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UER Forum > UE Photography > Best Affordable Tripods (Viewed 891 times)
goon1 


Location: Atlanta & Bay Area
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Best Affordable Tripods
< on 7/15/2020 3:22 PM >
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I just bought a new lens I want to try some long exposure shots with, however, I don't have a tripod. Do you guys have any suggestions for a decent and more affordable tripod ($100 or less?) that isn't too clunky?

Sorry if there's already a thread for this, I couldn't seem to find one if there is.

Thanks in advance for the help.





Beebs 


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Re: Best Affordable Tripods
< Reply # 1 on 7/15/2020 5:18 PM >
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small compact tripods usually are the move. manfrotto used to be the big seller but now its like sunpak or some shit and like one other brand.




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Dan Lee 


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Re: Best Affordable Tripods
< Reply # 2 on 7/16/2020 12:24 AM >
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My Amazon Basics one is the most solid one I've used under $100. I think it was around $60. I don't have a link but if you search on Amazon, "Amazon Basics tripod" you should find some, just go for the one with the best reviews.




ryanpics 


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Re: Best Affordable Tripods
< Reply # 3 on 7/17/2020 2:25 AM >
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I got my tripod back when I did video, so it's not optimal for photos. Look for something with a ball head and preferably carbon legs and you'll be set. There's a Sunpak one I always see at BestBuy for like $60 that seems solid.




dtewsacrificial 


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Re: Best Affordable Tripods
< Reply # 4 on 7/17/2020 4:41 AM >
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I'll preface with the concept that "affordable" is relative. I know what I'll post isn't exactly what you're looking for... but your generally-phrased title will draw more attention now and in the future (through searches) about this subject matter that is near-and-dear to UEers. So this might benefit somebody else looking for an affordable high-quality tripod, but isn't limited to $100.

That said, I would try to convince you to reconsider your price range, as you do get what you pay for.

Leofoto tripods are "affordable" options to the big names [specifically Gitzo, maybe RRS (too high-end), Manfrotto (too mid-end), FLM (too-niche)] that more-serious photographers have been enamored-with for a few years. Again, you generally get what you pay for... so they're not world-beaters, but they do punch above their weight in the class they don't really have any business being in given their relatively low price tags.

Here is a resource of quantitative testing, a labor-of-love by a true tripod geek. His "methodology" section is an education in itself.

https://thecentercolumn.com/



[last edit 7/17/2020 4:42 AM by dtewsacrificial - edited 1 times]

Abby Normal 


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Re: Best Affordable Tripods
< Reply # 5 on 7/17/2020 6:10 PM >
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I would suggest that you stay away from tripods that are primarily plastic. I see a lot of plastic tripod heads on the cheaper units. They aren't especially stable and much more likely to break.

Abby




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goon1 


Location: Atlanta & Bay Area
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Re: Best Affordable Tripods
< Reply # 6 on 7/17/2020 8:52 PM >
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Posted by dtewsacrificial
That said, I would try to convince you to reconsider your price range, as you do get what you pay for.


Thank you for the advice. Anything and everything to do with photography seems to follow that rule.

Do you think buying a used tripod that initially retailed out of my price range could be worth it? I was browsing through some refurbished and used tripods the other day, but I don't know how refurbished and used tripods typically pan out for people.




dtewsacrificial 


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Re: Best Affordable Tripods
< Reply # 7 on 7/17/2020 11:08 PM >
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Posted by goon1


Thank you for the advice. Anything and everything to do with photography seems to follow that rule.

Do you think buying a used tripod that initially retailed out of my price range could be worth it? I was browsing through some refurbished and used tripods the other day, but I don't know how refurbished and used tripods typically pan out for people.


That would be a great idea because:

1) Tripods don't follow Moore's Law where a new product is expected to substantively outclass the preceding products (despite marketers' best attempts to convince you otherwise). A well-cared-for high-end tripod from the last decade is probably going to be almost every bit as good as a comparable one fresh from the camera shop.

2) Tripod legs don't really wear out* unless abused... and abuse is fairly obvious and easy to identify.

* This is the basis for the idea that a good tripod will last you your photography lifetime.

Now, heads (not limited to just ballheads, as people tend to forget that geared heads can be excellent for the architectural aspect of UE photography) also go along the same lines, but are slightly more prone to wear... especially geared heads. But as with tripods, wear is generally obvious and easy to identify.

I would recommend trying the used-gear department of your local camera shops, online used gear retailers of some repute (notably KEH; B&H/Adorama don't have it as their primary business, so they're a little lower on that hierarchy), and even your local Craigslist (where you can inspect the items in-person; there generally isn't much hidden to a tripod/head that you can miss with a reasonable inspection).

FYI, all three of my main high/higher-end tripod legs I've bought used, consisting of a 2-series Gitzo w/an Acratech ballhead (I use this primarily for backcountry landscape photography); a traveler-type FLM w/matched ballhead (traveler-type tripods generally need a specific ballhead if you want to legs to invert and compact fully); and my main UE tripod, a lever-lock 3-section Manfrotto w/a Manfrotto geared head. All my heads I've bought new.

It should be mentioned that I immediately and fully disassemble/clean/rebuild anything I buy used. Not that it is strictly necessary, but it does bring me peace-of-mind for equipment that I will rely on... as it is also pretty much the deepest inspection you can achieve without blueprinting it.




goon1 


Location: Atlanta & Bay Area
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Re: Best Affordable Tripods
< Reply # 8 on 7/18/2020 4:00 PM >
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Posted by dtewsacrificial
* This is the basis for the idea that a good tripod will last you your photography lifetime.


Knowing that a good tripod can last a lifetime (or at least many years) makes me feel like it's worth it to just bite the bullet and invest a decent amount of money is a quality one.




Q4caffiend 


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Re: Best Affordable Tripods
< Reply # 9 on 7/26/2020 10:48 AM >
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442861.jpg (37 kb, 633x372)
click to view


This is my first post, sorry if anything looks odd.I tried to attach an image of the tripod I purchased from amazon. I have a tripod from amazon, it was $40. 60 inch tripod with a blue tooth remote- comes w/ a bag and an attachable piece that will hold a phone. I have a camcorder and am pretty happy with the tripod so far .. the brand is UBeesize.




UER Forum > UE Photography > Best Affordable Tripods (Viewed 891 times)


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