Tripod advice please?

[Aysedasi]

Every year I lug my current tripod (a not particularly wonderful and rather bulky Miranda Titan) over to Le Mans. For the first time this year, we have decided to fly to France instead of catchving the increasingly expensive ferry. I don't want to have to carry this tripod with me.

So I'm looking for something which is (in this order):-

1. Inexpensive (and by this I really mean cheap )

2. Lightweight (as lightweight as possible)

3. But also full size (none of these mini tripod things)

4. Reliable and sturdy enough to hold either a camcorder (no real problem) or my 10D

There's loads of stuff going fairly cheap on Ebay right now (Lots of Alpha 60s for example) but I wonder if anyone would like to recommend a particular make or model?

[rdjones]

Ayse, I have been looking into this myself for the very same reason and I haven't been able to find anything yet. So if anyone idea let me know too.

[Aysedasi]

For about 5 years I used a very cheap Velbon - but it was really too lightweight for my SLR, particularly with a zoom on it. To be honest, the head on my Miranda is pretty poor, it really struggles with my EOS and zoom. I want the best of all worlds though, lightness, compactness, sturdiness and very small dent in the pocketness......

[kdr]

ayse you can buy camera clamps...basically the top of a tripod/monopod, but with a clamp arrangement instead of leg/s. i used one a few years back and it was fine...fix it to some armco or something similar, fix camera to top, fire away...you might need a cable release though.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by kdr

ayse you can buy camera clamps...basically the top of a tripod/monopod, but with a clamp arrangement instead of leg/s. i used one a few years back and it was fine...fix it to some armco or something similar, fix camera to top, fire away...you might need a cable release though.

How do I get near armco ker?! I'm just a mere mortal - or are you offering to lend me your press vest?

[kdr]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

How do I get near armco ker?! I'm just a mere mortal - or are you offering to lend me your press vest?

well i did say "or something similar" ayse...i mean at one point i fixed the clamp to railing on a building where you are sometimes Welcomed...

[Cougar]

You cant get much cheaper than THIS

My brother has one of these but I am not sure if it will handle the weight of a SLR and lens. Works OK for your normal digicams though.

What kind of budget do you have ayse?

[Piglet]

Originally Posted by kdr

fix it to some armco

Without wishing to take this off topic (and rub in Aysedasi's lack of a media pass further!) with my marshalling hat on can I recommend against attaching anything to the armco. Should a car connect with the armco you'd be amazed how far the vibrations travel!

[Aysedasi]

To be honest, I'm drawing the line at about £25 (£30 absolute tops), so I'm ruling out Manfrottos and Gitzos etc. etc. There's some good looking stuff on Ebay but the p&p tends to make the new tripods less than viable.

There's a Slik88 on there at the moment which looks good - anyone got one of those?

Otherwise there are Hama Alpha 60s or Star 61, 62, or 63s. I really want something that still quite strudy but I can get in the bottom of my grip (bag) - and a lightweight bag to carry it in would be good too.

[thebear]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I don't want to have to carry this tripod with me.

Have you considered a MONOpod? Surely there is one in your price range and they collapse to about 25 inches. The only caveat is to get one with a fully articulated camera mount (standard tripod head). Some of the lower priced ones have the screw for the camera securely mounted on the end with no angular adjustments possible.

[Aysedasi]

I've had a cullman monopod (with a ball and socket) for years but don't use it that often - no good for long exposure night shots......

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Cougar

You cant get much cheaper than THIS

I saw that one Jeremy but passed over it as there was just no information at all about dimensions, weight etc.

[Aysedasi]

I'm now seriously considering a cheap Ham,a Star 61. Probably too lightweight, but good size. I'll have a look at a few in the flesh at Jessops and LCM today though.

[egor]

Hi Ayse, I've been looking to buy a new tripod and I am in the same frame of mind as you - I don't want to spend too much on one.
So looking at the cheap ones on ebay, nearly all of them come with a hook at the bottom of the centre section, as I am normally carrying a bag of some discription I've been thinking, buy a cheap one use a bag for the extra wieght to keep the tripod steady as long as it has a fairly good mount to angle the camera to where ever you want it and if it is no good I've only lost a few quid instead of a lot.
I had a quick look in my local Jessops last week and they had 2 on special offer, they were still around the forty quid touch and did not look that brilliant.
Happy shopping.

[djb]

Ayse, its always the same dilema isn't it. You don't want to carry anything heavy and bulky, but sturdiness kinda comes with weight and construction. I'd second either the light and cheap route (with a bag of stuff to dampen its movements down) or the clamp or beanbag route, which can work fine but obviously is limited to where you can place the camera- which a cheap and nasty light tripod can do regardless of its look, weight or height. Last year I didn't even bring a tripod after much agonizing simply because I had so much other crap to lug along and it would have broken the camels back (mine). You could at least borrow a light tripod from someone and do some tests with the hanging bag trick to see if its up to what you'd like to do, as I would think that a tripod would be the most flexible tool for the various viewpoints. The only clamps I'm familiar with are Manfrotto ones we use for improvising lighting situations, but they are kinda heavy, but perhaps there are some lighter ones around and then you could use the head from the tripod on a clamp for places where you could access a railing or something and have both options without too much weight.

good luck searching and weighing the choices.

[Aysedasi]

I skipped Jessops and the Arena models in LCE. Didn't like them. I've bought a Hama from Ebay at a decent price. Should arrive today with a bit of luck.

[Richy_Rich]

A friend of mine is a music photographer and uses a loop of string/cable/strap that attaches to the bottom of his camera (you can buy a d-ring that screws into the tripod mount) and then round his foot. Then you simply strain against the loop for steady picture nirvana.

You can't get much cheaper (or useable in a crowd of people).

[redshoes]

Ayse, have you thought about some sort of clamp instead. Assuming you can find a suitable fence post or whatever to attach it to.

[Truckosaurus]

A mate of mine has a bean-bag which screws into the tripod mount thread onto the camera, you can then balance the camera against any random imoveable object, (fencepost, chair, armco etc.) and then get a half decent shot with a longer exposure.

[redshoes]

You mean The Pod - http://www.thepod.ca/

[Truckosaurus]

That's the fella.

[Aysedasi]

Lots of useful advice guys, thank very much.