help chosing tripod

[number7]

hi just looking for some advice for selecting a tripod,camera is kodak z812,any help would be greatly appricieated thanks:thumb

[Narcosynthesis]

I just posted up a guide on tripods here - http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=445049#post445049 which should give you a few ideas.

For your camera, something like the Manfrotto 785b would be ideal as being fairly neat in size, yet a decent height and solid enough.

[Speed]

Personaly ive allways used a velbon cx444 basicly because its about the biggest/most stable you can get without it getting in to the 'big, heavy, proffesional' tripods that you cant just clip on the side of your bag.

The other sensible option are the small manfrottos, they fold smaller so you can fit them in your bag yet extend to roughly the same height. They just look a bit flimsey to me and are a bit more pricey so ive allways gone with the velbon but they are cirtanly a good choice.

[sixxfingers]

Manfrotto make my balls the tightest...!

[Defqon]

Fuck getting a Manfrotto 785b. Thats my personal opinion, as I hate the thing. Go with a velbon!

[sixxfingers]

And what a strong opinion it is! lol

[Defqon]

I think I just got a bad one. The ball head squeaks, doesn't hold tight. The legs are noisy and it's generally too metallic for my liking.lol

[number7]

Manfrotto make my balls the tightest...!

a good look im sure
thanks for the advice gone for a cheapo to start me off :D,and thanks for the sticky:thumb

[ColinBa]

I bought one in LIDL for just over £11 recently. It had three extensions, all the normal attachments and two spirit levels. It works fine.

[Thestig]

a tripod is a tripod IMO, it holds the camera steady so you can take a pic. If you are a serious photographer, get a serious tripod. If you are using it for urbex, if its going to get bashed up, muddy and slung on the side of a backpack....
get a cheap one.
simple.............

[Brick_Man]

theres now THREE ways you can go...

cheap light, does job, but is a royal pain in the arse and wobbles all over the shop supermarket £20 job

cheap resonable, like a manfrotto modo, does job, but can't take any decent weight of cam, but decent height and can fit in most bags, and fair light

or what I've done, get something solid that makes you actually happy when you use it because it just plain does the job and won't piss you off. something full size, weighty, and tough as hell.
got a SLIK 400DX, which does exactly the same as a manfrotto 190x, but doesn' cost £120 for just legs, costs £70 delivered inc a good head. can take any weight of cam, and doubles up as a good bludgeoning hammer.

[BenStick]

Have a look on http://www.7dayshop.com/
I just picked up one of their own brand tripods for £10.99.
It seems sturdy enough, and for that price I'm happy.
I think they have a good range of tripods, mine was the cheapest on there, so I'm sure the others are good pieces of it.

[northcave]

I got a velbon and a 785b. For all that the velbon is much more sturdy with an slr the compactness of the manfrotto and the quick movement of the head wins it for me.

Manfrotto 785b is moi choice.

[Dempsey]

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/default.aspx?sku=1012859

Dont have one myself, but ive seen em in the shops and they are sturdy and compact, just a shame about not being able to change the head, but could handle a medium size camera easily.



got a SLIK 400DX, which does exactly the same as a manfrotto 190x, but doesn' cost £120 for just legs, costs £70 delivered inc a good head. can take any weight of cam, and doubles up as a good bludgeoning hammer.

Seconded, you know about mine, and it just wont stop going. I use it as a Ladder, a hammer, a batton, and a great tripod for the price.

[Kinger]

A couple of us have just bought ourselves the £13 jobby from Argos, it does what it says on the tin! Which is everything you'd expect! Plus its very quick to extend, and maybe more importantly very quick to fold up before legging it!!!!
Also, like I said at the start, its only £13, so you don't mind it getting smashed about!

[blighty]

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=99654


this is the tripod i have and im pretty happy with it, has some useful features to it, cheap and its pretty sturdy :)

[TheSmurfinator]

to be honest I don't know a lot about tripods but I have to say that I used to work as a rigger - putting up lights for bands - and manfrotto is a name that I trust, and believe me trust is a big issue when you have to put your faith in things that weigh a tonne and are over an artists head!!
Manfrotto are a big name in rigging, for light towers, and I would think that the quality of build would be the same in anything that they do...