Which tripod?

soggydiverdan

soggydiverdan

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Dan
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I know this has been done to death (and then some)
However, I am planning on investing in a tripod, for scenery work, and also for taking photos of the sky (i.e. star trails etc) and, you know, general photography, long exposure stuff, and all that.
I will be using my 400d, maybe my compact camera (well, why not?)

I'm toying with this
http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/23226/show.html
but there's no real info, or maybe this
http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/20466/show.html
or, this
http://www.redsnapperuk.com/camera-accessories/RS-283_tripod_and_RSH-24_3-way_head_.html#nogo

I've got a Redsnapper monopod which I had some issues with (locks not unlocking) but the customer service was A1.
A head is not a necessity (as I've got the redsnapper mini ball head, is brill!)
So
Advice, please:-)
:help:
Thanks
Dan
 
I've had a model similar to the 1st link, and not to put too finer point on it, it's rubbish. It creaks, wobbles, and I wouldn't put anything remotely expensive on it. Useful as a lightstand, perhaps!

The second isn't really clear, from the photos, but I'd bet it's rubbish too :D

Get the redsnapper, it's in a different league of quality to the fist two suggestions! And you can get it with a free head, and a 10% discount. Job done :thumbs:

Chris

Edit: I should mention, I now have a redsnapper, so I can say first hand just how big the difference is!
 
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I don't know anything about the Redsnapper, but it looks like a better tripod than either of the Velbons.
The second velbon looks like my first ever tripod, you'll realise how flimsy it is when you're standing at Point Imperial at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon at 5AM on a freezing cold morning trying to hold the damn thing steady in the gale. Been there, done that, nearly threw it over the edge.
The centre column is made of plastic and makes the tripod very wobbly. It's too short without the centre column, so wobbly is what you have to work with. Junk.

If possible though, try to have a look at some tripods in a shop, it's difficult to know how sturdy/bulky/ or light weight a tripod is just by looking at pictures.
 
The Redsnapper is looking a very very good buy...

I do have a red snapper Monopod, as said, and it is very sturdy and very good...
will try to get the tripod+head with the 10% off...
not sure if it is do-able...
 
Another vote for the redsnapper here - Solid as a rock at a great price. Never had any issues with mine and it really gets abused. General feedback on here is that Joe's a top bloke and always goes a bit further than necessary to assist with any niggles or issues.
 
Had a Redsnapper tripod and head bought for christmas, over the moon with it. Very sturdy, well made and looks the part.

regards
Steve
 
What's your budget Dan?


Rob
 
I have a carbon fibre one from jessips which is quite nice. Think it was just over 100
 
I use a Giottos MLT9351b and find to work well
 
What lens you putting on the 400D? When I had my 400D I used it with some crappy tripods with no issues at all. It's not a heavy body so I wouldn't go spending a fortune on a tripod. Have a look at fleabay, some good deals on used tripods sometimes.

Andy S
 
hey Andy, at present I've got a Sigma 70-300, but will be looking for a 400 or more at some point...
I know the body's light, but doesn't that just make it proportionally more front heavy? and thus likely to move?
(Will be (trying) some very long exposures) and also trying to ape some of the shots done on here!
do you think a cheepy tripod will do me atm, then?

Or should I go for a guddden i.e. futureproof?
 
Go for the best you can!

The last thing you want is a cheaper tripod failing/falling with hundreds of pounds of gear on top.

Im not suggesting any of the above would do that its just something to think about. I've got a Manfrotto 055XProB and would also recommend that, but obviously over budget.

Its better to spend the £100 or so just now, rather than £50 now and another £100 or so in a year or twos time IMHO ;-)


Andy
 
If you are thinking of putting a 400mm on then a cheap tripod won't really cut it. I though you mean 400D plus something like a kit lens.

I think AndyB1976 has said it best. If you can afford it it's better to spend the cash now rather than later.

I have one of these and it's really good for the money. http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-giottos-mtl8350b-adjustable-column-carbon-fibre-tripod/p1025873 If you don't mind a slight bit more weight then an comparable aluminium one would cost around £100.
 
riu said:
Had a Redsnapper tripod and head bought for christmas, over the moon with it. Very sturdy, well made and looks the part.

I bought one as well, impressed with the quality for the money.
Click to expand...
 
I think the phrase is "buy cheap buy twice". I've got an 055xprob i'm happy with but accept it may be over budget. Spares always available which is worth a thought. :thinking:

Pete
 
The CX640 will hold your 400D with no problems, I had the combo and it was fine. I wouldn't use the 640 with my 40D and it wasn't steady (read, I wasn't happy with it). I was lucky enough to score a cheap manfrotto 190PROBX and I don't believe I'll need another tripod ever.
 
i think you'll find the mini ball head a bit annoying, where the regular ball head will allow you to make small adjustments for tracking the likes of the moon, the mini ball head has no fine tuning. The moon moves quite fast and you'll be constantly making small adjustments. The mini ball head isn't really suited to this.

I have the 283 carbon redsnapper. I'm slightly over 6ft and the tripod extends just enough for me standing up looking upwards at the moon comfortably. A big lens hanging on the centre column at full reach makes it slightly wobbly, and i think you'de get this on most tripods, but with the shutter on a timer or a remote will stop any camera shake.
 
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right...
what I think I'm going to do, is go to Jess0ps on Tuesday before work, and have a looky round...
from the comments on here, and the links you've all so kindly given, and also some more reading around, I will probably break my budget slightly when there and go for something like a Giottos 9351B Pro, or maybe their ownbrand carbon fibre one... do these two items seem to be ok to you?
Again, if any of this is setting off alarm bells, please, let me know!

or, with my slightly higher budget of £75 (again, head not the most important thing due to my current one from my monopod) any more suggestions of ones to buy??

anyway, I'll have a faff with them in store first, seems to be the most sensible thing to do.

Thanks guys and gals
 
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Forget the Pro bit, that's what the muppets at Jessops call it to make it sound better; the model that you're talking about is the MTL 9351B.

For £84 you could get the MTL 9361B, which has longer legs and a higher weight support threshold.

Either are good choices if you aren't going for Carbon Fibre, which will cost 3 times the amount.

Personally I'd go for the 9361, but I'm biased because that's what I use. Remember, always try to get the longest legs that you can, rather than rely on the central column. The more you use that, the less stable the tripod becomes; by stable I'm talking about vibration as opposed to it falling over.
 
Sorry to hijack the thread but is there any noticeable difference in stability between the RS-28 3 & 4 section Red Snappers?
 
Tbh, the only way to find out is to go to the shop and play with it, and if you find using a particular model comfortable then that's your choice!
 
I bought a £15 hama from 7dayshop. Built in spirit level and quick release head. Doesn't seem any more wobbly than any other tripod and it is a lot more sturdy than the slik one I had before. Goes quite tall as some of the ones I've seen seem to be designed for midgets.
 
I am 6'2" and I do not have any problems with my MLT9351b but its best to try the different one in your shortlist.
 
Are there any objective wobbliness tests for tripods? Only one I can think of is having them zoomed far away with live view on to see how much visible wobble there is in the viewfinder.
 
Yup, there's an easy one. Set your tripod up on a windy day and take a 5+ second exposure (light permitting).
 
The other good thing about the Giottos is that it has a centre column that can be offset.

This is very useful for macro, or any time you need to get the camera close to the ground or away from the legs.
 
giottos 9851 is what i have its awesome and cost me £70 with a MH5011 head
 
well, just an FYI,
I've 'borrowed' my brother's Velbon Ultra Luxi F for the time being, and putting the money towards something far more important... a holiday in march:-)

thanks for the help all, i'm sure when he wants it back, I'll be buying one of the recommended ones!
 
srichards said:
I bought a £15 hama from 7dayshop. Built in spirit level and quick release head. Doesn't seem any more wobbly than any other tripod and it is a lot more sturdy than the slik one I had before. ...
Click to expand...

User Name said:
Guaranteed to be not true ;)
Click to expand...

How about :naughty: ...

"Doesn't seem any more wobbly than any other £15 tripod ..."

Seriously though, those cheap tripods don't flex in the same way that a lot of larger ones do, as they have braces on the legs and are usually not very tall (creating an 'illusion' of stability), but they do have a smaller footprint, are generally more unstable due to their light weight and might be prone to breakage in cold weather :(.

I had a nasty finger accident a couple of winters ago when I was winding up the centre column on my cheap (also Hama) tripod (using the crank handle) and the plastic just snapped in the freezing temperatures, causing the D700 and 70-300mm lens to drop down a foot or so. First thing that happened was that I tired to let go of the broken handle and catch the falling camera, but got the skin on my finger pinched in the process. Then, as I yanked my hand out of the way because of the pain, I tipped the tripod over forwards and just fumbled to catch it in time.

Lesson learned - don't put 2K worth of kit on a 15 quid tripod :|!
 
The same one I bought for £15 is on amazon for £60! A gamma 74. Only use it indoors for macro anyway. Would rather handhold or lean on something than use a tripod as they're nothing but a nuisance to carry round.
 
srichards said:
I bought a £15 hama from 7dayshop. Built in spirit level and quick release head. Doesn't seem any more wobbly than any other tripod
Click to expand...

I'd bet a £300 Gitzo tripod that your £15 Hama one is as stable as a nervous jelly with parkinson's in comparison.
 
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