Tripod

TomD13

TomD13

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Tom
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Hi all
I am looking at getting a lightweight tripod that I can take out for Landscape/Wildlife photography. I have had a look at the Rollei Traveler 1. I have a Dx Nikon D5600 with the largest lens being the 70-300 VR, so not worried about weight too much.

Is this one any good - are there better alternatives (I know I can pay a small fortune, but I don't have a huge budget, perhaps around £140 including head)

Thank you!!
 
By far the best travel tripod I have ever used is my Gitzo Traveler. I bought one used on here, as new they are an arm & a leg. Very light, very stable, goes everywhere with me. See if you can find a used one somewhere, honestly, they're worth every penny.

Link to Gitzo site
 
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Don't like the look of that Rollie - but I have not used one.

I am with Jelster on this one = get a Gitzo! Before those "in the know" descend with disparaging comments I have bought two Gitzo tripods that fit within your budget. Namely a G1550T (£140) and a G1329 Mk2 + G1318 centre column for £100 - both in close to new condition.

A Gitzo G1329 + centre column went for £190 a few days ago on FleaBay, not quite the bargain I had, but a superb tripod that will handle 600 F4/800 F5.6 lenses with ease for under £200 and they last for decades!

Keep an eye out for a used Gitzo GT3530LS - it is a big sturdy tripod but quite light (1.8 kilo), will support anything (including you)!
 
There will always be better available no matter what you buy - those of us who are not rich buy what we can afford. ANY tripod offers more stability that hand holding does - even those tripods with only one leg. Actually, if you get a one legged one (yes, I do know they are monopods!) it will double as a stick on rough terrain.
 
I have one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01KA4TUJW/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?psc=1

Its solid and comes in a decent bag, does the job for me, not much heavier than some CF ones available. The ball head and the rotation are on different locks, so you can lock the camera on position and still pan, great if you want to take a multiple shot landscape. One leg detached and can be used as a monopod.

I don't need to use a tripod often so could not justify lots of money towards one.

T
 
john.margetts said:
There will always be better available no matter what you buy - those of us who are not rich buy what we can afford. ANY tripod offers more stability that hand holding does - even those tripods with only one leg. Actually, if you get a one legged one (yes, I do know they are monopods!) it will double as a stick on rough terrain.
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I am certainly not rich - I don't even get enough to pay income tax! Yet I use the best tripods/mono-pods that I have yet found. Namely 4 Gitzo tripods (each for different purposes), a Gitzo mono-pod and a Sirui mono-pod. All (except my Gitzo traveller) were bought brand new from UK official sources.
I cannot afford the "copy" tripods as they are just too expensive, though many are good.
Shop around Gitzo tripods are reasonably cheap in my experience. Currently my most expensive Gitzo is a 4 series "Systematic" (GT4542LS) at £375 - I pushed the boat out a bit there, but it is nice!
 
johnf3f said:
All (except my Gitzo traveller) were bought brand new from UK official sources.
I cannot afford the "copy" tripods as they are just too expensive, though many are good.
Shop around Gitzo tripods are reasonably cheap in my experience. Currently my most expensive Gitzo is a 4 series "Systematic" (GT4542LS) at £375
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That makes no sense. Not sure exactly what a "copy" tripod is but I can find several branded reputable tripods cheaper than £375 - Benro for one. GT4542LS is no longer available its replacement is £700. so no Gitzo are not reasonably cheap. You may have been fortunate and found end of range product at knock down prices but thats not going to happen every day.
 
AgentOrange76 said:
That makes no sense. Not sure exactly what a "copy" tripod is but I can find several branded reputable tripods cheaper than £375 - Benro for one. GT4542LS is no longer available its replacement is £700. so no Gitzo are not reasonably cheap. You may have been fortunate and found end of range product at knock down prices but thats not going to happen every day.
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Certainly the bargains do not come along everyday and some are better bargains than others. However my track record, so far, is (used) G1329 Mk2 + G1318 centre column £100, G1550T £140 and (new) GT3320BS £189, GT2531 £200 (only £200 off!), GT3530LS £300 (only £170 off - OOPS!) and the GT4542LS for £375. Not to mention my GM2541 mono pod for £90 (just over half price). Whilst the two used tripods and the 4 series were out of print all the others were current models at the time of purchase. The G1329 Mk2 and GT3530LS are no longer with me as they were superseded by the 4 series - made a nice little profit too.

I wouldn't want to bore you further with the prices that friends and acquaintances have paid for Gitzo products. If you want to pay Gitzo headline prices or pay high prices for lesser products then that is your decision - I choose not to. Whenever I felt the need for another/different tripod I have found a sensibly priced Gitzo in pretty short order. For reference the G1550T was from E Bay and all the others were from official UK high street retailers or the official importer.
 
I have an old Redsnapper. Yeah, it does feel a bit weighty at times but that's usually down to how it's carried. It comes in at about 2.2kg all in. I've had it about 8-9 years & it's been in rivers, in the sea, sand, mud, snow, thrown over fences & walls.... The only thing wrong is the threads are corroded on the feet for rubber/spikes but that's down to me not cleaning it properly at some point in it's life.

I bought a little Slik travel tripod at one point. Complete waste of time unless you're attaching a point & shoot onto it.....
 
redsnappa said:
The seller says " Just needs spare foot on one of the legs"
And this is a product that is supposed to last a lifetime lol.
I've never had a foot fall of any of my budget friendly tripods, even my 34 year old Slik 88 has all it's feet intact.
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So just put a new foot on it?! It has already lasted decades so a little TLC is not out of the question surely? As to comparing this "Old" Gitzo to a Slik tripod? I am baffled that you even mention the Slik as a comparison! I have tried a number of Slik tripods - just no.
 
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