Shine11 Loc: London UK

Please could I have some advise on a general good quality lightweight sturdy tripod?

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Where are you located to begin with, hi.

Impossible to say.

Like asking what car would you suggest.

With not knowing what you want it for, different tripods for different uses.

Ones that can take salt wated, alloy, trecking, please state your needs

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I love my Manfrotto 190 3 section carbon fiber...but it's not cheap. Just make sure you get one that is tall enough. Now that's just half of the decision...the other half is what kind of head do you want to put on it. Mine has a Acratech GV2, which I think costs more than the legs. It's rock solid and can easily hold my E-5, EC-14, and 135-400mm lens.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I agree here, but the Manfrotto 190 and 055 aluminum models are quite sturdy also and a lot less money. I have 3 of the old Bogen 3021's, they are now called the Manfrotto 055, they are my workhorse tripods, I am never without at least one of them. I use the Bogen 3055 ball head on them all. I have heavier tripods for heavier lenses though. As a general rule you want to get a tripod/head combination that will hald at least twice as much weight as you ever anticipate putting on it, just to assure the needed stability.
"Bargain" tripods are NEVER a bargain!

smd25 Loc: Essex UK

Check out Hahnel 100...All metal construction complete with large Ballhead. Extremely solid construction and supports my Nikon with Battery grip and 70-300 lens with no trouble at all, could take double that......A very good low cost tripod, but not exactly'lightweight' although I have no trouble carrying it.
smd25

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Amen!

smd25 Loc: Essex UK

Check it out on Amazon......I couldn't believe it either but it's stronger than solid and has all the benefits of a Manfrotto but at a fraction of the cost.
Seeing is believing.....Hallelluja!

magicunicorn Loc: Melbourne Australia

manfrotto 055 Pro B i love mine very very sturdy tripod. What is the weight of your camera and lens make sure it is able to hold that.
Good Luck

Deekboy

I'll second the Manfrotto 190 Aluminium as a well constructed general purpose traditional tripod. Have various camera supports for different uses some much bigger/heavier but the 190 is a good portable all rounder. Accepts various heads and not just Manfrotto. Slight con. - reflections in some subjects from its natural colour alloy legs but this rarely happens. Reasonable weight and OK to carry with the Manfrotto sling. Live in UK but took it around NZ happily.

Scoutman Loc: Orlando, FL

Check the archives. Lots and lots. Also Youtube. Raveli makes a carbon fibre that sells for under $100 - seems like a good buy. I am happy with their 72" metal version.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Gitzo carbon fiber. Look em up on the web and pick one that will support double the weight of the largest body and lens you have.

dachs

I have a Manfrotto 055 carbon. Poor man's Gitzo, which are lovely but bank breaking.
Observations;~
in spite of (very good) magnesium fittings, is not that light (the CF is very good quality but not so light)
In spite of fair weight (after a day lugging it on a shoulder strap, like all tripods, you know it's there), like any other tripod, in a gale it isn't the whole answer. Can weight it with the bag, but don't let the bag swing in the wind.
Get a good head with a good quick release that doesn't let the cam slowly swivel downhill. Manfrotto's own 460g is excellent once you mill the QR plate (which seems to be cast lead) down to minimum thickness suited to your gear weight; ie, rangefinder, halve the thickness and mill extra holes in the QR plate, 800mm f2,8, leave the plate as is. Extra plates aren't too costly, or look at the basic standard Swiss Arca type.
FM do some lovely little fittings for light cams too.

But realise, a mid price Manfrotto is probably the best compromise tripod but if it is left at home because you cannot be bothered lugging it up a mountain, it is useless. Also, no tripod is proof against sudden gusts or indeed being kicked whilst on time exposure. All this stuff is a compromise.

Maybe get a cheap Velbon (not bad for the money), use him a while and then decide if and what improved features you really need.

Even Benbo still cut the mustard but you need a willing porter to lug a hefty model about; if you have one, you'll treasure the effective simple design of a Benbo.

So get a budget (say $/£ 100 discount) tripod, use it a while, realise all the compromises, then and only then decide what you spend the real bucks on.

I got a chum an end of season German wooden tripod; no heavier than aluminium, great capacity and height, and a really neat centre column feature so you could level the cam' in one twist. Under £100, cute, in keeping with his old Rollei twin lens, did what it said on the tin, and could not wear out, ever.

Eyes open then

Joecosentino Loc: Whitesboro, New York

I have the induro ct114 light weight good for travel I have used a 70 to 200 on it. And also the induro ct 214. Its larger and more sturdy. I got both for he cost of either a manforto or gitzo

Take a look

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Hello smd25

I could not find any spec's on it. Point us to a site that gives info?

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Hahnel is Irish, here is their website:
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,1424194

I am not sure if they have an American distributor though.