SewClever

Hi friends...I am very drawn to nature and landscape photography and I'm realizing my lightweight travel tripod often is not up to the job. Can anyone make recommendations of a sturdy tripod that works for you? I know I'll add a ball head, but really all of this is pretty new to me
Thanks! Rita

jims203 Loc: Connecticut

It is best to see them and feel them in person as your experience will vary. Gitzo, Manfrotto, Leofoto, Really Right Stuff are but a few better brands to consider.

kcj Loc: Seneca SC

Look at the vanguard veo 3 plus I use it all the time and love it I can put aNikon 850 and a small telephoto of 300 and it is great and not to heavy to carry around and it has its own case mine is not carbon but it does come in carbon also It has a good ball head on it already

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

This is the default budget tripod recommendation - if budget matters - it is metal so it does have a bit of weight - please READ the user reviews. Of course, carbon fiber will be lighter but much more $$$ - https://www.ebay.com/itm/195524980126?epid=26031753456&hash=item2d86326d9e:g:dOwAAOSwPLVjoLty&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4EnUqoV5RNUxqxO86Oj8HaolNM4AKUVEFrFOrQHYBql24hSNGjFduCZRJOUhTFF6gIKGL9pUlJyQ1bQmWoREkC3OEsUO3PT7bDY2IVclOvYDEm37cysJU7qCtmx5iRAban54G4hor6TGVY6pvVoLsy22yBVySphpFbi%2B%2Bz3fgDQ8AZAbndtTCpa6mED%2Fwrhk2I%2BDbe6%2FnrK%2BtgIvD6XsZYdQZLDxe4RQQF7OhHVVYz8yU7UD9bKvgiomRQNy4rQIAmr%2F65j7zZo0W5H7Sx9EfsETDRnKhzphMOehKHUFp%2FGg%7Ctkp%3ABFBMoqXk5LZi
I can also recommend the Manfrotto #3221 - also a metal pod ......for cost conscious . Better tripods will have at least a 32mm top leg.

Here is a very good ball head that I have been using for some time now - https://www.ebay.com/itm/195524980126?epid=26031753456&hash=item2d86326d9e:g:dOwAAOSwPLVjoLty&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4EnUqoV5RNUxqxO86Oj8HaolNM4AKUVEFrFOrQHYBql24hSNGjFduCZRJOUhTFF6gIKGL9pUlJyQ1bQmWoREkC3OEsUO3PT7bDY2IVclOvYDEm37cysJU7qCtmx5iRAban54G4hor6TGVY6pvVoLsy22yBVySphpFbi%2B%2Bz3fgDQ8AZAbndtTCpa6mED%2Fwrhk2I%2BDbe6%2FnrK%2BtgIvD6XsZYdQZLDxe4RQQF7OhHVVYz8yU7UD9bKvgiomRQNy4rQIAmr%2F65j7zZo0W5H7Sx9EfsETDRnKhzphMOehKHUFp%2FGg%7Ctkp%3ABFBMoqXk5LZi
This head features a rotating top for versatility. Better ball heads start with a minimum 40mm ball.
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jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I prefer pan and tilt to a ball head. I can set on plane and set the other. If I have to, I can loosen both locks and move the camera as if it were on a ball mount. I shoot a lot of video using a tripod. and smooth movement is essential, not so much with still photography.

You want a tripod with parts that move smoothly and easily and are easy to lock and unlock. The best tripod I have is the old Vanguard Tracker 4. It's big and heavy, though. I probably have half a dozen tripods, but the big, heavy, discontinued Vanguard is the best.

By Thom -
https://dslrbodies.com/accessories/other-accessories/tripod-101.html
https://www.bythom.com/reviews--books/tripods-today.html

https://thecentercolumn.com/
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/

Canisdirus

I use semi heavy equipment...and my tripod does it with aplomb...but surely others are just as capable.

My advice is...don't skimp...if you choose wisely...you won't want another tripod for at least a decade.

I use the Leofoto LMR-324CL ... with a Manfrotto fluid head attached.

Fluid heads can do anything a ball can...plus shoot video...again...don't skimp...buy once for the most options.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Rita, selecting a "good" tripod could be quite confusing since there are many brands available. I bet you are going to get several answers to your request and I bet all of them are going to be different. I can tell you what I have but I am not recommending to others what I do, each one of us should head for a camera store where competent personnel will be of great aid selecting what we need.

If you use a heavy camera with heavy lenses you need a hefty tripod. If you are using mirrorless cameras like Olympus, Fuji or Panasonic then you do not need to spend a lot of money but that is your decision, nothing stops you from buying the most expensive tripod money can buy.
In 1974 I bought a Manfrotto, all aluminum tripod, the model No. 3021. It served me well and I still keep it but it is heavy and I am no longer a spring chicken. Out of impulse I bought years later a Gitzo, a heavy duty one that can hold easily an 8x10 camera or the heaviest camera with a heavy lens without sweat. Both of these tripods are collecting dust and I have not used them for several years.

One day I saw a cheap Dolica aluminum tripod, Proline series that cost me $40. I began to use it with my Olympus cameras but soon I was using it with my Nikon cameras also. I use good tripod techniques and I can tell you the little tripod has done its job. A mere $40 for a tripod that has given me a lot of satisfaction because it is a pleasure traveling with it and it fits anywhere, so small it is.

I decided to buy a carbon fiber tripod and I went with a Desmond DCF-432 that cost me $199. It is steady, appears to be well constructed and it is serving my purpose. It is not as flexible for traveling like the Dolica but I travel with it without issues. I fit it with a Linhof ball head that I bought several years ago. Believe it or not I use the Dolica more often.

My recommendation is that if you have a nearby camera store that you take your gear to them and ask for advice. They will show you what they have, you can put the camera and lens on the tripod and then you will be able to make a good decision on which one to buy. I do recommend a ballhead with the Arca Swiss release and if you want to complete the set up get an L-clamp, many of them available in Ebay if you want to save money. The L-clamp will keep the center of gravity regardless of the position of the camera.

Modern tripods made of aluminum are pretty light and of excellent quality. Carbon fiber tends to be more expensive although there are many brands been sold at reasonable prices. With a strong wind the aluminum tripod is more stable.
Good luck buying your new tripod. Many good buys in the second hand market if you know exactly what you need.

photoman43

I would check out the tripods made and sole by Benro. They own Induro and other brands too.

SewClever

Thank you!

SewClever

Thank you!

SewClever

Thank you!! I found that exact tripod!

gwilliams6

I have been at this for over 50 years and have used most brands of tripods all over the world, and I have come to love my Sirui tripods in all sizes. I have two different size travel tripods, both carbon fiber and waterproof. Sirui makes both aluminum/magnesium and carbon fiber models. There are pros and cons of carbon fiber or aluminum/magnesium for tripods. I prefer carbon fiber. https://yourphotoadvisor.com/carbon-fiber-vs-aluminum-tripod-does-it-really-matter/?expand_article=1

FYI, Sirui tripods won both most recent travel tripod shootouts done by DPReview.

Here are links to their site and tips to shopping. Sirui are carried by most dealers like B&H and Adorama, or you can buy direct.

https://store.sirui.com/collections/tripods?gclid=CjwKCAjw_aemBhBLEiwAT98FMpXsTU0dwN_fJ2ULySki-z9OeLRDphr552v0xVNTm-DT5d0mWwMYphoCY9EQAvD_BwE

Tips on how to shop for tripods:

https://store.sirui.com/blogs/guides/how-to-choose-tripods-and-precautions#:~:text=However%2C%20aluminum%2Dmagnesium%20alloy%20tripod,on%20the%20market%20at%20present.

Cheers and best to you.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

http://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/choosing-a-tripod-part-1/

http://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/choosing-a-tripod-part-3/

Check these links out. Thay are a brand-nuetral write-up on tripod selection based on construction, weight, load, etc.

dbrugger25 Loc: Raleigh, NC

I have several tripods and monopods. When I go out to acquire photos the one I take depends on the situation. For astronomy photos or long distance telephotos, where exposure times are longer, only the most sturdy tripods will do. I also use a remote control to activate the shutter so I don't have to touch the rig.

For shorter range photos I use lighter, more portable tripods. Every quality tripod, and tripod head,
has a rated weight capacity and I am guided by those ratings. If my camera and lens is lighter than the rating, and the distance to the object isn't far, I go with the lighter rated tripods. For the most demanding situations I prefer to use a tripod and head that is rated for at least twice the weight of my camera assembly.

Pay attention to the surface on which the tripod is resting. Wood decks or soft soil can induce some unwanted motion. A paved surface or firm soil or a solid internal floor induces less.

One time I was taking astrophotos on firm soil in a rural place. I didn't realize that there were railroad tracks not far away. During a longer exposure a train came buy and the vibrations blurred the photo.

Another factor to consider is how quickly a tripod "settles down" after being bumped. Even the slightest disturbence such as a gust of wind can cause harmonics in some tripods that will reduce the sharpness of a photo. I woud suggest that you go to a good camera store and place your equipment on various tripods. Operate the leg extensions and check on the lock-up strength of the ball heads. Move the ball head around with the locking knob at various levels of tightness to see of the resistance is smooth and even. Some are better than others.

If you belong to a photography club, or can go to a club outing as a visitor, you can learn a lot about equipment.

For studio work or panoramic landscapes, I only use my heaviest tripods, with a gear head so I can make precise adjustments. When I need faster object acquisition I like a ball head or a gimbal head. For videos, where I am constantly moving the camera, I like a fluid head with a long control handle.

The best tripod is very situational.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Over the years, I have used tripods made by Gitzo and Maanfrotto an old Majestic model. All of these have served me well wot a variety of cameras ranging from 8x10 and 4x5 view cameras, many medium format camer, and current digital models with all manner of lenses. All of this tripos are well built and have survived sometimes hard and continuous use.

If you read through the articles, in the link I previously posted, you will find out the practical factors in selecting a tripod beyond brand names and model numbers.

It is a matter of geometry and physics- that is, tripod structure and balance and the load of the equipment it is to support. You do not, however, have to be a mathematician or a physicist because the article breaks down the basics that need to be recognized and factored in.

Even the heaviest of tripods can be ineffective if the load is not balanced or the structure of the tipod is such that will not support the load without wobble, or vibration. A lighter-weight tripod that is more cleverly engineered may do a better job.

I often use my tripods on construction and industrial sites where vibration is a consideration. In many kins of work, the degree of ambiet vibration is not significant enough to worry about and a lighter and well-balanced tripod can be used. Again, the geometry in such matters as the leg spread and angles, the integrity of the center column, and other construction/build factors have to be considered. Of course, the head type and construction are important as well.