Dgusty3 Loc: Illinois

I am in the market for a new tripod. I have one right now that we've had for a long time. You put the camera on the top and then screw it in the bottom of the camera and can be quite cumbersome when you are in a hurry to get a shot. Can anyone out there give me any recommendations for a new one? I don't want to spend a lot of money but want something descent.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

You need a tripod with a separate head. Flashpoint tripods are relatively new to the scene and seem to have a good reputation. I believe you will find them at Adorama. Then for heads, Manfrotto has several to choose from and they all have the mounting plate that stays on the camera so you just clip it on to the head - no time-consuming threading it on. Other heads also have similar features.

Manfrotto also makes some very good tripods as well. My best advice is to spend as much as you possibly afford - stretch your budget a bit because a good tripod can last a lifetime. Buying inexpensive ones just means you have to buy another one in a few years.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Is your current tripod stable? Thats the BIG question, stability is what a tripod is all about. If its stable then probably a new ballhead with a quick release plate system would fill the need you have. If its not stable, then no head will improve it. Good tripods are as important as good cameras, the best camera on a cheap tripod will NOT produce a good image. Entry level cameras on a good tripod will be greatly improved.

steve40 Loc: Asheville/Canton, NC, USA

Just search B&H Photo, they have tripods from inexpensive to the most expensive. They are also very reliable, I have bought from them for the last 1.5 years. Never got a bad product.

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

Dgusty3:
Get thee to a decent camera store and have them show you all the features of the ones they carry (which will be limited) so you can make a better decision.

Pictures and catalogs will not tell you what you need to know at this early stage of your tripod buying.

And echoing what CaptainC said, spend what you can as a good tripod can last a lifetime and it is important to your images when used correctly.

You may be tempted to get a carbon fiber vs. an aluminum tripod. While there are several important differences, the primary one is weight. Unless you are hiking and carry gear, a good aluminum tripod will get you much more bang for the dollar.

Now, go out and shop, touch, feel, open and close the tripod, bring your camera and mount it on a couple.
When you have narrowed it down to a couple select features, UHHers can help you decide the relative merits of them compared to what you plan to do.

There are well over 1,000 tripod models available, and picking one using the opinions of others is foolhardy. In the end, it has to work for you and you need to know all the many options and features to pick what will work best for you.

Be forwarded however, you will probably buy a couple more tripods in the next 5 years as there is no such thing as the perfect tripod for all uses. Anyone who has been into photography for a while may confess that they have as many tripods as camera bags and lenses. Good luck!!

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

THANK GOODNESS!
For awhile there I thought me having 5 tripods made me a freak!
;)

FredCDobbs Loc: Los Angeles area.

Owning five tripods does not necessarily not make you a freak. Look in my closet.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

I count my 3 tripods enough - right now - going from super light, med & heavy weight - same with my 3 mono pods -woops - same as my cameras.

My advice to the lady would be as said above- if you like your tripod other than the screw on time - do as suggested buy a add on head - a real good one like was mentioned - ball head w/quick release - or just a quick release plate. Like was said there are many ways to go.

Griff Loc: Warwick U.K.

If you are keen on nature photography and frequently work near ground level, consider a Benbo tripod.
They are very adaptable and can support a camera in positions not achievable with a normal tripod.
However it is imperative to try one first as they are reminiscent of a set of bagpipes, (without the bag) and can fight back . . .

trapper jim Loc: Tacoma

I have an old Bogen 3051 with a ball head. Been using it for 30 years. It is heavy to carry around but good for studio and location work. I love the automatic legs. You can be in a field with uneven ground tall grass and all you have to do is press one button and all 3 legs find their mark in the ground. Depending on the weight of the camera the tripod head is an important factor. Just remember that good tripod heads can be much more expensive than the tripod its self. Lot of cameras now have video capabilities, so picking a head that moves smoothly while panning it a consideration. I have a small inexpensive tripod I use for personal use. Will support a 4 pound DSLR. But I also carry a cloth bag to fill with dirt or sand and hang that from the bottom center of the tripod. really helps make it much more stable. For those that like to shoot video there are some interesting steady cams that are now affordable. Even have them for "Smart Ass Phones" to shoot more stable video. Monopods work well also. They work best if you have something to brace them against. Basicly your two legs make the monpod into a tripod if you are out in the open. But if you can lean against a solid object it will help even further.

When I am hiking I take that cloth bag with me and fill it with sand or dirt when needed and put on a large boulder. Once you work the camera bottom to conform to the bag on the boulder, you then have a "rock solid" shooting platform that in my opinion beats any tripod out there. No boulder... Use something else. Like a picnic table, top of wall, tree crotch, fence post, even large road kill to document your car damage. That small bag filled with dirt or sand will conform to just about anything. Nothing is more solid than Mother Earth except during an earthquake.

I have on occasion used my wife's shoulder when using a long lens. If you are using say like a Canon SX30 or 40 at 840mm and the 2x digital Zoom engaged, or a Nikon DSLR with a 600mm lens, just shoot you subject matter between your partners heart beats. Shoot between heart beats you ask? Just ask a sniper, their lives depend on it....

On a trip to France, I once used my Nikon CoolPix 950 (now a working digital dinosaur) to take a graduation portrait of my daughter at a dinner table, where the menu had to be read with a candle. I resorted to using the top of a wine glass to stabilize the camera. Worked quite well. In fact, well enough to have used it on other occasions. It's simple to do. Just hold the cameras flat bottom with slight pressure down on the glass, then use your elbows on the table to complete your makeshift tripod, and slowly press the shutter release. Doesn't matter what country. Wine glasses are pretty much the same everywhere, it's just the wine that differs.

wisecrafter Loc: Pocahontas, Arkansas

I have 5 tripods but only use a couple of them. Most are inexpesive, that were picked up on bobbay.

THEMRED7007

I bought a Velbon CX 540 w/removable plate @ Goodwill for $8.00. Excellent condition...try them...never know.
MR.ED

wisecrafter Loc: Pocahontas, Arkansas

Good tip.... been there and done that!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I know what you mean. My son and I each have a Vanguard Tracker 4, and I recently got a smaller Manfrotto MK394H. Yet, I still feel the need for a niche tripod.

Dgusty3 Loc: Illinois

thats for the everyones comments...i guess I'll have to go look at them. I don't use it all the time maybe i'll look for a new head for my existing tripod. Something that has a quick release. Anybody have anything your interested in selling?