Shutterbugsailer Loc: Staten Island NY (AKA Cincinnati by the Sea)

Best response yet. For the average amateur photographer, spending $1000.00 on a carbon fiber tripod is about as likely to result in gallery worthy photos, as splashing on Axe cologne will get the High School nerd a date with the homecoming queen

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Sometimes, a very expensive and great tripod is purely a waste of money as well, especially if you rarely use it. And for the times you DO use it, an old, used $50, heavy duty alloy tripod will do the same exact job stabilizing your camera for next to nothing.
If you're a pro that hikes mile upon mile to get a landscape shot, sure, go for the Gitzo.
If you drive up in your car and set up your tripod next to 100 others that also drove up, you can get by with a used $50 great pod from yesteryear!
No need to be embarrassed, especially when your a better photographer!!
Spent you money on a better lens or camera that will actually improve your images. ;-)
SS

blackest Loc: Ireland

Who has 1 tripod? I think it's a case of use whats appropriate for the task in hand, even if some of the cheaper tripods end up as light stands or holding a backdrop or a reflector. Or a mike or ...

Shutterbugsailer Loc: Staten Island NY (AKA Cincinnati by the Sea)

Another advantage of mirrorless cameras; They let you get away with using light, cheap tripods in situations where they might be problematic with a DSLR. Not only are mirrorless cameras lighter than most DSLRs when used with similar focal length lenses, but you are eliminating mirror slap vibration which might affect the outcome of the shot. Another recommendation when using cheap tripods is to set the camera timer to 2, 3, or 10 seconds as to eliminate the shake effect that comes from pressing the shutter. A remote cable release might be helpful too.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Yes, and as long as you're using all the wrong tools for the job, you can also use one to hold up a target while you shoot at it as well!!!! :lol:
SS

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Carbon fiber is not only lighter, it also is nicer to handle than metal in cold weather. And... probably most importantly... CF absorbs fine vibrations that metal would tend to transmit. A few years ago, carbon fiber was only available from limited manufacturers and tended to be pretty expensive. Now it's available from nearly every manufacturer and costs have come way down. If considering carbon fiber, do some research on the specific brand and model, though. There are different quality grades of CF, it's a bit tricky to work with, and some manufacturers simply do it better than others.

I look for as few leg sections as possible, yet practical. A three-section leg doesn't fold up as compactly, but the diameter of its smallest leg section is larger than with legs with 4, 5 or more sections. Plus fewer joints just tend to be stabler, as well as faster to set up. OTOH, one or two-section legs just don't fold up small enough to be convenient to haul around. Three-section seems about right and are mostly what I use, though I do have one four-section tripod, too. Someone else may want a tripod with more sections, to be more compact for air travel and use with relatively lightweight gear. Or they might want fewer for use with especially heavy gear in-studio or if they usually don't need to hand carry the tripod very for for their shoots.

If at all possible, get a tripod with no center column. It's another thing that can reduce stability a lot, particularly if you have to raise it a lot to have adequate work height. Two of my four tripods don't have any, but the other two do have center columns. However both 'pods with columns are tall enough without raising the column, so it's rarely needed and doesn't compromise stability much. Plus, the heavier one that I use in-studio has a geared column that's securely cross-braced to the legs. The field tripod I've set up with a "rapid" center column is taller than me even without the column extended. I wanted the column on that tripod to be able to reverse it for low angle shooting, such as macro.

Without any center column or with one that's not extended, look for a tripod that's tall enough to be comfortable and won't force you to stoop down to shoot. Keep in mind that the head and the camera itself, plus a leveling platform if you use one, all add to the overall height and ideally put the viewfinder at your eye level when standing.

Also, look at the weight ratings of any tripod you're considering. Most better manufacturers provide that info. The rating for the legs has to accommodate both the tripod head and the heaviest lens/camera/accessories combination you might put on it, plus I'd recommend some significant margin for safety. The head should have a more-than-adequate weight rating, too.

I use a leveling platform on three of my four tripods. Those go between the head and the leg set, adding a little height and some significant weight. A leveler on my studio tripod makes for very fine adjustment when needed... And that whole rig is on a dolly anyway, so the weight doesn't bother me. On two of my field tripods the leveling platforms make for much faster setup than trying to perfectly adjust legs individually on uneven ground. Both of those I often use with gimbal heads, where a level base is quite important. It's also necessary for panorama shooting and some other techniques. So, for me the 1 lb. or so of additional weight from the leveling platform is outweighed by it's benefits.

I use heavy duty ballheads on two of my field tripods and have an accessory gimbal adapter so that either of them can also be set up specifically for large telephoto lenses. My third field tripod has a full size gimbal head on it, so is pretty much dedicated to large telephoto use only. My studio tripod has a pan/tilt head.

There are a number of types and variations of tripod heads to choose among... Might be a good idea to go to a store and try out different types, to see what you prefer. In the field I like ballheads that don't have protruding handles to catch on branches and cuffs. In a studio, I prefer a pan/tilt, with it's separate movements. To get more exactly what you want in each, you can buy leg sets and heads separately (nearly all use the same 3/8" mounting screw, for easy interchangeability). OTOH, there might be some savings buying a combo, if you can find one that meets your needs well.

All three of my field tripods have "twist" type leg locks. Those are low profile and largely self-adjusting, pretty much fool-proof except that you have to be a little careful about dirt and water getting into them. I prefer these over protruding "lever" type or "thumbscrew" type locks, both of which can catch on branches, etc., or a cuff or sleeve when carrying or working around them. The lever type are faster to set up, but tend to wear and may need adjustment or occasional repair. The thumbscrew type might vibrate loose and, unless secured in some way, fall out... leaving you totally screwed (pun intended).

Some people do find the twist type locks a little tricky at first... The sections need to be loosened, extended and re-tightened in a particular order (largest first), as well as taking some care not to over-tighten. It becomes second nature to do it in the correct order pretty quickly. And, some newer models have an "anti-rotation" leg design that isn't entirely round in cross-section, to solve this relatively minor issue.

All my tripod heads, lenses with tripod mounting collars, camera bodies and various accessories are compatible with or set up with Arca-Swiss type quick release platforms, plates, etc. It's the best and most universal quick release system, used by many manufacturers now. It's also pretty much required when using any sort of gimbal mounting, because it's about the only type of QR system that can be adjusted slightly to fine tune the balance of a large lens and camera on the gimbal. I use those a lot, so it's the only QR system that will work for me.

I've got LegCoats on at least one leg of all three of my field tripods, which makes them a bit more pleasant to carry slung over a shoulder for any distance.

All of my tripods are also from reputible, long-term manufacturers, so spare parts are pretty easily available if ever needed for any reason.

Finally, for longer treks, as well as safer storage, I have and also recommend a good fitting tripod bag, especially for field and travel rigs. This might be even more important with carbon fiber than metal tripods, because while it's quite tough and strong in certain ways, CF can be damaged more easily than metal in other ways.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

One thing I had never done was buy a shoulder strap, which I did for my latest tripod. For bird photography it allows your hands to be free for those quick response times needed when something jumps out at you. On the other hand, when you can predict behavior or need the additional reach with longer lenses, use the tripod. I was surprised, assuming it's balance properly, how effortless it is to carry around the tripod on your back. Makes it much less likely you will leave it in the trunk, which in the past I have been guilty of, only wishing I had when I found I needed it.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

It turned out that little button was just stuck. I pushed it hard and it gave away. So it seems safe to use. Thanks for the tips and ideas.

stan0301 Loc: Colorado

The same can be said for lens hoods and remote releases--the other two legs of the tripod when it comes to getting good pictures
Stan

JimBart Loc: Western Michigan

Thanks for the insight It is much appreciated and will be put to good use at Christmas

quagmire Loc: Greenwood,South Carolina

got a Platinum plus by Sunpro(100.00) and a sony A55 with IS
hardly ever use tripod with shutter priority

Sprocket Loc: Upstate New York

Yup, this is why they call them "tripods". Everybody buys about three of them before they learn their lesson. It has nothing to do with the number of legs. :D :D :D

Blasthoff Loc: Life halved NY and IN

I will agree with that. I have a Bogen 3221 I got back around 1987 that is still near mint because it never saw much use. It had a heavy 3047 pan tilt head that was pure masochism to use. No matter what I tried (even grease), I was never able to make the head smooth enough for an "easy" precise set up. Having three axis points to adjust and the same problem with all three pivots would drive me MAD and soon found myself rarely using it.

Fast forward to this year I pulled out the tripod after a 25 year rest only to rediscover the frustration. I couldn't afford to spend a lot, but after a month of searching for a good head I could afford, I was able to score an ArcaSwiss Monoball in decent condition for under $150. What a world of difference! Sure, the 3226 with the big Monoball weighs in at about 7.5 lbs, but one should think of it as 7.5 lbs of smooth precision and stability. I might even add 2.5-5 lbs when doing stationary setups at home. The point is, it's now a pretty stable platform under most conditions and it's now a pleasure to use, (I could nitpick for twist lock legs). It can set up above my eye level without using the center column. 7.5 lbs is not that bad IF you use a good strap, like an Op Tech for carrying. The weight is not a big price to pay for saving $700-$800. I also added a good set of "bicycle" foam grips. I DO remember what it's like to handle an aluminum tripod when it was -3 degrees F. and it's NOT fun.

I haven't been doing a lot of photography at present, but I can say my bases are covered when I do.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

I couldn't agree more. I play guitar and am religious about playing a Gibson or a Martin, cheap guitars will not tune all the way up and down the neck. It wasn't untill I got an inheritance though could I afford a Les Paul. BUT all my life I wanted to play guitar and the best I could afford was often an inexpensive one. I could never recommend just not doing anything until you can afford the best. Desire wins out over the quality instrument. Don't ever quit or give up art because you don't have the top of the line instrument. If cheap is all you can do, do it and love the way I have done. Ok, I got my dream Nikon and Nikon lenses after many years but the $250 tripod is still out of reach. I use a $20 Walmart tripod and do quite well, thank you (despite some frustrations). I get the idea some people would tell you not to take a photograph or give it up unless you can afford to buy the expensive high quality brand. To all the newbies and wannabies don't believe it for a second! They say modern music was originated by old guitar players with cheap instruments playing simple blues down in Mississippi, not Mozart on a Stradivarius.

wmurnahan Loc: Bloomington IN

After reading so many comments about buying cheap tripods over the years until they bought a good one, made me feel either lucky or smart, because when I was 16 the only thing I had to spend money on was photo equipment, and I didn't buy cheap. I bought a Gitzo reporter and have never wanted for anything else in a tripod. The column can be inserted upside down making the tripod a copy stand. Of course I never had anything bigger then a 200 on it, not sure how good it would be with a 500 on it, but I think it would do. I've used it for 39 years now so really it was a cheap investment.