i need a new tripod, any recommendations? please help.

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Once again somebody asks a question and makes clear their modest budget, and it turns into a pi55ing competition to see who has the most expensive tripod.

OP. A good tripod will serve you for many years and won't trash your camera, a supermarket tripod for $40 with plastic head and clips is a total false economy.

However, as a few sensible souls have pointed out Manfrotto do some good solid tripods for reasonable money.
Depending on how tall you are a 190 will be perfectly sufficient for your needs, if you are taller than say 5'10" then a 055 is probably a better bet.

Go into a shop and try these out. There are different specificiation levels, from the basic legs with twist locks to lightweight carbon fibre jobbies with lever lock. Event he entry level ones are solid, although it's worth going round the bolts with an allen key.

The beauty is that you can also choose a head specific to your type of shooting, with your cam and lens being quite light then again, you don't have to go megabucks.

The other beauty is that the system is modular, so you can buy a new head for another purpose without changing the whole tripod.

They aren't dirt cheap but they are good value, make sure you get a modular tripod rather than the plasticky ones with fixed heads.

If the manfrotto brand is still a little pricey then look at Calumet who do decent, if clunky clones for a bit less.

You don't need Gitzo or RRS. I read your question properly.
 
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Fellow teen on a budget here; I was in the same predicament about 6 months ago and ended up getting a Manfrotto 055XPROB with 808RC4 3 way head for £110 altogether. I think that is a pretty good deal but even if you pay a bit more, the combination is so sturdy and you'll probably never need another.

One problem with this combo: weight. I'm a pretty big guy and I lift but even for me it's a burden over long distances if it isn't strapped to a backpack. Great for a sturdy base but portability isn't a key requirement for me. If it is for you maybe a carbon fibre set of legs and a decent ball head.
 
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paul13walnut5 said:
Once again somebody asks a question and makes clear their modest budget, and it turns into a pi55ing competition to see who has the most expensive tripod.

Pissing contest? I guess we weren't aware that twist locks were synonymous with expensive tripods. It's not like my 20-year old $10 Kmart blue light special Slik tripod has twist locks, now, is it. Except that it does. And I still use it as a light stand, occasionally.

FWIW, I think Manfrotto generally offers the best compromise between quality and value.
 
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Buy cheap buy twice, or 3 times in terms of tripods...

Some say that you only realize the money you put on buying previous 2 tripods could have been saved if you buy the 3rd from the beginning. LOL

http://bythom.com/support.htm

I went from supermarket $99 slik straight to Gitzo 2531+Markings Q10+RRS clamp and plate systems. Over north of one and half grand, but I think I've saved myself some money by not having to buy those intermediate models anymore.
 
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neuroanatomist said:
paul13walnut5 said:
Once again somebody asks a question and makes clear their modest budget, and it turns into a pi55ing competition to see who has the most expensive tripod.

Pissing contest? I guess we weren't aware that twist locks were synonymous with expensive tripods. It's not like my 20-year old $10 Kmart blue light special Slik tripod has twist locks, now, is it. Except that it does. And I still use it as a light stand, occasionally.

FWIW, I think Manfrotto generally offers the best compromise between quality and value.

Neuro,

I neither know nor care very much what kind of locks your 20 year old $10 slik has, unless you are offering to sell it to the OP, and even then, it would be a matter for them to decide if they can get along with the locks. What seems obvious is that to slip in brands like Gitzo, RRS and 3 legged thing etc is totally incongruent with the OP's specifications, i.e. that they are on a budget.

It happens at every turn on these bloody boards. 1DX, 35L and spending $$$$$$$ isn't the correct answer to every question!
 
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Yeah, Paul, that happens. But this is a 3-month old thread - the OP has likely either bought a tripod by now, or has learned to get by without one. ;)

Have you considered this as a math problem? 1D X + 35L + RRS tripod = 42? ;D
 
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paul13walnut5 said:
It happens at every turn on these bloody boards. 1DX, 35L and spending $$$$$$$ isn't the correct answer to every question!

When I started to get interested in bird photography I asked questions on the form... A lot of advice was about purchasing expensive gear, but the best advice came from Jrista concerning landing perches and a hunting blind so the birds didn't see me..... but the very best advice came from a photographer friend who said "fill you pocket with sunflower seeds, spread some out, sit with a good book, and be patient"

As far as tripods go.... I have a 35 year old Manfroto and a five year old carbon-fibre manfroto.... They are probably the least expensive of the stable tripods. You can pay more for a bit better or you can pay less for a whole lot worse. I do NOT recommend carbon fibre unless you carry it a lot. You really need weight for a truly stable tripod.
 
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neuroanatomist said:
ahab1372 said:
TexPhoto said:
And twist lock legs do suck.
That's a matter of personal preferences. Some prefer twist locks, some don't

+1

As someone who used Manfrotto flip locks and now uses RRS twist locks, I find the latter easier on my fingers* and a lot faster to set up and break down. Plus, ever tried cleaning sand from your Manfrotto leg locks? ::)

Ever pinch your finger in a Manfrotto flip lock? Extra points if you've done it in -25°c temperatures!!1!



* Modified quote.
 
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Daniel Flather said:
Ever pinch your finger in a Manfrotto flip lock? Extra points if you've done it in -25°c temperatures!!1!
I admit I managed to pinch skin on my finger in a twist lock tripod, so I'm not sure which type of locks are the greater health risk :-) I got a nice linear bruise that lasted for a week or so.
 
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Daniel Flather said:
Ever pinch your finger in a Manfrotto flip lock? Extra points if you've done it in -25°c temperatures!!1!

One of my older Manfrotto tripods not only had the vicious flip locks, but the edges of the fliplock had this very sharp plastic flashing. Crikey, they could not have made it more dangerious unless they put metal teeth on it.

Not keeping your finger out of the way is a mistake you make ONCE with some of the older Manfrottos. Yikes that hurt!

My newer one still has the flip locks but the edges are at least more rounded.
 
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