trapper1 Loc: Southside Virginia

I am planning to buy a tripod for birding and sports use. Is there a treatise available on the internet describing how to judge the various features such as twist versus lever lock, ball head versus pan head, etc.? This would be for use by a consumer level, not advanced or pro photography, rank newbie.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

My suggestion would be carbon fiber.Plan on weight of the heaviest lens you will use. My preference is for a pan head. I like twist lock.

M1911 Loc: DFW Metromess

I prefer twist lock because they don't catch on anything like some lever locks can. It should take no more than a quarter turn to lock or unlock the legs,

I used to use 3 way pan heads but now use double pan ball heads. If used right they can double for a gimble in some instances. ProMaster has a good one with adjustable friction on the ball and double pans.

Make sure the rig you get will hold your camera and longest lens steady and is sturdy enough for the weight.

Carbon fiber is great if you can afford it. I want my tripods to be taller than me so when shooting up I don't have to squat or bend down.

Look on ebay for tripods. There are some nice used carbon fiber tripods at reasonable prices from all the makers plus some new ones.

My favorite tripod breaks most of the rules I gave. It is a wooden Reis model C trilock that my dad bought 90 years ago or so. Quick to set up but too long for backpack.

I have 9 tripods all have their own uses.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I have one, with a tilt-pan head.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Think about quick release plates. They are handy for on/ off situations.
Check your local brick and mortar for used ones- if there are any around.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Look on DPReview. They have videos where review a d rate tripods and heads.

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

Tripods...that necessary accessory that you love to hate! I have 3...the Bogen/Manfrotto heavyweight that I bought when I was a newbie... I've had it 40 years or more, and use it some. the legs aren't as tall as I am, so I went for the extendable center column. Some say it is unsteady, and like using a Monopod. Not so! I have one of those, the comparison is a laugh! With the central column raised so the camera is at my eye height, it is very steady. I have tried all the heads on it...ball, "fluid", and three way panheads, and finally settled on the pan head as the most practical for me. YMMV! I haven't tried a gimbal head, and probably won't. There are some beautiful tripods out there, but the $$$$ ! AND nowadays, the affordable seem to all have gone to "TSA compliant" or "Compact, travel" Which fit in carry-on luggage, I think. Those units almost universally have 4 or more thin leg sections, which means they will not reach a tall person's eye level without full extension, and that configuration will be somewhat susceptible to vibration from wind, etc. My lightweight "travel" tripod has a hook on the bottom of the central column to attach a stabilizing weight. I like my medium Manfrotto tripod the best. The Angry Photographer (Theoria Apophasis, I think) on Youtube has a review of a tripod and head that may be of interest to you. Some of his presentations are definitely R+ rated for language. IIRC, this one is not too bad! It's out of my price range, and what do I need another tripod for, anyhow? As stated, quick release is a goodness. I prefer the Manfrotto type. The plates fit my old tripod and the newer ones. DP Reviews may be of some assistance. There are good used tripods to be found on eBay, If you stay with reliable sellers, 99.5%+ ratings, good descriptions, and a return policy. Good luck!

M1911 Loc: DFW Metromess

Here is a good sturdy used Tiltall tripod. It will handle a 4x5 view camera, so a 600mm telephoto on a DSLR should be okay.

www.ebay.com/itm/124795949043?hash=item1d0e6b0ff3:g:0MEAAOSw6Sxg3zp5

I've had one since the early 1970s and my wife has claimed it. Only problem I've had with it is when a mama rhino got tired of me photographing her 2 day old calf and came over to lean on my tripod a little. Bent one of the center leg sections slightly just enough to make extending or closing difficult.. I bent it back gently.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

There's pro's and con's to everything. I prefer lever locks and mine has just 3 sections on each leg. I've nowhere to confirm this but I feel 3 leg sections offer more stability than those 4+ leg sections as the sections get narrower.

I prefer a ball head but I would suggest you get one with a the biggest ball budget will allow. As mentioned previously a ballhead can act like a cheap gimbal, a bigger ball does it better.

If you stick with the main brands you should be O.K., but I bought GIOTTO and I can't get spares for it anymore (If I hadn't let it fall against a wall I wouldn't need any). But one thing I would suggest is to buy several QR plates and leave them on the camera / lenses.

When B&H said they were having difficulty I bought 5 of them (excellent service for a relatively small purchase overseas) which covered all my 2 lenses with feet, one on the camera, and one for the sprogs bridge if he should ever need it. I carry a spare if anyone I'm with would like to use my tripod.

Dwebb Loc: Ms

I have used an Innorel tripod for several years now, carbon fiber, twist lock, heavy duty. I have never had an issue with it. It will support anything that you want to mount on it. It’s very sturdy. The price is not bad at all. Purchased it on EBay. Look it up, and look at the reviews. If you purchase another tripod with the same specs you’ll pay 800.00 plus for it. I paid about 350.00 for my copy and have never regretted my purchase.

willy6419

selecting a tripod is similar personal interest as selecting your spouse!

I'm new with this product, but so far the Fotopro X-GoMax carbon fiber, 3 leg, twist, with a ball head has been really good, so at least take a look at it.

Relatively recent launch in the U.S. And always buy enough QR plates.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Good articles -
https://www.bythom.com/reviews--books/tripods-today.html (ByThom)
https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-tripod
https://digital-photography-school.com/everything-about-tripods-phil-steele/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIWvjfI_-PA
http://digital-photography-school.com/build-ideal-tripod/
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/5-pros-and-5-cons-of-using-a-tripod/
http://www.lightstalking.com/tripod-heads/

TerryVS

You'll get a ton of responses to this. You need to really think about what you're using the tripod for. You mentioned sports. I've never used a tripod shooting sports, a monopod yes, tripod no.

Big and heavy is great (and stable) if you don't have to carry it! Carbon fiber is lighter and doesn't transmit vibration but cost more.

The head type is an entirely different discussion. For sure having a Acra clamp will make life easier.

The one most important thing you'll hear over and over is how people buy cheap, get dissatisfied, buy better and repeat until they finally buy a quality tripod. Hard to imagine legs and head costing almost as much as a body but that's not unusual.

Do your research and spend wisely. When you need a tripod you really need a quality tripod.

Fotoserj Loc: St calixte Qc Ca

Weight your heavyest combination camera lens and tripod head, go to your manufacturer web site and check the heavyest lens they carry, double that weight and use that as a base reference, than look up a tripod that will hold that weight, keep in mind it will outlast your actual equipment