jct842

30 some years ago I bought a leitz tiltall tripod That was less than $50. It was used and I repaired a repaired leg. It still works for me and I can not imagine what any new one would do better for me. I have used it for medium format, 35mm and 4x5 cameras.

finalimage Loc: Brattleboro, VT

Take a look Induro tripods, most are less than half the price of Gitzo. I got an Induro fiber carbon tripod from B&H and am extremely pleased with it.

cloudteaser Loc: Northern Minnesota

Wow!! I didn't consider this many factors when I bought my first house. I know a good tripod is important but wow. Lots to learn

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Induro has had problems with their tripods. The legs would become loose and you would tighten the screws and they would still be loose. I have to say, when I first saw the Induro and looked up the price, I was impressed. But my friend started having the problem of keeping the screws tight and his legs were literally flopping all around. I told him to try Loc-tite. I don't think he did but he tried several times to tighten the screws to no avail. Now I'm glad I paid the extra money for the Gitzo.

Now a couple of years has passed and I ran into a guy that had a new Induro tripod like the one my friend has. I told him about the screws not tightening and he said that Induro will ship a new "Star" piece to him free that will fix his problem. It's nice to know that Induro will take care of the problem free. I don't know for sure about this, it's hear-say, so take it for what it's worth. My friend is a bit lazy and since I told him about it January, he still hasn't contacted Induro to get the free replacement star piece.

Long story short, Induro may not have problems with them any longer, and if you had an older model they may help you fix it free. I would Google it first before buying one.

wotsmith Loc: Nashville TN

check out Feisol; about the same as Gitzo and less $$$

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

I have a Koolehoada That was relatively inexpensive compared to the upper end Tripods but for my use when I'm in the field it works just fine.

http://www.amazon.com/Koolehaoda-Portable-Ballhead-Samsung-Olympus/dp/B00LUUHDPO/ref=sr_1_5?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1459088812&sr=1-5&keywords=koolehaoda+tripod


Take a look at this one it may serve your needs perfectly, I'm thinking of purchasing it as my second Tripod slightly heavier and holds more than my Koolehoada.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I4CTHR8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1R1T3RMJBGDGD&coliid=I182PHEDP3YO97

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

I have a mephoto. I love it. will hold 17lbs, converts to a mono, turns upside down so u can shoot ants on the ground.
The guy in the camera store recommended it. After I bought it I was a bit concerned that maybe he just wanted to get rid of it.

Later watching Creative Live photo course, the woman photographer mentioned her Tripod was a mephoto and she loved it. That made me feel a bit better. Later at a photowalk 3 other people had the same one

Ive had it for maybe 2 years, I love it no problems and its under $200.

If you dont have a tripod, even the $10.00 one on ebay is a lot better than nothing.

DerBiermeister Loc: North of Richmond VA

Everything is a trade-off and there also is a big difference between published specs for lengths and weight vs. the real world, i.e., what you will be carrying.

My tripod is a 4-section Induro. But because I took the advice of some experienced people here on the forum, I opted to get a tripod without the center column, meaning the opened legs are longer to get the camera up to eye level. The folded length is actually 23 1/4", but that doesn't include the ballhead. The serviceable length (what one will be carrying) is actually the length of the bag - 31". Also, while the bare tripod weighs 4.8 lbs, when you add in the weight of the ballhead and the bag -- what I will actually be carrying -- it now becomes 8.25 lbs.

That's a pretty big package to be lugging around for any amount of time on a trail, especially when you add in another backpack full of camera gear and other stuff.

In a rough comparison, a Gitzo (Series 5) tripod with 3-section legs is a full 2 lbs heavier at 6.5 lbs, the difference in weight probably attributed to the noticeably larger diameter leg sections. And once again, that of course is before adding the weight of a headmount and bag. There is no question whatsoever that a Gitzo tripod will be as steady as the Rock Of Gibraltar. But the question now becomes: is the Gitzo really feasible for a hiking trip, where every extra ounce counts? The trade-off factor? Maybe for the young guns, but not for an old geezer like me. Even my rig is going to be quite tiring, quite the challenge.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

INDURO.

WayneL Loc: Baltimore Md

I have a Sirui ET 2204 CF with a K30 ball head and it will easily handle what you have. It was around $450 for both

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

What ballhead will you put on it?

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I don't back pack my photo equipment in to a site (like some photographers do). My days of carrying anything very far are over with. So my tripods are used either out of the trunk or used at home. I've never had a carbon fiber or fiber glass tripod (never wanted such) only metal. I have an older Gitzo system and a newer Manfroto system. I'd really have to say that the Manfroto is crap in comparison. I truly wish now I had spent more on another and different Gitzo legs and more heads. I have a short stocky set of Gitzo legs, a huge (view camera) pan head and a smaller 35mm camera pan head. I'd like to have another set of taller Gitzo legs and a Gitzo ball head. And perhaps a (Gitzo or third party?) gimbal head. All $$$! :shock:

Chuckwal Loc: Boynton Beach Florida

Mefoto

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

I've had two Dolica tripods both bought at Costco. The carbon fiber one is great, light, and keeps going. I've replace the ball head with a Ben Ro panhead--almost as light as the ball head.

I think the carbon one cost me about $160.

Dr.Nikon Loc: Honolulu Hawaii

If you want a really great carbon fiber tripod without breaking the bank
PHOTPRO makes a copy of the RRS carbon fiber with and without a center colum .., at a fraction of the price .., if you buy it from one of the largest camera distributors in Canada .. They quote you in Canadian Dollars ..!

The one I purchased cast $869 in the US a three leg 36 mm no center colum carbon fiber ...supports 76 lbs ..only weighs 5.2 lbs and will actually support me hanging upside down from it .., anyway .. My cost from Canada $469.00..

I have almost $3,000 in monopods and tripods .. And this PHOTO PRO has replaced all of them .. I used it exclusively in Yosemite for 8 days of hiking ..my profile pic shows it with my big lens ...

You probably don't need that heavy a model .., the point is .., you can get an outstanding carbon fiber copy of the RRS from a Canadian Dist at a fraction of the cost .., National Geographic uses them now ... My Manfrotto tripod and 400 geared head were originally $1,300 .. Now they sit unused ..

My brother and I discovered that the quotes from the Canada Photo Distributors were in Canadian dollars .., when converted to US dollars ..which you will be paying in .., the cost drops off the charts ..

I consider RRS to be some of the best stuff I have ever used ..to get an equal quality and functionality at over 1/2 the price .. Well ..

Good luck ..,