Bought right, a tripod can be a once or twice in a lifetime purchase and a pleasure to use.

Bought too cheaply, it can be something you don't enjoy using and feel the need to upgrade rather quickly. It also may not hold up to regular use and can actually end up costing more over time, when you have to replace it.

I have several tripods...

One I bought over 30 years ago... a big, heavy Bogen (now Manfrotto). It cost me something like $400 back in the late 1970s. It's still working fine and is sturdy enough to handle almost anything I can throw at it, but at nearly 20 lb. it's way heavier than I care to haul around any more (I ain't gettin' any younger!). I use it as a "studio tripod" now.

About 15 years ago I invested close to $1500 in a carbon fiber Gitzo G1325 Mk II Series-3 Systematic tripod leg set, Kirk BH-1 ballhead, Gitzo G1321 Leveling Platform, Leg Coats, Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Adapter and a bag to carry it all in. Great tripod setup and, except for the last item, I still use it all today and have never had any problem with any of it. Works like new and shows little wear and tear. (The carry bag wore out and I replaced it with a nice, good fitting Hakuba bag for about $50 a couple years ago).

Several years ago I bought another one used but like new off eBay, shipping included... Same leg set and leveling platform, added the same Leg Pads, carry case and fitted it with a cheap, Chinese full size gimbal head.... for around $500 total.

And a couple years ago... again used from eBay and in similarly great condition, w/shipping... I got a carbon fiber Gitzo G1348 Mk II (same, but with 4-section legs instead of 3-section), with G1318 Rapid Column (instead of leveling platform), fitted it with a low-cost, heavy duty Smith-Victor BH8 ballhead, the same Leg Coats and carry case.... also for about $500 total. The center column can be reversed for low angle macro or extended for high overhead shooting. This leg set is extra tall already, too (the G1325s are plenty tall for me for most uses).

All three of my "field" tripod rigs weigh about 9 lb. Not the lightest nor the smallest. But they're rated for about 35 lb., ideal for me and some of the larger lenses I use (incl. an 8 lb. 500mm f/4 and an even heavier, bigger, vintage 800mm). Both the G1325 and G1348, as well as the G1321 leveler and G1318 column, are now-discontinued models, having been superseded by new Gitzo models. G1325 in particular were "the" tripod to have, in their day. So they're relatively easy to find used, if you're patient.

Note: Gitzo Systematics can be used with or without center column. Column reduces stability. On my two that I use with gimbal adapter or head, I use leveling platform instead. That makes for faster setup on uneven ground. Besides that choice, there are a number of other accessories that fit both older and newer Systematic models. But I'm pretty sure Gitzo Reporter, Mountaineer and Traveler series tripods all have permanently installed center columns. Many other manufacturers have basically copied the Systematic design... and may have similarly interchangeable accessories that will work with both.

Carrying and using it in the field, I prefer the "twist locks" that Gitzo (and others) use on their leg sets. Those are low profile, so less likely than lever locks or thrumbscrews to catch on a branch or cuff when carrying or working around the tripod.

I also avoid center columns that rotate horizontal or beyond and legs that can be removed to allow use of the tripod as a monopod. IMO, both those reduce stability too much.

Carbon fiber is a little lighter, but the main reason I prefer it is that it absorbs or dampens some vibrations better than metal.

My point is, you can spend a lot on a tripod... But you also might find a great deal on used gear. Or, some close copies of Gitzo that may cost less (also some cost more!) and/or some cheaper substitutes. Those might work just as well as the higher ticket items or the latest and greatest bought brand new.

If you want something a bit lighter, for example Gitzo Series 2 may be a good choice. But there are also other "travel tripods" from various manufacturers (see link below).

Just watch that the leg set and head are rated for sufficient load capacity for the largest/heaviest things you want to put on them now or in the future. I like to see a safety margin of a rating that's at least double or triple.

Also be sure that any rig is tall enough for you to use comfortably.... measure your "eye line", then compare with the height of tripod, head, any other accessories that add height AND the height of the viewfinder eyeport from the bottom of your camera. Ideally, it should be slightly above your eye line to be able to comfortably shoot upwards. Also, for best stability ideally you won't need to extend a center column much or at all, if the tripod even has one, to achieve adequate working height. (It can be difficult to find some of these statistics... may need to visit several sites.)

The fewer leg sections, the better stability. For me, 3-section legs are best, though as I noted one I use has 4-section (it's so tall, I rarely need to use the lowest section at all). Some tripods have 5-section or more in order to be extra compact... but that makes them slower to set up and tends to reduce stability... on some with lots of sections, the lower one or two leg sections are terribly small diameter in order to be able to collapse inside the next section up.

You have to find a compromise that works for you. Size, weight, capacity, features, materials... and of course, price.

You can buy a leg set, head and other accessories separately, the way I did. Or you might find a better deal on a pre-assembled "kit" that includes head, leg set, and maybe some other things... IF everything in the kit meets your needs and wants.

I'm including a number of links to pages about tripods at B&H Photo in NYC. I think those are very informative (as are some other websites) and may help with your decision.... Plus they have lots of info for over-analysis!

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/tripod-explained
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/tripod
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/content/use-tripod-boost-image-quality-composition-and-creativity
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/content/tripod-heads-and-legs
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/travel-tripods
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/10-recommended-tripods-photography

Have fun shopping... hope this helps!

Figured I chime in here once again. Reading through the replies on the original post, you can see a lot of varied opinions and some really good advice and suggestions. As in my original short and maybe overly simple reply I said I was not advocating for any particular model or brand, that has not changed.

I did suggest heading back to your local camera store if you have one, or where you purchased your camera, with your gear and looking at their recommendations, staying away from the big box stores, then trying them out. That being said try looking if there are any local clubs you could check out and pick the brains of its members. I've found that most will willingly talk/brag about their gear, perhaps even showing it off. One more suggestion, see if there are any local photography classes offered at a community college or even the local adult education programs that you could pop into for some advice of to audit for one session.

Good luck on your search, looking forward to seeing your first photo posts,

TJB.

I'm just going with a few suggestions. First don't get drawn in by a weight capacity, heavier capacity is not necessarily better. Second stability and steadiness, i.e. ability not to fall over and dampen vibration should be considered. Lastly pack up your gear and head for your local camera store to see what they recommend and a try out a few or a lot of different makes and style's. I'm not going advocate for any particular brand here as there are many from reasonably priced to crazily expensive, that is for you to decide on how much to budget.

"Light weight and flexible" are your pitfall here. Call it an oxymoron. 2 years ago while on a workshop on Lake Superior I watched a woman extend her version of a light weight tripod. She set it on the rock we were on and turned to get her camera out of it's bag. Her light weight tripod was blown over and tumbled into the water. The woman learned a very valuable lesson and it did not cost her too much in grief or money. We've all heard similar stories about tripods going over cliffs, some are true and very expensive lessons. Junk yards are littered with light weight failures. Buy cheap-buy often in an axiom for tripods you do not want to learn the hard way. Good value for your money means strong and sturdy, not flexible and light weight. It also means about 60% of the tripods on the market are junk. If you value your Sony, and it sounds as though you do, why hang it on cheap and weak? For assistance you might look at RSS's primer for tripods and how to select one. Their gear is as good as their advice, but they are just one reputable tripod maker. One of your best options would be to call MTShooter at The Camera Cottage in Billings, MT. Carter not only sells great products he dispenses better advice. By including him in your research you will get the good value for your money that you seek. Good luck in your search, it is too important a piece of gear to make costly mistakes.

Image magnification, not gear weight, will determine what tripod you end up with. light and flexible does not translate into stability. Researching is good, choosing proper sources is not. UHH is NOT a good place to get advice on tripods. Look at the RRS pages on how to select a tripod:

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/tripod-guide

And the Gitzo tripod catalog - catalog attached below.

These are consistent in establishing that the top tube diameter is an excellent predictor of tripod stability. Higher magnification requires thicker legs, preferably made of carbon fiber. You cannot avoid this reality. And you are not going to get stability in a $200 tripod with skinny legs. A tripod for landscape with a wide lens can be considerably lighter than the one you'll need for macro and long lens use - regardless of how much everything weighs. If it has the stability it will definitely have the load capacity. Sadly, load capacity rarely indicates how stable a tripod is.

If you can justify an RRS tripod - it will be the last tripod you will ever buy. They have a great modular system for pano, long lens gimbal, and macro rail use - and their ball heads are legendary. I think they are the best in the industry, and slightly less costly than Gitzo, which is also quite good.

If that is too rich - then there are alternatives if you pay attention to what matters.