junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

I have a Canon 80D w/18-135 lens. I am planning a trip to Grand Canyon and would appreciate your input on a tripod. I saw a Targus $39 aluminum. I have read that I would be foolish to buy an inexpensive tripod and if possible go for carbon fiber. Now the price jumped. The reviews were very confusing same product go from one star to 4 star on same product. I saw a Manfroto Elements for $149 and Manfroto 290 for $179. Further search took me to the $300 - $999 range. I am six feet tall and will be purchasing my first tripod, so any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks Jim

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

I'm going to throw out a cheap option, not the best but for a starter to get you going....

Targus from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007REQU9W/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I bought 2 of these when they were $15 - heck of a deal. Remove the pan/tilt head, it's not that great... what is great is the legs can be independently adjusted for angle as well as length and it has a 3/8" mounting bolt for the following ball head. You can reverse the center column to place the camera upside down and close to the ground or you can anchor the tripod to the ground with the hook on the bottom.

koolehaoda E2 mini Tripod Head Ballhead with Quick Release Plate: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071SFJXH9/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This is a great economical ball head with fairly smooth movement and it's solid. I've placed a D7000 mounted to an 80-210 2.8 zoom on it with no problems.

I also have $150 travel tripod that I love but it's not as beefy as the above combo. You can get way better tripods by spending more money and there's nothing wrong with that, but bang for the buck at roughly $50 I'd be amazed if you could beat it for even double the price.

Another ball head option is the "Pergear Heavy Duty Photography Camera Tripod Ball Head 360 Degree Fluid Rotation Tripod Ballhead" http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MGJH5U6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's only $18 and is more beefy than the koolehaoda but the ball feels more rough or gritty - doesn't affect the performance but it's something I noticed when comparing the two. I have one of each and keep them mounted on the cheapo tripods and share them with a local group of friends when we go out shooting.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Well, if I would have bought what I have now first, I would have saved some cash and a lot of frustration. I struggled with the cheaper tripods and after several attempts to find a stable, light and trouble free unit, I finally bit the bullet and bought a Gitzo 3300 series off of Ebay and saved a few bucks. Also, you must consider the head. Don't buy a high end tripod and skimp on the head. The quality of the head will remain long after the sting of the cost is forgotten. In my case, I went with the RRS big ball head (BH-55) but, you must decide on the style that works for you.

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

I have a Benro travel angel II that works well. They are not cheap, but not as expensive as some of the other quality tripods. Mine has been thrown off the top of a jeep at 50 mph and suffered no more than slight cosmetic damage.

Bill

bjprovo Loc: Northeast CT

First, anyone will tell you that you should consider going all in on your first purchase, otherwise you will never be happy until you upgrade. (This means more money in the long run)
Second, you should consider a tripod that is tall enough for you without needing a center column. They can lead to more movement and sway.
Third, look for anything that Gene51 has written about this on past threads. He has forgotten more about tripods than most of us have ever learned. Good luck on your trip and if you have the time consider visiting both the north and south rim. By the way, I purchased a Feisol that allows me to stand erect at 6' 2" without using a center column.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

A couple of thoughts. I purchased a very cheap tripod when I started out 8 years ago and realized quickly that it would not work for me for many reasons. I then purchased a midrange ($300 range) Manfrotto and have used that for the last 7 years. It has taken some hard hits and if I divide $300 by 7 years then I've only paid about $43 a year for the tripod. It now needs some repair. I recently researched and then bought a new tripod in the same dollar range but it is by Induro and I love it. I took it to Costa Rica and during my time there one of the rubber pads at the bottom fell off...I'm rough on equipment...and when I returned I emailed them. They sent me a package of three new pads free, great service. I don't use a center leg on any tripod, it's too unstable and awkward (I like to shoot wildlife and often need to pick up the whole thing and jog down the road, so to speak, or maybe even run), and at 5' 8" I do need a taller tripod. At 6' foot you will find yourself hunched over way too often if the tripod is not tall enough. If the tripod is too light the wind will tip the entire thing over. If the tripod will not allow you to adjust all three legs independently you will become frustrated at times. Consider how you will use the tripod and that will determine many things, three-leg parts or four-leg parts, light enough to pack on your back or heavy enough to withstand hard use, etc. Have you considered renting a tripod this time while you ask around and do research and determine what your budget can bear? Here is a link to https://www.borrowlenses.com/AdvancedSearch.do?searchString=tripod. I've rented from them in the past and it's a great way to try out equipment before making a mistake. When I bought this last tripod I ordered one that someone recommended from Gitzo (expensive) and it was sooooo talll that I would have needed a ladder to use it so I returned it. I then ordered two tripods, one from Induro and one from Manfrotto and, while I liked both, settled on the Induro one; I found the Manfrotto model, a four part leg, to be too thin at the bottom part. Lots to consider.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Don't skimp on a tripod. A tripod is useless unless it can fully support your camera in a heavy wind without ANY movement. That means beefy and solid. Although carbon fiber keeps the weight down, heavy weight can be your friend. Expect to spend at least $250 and up for anything that is worth any money at all.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

Thank you all for your input... I have a lot to consider.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

Don't skimp on a tripod. Personally, I went with a Mafroto befree in aluminum. Fits in / on my backpacks, fairly light for hiking, but sturdy enough for long lenses and heavy bodies. Three features to look at are type of head (I like ball heads) , levels are great but not absolutely necessary especially if there's a level in your body, and how the legs extend and lock (I like the clamp type). Went with aluminum over carbon fiber because of cost and there isn't that much difference in weight. Also have a less expensive heavier duty aluminum tripod when I don't have to hike to a shoot. That one has a hook to hang my camera bag to stabilize in wind. In any case, get a remote shutter trip. I like the ones made by Neewer brand, but there are several good ones out there. Makes no sense to use a tripod and end up with camera shake when mashing a shutter button.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

Thanks

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

The problem with hanging weights in a wind is that the weight moves with the wind and can transmit movement to the tripod. Securing the tripod to the ground with tent stakes and rope is a better solution.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

Clever

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Jim, you seem to like "dollar-sign numbers". There is another you should seriously consider: the price of a new Canon 80D with an 18-135mm lens. Trusting a dslr and lens on a dirt-cheap tripod can be very foolish. "Buy cheap and buy often" is NOT a motto you want to follow with tripods. RRS has a very informative guide on how to choose a tripod, you can access it at rss.com. Call MTShooter at The Camera Cottage, he is listed here on UHH. The man knows as much about tripods as anyone else here. Good luck and be careful, there are lots of traps to fall into.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I've never had an expensive tripod so I can't speak to that, but this $50 tripod has worked well for me for the past seven years. My equipment is under the max 6 lbs. capacity.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/328966-REG/Smith_Victor_700190_P920_Pinnacle_Tripod_with.html

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

I am not $ sign focused. I am confused over the price variation and I am trying to get the best fit for myself and my camera. I also have to factor in how much I will use the tripod. I have been to travelsights and saw people with tripods and the crowd around them bumping into the legs... very dangerous for the photographer.\'s equip. Also I don't understand the various reviews of the same product...some 4 star others 1 or 2 stars. That is why I am appealing to the expertise of UGHH.