[daveb975]

I have been using a cheap £7 Hama tripod for a while now. It has been ok, but I got it out on the weekend to discover that I have lost the head for it.

I can’t buy the head separately, so am wondering if it is worth going up to the next level to get slightly better performance.

I do not use a tripod that often, so don’t want to buy a really decent one, but I am assuming that spending £50 or so will give better stability than my current one.

Compact size and light weight are priorities over absolute stability, as I would like to start taking the tripod out and about a bit more.

Could anyone recommend anything around this sort of price?

[senu]

Im similarly looking for recommendations even up to £100
I have a £45 Jessops and an Aldi £ 10 "special " which in all honesty are good for indoor shots and outdoors until the it gets windy or the supporting surface has any little vibrations
The trade off light and ultra portable seem to be an "unsteady gait"

[mg-paul]

Hi, Just to add to the range I am also looking for something a bit more solid. Got a pair of (£5) cheap tripods which are fine for mounting flash guns on, and a reasonable one that I have had for 15+ years. But now after my attempts to get some shots of the moon I decided to get something a bit easier to use. Ideally would like something light but stable (holy grail time I guess). I like the sound of the Manfrotto 055MF4 as it sounds to be a good compromise. But would appreciate any advice on this.

My use would be a mix of indoor/outdoor family groupings (so yes probably self timer type) which my old one can do and also to take with me on walks (hikes are too energetic for me) where I will try to get some decent landscapes.

[Holowlegs]

Hi ya


I got the Manfrotto 718 about 4 weeks ago now. Actually went in to buy another make but chose this one.

My advice would be to go into somewhere like Jessops and have a good play with them and see how you get on with them open them up and close them, play about with the head and quick release. I had a go at about six off them ranging from £60 to £250. In the end this was the one that suited me, some I hated and were very hard to get apart and put back together and others were just to heavy to carry around.


Cheers Holo

[allymac123]

I bought a manfrotto 785B with my 400d from Jessops (got a few quid off the usual £60 price).

I really wanted a tripod that was compact so that I could take it with me even if I didn't think I might it. Had it for about 2months now and I can't recall it giving me a blurry shot and many of my exposures were 30s. My kit (in my sig) isn't particuarly heavy for a DSLR and is under the recommended limit of 2KG (think around 1.2KG). If you are reasonably careful and use a remote or timer to fire the shutter I can only see a problem in really strong winds with a telephoto and long exposure. Athough as I haven't really tested in these conditions it could well be fine.

It's pretty windy here tonight so if u wanted i could give it a test later.

My thinking is a tripod that you take with you often is better than one you leave at home more often than not because its to big/heavy.

EDIT:

I have now exchanged the manfrotto 785B for the Velbon ULTRA LUX i F with PH-145Q head as on closer inspection the quick release plate wobbled on the tripod meaning it was unstable. I also checked the other Manfrooto instore and it had the same problem so they exchanged it for the Velbon. Pretty mch the same size/weight but the head is a lot better. It [the head] supports more than double the weight and is a lot more precise in its movements. It also has a lot better spirit levels and comes with a case!!

Deffinately the Velbon is better.

[senu]

Originally Posted by allymac123

My thinking is a tripod that you take with you often is better than one you leave at home more often than not because its to big/heavy.

Very true.. mine lives in my Cars boot

[harry66]

I got a Jessops TP320 for £12.99 instore yesterday as part of their Weekend specials. The instore price was £37.99 but with the online price print out I got the online price.
Unfortunately the offered expired midnight last night - however, there is a high chance that the offer will be repeated again this weekend. Just check online, print the page and take it to your nearest store (assuming they have the stock).

I was replacing a cheap Hama I had bought from 7dayshop (broke after limited use) - this Jessops one is much more stable. Looks and feels similar in quality to a Velbon CX-300 - just the clasps on the legs feel slightly cheaper.

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

I have now broken my old tripod I use for work and for the camera and need to replace it. I want one that is able to have the camera offset from the legs as it were. I've attached a highly detailed scale technical drawing of what I mean. I've had a look at waerehouseexpress website and can't seem to find anything that does this. Any ideas?

Gordon

[stevegreen]

Originally Posted by Gordon @ Convergent AV

I have now broken my old tripod I use for work and for the camera and need to replace it. I want one that is able to have the camera offset from the legs as it were. I've attached a highly detailed scale technical drawing of what I mean. I've had a look at waerehouseexpress website and can't seem to find anything that does this. Any ideas?

Gordon

I believe the Manfrotto range do that Gordon. The centre pole comes out and reseats on the horizontal apparently. I'm also looking at tripods and have been looking at the Manfrottos. I think this is throughout the range but I might be wrong.

Great drawing by the way

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

Can anyone else confirm that Steve is correct?

In regressive hypnotherpy session it was discovered I was Lowry. I guess that's where my undoubted c.a.d. drawing talent comes from.

[stevegreen]

Have a nose on the site Here. You can see it on the design of the 190 and 055 ranges here but it appears that the lower and higher ranges it is not the case.

The 190x looks like a decent tripod, and has it's own mini-site Here

[mr:w]

I picked up a new brand Velbon CX560 with q/r head off ebay a month or so back.

Light, sturdy, good size (60cm compacted and 150cm fully extended) and best of all it cost me the grand total of £6.71!

[senu]

Originally Posted by Gordon @ Convergent AV

..I've attached a highly detailed scale technical drawing of what I mean. ..
Gordon

Gordon is that the manfrotto 191x with your "brownie camera thingy" on it?

It does rather look like you weren't keen on using Auto CAD

[PaulBoy]

The Manfrotto Pro range have the offset head Gordon is after - like here -
http://www.jacobsdigital.co.uk/index...duct_id=178230
Did I miss it or has no-one has really mentioned their budget so far (?)
I tried a cheap tripod but it was like the proverbial "one legged man in the arse kicking contest" - when finances permitted I bought one of the Gitzo "copies" made by Benro & it is an excellent piece of kit (rrp is £200 but Ebay'd mine for just over £100) - being carbon fibre helps keep the weight down although this is offset by the weight of the ball-head which I bought separately - from what I've read it makes sense to spend as much as you can on a decent tripod & it'll last a lifetime ... Paul

[Steve N]

Originally Posted by Gordon @ Convergent AV

I want one that is able to have the camera offset from the legs as it were.

There are definitely some Gitzo's that do that but I'm not sure what models.
I read about them when researching tripods on the Nikonians site. Gitzo's are quite pricy though.

[Holowlegs]

Hi there


Got this months Practical Photography and they have a couple of tripods in there that do what you want gordon.

Manfrotto 190pro

Giottos Innovator MT 8160

Gitzo GT2930EX

They have a reveiw on each one.

Cheers Holo

[ryart]

Originally Posted by Gordon @ Convergent AV

Can anyone else confirm that Steve is correct?

Gordon, I seem to remember something like that in the Manfrotto catalogue, but your wonderful drawing looks more like a Benbo tripod which has three legs and what passes for a centre coloumn, all of which can be clamped at any angle to each other. It is an amazingly versatile tripod when you get used to it. Until you get used to it it can drive you potty trying to work out how to get it into the position you want.

http://www.patersonphotographic.com/tripods/benbo.html

Definitely try you before you buy, you'll either love it or hate it; bought mine from Morris when they were in Oxford. Think they are now near Chipping Norton.

[mg-paul]

Originally Posted by PaulBoy

The Did I miss it or has no-one has really mentioned their budget so far (?) ............from what I've read it makes sense to spend as much as you can on a decent tripod & it'll last a lifetime ... Paul

Nope I certainly didn't post a price as I want to see what I am letting myself in for. But am of the opinion that I would rather spend more on a good one now than buy another one later.
However the 055MF4 and head is the wrong side of £200 (for the wife anyway.... :-) )

Another Paul

[cedmondson]

I managed to visit Morris Photo in Chipping Norton this afternoon. It was all a bit impromptu but I'm glad I did it. They have a really good selection of 'pods and it quickly became evident that 30mins playing with a few beats many hours of web research.

To the OP who wanted a tripod for £50, I was extremely impressed with a Velbon Ultra Luxi F for £54. Very light & compact, quite tall without extending the centre column and it seemed very sturdy. The guy in the shop seemed knowledgeable and helpful and suggested that it would be OK with a DSLR and small to moderate telephoto lens. If price and weight are important this seemed like a very good choice indeed. I may yet come back and buy one of these purely for travel use.

I bought a Manfrotto 190XProB with a 486RC2 ballhead / QR plate. I reckon it's about as heavy as I'd tolerate and still use. The ballhead vs 3-way seems to be a personal choice thing but I felt that ease, speed and less bulk were more important to me than the precision (I can always tidy up with crop & straighten in PS if need be.)The combo cost me £129 which is their ebay shop price. The regular price is a bit more but I asked for this and it was readily given (perhaps I should have haggled more ).
Some may be happier with 055s - they're taller but getting a bit heavy for my liking. I worried that if I bought this it would live in my car boot but never come out.

To Gordon: The centre column on the 190XPro can be switched (very easily) to horizontal but not at all angles between horizontal & vertical. They had a Benbo that does that sort of thing.

Time will tell whether this 'pod is as good as I hope. One thing that was very clear to me from todays exercise is that there are a lot of trade-offs in choosing a tripod Price, weight, size, ease of use, precision etc etc) and it's easier to evaluate that trade-off in the flesh. Maybe the ideal answer is having more than one???

[Pinocchio61]

I would say you can't go wrong with Manfrotto, i have a 058 and even though it's a tad heavy i wouldn't part with it.
It's just like a camera, try it out in the shop extrend the legs and see what the centre column can do, i'ts all down to what feels right.

[stevegreen]

Originally Posted by cedmondson

I bought a Manfrotto 190XProB with a 486RC2 ballhead / QR plate. I reckon it's about as heavy as I'd tolerate and still use. The ballhead vs 3-way seems to be a personal choice thing but I felt that ease, speed and less bulk were more important to me than the precision (I can always tidy up with crop & straighten in PS if need be.)The combo cost me £129 which is their ebay shop price. The regular price is a bit more but I asked for this and it was readily given (perhaps I should have haggled more ).
Some may be happier with 055s - they're taller but getting a bit heavy for my liking. I worried that if I bought this it would live in my car boot but never come out.

Thats the one i'm looking at, but I would like to have a play with one first before commiting. Not decided on heads yet though I think I will probably go for a 3-way rather than a ball head one.

[PaulBoy]

Originally Posted by stevegreen

Thats the one i'm looking at, but I would like to have a play with one first before commiting. Not decided on heads yet though I think I will probably go for a 3-way rather than a ball head one.

If you reconsider on the 3-way Steve I have an unused Gitzo ballhead in the FS Forum for virtually half price http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=489062
Paul

[jenufa]

I have the Manfrotto O55PROB tripod and 3-way 804RC2 and use it all the time I even took it out to Mexico with me last month a great piece of kit.

[jonnypb]

looking to replace my hana star 42 tripod with something a bit more compact and lighter.

I think i'd like to go for one of these

Manfrotto 718SHB £60ish
40.5cm folded
39.6cm lowest setting
123.2cm highest setting
1.2kg weight
hold 2.5kg weight

or....

Manfrotto Modo Maxi 785B £40ish
43.5cm folded
17.5cm lowest setting
150.5cm highest setting
0.98kg weight
hold 1kg weight

Thanks

[daveb975]

Originally Posted by bubble502

looking to replace my hana star 42 tripod with something a bit more compact and lighter.

I think i'd like to go for one of these

Manfrotto 718SHB £60ish
40.5cm folded
39.6cm lowest setting
123.2cm highest setting
1.2kg weight
hold 2.5kg weight

or....

Manfrotto Modo Maxi 785B £40ish
43.5cm folded
17.5cm lowest setting
150.5cm highest setting
0.98kg weight
hold 1kg weight

Thanks

I have the Star 42 at the moment, and the Manfrotto 718SHB is my most likely choice to replace it.

My only problem is that the website and a lot of the reviews say that it is suitable for bridge cameras or DSLRs with only the kit lens. The 400D body is about 0.5kg, and I am guessing a 430EX Speedlite and a 70-300IS lens should be no more than 1kg between them, so 1.5kg will be the maximum weight I am likely to use it with. This should be ok with the 2.5kg weight limit, shouldn't it?

The 785B only holds 1kg so really should only be used with a small DSLR and kit lens.

[allie5]

I just took a risk and bought the Manfrotto 718B. There seems to be a lot of confusion as to whether it is suitable for a DSLR or not - some places say yes, others say no. The "official" blurb says its suitable for a "small" camera yet a camera mag this month reckoned it was fine with a decent sized SLR and medium lens...and gave it their "Best Buy" award.

Well, it came on Monday and I strapped on my 30d and the 17-85 IS lens...no problems at all. Great bit of kit for the money. Lightweight, comes with a nifty little bag and is easy to use (though you need a coin to tighten the bolt to the camera) and I would highly recommend this - though its a bit over the OPs budget (£60 from plenty of online retailers MRRP £80).

[daveb975]

Originally Posted by allie5

I just took a risk and bought the Manfrotto 718B. There seems to be a lot of confusion as to whether it is suitable for a DSLR or not - some places say yes, others say no. The "official" blurb says its suitable for a "small" camera yet a camera mag this month reckoned it was fine with a decent sized SLR and medium lens...and gave it their "Best Buy" award.

Well, it came on Monday and I strapped on my 30d and the 17-85 IS lens...no problems at all. Great bit of kit for the money. Lightweight, comes with a nifty little bag and is easy to use (though you need a coin to tighten the bolt to the camera) and I would highly recommend this - though its a bit over the OPs budget (£60 from plenty of online retailers MRRP £80).

I think you have just convinced me to go for this one. I have the 17-85IS lens as well, but on the lighter 400D body. I am going to get a 70-300Is as well, but the total weight should still be about the same as you are using now.

[jonnypb]

was in my local jessops at lunch to have a look at the Velbon ULTRA LUX i F tripod with PH-145Q head - saw another member using it and has recommended it. I was quite impressed with it more so than the 785B, the 785B only supports 1kg. The 718SHB is too short at the max height and the 718 is a bit too long for me when closed up. I think I'm going to go for the Velbon as the twist legs are quicker to open and lock, 3 spirt levels built in, 2 levers for smooth head movement and it's quite compact when folded. It should strap onto my slingshot quite nicely

[Peakoverload]

Before you rush out and buy a Manfrotto you may want to take a look at something else.

I'm a big fan and long term user of Manfrotto tripods but last year I wanted to upgrade my old and battered 055 and started to look around very seriously at what was on offer. Ultimately the tripod you buy must be suited to YOUR needs and YOUR equipment so do your research first. For me the 055 was great except it was a bit on the heavy side, very stable but slow to set-up (and uncomfortable when it's cold), it could extend very high but couldnt go down very low and basically couldnt be setup in any other way other than the camera perched on top of it. So I wanted a tripod that:

Was Stable
Wasn't too heavy
Ideally had foam covered legs
Could stand very high
Could stand very low
Had a removable center column
Highly positionable so the camera could be in any position and at any angle.

The Contenders (with a budget of around £100):

Benbo Mini Trekker - £89
Max Height: 1.5m
Min Height: 0.84m
Weight: 2kg

A very versatile tripod but a little on the flimsy side with a heavy load I felt personally and I also didn't like the locking mechanism for the legs which I found a little slower to operate than I would have liked

Manfrotto 190X - £85
Max Height: 1.46M
Min Height: 0.08M
Weight: 1.8Kg
Max Load: 5Kg

A very serious contender. The 190X has a center column that can be position horizontally as well as vertically and is a very stable platform. The only things I didn't like about it were the locking mechanism for the legs and the Max Load of 5Kg was a little on the low side

Giottos Innovator MT 9160 - £109.99
Max Height: 1.6M
Min Height: 0.19M
Weight: 3Kg
Max Load: 12Kg

An incredibly versatile tripod and stupidly strong! It reaches higher than the other tripods and although the Manfrotto on paper appears to go lower the thing with the Innovator is that you can position it any way you want and so it's possible to have the camera position millimeters off the ground should you so wish. The Innovator also has foam covered legs which is a God send in the winter and makes carrying it on your back/shoulder via the supplied strap very comfortable. It also has a built in 3-way head. Now I know what you are thinking, "I don't want a built in head, they are rubbish". Neither did I. The clever thing about the Innovator is that it has a built in head IF you want to use it, if you don't just screw on any head of your choice, the built in head remains but the way it's designed doesnt add any extra height or weight to the tripod. It even features a clever screw thread that on the surface looks too big to screw into the bottom of your camera (as it's designed to fit the larger screw threads of seperate heads) but if you look closer you'll see that it's actually two threads in one. If you push the outer head down it reveals the smaller inner thread to fit you camera. In practice all you have to do is just push either your camera or a new head onto the screw and the correct one will be used.

Needless to say this is the tripod I bought and I'm delighted I did as although it's £20 more expensive than the others it gives a performance more like £100 more.