First Tripod: I am relatively new to hobby photography. I have a Nikon D7200. I am interested in landscape, wildlife, etc. photography. I want a good tripod. I am on a “retiree”...

UTEP65 Loc: Lake Royale, NC

I am relatively new to hobby photography. I have a Nikon D7200. I am interested in landscape, wildlife, etc. photography. I want a good tripod. I am on a “retiree” budget. Any recommendations? Thanks.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

You can spend as much or as little as you want on a tripod. If you go to the B&H website you can filter by price. BUT you also want to make sure the tripod you get will hold the weight of your camera and your heaviest lens. I have a MeFoto tripod that I’ve been very happy with. As a side note, if you plan on traveling or hiking with it, the weight of the tripod is another thing to consider. Happy hunting!

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

You can do what I did. I got a cheep tripod about 4 or 5 of them each time a little better and a little more expensive one. Or what I should have done buy a good one. I don't need a fiberglass one as I'm not taking it on my back for the day so I still don't have one in fiberglass and don't want it as it's not worth it to me.
I suggest you take you camera and big lens to a store and try them out. I find I must have the tripod hold my camera at eye level with out the center extension up, as that is not steady. I would say in quality I would consider a two to three hundred dollar one good.

cedymock Loc: Irmo, South Carolina

This was my latest tripod purchase and have been well pleased. There is also a carbon fiber model; at only 9 ounces lighter, for money difference felt I could carry that extra 9 oz.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1157830-REG/benro_tma28a_mach3_aluminum_series_2.html/reviews

cytafex Loc: Clarksburg MA

I' have 4 Gitzo tripods and they always get jammed up from silt on Grand Canyon river trips. Several years ago i bought a Suri W 2204 tripod and it never gets jammed up and aren't expensive either.

dugeeeeeee

I’d recommend gitzo but those cost a lot. Before I got a gitzo I had a zomei Z888 Portable Professional Travel Carbon Fiber Tripod Monopodwith Ball Head. I only used it for about a year but it was really solid and I like it a lot. I still use the one removable leg as a monopod.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

UTEP65 wrote:

I am relatively new to hobby photography. I have a Nikon D7200. I am interested in landscape, wildlife, etc. photography. I want a good tripod. I am on a “retiree” budget. Any recommendations? Thanks.

My default recommendation for a GOOD budget tripod remains - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Slik-Pro-700DX-Super-Titanium-Alloy-Tripod-Legs-615900/371546840953?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372 - Please READ the user reviews. Carbon fiber is marginally lighter but doubles the price for comparable.....
.

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

I bought this one from B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/745960-REG/Vanguard_ALTA_PRO_263AB_100_Alta_Pro_263AB_100.html
Reasonably priced, VERY sturdy (supports heavy camera/lens combo's), puts camera at eye level without center section raised, comes with a nice ball head, 2 QR plates, one leg makes into a monopod, legs that fold out to get close to the ground, and a rugged nylon carrying bag. It is OK to carry on short trips but it is NOT a hiking tripod because it weighs 5.4 lbs.

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

Buy the best, most expensive tripod you can afford. It will prove cheaper in the long run as you will not be tempted to 'upgrade' as often as you probably will if you start out with a cheap tripod. Both of my tripods, a Giottos aluminum and a Sirui carbon fiber cost around $300 for the leg set. Not saying you need to spend $300 on your first tripod but don't go cheap.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

You are off to a good start. When I started I wish I would have had your camera.

rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

I teach photography at a major botanic garden, and I'm always surprised by how many of my students arrive with a tripod that's totally unsuited to what they want to do. My recommendation echoes an earlier one: Go to a brick and mortar camera store where you can talk to someone who knows what he's talking about and get help matching your interests and wallet to a tripod. As far as cost goes, be willing to stretch; if you make the right purchase, it will be yours for a long, long time. That beats buying several tripods until you finally get to the one you should have purchased in the first place.

One other thing I'd repeat from an earlier respondent is the advice to ignore the center post. Center posts are unstable and defeat the purpose of the tripod. I remove them from my tripods, but that may be overkill. They do come in handy when you need extra reach.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

rdgreenwood wrote:

Center posts - They do come in handy when you need extra reach.

and you need the SPEED !

chuckrem Loc: Katy, Tx

imagemeister wrote:

My default recommendation for a GOOD budget tripod remains - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Slik-Pro-700DX-Super-Titanium-Alloy-Tripod-Legs-615900/371546840953?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372 - Please READ the user reviews. Carbon fiber is marginally lighter but doubles the price for comparable.....
.

cedymock Loc: Irmo, South Carolina

imagemeister wrote:

My default recommendation for a GOOD budget tripod remains - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Slik-Pro-700DX-Super-Titanium-Alloy-Tripod-Legs-615900/371546840953?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372 - Please READ the user reviews. Carbon fiber is marginally lighter but doubles the price for comparable.....
.

I also have the Silk 700 dx tripod and it has been excellent for years, as I only use it around the house because of it's weight I am glad you suggested it as a choice. The only reason I suggested Benro TMA28A was the weight and maybe better for a multiple use first tripod.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I agree with imagemeister. Slik 700 Pro. I've had mine for many years and don't have any complaints. Well, it refuses to carry itself but otherwise no complaints. I've carried it all over the world, in dust, sand, water, snow and ice. It's never failed me. You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars for a good tripod.