Tripod Advice: I recently got my first DSLR and just added a 70-300 telephoto lens that will require using a tripod for best results. Can I get a good one within a $100-$150 budget?

mr spock Loc: Fairfield CT

I recently got my first DSLR and just added a 70-300 telephoto lens that will require using a tripod for best results. Can I get a good one within a $100-$150 budget?
Thanks

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

mr spock wrote:

I recently got my first DSLR and just added a 70-300 telephoto lens that will require using a tripod for best results. Can I get a good one within a $100-$150 budget?
Thanks

Save your $$$ and wait until you can justify $400-$500. It will be a purchase you won't have to regret.

In the meantime, if your lens has optical stabilization, it will be fine for most purposes, unless you intend to do a lot of long exposure work with waterfalls, night photography, etc. Then the $150 tripod won't be much help anyway. Ideally, Really Right Stuff, Induro and Gitzo make the best equipment, but you can find some of the better Sirui, Feisol, Benro and possibly others that will give you great stability at a lower cost.

I personally own a lightweight Feisol CT-3442, which I use for lenses up to 300mm on a full frame camera with satisfactory performance, and their CT 3472 for lenses up to 600mm. The longer lenses on the lighter tripod aren't a good combo. Too much vibration.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

mr spock wrote:

I recently got my first DSLR and just added a 70-300 telephoto lens that will require using a tripod for best results. Can I get a good one within a $100-$150 budget?
Thanks

What camera/weight and what is the weight of the 70-300? There are so many and their size and weight varies wildly.

Get a tripod that is rated for at least 150% of the combined weight. The head should also rate for 150% of the weight.
It will be hard to get a "good" tripod and head for $150 but some of the store brands and deals at places like Costco, Sam's and Walmart should work.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

mr spock wrote:

I recently got my first DSLR and just added a 70-300 telephoto lens that will require using a tripod for best results. Can I get a good one within a $100-$150 budget?
Thanks

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Slik-Pro-700DX-Super-Titanium-Alloy-Tripod-Legs-615900-/132181525361?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c1

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Promaster-SPH36P-Ball-Head-Specialist-Series-NEW-8083-MAKE-AN-OFFER/122648707670?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D41375%26meid%3D30645de625494018a868e5c475f4f250%26pid%3D100012%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D162675239508&_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985#rwid

You can get decent legs OR head for that - but not BOTH. You will also need a long Arca/Swiss plate to balance the lens over the head.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

mr spock wrote:

I recently got my first DSLR and just added a 70-300 telephoto lens that will require using a tripod for best results. Can I get a good one within a $100-$150 budget?
Thanks

The answer to your question is NO. You want to invest at least $300. I would suggest this:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1024704-REG/sirui_bsret2204_carbon_fiber_tripod.html

whwiden

I have a Sirui that works well for my Nikon D750. I purchased the tripod and head separately. The tripod is a T-1005X. The head says G-10KX on the bottom. It will hold the camera with the Tamron 150-600mm G2, and smaller lenses, well. I think the combo was a little over $200. However, I also have a Sirui monopod. For fast moving situations, I find a monopod to really help. It might work well for you with a 70-300 using higher shutter speeds. I sometimes use the monopod to help with my film F2, and it works well with other film cameras, including a rangefinder. I can get reliable still results down to 1/15th or 1/30 with a rangefinder and shorter lenses up to 50mm using a monopod. I need to use higher shutter speeds for action, using 300mm or 600mm but at 1/500th and higher--usually at 1/1000th sec. with the F2. The monopod really helps with VR lenses, I find.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

mr spock wrote:

I recently got my first DSLR and just added a 70-300 telephoto lens that will require using a tripod for best results. Can I get a good one within a $100-$150 budget?
Thanks

No.

mr spock Loc: Fairfield CT

Thank you all. There’s a lot of info here for me to absorb. I have a D3300 camera

whwiden

mr spock wrote:

Thank you all. There’s a lot of info here for me to absorb. I have a D3300 camera

The D3300 does not shoto in mirror lock up mode. The mirror lock up on that camera is only for cleaning. I am not sure how well it will work on a tripod at lower shutter speeds. It is a light camera and may have vibration from mirror slap. With longer lenses you may have better results with VR and a monopod. I have that camera but do not use it on a tripod. There may be a way to use it to advantage on a tripod but I do not know the technique.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

mr spock wrote:

I recently got my first DSLR and just added a 70-300 telephoto lens that will require using a tripod for best results. Can I get a good one within a $100-$150 budget?
Thanks

Are you the son of Dr.Spock who my wife used a reference when bringing up our kids?

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

robertjerl wrote:

What camera/weight and what is the weight of the 70-300? There are so many and their size and weight varies wildly.

Get a tripod that is rated for at least 150% of the combined weight. The head should also rate for 150% of the weight.
It will be hard to get a "good" tripod and head for $150 but some of the store brands and deals at places like Costco, Sam's and Walmart should work.

Show me were a responsible tripod manufacturer or reviewer mentions anything about load capacity and how it relates to stability. You won't find it because it has nothing to do with stability. Mfgrs of cheap tripods cannot make any claims about stability, so they quickly provide load capacity.

http://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/choosing-a-tripod-part-1/
http://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/choosing-a-tripod-part-2/
http://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/choosing-a-tripod-part-3/

This is not based on BS - it is tried and true - and field tested. Nor is this:

http://bythom.com/support.htm
http://www.sansmirror.com/articles/how-much-tripod-do-you-need.html
http://www.dslrbodies.com/accessories/camera-accessories/camera-accessory-faq/what-do-tripod-specificatio.html

Basing a purchase decision on mythology or urban legend is a good way to waste money. And you cannot buy a reasonable tripod at Walmart, Costco or Sam's Club.

racerrich3 Loc: Los Angeles, Ca.

mr spock wrote:

Thank you all. There’s a lot of info here for me to absorb. I have a D3300 camera

Someone gave a link for Slik. I have the D3300 with a Slik 330dx which holds my camera and 200-500. Slik 330DX was $90.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Gene51 wrote:

Show me were a responsible tripod manufacturer or ... (show quote)

What set you off? Feel better now?

And in the first link you give RRS mentions the load capacity of some of their tripods. Guess they aren't responsible.
But most tripods do include weight capacity, at least the ones I have looked up. (well not the cheap "toy" tripods).

No matter now good a tripod is at canceling vibration if it can't hold the weight it is useless.
Oh, I use a Nest tripod and gimbal head most of the time. For macro work a Manfrotto geared head gets the nod. Come to think of it they all gave load capacity in their spec lists. Guess they aren't responsible either.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

mr spock wrote:

Thank you all. There’s a lot of info here for me to absorb. I have a D3300 camera

There are several different 70-300 lenses out there. Exactly which one do you have?

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Depends on what 'you' consider a good tripod. There are probably more tripods to choose from than cameras and they range from less than $10 to very, very expensive. Most of the folks here will tell you no, you can't get a good tripod for under $150.
Also depends on what your plans for the tripod are. Can you get a pro grade tripod for under $150? Heck no... Can you get a decent, well made consumer grade tripod that will support your D3300 and a 70-300 zoom lens for $150? Absolutely, because you don't need a pro grade tripod and you don't need a lecture on the mechanics and physics of what a tripod does and how's one works.
You can get a decent manfrotto tripod for $150 that will do what you need. Nothing fancy; it won't support a big video camera or a giant f/4 super telephoto, but it will support your D3300 with a 70-300 zoom lens.
Why would you want to spend more on a tripod than you did on your camera?!