Niklon Loc: Athens, Ga

I recently acquired a Nikon D810 and with the 28-300mm lens my old tripod is not up to the task. I have seen primarily good reviews on Amazon for this tripod but would appreciate any feedback that might be offered here.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I guess my question would be is how does a DSLR tripod vary from a regular tripod. Does the tripod "know" what kind of camera is attached to it?
--Bob

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

I don't know what you have, but I am pretty sure that a $100 tripod isn't going to be much better. Unless you are shooting long exposures, there is no reason to believe that the VR on the lens won't handle exposures of 1/30 and shorter hand held.

This is an example of an image taken with a lens that is twice the focal length, hand held at 1/30 sec, with a detail crop.

I suggest you not waste your money on junk. You have decent equipment, so don't make the mistake of buying an inadequate tripod again. Spending $100 won't even get you a decent tripod head, let alone a whole tripod with a head. You don't need to go out and buy a Gitzo or a RRS tripod and head, spending upwards of $1500 or more on the combo. But spending $100 is just as unreasonable. I suggest you look at a tripod like a Benro Rhino FRHN34CVX30.

People who write non-professional reviews, typical of what you will see in the customer review section, rarely present an unbiased or informed by fact opinion, and are not at all reliable. They often have no frame of reference either.

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rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Gene, that last photograph is absolutely fantastic.
—Bob

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Marg Loc: Canadian transplanted to NW Alabama

I have it. Works for my lightweight t4i with a light lens and no wind. Does not do well with my 80d and long lens. Don’t waste your money.

KLambar Loc: New Jersey

I have two of them. No problem using with Nikon D7100, D500 or D810.

Niklon Loc: Athens, Ga

Gene,

Thank you very much for time you took and the insight you provided in your response. I did a quick search on the Benro Rhino and will likely purchase it. Being over 70 and having essential tremor, I need some aid in low light or awkward positions. Weight is not an issue for me but stability is. I think this tripod will do the trick.

The photo below is the type image I would typically use the tripod for. I took it last week, hand held, at an awkward angle, but I had to use a ISO higher than I would have liked.

Also, great photo of the Felis Americanus.

Niklon Loc: Athens, Ga

Also, thanks to all of you for the replies. They are sincerely appreciated.

AnotherBob

Great cat shot! I can handhold 1/30th of a second but I can't get my cat to sit still that long.........unless he's sleeping.

Jorgy

One thing I learned a long time ago while photographing with my 8"X10" camera that often required very long exposures in sometimes trying (windy) conditions was to hang my camera bag from the tripod to increase its mass and help with stability. On some tripods I was able to install a hook to the bottom of the center column to help with this. Another trick when having traveled out to remote areas where I did not want to pack a lot of gear was to keep a mesh bag that I could fill with rocks to achieve the same additional stability.