John7199 Loc: Eastern Mass.

I know I have a tripod someplace, but I will be dam*d if I can find it. At this point in my life I don't want to spend an arm and a leg on a new one (I don't use one very much). Is there a market in used ones? What names should I look for.
Thanks
John

OldSchool-WI Loc: Brandon, Wisconsin 53919

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I bought my first tripod when I bought my 35mm camera at age twelve and a former professor of photography from Purdue---grabbed it and held the legs together and exclaimed: "Maybe if you tied these legs together you might make a unipod." I was crushed. But soon I had bought a cut film camera and a good wooden tripod with a super head. But the original Kodak thin tubular tripod was good enough for a light non-rangefinder 35mm, regardless of Dr. Kohl's outburst. So--If you want the sturdiest---the oldest tried and trued--dur-aluminum----BUY A USED---Tiltsall. I have had mine since the late sixties and I bought it used then. But then I also have fold-up wooden Graflex tripods which might be good since they weigh practically nothing and fold up to about 15inches or so. Those held up press cameras. And a heavy DSLR these days cane be four pounds. But I have a cheap tripod from a sale at B&H which if used carefully could work and cost new--less than twenty bucks and I can carry that on my pants belt! But for the best and sturdiest---you cannot go wrong with the "classic" dur-aluminum Tiltsall.----------------ew

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

John, there is a robust market in used tripods. You can buy a lot more for your money than new and the performance doesnt degrade unless they are badly abused. Aluminum is fine, but can get heavy. The old codgers were using tiltalls when i started in the 80s. The world moved on since then.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I have several Gitzo 80 - 90 aluminum vintage tripods and heads and most were purchased used for a fraction on what new carbon fiber or fiberglass cost.

OldSchool-WI Loc: Brandon, Wisconsin 53919

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Do you live on the moon?

If you want a tripod to hold 20-40 lbs, you cannot put it on your belt and run up a mountain. Tubular aluminum has not gone out of style. But if you claim to be up-to-times and not an old codger--save a few pounds with carbon fiber. Maybe you aren't up to a heavy camera either--maybe a carbon-fiber camera and a plastic lens is to your liking. The Tiltalls will always be the best for professionals. ----

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

To specifically answer the question, eBay will give you an idea of the used market, whether you choose to buy from them or not. The premier brands Gitzo and RRS are usually available, but brands like Induro, Manfrotto, Benro, SLIK are usually pretty reliable. There are many that are pretty good. Read reviews if you want to get into it. Just don’t get the cheapest available, as it will fail, and you will end up buying another tripod. Make sure it is tall enough to get your canera to eye level, preferably without using a center column. You will pay more buying used gear from a camera store or reseller than from an individual, but the confidence may be worth it to you. Good Luck!

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

As has been suggested by Mr. Johnson, there are many tripod brands to choose from, a pretty popular one is Siroui. I like Manfrotto, they have excellent aluminum tripods if you decide to go that way.
Carbon fiber tripods, as has been already mentioned are lighter but that is not their best attribute when weather conditions are windy. Make sure the tripod can hold your heavier camera with your heavier lens.

A second hand tripod will save you money but a camera dealer will allow you to look at the tripod before you buy and even mount the camera on it. A good and knowledgeable salesman can help you with your purchase.
Good luck.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

How many cameras with 1,200mm lenses weigh 20-40 pounds.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

You will get a LOT of replies to this question. I'm not a big fan of tripods, I honestly think that many people I see using tripods are hoping to be thought of as professionals or at least, "high end" "serious" photographers.

Having said that, there was a period in my life where I shot almost exclusively transparency (slide) film medium format landscapes. I used a tripod for that work. I used and loved and still have that SLIK 700 Pro tripod and still use it on occasion. Some people will laugh at that, but it didn't cost an arm and a leg. I've had it for many years all over the place and in all kinds of difficult situations involving water, snow, ice, wind, heat, humidity...

It takes a licking, and keeps on ticking!! You would be smart to take a look at one.

Ltgk20 Loc: Salisbury, NC

What are you looking for the tripod to do? Are you looking mostly for a landscape setup to use with relatively light, wide lenses in reasonably calm situations? Something to hold the camera and a normal focal length lens for family group photos? Are you looking for something you can put a 100-400mm lens and take long exposure landscape? Are you looking for something to put a 600mm lens on for wildlife? What you want to do with it will have a large impact on what you need. If the rig is reasonably light and the conditions calm, you can easiy go with a fairly lightweight setup. If you're doing long exposure with a 600mm f4 that weighs 10 lbs in a decent wind, it's either going to weigh a lot or cost a lot and possibly both.

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Tiltalls are "nostalgia priced" classics ... not a real bargain these days. They also have a coupla shortfalls. Some of them are not anodized. Theres no counter lock on the screw, and the switchover to portrait mode is awkward, not to mention the weird mechanism for the spiked feet on the classic versions. No crocodile tears when I parted with mine.

Theres a "Star-D" clone that is almost as good as the real Tiltall and without the nostalgia pricing. Star-D was a well respected label for affordable photo accessories. Adding an Arca style clamp and right angle bracket solves some of the ergonomics issues, and IIRC all Star-Ds were anodized (raw aluminum gets your hands all grubby gray).

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ROTFLMFAO.

Do you ever read the stuff you write ?
Or, if never doing so is the key to your comedic success, then please just keep on keeping on !

Just ignore all those sad losers who take you seriously and get upset. Fuggem if they cant take a joke. Your name should be in lights !

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John7199 Loc: Eastern Mass.

As always thanks for the quick and helpful responses.
John

OldSchool-WI Loc: Brandon, Wisconsin 53919

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The "idiot spoiler" is back on the job. That is USER-ID---the anonymous throwback from laugh-in. That show went off the air a half century ago--why didn't you?--------------------------

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

. Good rule of thumb… a tripod can be cheap, light and sturdy. You only get to pick two.