Unbranded Tripods off ebay?

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rasmusrok1

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Jonny
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Hi, i mentioned in another thread i broke my tripod, and i need a new one. I have literally no cash due to a recent holiday.

Has anybody had any experience with tripods off ebay with no brand. They are so cheap and look good in the images. I had a jessops 323 before which was good enough for me.

The one i have been looking at, and there are loads more is below:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Universal-Cam...meraAccessories_TripodsSupports#ht_4010wt_911

Thanks for reading

jonny
 
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I bought one about two years ago for 12 quid and still use it. Yup its rattles and the rubber bits are a bit worn but it really has served me well. :shrug:

I have a manfrotto base here that my mum bought for me for about 80 quid, unaware that she still had to buy the head which is about 50 quid. I just cant bear to part with money when my little cheap one has done so well.
 
It's £6.99, delivered,allow £3.50 for p+p and £1 for Ebay/Paypal fees and the sellers profit/tax etc so realistically it's a £1 tripod, draw your own conclusions.....
 
I know money is tight, but manfrotto/redsnapper will last years and years (if looked after). If your tripod falls over with your £300 camera on, you will wish you spent a little more on it. (My personal opinion)
 
rasmusrok1 said:
Hi, i mentioned in another thread i broke my tripod, and i need a new one. jonny
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NEED - why ?

perhaps a bean bag would do for your outdoor shots whilst you save for a decent tripod...? just an idea
 
don't bother with fleabay....

Digital SLR Photography magazine have an offer on.....

phone 0844 249 0482 use the offer code of D1008

pay £7, and you'll get the next 5 issues of the magazine, a free Hama Star 700 tripod and a carrying bag!!!

I know you get what you pay for, but it might be a really good short term investment until you can get something better :)

hope that helps
Maria
x
 
careful ...that's been available for a week or so, and is for the first 200 subs only
 
Yardbent said:
careful ...that's been available for a week or so, and is for the first 200 subs only
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you're right! I never spotted that - I'm just another magazine browser suckered in by the hype :lol:
 
Yardbent said:
NEED - why ?

perhaps a bean bag would do for your outdoor shots whilst you save for a decent tripod...? just an idea
Click to expand...

I need one for stock work, and product photography jobs i am involved with at the moment.
 
HopefulM said:
don't bother with fleabay....

Digital SLR Photography magazine have an offer on.....

phone 0844 249 0482 use the offer code of D1008

pay £7, and you'll get the next 5 issues of the magazine, a free Hama Star 700 tripod and a carrying bag!!!

I know you get what you pay for, but it might be a really good short term investment until you can get something better :)

hope that helps
Maria
x
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Thats interesting i might give that a go! I will ring up when i get home! Thanks.
 
I have just signed up to that deal, bargain! Great shout Maria.
 
what could possibly go wrong - it's three legs and some screws...
 
You say your last cheap tripod broke, it might be worth thinking about what happens if your cheap tripod breaks with your camera attached to it.
 
KC Leblanc said:
You say your last cheap tripod broke, it might be worth thinking about what happens if your cheap tripod breaks with your camera attached to it.
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His last cheap tripod broke because he trod on the head and broke it. That has nothing to do with it being cheap. So apart from being a fat git who can crush the life out of anything by stepping on it, what else can go wrong? Anybody here heard of a leg just snapping on a cheap tripod? A creak and a groan and the whole thing just toppling over because it didn't cost £100+? A shrill shriek and the camera head just snaps off?

There's not a lot that can go wrong, and even if something did, for £7 for the ebay one, it's not the end of the world. When there are people here who will only buy the most expensive memory cards [eg Sandisk] because they think they will never fail them and make their pictures look better, it's hardly surprising to read recommendations that you have to spend the best part of £200 on a tripod or all your pictures will be crap [even the ones not taken on the tripod]. I think some of the Manfrotto/Gitzo/Giotto owners would be ashamed to read what their tripods actually cost a Chinese factory to make.

Sometimes we have to make do with what we can, so Jonny, go for it.
 
try the real camera company , they have a range of second hand tripods , it might be worth a look in there. and you can test it with your camera, or if you want to borrow my velbon cx 640 you would be welcome to till you sort yourself out.

Cheers Steve
 
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MisterE said:
His last cheap tripod broke because he trod on the head and broke it. That has nothing to do with it being cheap. So apart from being a fat git who can crush the life out of anything by stepping on it, what else can go wrong? Anybody here heard of a leg just snapping on a cheap tripod? A creak and a groan and the whole thing just toppling over because it didn't cost £100+? A shrill shriek and the camera head just snaps off?

There's not a lot that can go wrong, and even if something did, for £7 for the ebay one, it's not the end of the world. When there are people here who will only buy the most expensive memory cards [eg Sandisk] because they think they will never fail them and make their pictures look better, it's hardly surprising to read recommendations that you have to spend the best part of £200 on a tripod or all your pictures will be crap [even the ones not taken on the tripod]. I think some of the Manfrotto/Gitzo/Giotto owners would be ashamed to read what their tripods actually cost a Chinese factory to make.

Sometimes we have to make do with what we can, so Jonny, go for it.
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Thanks, went for it. I kind of agree, money no object give me a £200 tripod. But as i stand now, a crap one will do. And i guess im gonna have to lose some weight, that or not be so bloody clumsy!
 
steve_lyt said:
try the real camera company , they have a range of second hand tripods , it might be worth a look in there. and you can test it with your camera, or if you want to borrow my velbon cx 640 you would be welcome to till you sort yourself out.

Cheers Steve
Click to expand...

Thats really nice of you mate thanks a lot. I wont be needing it as i have baught one, all be it a crappy £7 one. Really nice of you to offer none the less!! :thumbs:
 
Flash In The Pan said:
I'll send you one for use with your (own) D3 and 24-70.....let's see how you're feeling after the first light breeze :lol:
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lol...that's kinda what I was getting at...I'll keep using my carbon Manfrotto or the old Gitzo Reporter, thanks...:lol:
 
Funny....I'm off to do a bit of anschluss-ing later...
 
I have a Hama Star I got off eBay for very little and came with a mini bendy tripod as well. While it works, it's flimsy as anything, I certainly wouldn't trust it in the wind and in honesty I have only used it away from home once and that was on a nice flat solid marble floor with very little wind (which was odd as I was on top of the Rockefeller Centre) and I was VERY close to catch it if anything happened.

My biggest issue how ever is the pan and tilt mechanism is awful. You can either have it binding or too loose to be useful. It's just a pain to use and while it works, I tend not to because of the grief.

Once I can afford/see I will use it I plan on spending more (not £200 mind, but I am tempted by the £35 Manfroto on 7day shop) on something I can trust a bit more.
 
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