What Tripod to get without breaking the bank: I have a Nikon D750 and my longest lens is a 70-200. Looking for a good tripod (possibly carbon fiber) that won't break the bank. I know...

cloudteaser Loc: Northern Minnesota

I have a Nikon D750 and my longest lens is a 70-200. Looking for a good tripod (possibly carbon fiber) that won't break the bank. I know RRS, Gitzo have great systems but are very costly. I shoot for my own enjoyment. Family, nature, landscape.
I have been looking at the Manfrotto Mt055cxpro3 carbon fiber and also the Vanguard Alta Pro 283ct carbon fiber. Anyone have any of these or others you could recommend I look at. Thanks

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

cloudteaser wrote:

I have a Nikon D750 and my longest lens is a 70-200. Looking for a good tripod (possibly carbon fiber) that won't break the bank. I know RRS, Gitzo have great systems but are very costly. I shoot for my own enjoyment. Family, nature, landscape.
I have been looking at the Manfrotto Mt055cxpro3 carbon fiber and also the Vanguard Alta Pro 283ct carbon fiber. Anyone have any of these or others you could recommend I look at. Thanks

You already have the idea correct. You have to weight three things.
How much am I willing to pay
How much weight do I need to support now & in the future
How much weight am I willing to carry around with me?

I have both Manfroto and Gitzo, because I wanted both for travel and stability for heavy lenses.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

My situation is similar. After extensive looking, I got the Manfrotto 055. I splurged a bit and got carbon fiber as you are considering. I am really happy with it. Everything about it seems to be quality and it is easy to use.

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

You didn't say what "breaking the bank" means to you. I saw a pretty nice Vortex with a ball head at Sportsmans Warehouse the other day for 126.00. Holds 8 lbs. which I consider a little light for your purposes, but would work in most situations. I think it even had an Arca Swiss quick release mount instead of one of those made just for that tripod.

I have a carbon fiber Benro Travel Angel II good for about 25 lbs. with ball head and Arca Swiss mount. It was 400.00. Always get a higher weight rating than your gear weighs. You will want to hang weights on the tripod for stabilization from time to time. Also the higher the rating the more stable it will be.

Bill

cloudteaser Loc: Northern Minnesota

billnourse wrote:

You didn't say what "breaking the bank" ... (show quote)

Great advise, I guess breaking the bank for me would be anything over 400.00 to 500.00 for the tripod.

cloudteaser Loc: Northern Minnesota

Cwilson341 wrote:

My situation is similar. After extensive looking, I got the Manfrotto 055. I splurged a bit and got carbon fiber as you are considering. I am really happy with it. Everything about it seems to be quality and it is easy to use.

Did you get the 3section leg or 4? I am thinking of getting a 3 section tripod not for speed ( I'm retired so lots of time ) but for better stability.

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

cloudteaser wrote:

Great advise, I guess breaking the bank for me would be anything over 400.00 to 500.00 for the tripod.

The Benro Travel Angel II in Carbon fiber is right in your price range, and they come in aluminum for less. Amazon has them for 419.00.

Bill

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I have a Dolica from Costco that I like. The one I bought is not currently offered. But there is one that looks interesting. Normally I probably would not buy an "off brand" but Costco is good at both picking products and backing them.

http://www.costco.com/Dolica-Proline-57%22-Aluminum-Traveler-Tripod-with-Ball-and-Pan-Head.product.100213896.html

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

cloudteaser wrote:

Did you get the 3section leg or 4? I am thinking of getting a 3 section tripod not for speed ( I'm retired so lots of time ) but for better stability.

I got the 3 section for the same reason - maximum stability.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

cloudteaser wrote:

I have a Nikon D750 and my longest lens is a 70-200. Looking for a good tripod (possibly carbon fiber) that won't break the bank. I know RRS, Gitzo have great systems but are very costly. I shoot for my own enjoyment. Family, nature, landscape.
I have been looking at the Manfrotto Mt055cxpro3 carbon fiber and also the Vanguard Alta Pro 283ct carbon fiber. Anyone have any of these or others you could recommend I look at. Thanks

Skip Manfrotto with it's proprietary plate/clamp system - they are pretty heavy (compared to the competition), and their more modestly priced ones are not all that stable. The Manfrotto Mt055cxpro3 is a decent middle of the road set of legs, but expensive and 33% heavier than competing models offering the same level of stability from other manufacturers.

The same can be said for the Vanguard line - but you "might" be able to get away with a Pro 283CT or the Pro284CB100 which includes a ball head. My experience with Vanguard is limited to the few that are owned by students I have taught, and I was not impressed. The Manfrotto is better.

You might want to take a look at Sirui - specifically their ET 2204 with E20 head - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1024704-REG/sirui_bsret2204_carbon_fiber_tripod.html

Or the Feisol CT3442 with a CB 50 ball head - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/848831-REG/FEISOL_CT_3442_Tournament_CT_3442_Rapid_Tripod.html and http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/848861-REG/FEISOL_CB_50D_CB_50D_Ballhead_with_QP_144750.html

It's a little more money but a little more stable than the Sirui, and well worth the extra expense.

If these are still too expensive, then I would seriously reconsider why you need a tripod at this time.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

cloudteaser wrote:

I have a Nikon D750 and my longest lens is a 70-200. Looking for a good tripod (possibly carbon fiber) that won't break the bank. I know RRS, Gitzo have great systems but are very costly. I shoot for my own enjoyment. Family, nature, landscape.
I have been looking at the Manfrotto Mt055cxpro3 carbon fiber and also the Vanguard Alta Pro 283ct carbon fiber. Anyone have any of these or others you could recommend I look at. Thanks

The Manfrotto Mt055cxpro3 is a "decent" tripod with 19.8# load, but rediculously priced at $479 when you consider its load and height of 66" WITH the center column extended. When Manfrotto completed its buyout of Bogen Distributing the product prices escalated and that is when I stopped carrying the Manfrotto line. As to their proprietary QR argument, well that just does not hold water when talking about tripods alone as you can put literally ANY head you want on any tripod out there. Some here have also openly stated you CANNOT get a meaningful tripod for under $1000. That statement is rediculously elitist and totally false.
For about the same price I would recommend this at $495 for 55# loads:
http://www.cameracottage.com/apps/webstore/products/show/6253102

Or if you needed taller this also at $495 for 44# loads:
http://www.cameracottage.com/apps/webstore/products/show/6779589

Both have several features difficult to find elsewhere at the price point, in fact, to get these features you will be at almost $1000 from many other manufacturers.
Good luck in whatever you finally decide to get but always consider versatility, durability, weight and stability at LEAST equally to price.

Haydon

You might want to look at this Feisol 3342 in the 3 section if you're not willing to jump into a Gitzo or a RRS.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/848830-REG/FEISOL_CT_3342_Tournament_CT_3342_Rapid_Tripod.html/prm/alsVwDtl

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

cloudteaser wrote:

Did you get the 3section leg or 4? I am thinking of getting a 3 section tripod not for speed ( I'm retired so lots of time ) but for better stability.

Three leg sections vs. four is better BUT only if ALL other factors effecting stability are identical. Three leg sections do not automatically make a tripod more stable than another tripod that has four. The number of leg sections is only one factor and can be significantly overridden by others. One must also consider things such as aluminum vs. carbon fiber, leg diameter, carbon fiber thickness, number of carbon fiber wraps, clamp or twist locks, if twist locks - are the legs also anti-rotation, design and machining of leg hinges connecting to base, center column vs. no center column, weight, load capacity, height when extended (especially with no center column), folded dimensions for travel and hiking, type of foot, etc. There is a lot more to choosing the right tripod for one's needs than just counting the number of leg sections.

llamb Loc: Northeast Ohio

I have a Benro that has been great. I also have a Davis & Sanford MAGNUMXG13 Magnum Grounder Tripod with FX13 Head for Cameras that is fantastic. I am tall, 6'2", my camera on the Magnum is taller, plus the legs can be set to different angles to adjust to varying terrain. Besides getting up high, it can go low to the ground with its legs splayed out. FX13 head can be quickly flipped for portrait orientation. Made in America with a TEN year warranty. Mostly aluminum with some plastic. The included carrying/storage bag is very lightweight with a short (too) strap. Just under 7 pounds Around $150.00.

Good light and good luck,

~Lee

plessner Loc: North Dakota

keep checking used on B&H never know what you might find at a reduced price