dystopianmind

The person who said to try the camera without a tripod first probably gave you the best advice you can get if you aren't trying to do any major telephoto work. Everyone who says don't go cheap is right. You need a good, solid tripod that doesn't have any slack anywhere. If you get a light tripod, you may need to get a weight to hook on to the tripod under the head, between the legs to make sure the legs are stable and free of any slack. If you do choose at some point to do some work with a really long lens, personally, I'd get a nice, heavy, solid tripod. In my opinion, carbon fiber is too flexible to be able to give you absolute motion free support if it is windy out, or worse, you use your finger on the camera to take the photo. Get a remote release if your camera can support one. If it doesn't, learn to use the timer so you can press the button then get your hand off of the camera while it is taking the photo. Use the remote release or the timer when you are using the tripod to make sure that you don't do anything that could move the camera. Good luck. Enjoy your camera and the photos you take with it.

preachrbill

What are some opinions on the Vanguard brand?

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

What is you perceived need for a tripod? If it's just to help you steady the camera while talking pictures, I would suggest you look instead at a monopod. I have monopods and tripods, most are carbon fiber. I use my Manfrotto CF monopod a lot more than a tripod for talking pictures.

Edia Loc: Central New Jersey

A tripod that holds your camera and lens stationary is good enough. I have a $39 Polaroid tripod that holds my equipment steady. It is made of aluminum and plastic but does what I need to do. I am not a back packer and use the tripod for portraits and close ups of stationary subjects like flowers. I only use the tripod occassionally so it does not need to take a licking. Yes, I could buy a tripod costing hundreds of dollars but for me that would be overkill. As an Engineer, tripods are the least technically designed photographic equipment that I own. If you want to spend a lot of money on a tripod, be my guest.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Read...

https://www.adorama.com/alc/0008169/article/BUYING-GUIDE-Tripods-for-Photographers
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/tripod-explained
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/tripod
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/content/tripod-heads-and-legs
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/10-recommended-tripods-photography
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/travel-tripods
https://digital-photography-school.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-buying-a-tripod/
https://photographylife.com/how-to-choose-and-buy-a-tripod-for-a-dslr-camera

$125 is not very much for a quality tripod. Usually it's better to spend more, because while you may change cameras over the years, a quality tripod might be once-in-a-lifetime purchase. I purchased one of my tripods nearly 40 years ago. Another I bought over 15 years ago. Both of those still serve well and will probably outlive me! (I actually have four tripods... a big old aluminum Bogen/Manfrotto that's "studio only" because it's such a heavy beast, two carbon fiber Gitzo G1325 Mk II that I use with big telephotos, and a carbon fiber Gitzo G1348 Mk II that goes extra tall & extra low, for special purposes like low level macro or working from a short step ladder for high angle shots.)

You can spend anywhere from $25 to $2500 or more on a tripod. But when you buy too cheap, you almost always end up with something flimsy that doesn't work very well, is frustrating to use and breaks within a year or two... so you ultimately end up spending more to replace it.

Ask yourself some questions...

- How tall working height?
- How compact for storage and travel?
- How many leg sections (stability versus size)?
- How much weight will it need to support, now and in the future?
- How heavy is comfortable?
- What type of materials: metal, carbon fiber, wood?
- What type of head: pan tilt, ballhead, gimbal, other?
- Quick release or not, and if so, what type?
- And, of course, how much to spend?

Study the info that's out there from many sources, including the links above. That will help you answer these questions and narrow down your options.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I suggest Manfrotto but there are others that will work fine. It just depends on how much you are willing to spend.

*Don't get one that is too light or that has pencil legs at the bottom
*Do get one that is high enough for you to stand and not have to bend over so measure from the ground to your eye piece while standing. Get one a little taller than that because not all surfaces will be level.
*Twist lock legs are more reliable than clamp locks. Clamp locks sometimes require a tool to tighten them after time. You are screwed if you are out in the field and a leg starts slipping and you don't have the tool to adjust the clamp. I've had my Manfrotto with clamp lock legs for a long time and have never had to tighten those clamps but if I did the tool is attached to one of the legs. A cheap tripod will require adjustments.
*Center column is up to you. I have a center column on both of my tripods because I like the adjustability. But get a sturdy tripod to begin with and this won't be a problem. If you don't have a sturdy tripod and you have a center column it will become more unsteady the higher you raise the column.
*Tripod head is the next thing to consider. Some come with a head and some don't. Manfrotto comes either way. I like the Manfrotto ball heads, but I don't like their quick release. You can remove their quick release and install a standard Arca Swiss type which is what I have and recommend.

Good luck

Nikon1201

I have a MeFOTO A 1350 (around $180 ) I have a Nikon D7100 and I can use my 50-500 Sigma which is a heavy lens , this tripod will hold even a big lens like this steady with no droop.

Nikon1201

I have a MeFOTO A 1350 (around $180 ) I have a Nikon D7100 and I can use my 50-500 Sigma which is a heavy lens , this tripod will hold even a big lens like this steady with no droop.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

MeFOTO is the only tripod that people in my photo club spoke up against in our last club meeting all about tripods, bipods, etc. I'd steer clear of this brand.

Bob Boner

I recommend that you try to imagine the maximum size lens you might ever want, and buy a tripod to support it. I didn't do that and ended up owning 4-5 tripods that didn't properly support camera/lens combinations that I later required. Cost me a lot more that buying a larger tripod would have.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I recommend that you get what you might need and USE NOW and worry about later - LATER !

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

Im using a mephoto tripod. Came highly recommended here on UHH. It worked great for me, light weight , did everything I could ask.
Now I have a heavier camera and a 600mm lens. I'm pushing it to its limits. So at one time I said having a cheap one is better than non at all. Now I say buy the best you can afford. You'll be happy you did.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

So, now buy a better one for the 600mm ! -

DJCard Loc: Northern Kentucky

MeFOTO Classic Carbon Fiber Globetrotter Travel Tripod/Monopod Kit ($341.95 online) is serving me well. Well built and stable. Arca-Swiss style compatible quick release plate. Advertised as 26.4 lb maximum load. More than $125, but good value.

Steve Mc

Gene51 I agree! I made that mistake ouch. All of the above are great thoughts to consider. I recently was in the market for a well constructed tri pod and went with a recommendation from one of the members here and was very pleased.
I purchased a Nest NT-6294CBT Carbon fiber tri and ball head kit from Camera Cottage in Billings MT. Granted it was on sale but for under $300.00 I was VERY happy. Again, you don't know where you are going to be in the next year or so, always think ahead.