ColonelButler Loc: Niagara-on-the-Lake ON Canada

I second the recommendation for the Three Legged Thing if you are going to be doing air travel. Check sizing and buy one that fits your checked bag. Mine also doubles as a monopod. Using it with a D7000 and 18-200.

dumbo

The techies who did a top-notch job of cleaning the sensor on my SONY a6300 camera strongly recommended the BENRO Carbon Tripods.
I bought one and find it to be the best tripod I've ever had. You can spend a great deal more money for the Manfrotto & other high class brands but the BENRO works very well.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

One thing which was pointed out to me by a couple of folks...one who is a professional photographer and one who is a very serious outdoor photographer is that if you are in the boonies and something major happens to your tripod, a metal tripod can likely be straightened enough to let you keep shooting. The carbon fiber one is likely to be broken, putting you out of the tripod business. They also point out that the weight that we don't like to carry becomes our best friend once we mount our camera and lens to the tripod head.
Last summer I was in a workshop and had to watch helplessly as one of the other participant's tripods toppled forward, landing face first on the lens. It was too small and too light for the job it was being asked to do. Proper tripod technique is also important, like keeping one of the legs facing forward, as close to under the lens as possible. Proper use can let you get by with a slightly smaller tripod in some cases.

Edit**I probably should have said that I have a Manfrotto 290 Dual and multiple quick release plates. The tripod was about $260, and the plates were $20 each. Three of them reside on my long lenses, and I mount one to each body when I go out. I also bought a Manfrotto carrying sling which clips to a mounting ring near the head. The other end loops around the bottom of the legs, makin for easy over the shoulder transport.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I've also got a Three Legged Thing Carbon Fiber travel Tripod plus a CF 3 Legged thing monopod and a Manfrotto standard monopod. Plus a heavy no name standard tripod... I prefer the 3 Legged Thing pods...

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

This is alum - a little heavy but low cost- do not let that fool you ! - Read the user reviews -
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Slik-Pro-700DX-Super-Titanium-Alloy-Tripod-Legs-615900/371546840953?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372

I like this head - it has a 45mm ball and pans at the TOP and bottom. - https://www.ebay.com/itm/ProMaster-SP45P-Ball-Head/302816288861?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372

For lighter weight , carbon fiber, I like this tripod, 32mm top tube - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Novo-Explora-T20-Carbon-Fibre-Pro-Tripod-Legs-Only/302821447719?epid=2292856859&hash=item4681909827:g:IOEAAOSwjW5bWwLQ:rk:15:pf:0

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dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Take a read of this article:

https://petapixel.com/2018/11/05/to-all-new-landscape-photographers-invest-in-a-good-tripod/

The ending quote is "I started out in photography with a 50 dollar tripod. Then I bought a $100 one, then a $200 one, and at some point I spent a total of around $400 dollars on all “mediocre” tripods. I could have bought a proper tripod from the start."


Invest in a tripod. There is an old saw in photography that says you will be unhappy and replace an inadequate tripod. The cheaper you start, the more it will eventually cost you in total. $500.00 is a much better starting point than most experience.

Here is a nice guide from B&H:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/tripod

Pysanka Artist Loc: Rochester, NY

Thank you.

Pysanka Artist Loc: Rochester, NY

Didn't know they made wood tripods!

Pysanka Artist Loc: Rochester, NY

I'll do that. Thank you.

Pysanka Artist Loc: Rochester, NY

Thank you for the recommendation!

Pysanka Artist Loc: Rochester, NY

Thank you for your comments!!

Pysanka Artist Loc: Rochester, NY

I will definitely do that.

Pysanka Artist Loc: Rochester, NY

Thanks!

Pysanka Artist Loc: Rochester, NY

I'll check out BENRO.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

There are many excellent products out there.
The budget will determine what you get.
I have this tripod: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1010691-REG/manfrotto_mt190xpro4_190xpro3_aluminum_tripod.html
And this head: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1034870-REG/manfrotto_mhxpro_3w_3_way_pan_tilt_head.html

This fits easily into a shoulder bag that looks like this: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1237612-REG/manfrotto_mb_mbag75pn_mbag75pn_tripod_bag_padded.html

My bag is much cheaper but works very well especially for hiking. This setup is incredibly easy to carry so it goes with you all the time rather than leaving it because it was a pain in the to bring along.
The tripod head goes all the way to close to the ground, the center column can be made horizontal for easy adjustment in closeups. I am 6' and it easily goes high enough and steady enough for me. If I do need more stability in the wind etc. there is a hook to hang weight from, I use a plastic bag and find rocks etc to put in for weight.
I use a 7D with the 100-400mm MII and a 2X MIII converter with this setup with no problem. Also the 100mm f2.8 macro among other lenses.