What to look for in a tripod?

hammer73 · 10-02-2010 1:47pm #1

I am doing a photo course with the IOP and there is a night field trip into town in a few weeks where we have to bring a tripod.

If i go out and buy one what do i need to look out for and for occasional use what should i expect to pay?

Any recommendations greatfully recieved.

Thanks

Slidinginfinity · 10-02-2010 2:07pm

There should be several others on here who will tell you other things and listen to them, just be sure to get one that is tall enough for you. Too tall is fine but too short and you will have a aching back before long.

jpb1974 · 10-02-2010 2:43pm

Have a read here http://www.petercox.ie/tripod.php

Wile E. Coyote · 10-02-2010 2:46pm

Three legs

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.

hammer73 · 10-02-2010 3:14pm

jpb1974 wrote: »

Have a read here http://www.petercox.ie/tripod.php

Thanks for that, some very good information

Fionn · 10-02-2010 3:25pm

you can get a tripod in the likes of Argus Aldi etc. but they wont be much good except for the lightest of cameras, you need a good solid one that will take the weight and still be steady and not get blown over in the wind.
Prices will typically start from around €120 approx for Tripod and head.

ozymandius · 10-02-2010 9:17pm

Lever clamps instead of twisters on the legs. 3 leg sections unless you need to fit it into a back-pack.

Decide if you want a ball or pan-tilt head. Or pistol?

Berminghams and Conns have lots on the floor to play with. You're probably looking at a Slik at E100-200.

ThOnda · 11-02-2010 12:42am

Both tripod and the head must be able to carry at least 50% more than is the weight of your camera and the heaviest lense. It should not shake in the wind.

shepthedog · 11-02-2010 12:54am

Really it depends on how much you see yourself using it after the course.. If you dont use one much then maybe borrow one.. The last thing you want to do is buy a cheap tripod and watch it crash to the ground after a gust of breeze, taking your pride and joy with it.
Cheap tripods will struggle to hold the weight of a DSLR with any kind of serious lens on it.

baby and crumble · 11-02-2010 1:23am

I went into the Camera Exchange on Georges St, and asked the guy what he'd recommend. He asked me what cameras I had and he made a few recommendations. I ended up getting a Hama (?) tripod for about 35 euro, and it's grand. Used it a few times now and its great.

DK32 · 11-02-2010 10:51am

As others have said it depends on the camera setup you have. I had one of those cheap Hama tripods from Argos and I would not have had any comfort in it holding a 5dmkii with a 24-70L on it. Just too flimsy IMO.
I now use a manfrotto 055XPROB which although it is heavy, it is very stable and I feel very confident about clipping my gear onto it.

If anything it's a tad too tall and I'm 6ft1 it's a very minor complaint though as the legs can be adjusted or you can compensate using the centre column which again is very sturdy even when full extended.

What to look for in a tripod?

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