dub3 Loc: Sunrise Beach, Texas

Does anyone know how the Manfrotto 455 or 3401 rates? Thanks

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

For anyone recommending a Manfrotto 055, this article looks at stability and vibration dampening of the 055 against a Gitzo Series 2, which weighs half as much:

https://www.canadiannaturephotographer.com/tripod.html

If you are on a budget, but still want something that isn't too heavy, is quite stable and doesn't cost a fortune, take a look at the Feisol CT3442. It is comparable in stability to a Gitzo Series 2 or 3, only weighs 2.2 lbs, and I have used mine with up to a 300mm lens without having to do anything out of ordinary to keep it free of vibration. I use mine with a RX10M4, and a D800 and D810 with longer, heavier lenses, and for macro.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Largobob said something that I think is important. He mentioned ball heads, and getting one that is medium or large. I have a Manfrotto aluminum tripod that isn't light, but it's sturdy and stable. I hated the head that came with it, so I bought a Serui ball head. Unfortunately, for the sake of a few dollars, I opted for one with a smaller ball. It's find for my smaller cameras, but for my D7200 with the Sigman 70-200 f/2.8 lens attached, it was a flop, and no matter how tight I make it, the thing would sag. So, depending on what camera you have, or if, as one mentioned, a bridge camera with a long lens, get at least a medium ball head, or better yet, a large one. It will serve you well.

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

That about covers it.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Do you have a decent camera store near you? If so, spend some time trying out a few, most likely they'll have a wide range of tripods.

Worst case, go to Best Buy and scratch & sniff the ones they have available. At least you'll get an idea of what's available in the price range you're looking at.

gonzo.3800

I bought a used Bogen 3047 30years ago, still use it as my go to for stable. Cost $50 then. GG

zzzynick Loc: Colorado

I bought a used, in prefect condition Bogen Monfrotto 3046 from ebay for a $100.
I am 6'1" and a lot of tripods only go up to 5'.
The 3046 is a beast, it's heavy, strudy and when extended it goes up to 8'.
I found a used Monfrotto 393 gimbal [it's u shaped] on ebay for another 100.
I am 65 retired and have been disabled [ back ] for awhile.
So even with a bad back I can still lug this combination around.
I don't backpack or hike anymore, So heavy doesn't matter to me.
Look around on craigs list, ebay, buy used, be smart, research, google the model you might want to buy.
A cheap tripod [ I know I bought one] will drive you crazy.
I want a tripod rated for the weight I have, I want a tripod the will not collapse or fall over in a breeze. I want to feel safe with the one I own.
I am literally hanging thousands of dollars worth of equipment from the plate attached to my tripod,
I like the manfrotto 393 head for that reason.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

This tripod: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1010690-REG/manfrotto_mt190xpro3_190xpro3_pro_aluminum_tripod.html

This head: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1162343-REG/manfrotto_mhxpro_bhq6_xpro_ball_head.html

On sale now at B&H. I'm going to buy it but I'm going to wait until the real Black Friday comes about. Even though they are offering both with a holiday discount and I doubt I can get it any cheaper I will wait. I shouldn't tell you this because I don't want them to sell out before I get mine. The total for both is $232.98

The ball head is the XPRO Magnesium Ball Head with the Arca QR clamp and plate system. I don't like the Manfrotto QR plates; I prefer the Arca Swiss since all my gear has those plates on them and they are inexpensive to buy in different sizes. The tripod is the MT190XPRO3 that is a 3 section tripod with the clamp levers rather than the twist locks. They are both good but the clamp levers are faster. The twist locks are more reliable and never need to be adjusted with a wrench. But I still like the levers because it's faster to set up. The center column can be turned 90 degrees so that you can position your camera straight down. My old tripod does this too, and I have never needed it but it's there in case I do want it. This tripod beats my older Manfrotto in speed and ease of use. My old Manfrotto was replaced by this model that can move the center column 90 degrees much faster than my old Manfrotto.

I do not recommend getting a really light tripod. You might think "hey" I'm the one that has to carry this thing all over the place. But trust me, you'll rather have a durable, stable, reliable tripod than a piece of garbage that is so light and flimsy that it moves or falls over in the slightest breeze. No bueno.

Good luck.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

This head was a "best on test" in a recent british photo mag ...FWIW

bnsf

Have you considered a monopod? They sell for around the price you want tyo pay for a tripod and can do the same thing as a tripod but they weigh less cost less.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I bought this at Amazon 7 years ago for the same price ($51 and free shipping) and still use it for pics and video, indoors and outdoors.
https://www.amazon.com/Victor-P920-Pinnacle-Panhead-Heavy-Duty/dp/B0001W1CY0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1542652181&sr=1-1&keywords=Smith+Victor+700190+Smith+Victor+Photo+Video+Tripod+P920+Pinnacle+3-way+Panhead+%26+Heavy-Duty+Base

Regarding stability, here's a 10 second long exposure taken from my back yard on this tripod with a Nikon D7000 and Sigma 15mm-30mm zoom, set at 15mm, f3.5, iso 6400.

(Download)

kerry12 Loc: Harrisburg, Pa.

I bought the Slik 700DX. Regardless of what people say about inexpensive, I am very happy with it and it is quite stable. It is about $160.00 new and about $99.00 refurbished. Good luck with your search.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

You might consider a mono/tripod similar to this one on eBay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/172420815933
As people mention, if budget is a factor you may not get much in the line of sturdy.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

That will get you a wobbly tripod that you'll hate using and probably end up breaking within a year or two.

You really need to spend more. Keep in mind, if you buy a good tripod it might last a lifetime and serve to support many different cameras you use over the years. (One of my tripods is getting close to 40 years old and has been used with a wide variety of cameras ranging from small 35mm point n shoots up to large format view cameras, and everything in between... other tripods I have are 15 to 20 years old. They weren't cheap and all still work fine.)

Look at travel tripods, such as are discussed here:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/travel-tripods

Travel tripods tend to be the most compact and lightest weight. The better ones are well though out and reasonably steady and durable. But there are other possible problems. For best steadiness and durability, you want as few leg sections as possible (also makes a tripod faster to set up). And you want to minimize having to raise a center column to bring the camera up to a comfortable working height. The more leg sections there are, the smaller diameter the lower ones need to be in order to nest inside the next size above. Personally I use four tripods and three of them have 3-section legs. The fourth has 4-section, but is an extra tall tripod so the lowest section usually isn't needed. Two of my tripods don't even have center columns. The other that do, one is a heavy duty cross-braced, geared column (on very heavy tripod that I only use in studio). The last is on the extra tall so I almost never need to raise the column for height, instead I only use it reversed to hang camera and lens below the tripod for low-angle work such as ground level macro shots.

Unfortunately, both these consideration.... minimal center column use and fewest possible leg sections.... make for less compact and usually heavier tripod.

Plus, the lightest weight tripods are carbon fiber, which also makes them more expensive. Carbon fiber also does a better job than metal absorbing vibration. It can be more comfortable to work with in really cold or hot weather, too.

There may be others I'm unfamiliar with, but about the most affordable, lightweight model that I feel very comfortable recommending is the Benro Travel Angel. There's an aluminum version of that for $250... and a carbon fiber version that sells for $400.

The Manfroto BeFree carbon fiber tripod is pretty affordable at about $265... or the aluminum version for about $145. But I'm not a fan of flip-lever leg locks both of those use, which can all-too-easily get caught on a branch or a sleeve or cuff while using the tripod. Those types of locks also wear over time and need adjustment or replacement. My tripods use the twist-collar type leg locks, which are a little slower but are self adjusting and basically never wear out. That Manfroto also has much lower load capacity is shorter than the Benro, so won't be as stable. The ballhead included with the BeFree also uses Manfroto's proprietary quick releases, which aren't as common and versatile as than the Arca-Swiss compatible QR platform found on the Benro Travel Angel. There are sturdier Manfroto and they've even started to make some heads with Arca-compatible quick release... but those are bigger, heavier and more expensive... They also still use the flip-lever leg locks.

There's also a Davis & Sanford Traverse Carbon Fiber tripod listed at the above link, which sells for about $170. I'm not familiar with it, but it appears more similar to the Benro (height, leg locks, leg sections, quick release), except the Traverse is rated for a bit less weight.

Also, I mentioned quick releases... which are included on most tripod heads these days. The heads on above tripods with Arca-Swiss type might come with a universal plate, but I'd recommend buying one that's been custom made to fit your camera. I see L-brackets for Sony RX10IV selling on eBay and elsewhere for around $25 (and that's a bargain! L-brackets for some other cameras can cost 10X as much!). But this is in addition to the cost of the tripod itself. Many manufacturers make parts and accessories to work with the Arca-Swiss system. The way cameras and lenses using it mount also allows for some adjustment to achieve better balance than is possible with other, less widely used types of QR.

So, in the end I recommend you plan to spend more. Most people are very happy when they do.... getting a tripod that works well and will last for many years. Folks who "buy cheap", usually aren't as happy and ultimately end up spending more replacing flimsy tripods every year or two.... either when the last flimsy one broke or they got so disgusted with it they decided to get another.

Hope this helps!