Looking for a "budget" tripod

The Big Kahuna

The Big Kahuna

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I don't really want to spend a fortune yet, and I have no intention of ever owning a tripod which sounds like "frottage". It will be used for the usual kind of tripoddy stuff here but will also need to be light enough and sturdy/weather resistant enough to take to Borneo and similar places in a suitcase without using up all my wifes luggage allowance.

I have seen http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5705403.htm in Argos which at £ 30 is in the ballpark. Has anyone bought/seen one of these ? (I think it might be a Hama).

I have a Jessops on Chesterfield so advice on anything on their site which you might have experiance of would be useful.
 
It looks very similar (in fact identical) to one my well meaning son bought me from 7dayshop, because he was getting one himself. In fairness, I'd have to say the legs aren't bad for the money. The 7dayshop one is about half that price too.

The head though is an absolute disaster, being made entirely of plastic. When the camera is rotated to the portrait position, the whole weight hangs on the plastic hinges, which aren't capable of supporting even the lightest DSLR, and the camera just sags and dithers around under the strain.

As a tripod it would make a good paperweight, unless you plan to use it with a compact camera.... soz! :shrug:

Mine went in the bin. ;)
 
You see now the main concensus when it comes to this questions is "Buy cheap, buy twice" and "Always go for the best you can afford" etc.

I'll be the one here that goes against the grain I think. I bought a Hama Star 42 from Asda in 2003, and I'm still using it. I don't "tripod up" that often though.
I am looking to upgrade to something "decent" soon, but it's done me quite well for over three years.

Not bad for £15. Sure, it's not the sturdiest in a gale, nor does it have a very fluid head, or is it made of alloypolcarbowotsits :p, so it isn't the lightest....but boy does it do the job, and for £15, I can't really grumble.

For cheap, I would suggest something similar to the second one you link to, either that or a Velbon Sherpa if you can stretch to it.
 
That first one you link to was on another thread somewhere recently for £13 or something. It similar to the one I have, and like Marcel its done its job over the last few years - and I very rarely use a tripod so I can't see the point in shelling out.

I will have a look for that other thread.

Fount it - http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=12864
This could be the same tripod CT is on about I am guessing. For that price though! can't be too bad
 
Cheers dudes
 
I only have a crappy hama.. but now I have some imba lenses I should probally invest..
 
Jimmy_Lemon said:
That first one you link to was on another thread somewhere recently for £13 or something. It similar to the one I have, and like Marcel its done its job over the last few years - and I very rarely use a tripod so I can't see the point in shelling out.

I will have a look for that other thread.

Fount it - http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=12864
This could be the same tripod CT is on about I am guessing. For that price though! can't be too bad
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That's my thread/purchase. It's arrived... kinda... the postie has taken it back to the depot since we wernt in. I'll let you know what its like tomorrow/Saturday.
 
The Big Kahuna said:
Jessops or the tripod :p
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:lol: Probably both ;)

I am going to stick to my guns and urge you to upgrade unless the cost is really too much to bear at this time. If only going slightly outside hand held range a cheaper tripod will probably do but if counting your exposure in seconds you need good gear..

One good shot will pay for that tripod.
 
That one you have Marcel is on at argos for 7.50 now :o
 
I have that Argos tripod (couldn't afford anything better) and its fine for me. Perfectly sharp shots, no problems at all from it.
 
Ok, you win !

Looks like I'm buying milous' Velbon Sherpa 250R from him

If it's crap I'm going to shoot his dog

If he hasn't got a dog, I'll buy him one...then shoot it
 
TeeHee, tonight the wife says to me that she wants to order me a Christmas present, a tripod. So I was very helpful and pointed her at the Warehouse Express web site, Manfrotto section, sub section Neotec and Magfibre tripods. Cant wait for Christmas day now :D :D
 
The Big Kahuna said:
Ok, you win !

Looks like I'm buying milous' Velbon Sherpa 250R from him

If it's crap I'm going to shoot his dog

If he hasn't got a dog, I'll buy him one...then shoot it
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LMFAO you owe me a clean monitor now.....:lol:

I was just about to suggest the Sherpa 250R. I saw it in Jessops for £60 (which was the cheapest I had seen it anywhere) aaaages ago, and put the name in my phone to check when I got home...I was clearing out my phone tonight, and spotted it again, and remembered your question.

I am still tempted by this tripod (thinking of getting one soon instead of a grip for my 30D), but I'm worried...do the legs splay? and if not....am I likely to miss that feature?
 
This is one of the reasons I'm upgrading my 'pod Marcel - fed up with it not going low enough with any degree of stability! That and the slightly wobbly head...!

Looking at Warehouse Express's site, it doesn't look like the legs on this one will splay - if you look further up the range (the 600R onwards) actually say that the legs have a multi-angle setting - the more budget models don't seem to mention it......You can get lower by mounting the camera underneath though.....
 
Marcel said:
I am still tempted by this tripod (thinking of getting one soon instead of a grip for my 30D), but I'm worried...do the legs splay? and if not....am I likely to miss that feature?
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I reckon so. Think of a Donna Nook situation where you're lying flat out and you just want the camera high enough to reach your eye level.
 
Yes - that was the sort of thing I was thinking about too....I don't think there's even much point in me taking my 'pod next week - it's not going to be practical to use it as it simply doesn't go low enough. :shrug: PITA!
 
Witch said:
- the more budget models don't seem to mention it......You can get lower by mounting the camera underneath though.....
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I'd avoid that arrangement at all costs. What it normally means is that you remove the centre column and re-insert it from underneath. The camera ends up hanging upside down and you have to crawl under the legs to get your eye to the viewfinder. :D

Could be fun I suppose? LOL
j/K ;)
 
Yeah, I really needed a sort of cynical "you've GOTTA be kidding" type smiley for the end of that line, didn't I!!!
 
oldgit said:
That's my thread/purchase. It's arrived... kinda... the postie has taken it back to the depot since we wernt in. I'll let you know what its like tomorrow/Saturday.
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OK as promised. Here's what I think of my "new" £14 tripod.
Well...
o: It's definately worth the money, but.... it is cheap and it shows.
o: I will get some use out of it, but then I've never been much of a tripod user. Macro and indoor portraits only.
o: It doesnt collapse under the 20D + 70-200 and 1.4TC, but I'm not going to leave it alone in a stiff breeze.

So if you are like me, in that you only use a tripod once every blue moon then it'll do the job, but it's definately flimsy and needs to be treated like your 95 year old granny carrying a tray of full coffee mugs.


Details:
o: Its got 3 legs each with 3 sections and at the bottom of each is an adjustable foot and it is a sinch to set up. :)
So far so good... now comes the down points
  • they are thin and not exactly sturdy
  • has struts to the centre column with a locking not. Downside is that it does naff all to reduce wobbles.
o: Central column goes up and down on a little windy handle thing...:woot:
  • fully extended it is very tall, but wobbly
  • it has a locking nut, which you have to use or it wobbles. Engaging this shoves the column over a little.
o: Has a grab handle and bag hook :D
  • why? I think that if I hang my bag on it the whole thing will collapse :)
o: Pan tilt and shift head :banana:
  • + all controls are easy to access well positioned
  • It's 100% plastic.
  • The locking plate works, but is not exactly stable
 
Nice review :) (suprised there are no photos :p)

Does your tripods head unlock and tilt 90 degrees to the side for portrait shots? I only realised that mine did this recently. Very handy, but it doesnt hold the camera too well :(
 
Jimmy_Lemon said:
Nice review :) (suprised there are no photos :p)

Does your tripods head unlock and tilt 90 degrees to the side for portrait shots? I only realised that mine did this recently. Very handy, but it doesnt hold the camera too well :(
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Yep it does that too.
It's got all the "features" of a £150 tripod, but for only 1/10 of the cost. And it shows.
 
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