What Tripod
 

I think I could do with a new tripod. The lidl's one I got isn't bad for the price but it's a bit too light in strong winds and does wobble a little. Can anyone recommend a good sturdy one? I'll be taking it on the bike so it needs to be a reasonable size too

Re: What Tripod
 

I got one from jessops for about £25. Its ok, does the job and is sturdy and light enough. Its hard to make fine fine movements with it though, but thats much of a muchness

Re: What Tripod
 

I have a couple of heavyweight Gitzo tripods with a load of RRS hardware hanging off them. They'll support about 20kg in half a gale without a shake. Money? Don't ask!

I also have something a bit more sensible in a Manfrotto 055 3 section carbon tripod with a Markins head which is a good solid platform and light enough that it will actually be used. The 055 in aluminium (got one of those too) is a bit of a bear to carry any distance so sits neglected in the back of the cupboard but it is a reasonable tripod although not to the standards of the others.

I suggest not getting suckered by heights with columns. The column is unstable stick on a pod configuration. My Gitzos have a bare base plate and no column and the Manfrottos have had the columns cut off about 4" below the base - no point in carrying dead weight. Choose something that will give you the required height without the column up.

My usual recommendation for a quality general purpose kit that is not too hard on the pocket is a carbon 055 with spikes, Markins M20 and an L-bracket from RRS (or others) so that the head does not have to be flopped into the notch (unstable configuration) for portraits.
That kit will set you back a little more than £25 but it is a keeper.


Cheers

Re: What Tripod
 

My local camera shop selling these for a good price. Brilliant bit of kit for the money and go all the way to the ground. Been using it for portable studio shots and portraits. Decent price and is well made.
http://www.digitaldepot.co.uk/index....as-tripod.html

Re: What Tripod
 

I wouldn't touch anything other than a Manfrotto....

Re: What Tripod
 

The Manfrotto 055 carbon is far too expensive :o I won't be spending that much
The non-carbon version is a bit more reasonable

That seems like a good price


What about this Giottos one at jessops?

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/...6228/show.html

Re: What Tripod
 

You did say you needed a good sturdy tripod suitable for a strong breeze, but I can understand why you might baulk at the price. Mine owes me about $1200 - exchange rates were lousy at the time. It is really only mid-range, but capable gear. That is my recommendation though.

Giottos... I was hoping that no one was going to mention them. They are a Chinese knock-off from a Chinese company of name brand gear. Last time I looked their carbon in the legs was made from charcoaled bamboo and aluminium were recycled woks. They have had serious materials, design and manufacturing problems 2-3 years ago and would need to seriously need to lift their game before I would look twice in their direction. Some (or a lot of) people seem to really like the gear, but I suspect that they are under the illusion that they have bought quality kit at a bargain price. It certainly looks nice on the outside.

Re: What Tripod
 

Right I'll stay away from the giottos then. Cheers for the info


Is there much difference between the carbon and normal 055 other than weight ?

Re: What Tripod
 

On a gusty day, probably 2-3 stops. The carbon version has a much higher recovery rate. In calmer conditions both are capable of quality long exposures. The alloy benefits noticeably by not extending the bottom leg sections or only extending them halfway, but that defeats the purpose of having a tallish tripod. If you can get them side by side and in turn press down on the head some and give them a bit of a shake or rattle a leg that is in the air you'd see what I mean. HST, if you are going to buy an aluminium tripod it is one of the better ones.

BTW, I didn't mean to come across quite so harshly on the Giottos gear. It was meant to be a buyer beware type warning. I did get to have a very close look at a broken tripod and ballhead and was shocked at what I found. Maybe they have sorted their problems.

Re: What Tripod
 

any tripod will do the job as long as the clamps hold weight, if it has a hook under the top centre then sling a buck of water under it and it will hold firm. I have used a good market leader in a gale and it's crap and likewise so is a cheap one, the key is to either anchor it or sling a large weight under it and then in a 70 mph gale on the coast it holds firm