their 18-140mm and 35mm lenses. I am 5' 8" tall. I don't have the option to try out a wide variety of tripods first hand and I am looking for something that I can travel by plane with. Before finding this site I was looking at reviews of the 'best' tripods in general and for travel on thewirecutter.com. Their recommendation for travel is a Mefoto Roadtrip that folds down to 15" or so and weighs 3.6 pounds. Without ever seeing it the Roadtrip seemed a little spindly to me and some reviews I've read confirm this. I had been thinking of moving up to their Globetrotter for extra stability then discovered uglyhedgehog. The Benro TMA38CLV3 on this thread seems to have a lot going for it, however its folded length is listed as 27.4"...almost as tall as my tallest luggage! I realize size was not of the the original posters requirements. So how do people travel with a stable tripod? I've read carry on is hit or miss and the Benro might not even fit in my checked bag. If possible I'd like to have only one tripod. Thanks...
First, I recently discovered this site and am very... (show quote)


I use a Feisol CT-3442 for travel - it is 18.5" long and easily fits in my carryon bag, without removing the head - the legs fold 180 degrees to minimize the folded length. Not that it matters, but it's the only 2.3 lb set of legs that is rated to safely hold a load up to 55lbs. It has a 28mm top tube and a generous (stable) base which I have used with a 300mm and macro lenses with great success. At $310, and another $150 for the CB-50D ball head, it is quite a bargain for such a sturdy and stable tripod. You'd have to spend $1000 for a Gitzo Traveler, and I don't think it would be any sturdier - possibly an ounce or two lighter. I am 5"10" and it's as tall as I would want, so I am sure it would be fine for you.

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Jan 2, 2017 18:24:34   #
Preachdude Loc: Geneva, OH
 
I have used a variety of tripods since the mid-1950s and a variety of brands. A good rule of thumb is, "Buy as sturdy a tripod as you can that meets your needs within your budget, plus a little more if you can risk it." I'm retired, so my budget is more limited than it used to be. My current tripod is an AmazonBasics 52-Inch Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod with Bag, which I purchased for just under $100 US. It's not perfect, but it meets my needs, and it is cost-effective. After getting it, I discovered that it had a couple of useful features that I had not looked for. It's a keeper - for now.

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Jan 2, 2017 21:50:23   #
mzee
 
Thanks for your suggestion. Reviews of the CT-3442 are very positive. Have you ever had any issues with security/TSA? Regarding the CB-50D, is the primary difference between it and the 30D & 40D it's max load rating? There is only $30 spread between them so no biggie, but the 30D is half the weight of the 50D. I understand comments suggesting a larger tripod would be more stable but if I'm traveling by air its got to be a travel tripod...I was in Iceland last year and wish I had a tripod with me!

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Jan 2, 2017 22:48:58   #
bkellyusa Loc: Nashville, TN
 
mzee wrote:
First, I recently discovered this site and am very excited about the information shared. I feel like I learn something new with each visit. Like the original poster I also purchased a Nikon D5300 last year along with their 18-140mm and 35mm lenses. I am 5' 8" tall. I don't have the option to try out a wide variety of tripods first hand and I am looking for something that I can travel by plane with. Before finding this site I was looking at reviews of the 'best' tripods in general and for travel on thewirecutter.com. Their recommendation for travel is a Mefoto Roadtrip that folds down to 15" or so and weighs 3.6 pounds. Without ever seeing it the Roadtrip seemed a little spindly to me and some reviews I've read confirm this. I had been thinking of moving up to their Globetrotter for extra stability then discovered uglyhedgehog. The Benro TMA38CLV3 on this thread seems to have a lot going for it, however its folded length is listed as 27.4"...almost as tall as my tallest luggage! I realize size was not of the the original posters requirements. So how do people travel with a stable tripod? I've read carry on is hit or miss and the Benro might not even fit in my checked bag. If possible I'd like to have only one tripod. Thanks...
First, I recently discovered this site and am very... (show quote)


I have the Mefoto Globetrotter. I think it folds to 16 1/2 inches and has around six feet of height with the ball head on it. I love it but there's a couple reasons for that beyond the quality of the tripod itself. The first and foremost is that I travel by motorcycle to take my pictures about 70% of the time so I really need a compact tripod. The second consideration is that I have a mirrorless Sony A6000 which doesn't stress out the tripod easily so I can get away with a lot lighter tripod than some other folks. I also have a Sirui ball-head on it which I like much better than the original. I didn't have any problems with the original but the Sirui is better all way around and it use only two knobs with a screw adjustment to adjust the drag on the ball head that enables you to adjust it without worrying that you camera will fall over because on most inexpensive ball heads there is no way to stop it. With the Sirui it has an additional adjustment that allows you to set enough drag on the ball so that it will move easily enough to adjust the camera tilt but it will hold it in place until you can adjust the final large knob to lock it all in place.

There is a Sirui tripod and ball-head unit available at about $300.00 that I like but if I had to do this all over again I would buy the Benro that was recommended a few pages back or the Feisol that Gene51 recommends. The Feisol is more tried and true and Gene51 who really knows this stuff loves it but I feel pretty good about both though I have never seen the Benro in person.

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