UTEP65 Loc: Lake Royale, NC

Thanks for all of the great replies! I checked out the Silk 700 Pro and it appears to be the best deal for someone new to photography. Have any of you had any experience with UBeesize 60” camera tripod? It is one of Amazon’s “choice” selections.

TBPJr Loc: South Carolina

I like this tripod, but its head has a proprietary QR system that is not arca-swiss compatible. When I bought a monopod (also from Vanguard), I could not buy the identical or a compatible head for it that would use the same QR plates, which are unreasonably expensive, too. Until I finally bought a gimbal for the tripod (arca-swiss compatible), I had to swap QR plates to switch between the tripod and the monopod. That is inconvenient enough, but it also means keeping up with two sets of QR plates and a tool or coin that makes it easier to change the QR plates.

I would avoid tripods with a head that is not arca-swiss compatible; this particular Vanguard product comes with a non-compatible head, and there are no options to change that, except to buy a different head and QR plates.

Tony Groenink

Have a look at the Sirui range

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

The most important criterion from a functional point of view is the stability it provides. How much stability you'll need is directly related to one thing - image magnification, and by extension, camera focal length and working distance. There is no point in spending $100 or any amount of money if it doesn't suit your purpose.

Landscape photography is among the least demanding. Typically done with short telephoto down to wide angle lenses, you'll be fine with many lower cost tripods.

If you are using long lenses and shooting wildlife, you may want to consider something with more stability - and correspondingly more expensive.

Another important consideration is tripod weight - you can get a very heavy duty aluminum tripod that can weigh as much as 14 lbs - but do you really want to carry that in the field for wildlife photography?

Carbon fiber is the current material of choice - extremely light and rigid. And the range of tripod weights starts at about 2 lbs and goes to around 7 lbs - with the 7 lb tripods typically selected by photoraphers doing serious wildlife photography with 600mm or longer lenses. A rule of thumb is to look at the top tube leg thickness. Gitzo and Induro have categorized their lines by leg thickness. You can see in the attached images how Gitzo makes their recommendation based on leg thickness vs focal length.

In general, a carbon tripod is 1/2 to 1/3 the weight of an aluminum alloy tripod, and will have 2-4X the load capacity and rigidity. With today's cameras and lenses you'd have to have a seriously heavy camera to exceed the load capacity of just about any tripod on the market. Moreover, load capacity is not the best criterion to judge stability. A metal tripod with a 15 lb load capacity that itself weighs nearly 6 lbs is no match for a 2lb carbon fiber tripod that has a load capacity of 55 lbs. However, the metal tripod may be sufficient for landscape use, even if it weighs 6 lbs.

I am not suggesting that you buy a Gitzo, or any other specific brand. I am suggesting that you consider the factors that matter, and make a decision that will minimize buyer's remorse down the road. I am a retiree as well, and I look for value, not price. One can get a tripod that can come pretty close in performance to a Gitzo, Induro, RRS and spend up to 50% less than the premium brands.

Also, the least reliable place to get tripod reviews, other than Ken Rockwell's site, would be user reviews. These reviews are neither critical nor thorough. They take the form of "I just got this great tripod and I love it". These people rarely lack a wide basis for comparison and likely have never used a quality tripod in demanding conditions - so I suggest you thake those with a grain of salt or just dismiss them altogether.

A "good" tripod and "retiree" budget are very vague terms, and as you can see, can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Let's find out what lenses you have and what you plan to take pictures of that you'll need a tripod for.

Rdgreenwood hits the nail on the head with a responsible approach to selecting a tripod and being careful about buying inadequate ones. He also has great advice on using a tripod with a center section - avoid it if at all possible.

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UTEP65 Loc: Lake Royale, NC

Thanks so much for your reply.

cytafex Loc: Clarksburg MA

I have several Gitzo tripods, but they always get jammed on trips to the Southwest. Several years ago I acquired a Sirui W 2204 tripod and never have a problem with it and not expensive.

Yankeedawg

I second taking a look at Vanguard products. They offer a good tripod at a good price. You can find many reviews on YouTube of their various models. For heavier camera/lens setups, you may want to purchase a larger ball head down the road if what comes with your tripod is unsatisfactory. Their price on their larger head isn't bad.

jims203 Loc: Connecticut

I wish I had read this article first as I did it the wrong way as so many others. How to save $1700 on your first tripod.
https://www.dslrbodies.com/accessories/camera-accessories/tripod-101.html

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

If you are going to take the tripod with you and not leave it at home because it is too big, too heavy or too much of a hassle get an easily portable one that collapses to a relatively short length (4 leg sections work great) is relatively light and will fit easily into a duffel type bag with a shoulder strap.
If it is not easily portable it will be a total waste of money unless it is to stay at home for use there.
There are many models available.
I purchased this:
https://www.manfrotto.com/us-en/190xpro-aluminium-4-section-camera-tripod-mt190xpro4/
and this head:
https://www.manfrotto.com/us-en/x-pro-3-way-tripod-head-with-retractable-levers-mhxpro-3w/

It is very strong and easily holds my DSLR and a big 100-400mm L lens. But for those on a budget it does not break the bank.
There are several Manfrotto 190 series tripods in many price ranges but I again recommend the 4 section legs for portability and the head I got the handles collapse as well and it folds to very small.
Here it is in use for macro shots.
Good luck, many choices but remember some are too clumsy/big/heavy to take thus get left home and guess what, you wasted all that money for a dirty clothes hanger.

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

I believe that “getting a tri-pod” is a decision well served by visiting your local camera shop. They generally have quite a variety of “TRI-PODS” particularly, and can well inform you about what might be best for you. At the same time, you’ve helped maintain your local photo-professional, and will likely come away with THE ONE, at a fair price. I have recently had a change of heart, about buying so much stuff from on line SELLERS. My usual and preferred mail-order supplier has gone greedy, greedier than they WERE. They dreamed up a way(supposedly)to save you from the extra expense of TAX. They cleverly dreamed up their own credit card, a card that you can never get a CASH refund on a purchase gone WRONG. You get a credit back on the “CARD” if there was any problem, but Never a CASH refund. Once you buy anything, That amount of money(your CASH) will always be ,JUST ON THE CARD??? Get friendly with your local Camera shop people!!....RJM

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Stay as far away from Amazon as you can stay! They know NOTHING about specialized equipment. Tell them you are "someone new to photography" and they will try to soak you for everything they peddle. And it will all be "Amazon's choice selections" they recommend just for you. Makes no difference if you are new to photography. You have no need for inferior gear. Find a mentor or join a club and become knowledgable. Learn more than how to read a price tag. Protect yourself from scam artists who prey on people "new" to anything in life. Protection from that is education and information. We all were "new" to photography at one time. Maybe you have heard the expression "Buy cheap-Buy often"? Memorize it. Generally speaking the tripod is the first item to force us to cut the cord and become truly independent. Independence is what makes a photographer good. Independence is what teaches success.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

If you are against the card then do not get or use it.
Some people like it.
Has nothing to do with getting a tripod.

1CanonGuy Loc: Texas

There are lot’s of tripods poorly made ones some decent ones and very good ones. I’ve owned many over the years and I still have a few of them, besides being steady you want to purchase one that’s not only sturdy and free of vibration as much as possible and capable of holding the weight of your camera and lens. I purchased a carbon fiber from Benro for $200.00 and a ball head for $150.00 and I’m very pleased with what I have. I to have to live with in my budget as I’m a retiree. Do your own research take your time you will find what you want. Remember it’s your your money the folk here on the Hog love too spend your money. Best of luck on your search.

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

Thanks for your inept insight. You should always have “the last word”. Just SWELL!! You should always be invited to give us all the final call. Have a great day, and you ARE a great fellow!!....................REALLY!! RJM

tcthome Loc: NJ

I believe the w is for the in water use spec.