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tunnelbug
      
location:
California
Gender: Male
 |  |  |  | Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
< on 2/3/2006 1:14 AM >
|  | | | So I noticed that some of my long exposures have been blurry, and I'm thinking to myself, "what the hell? It's on a tripod! Why is it blurry?!"
Then I realized I have a cheap-ass tripod. I mean, seriously. the leg extensions are mediocre, and when fully extended the camera stands about as high as Mini-Me from Austin Powers. It's always off balance and I have to use my superhuman strength to try to tighten the crappy screw.
So, lesson learned. Don't buy a cheap ass tripod.
Anybody have any recommendations on what I should buy next?
[last edit 2/3/2006 1:15 AM by tunnelbug - edited 1 times]
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Viper
location:
Vancouver, BC Canada
Gender: Male
Trespassing On!
| | | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 1 on 2/3/2006 1:38 AM >
|  | | | What might also happen with those cheap-o tripods (I have one too) is when you press the shutter it shakes the camera a bit as you take your hand away causing a blurry picture. I set my camera to a 2-second timer to take nice shots. As for what type of tripod you should buy next i'll leave that to the experts...
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pyro
location:
Toronto
Gender: Male
| | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 2 on 2/3/2006 1:52 AM >
|  | | | My friend bought the cheapest shit tripod (I do believe for 3 dollars at active surplus) and it was pretty much completely made from plastic, even the screw to hold the camera. The first day the screw broke and he ended up going back to active to buy a new (metal) screw.
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Dokk
location:
Lewisville, Texas
Gender: Male
| |  | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 3 on 2/3/2006 2:13 AM >
| | | | I have a cheap-ass tripod that I use all the time and I get some really great pictures using it. most of the time, I set the self timer and that lets the camera get steady before the shutter trips.
"If I'm gonna get blamed for it, I might as well do it!" |
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FoxTwoFoxTwo
location:
Clarksville, Tennessee
Gender: Male
I'm an explorer who photographs...
| | | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 4 on 2/3/2006 2:32 AM >
| | | | Hahah I use a merkury tripod I got with my camcorder and it is.... crap... But I guess it's not a problem. Most of my places are active sites that setting up a tripod is just out of the question.
Bringing exploration to Clarksville.
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desmet
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
| | | | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 5 on 2/3/2006 2:38 AM >
| | | | Cheap tripods will also make vertical shots difficult if you don't have a light camera. I have broken MANY cheap tripods.
I have two tripods...
Bogen 3221 - The beast. Heavy, cumbersome, and stable as all hell. GREAT tripod. I have a 3 way head on it but I need to get a ball for real. Expensive, the heads are expensive, but this one won't blow over in the wind.
Bogen 724b - Great portable tripod. Not perfect in terms of holding verticals (have to set it a bit cocked and then it will settle) but not bad. Comes with a ball head built in which is really really great. I carry it in the bag it came in on my back. This has worked very well for me in my limited exploring. Relatively cheap at like $130.
Bogen is one brand I can personally attest is fantastic. All parts are replaceable, though I have never had to hit this up. Gitzo is supposed to make some great tripods as well. You can spend a mint on a really light carbon fiber one, but I think that would be a mistake for UE.
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grit1
location:
University Campus - Minneapolis, MN
Gender: Male
Got Shear Line?
| | | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 6 on 2/3/2006 2:57 AM >
| | | | I have a different kind of cheap tripod - an old dumpster tripod. It looks like it's retro 70's model. We found it on campus - the leg extensions are telescopic and the tightening clutches suck, but it does ok.
I can also personally attest to the quality of tripods and other support products made by Bogen/Manfrotto. I was in the video industry for 4 years and all we ever bought were Bogens. Every product I've used from them has performed well relative to it's price range - which is typically rather steep.
~Grit
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TylerDurden
location:
Worcester, Ma
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 7 on 2/3/2006 2:58 AM >
| | | | I usually take a cheap tripod to locations to take all of my pictures because I want to bring something that if I have to leave it I'm not out a lot of money. By using a timer or remote shutter it helps the shaking issue.
Granted my tripod is cheap cheap it's just a mid level one, around like $60
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CyberShoe
location:
Directly above the centre of the earth
Gender: Male
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| | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 8 on 2/3/2006 3:04 AM >
| | | | I find my cheap-o minipod to be really useful for working with my cheap-o point and shoot... I rarely use it as a tripod, but rather to brace against a wall or column to steady my camera for a long-exposure shot. It's not 100% stable, but more than sufficient for my purposes.
- CyberShoe |
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tunnelbug
location:
California
Gender: Male
| | | | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 9 on 2/3/2006 5:07 AM >
| | | | Thanks all. Cheap tripods are fun and all, but some of these exposures are getting into the 30 second to 1 minute range, even the lightest breeze is making the colum move. It's hardly stable.
The leg clips are also annoying. I think i'm beginning to prefer the twisting leg adjusters, rather than the clip-stylie.
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FourSidedOctagon
location:
Marriottsville, MD
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 10 on 2/3/2006 7:04 AM >
| | | | im a big fan of my vivitar pro line 300.
It's very steady, reliable.
If i'm crossing a river and want to take a nice shot, i cant set it down right in the middle and walk away while water is flowing all around it and won't have to worry about it. (i mean to an extent of course).
it's nice, and not overly heavy.
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j0lt
location:
Kobe, Japan
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 11 on 2/3/2006 7:47 AM >
| | | | My tripod stands about 3½ inches tall when set up. It has NO extentions, but it does have a ball mount. The other interesting feature is a velcro strap designed to be used on a pole or something. Apart from the size problem, it's pretty cool.
j0lt: Larger than life and twice as ugly! |
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Celluloid
location:
Chicago Northside
Gender: Female
| |  | | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 12 on 2/3/2006 5:06 PM >
| | | | I always use my purse to weigh down my cheap-o tripod. I don't know what sort of purse analog guys carry while exploring, but you could try it.
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jB
location:
Pickering, Ontario
Gender: Male
He who speaks does not slack; he who slacks does not speak
| | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 13 on 2/3/2006 7:55 PM >
| | | | Posted by tunnelbug
Anybody have any recommendations on what I should buy next?
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I happen to agree with a previous post...tripod isn't too bad as long as it stays up by itself and supports your camera. I have a cheapy too and it does the trick. I discovered (as someone else mentioned) that it's actually the motion of pressing the shutter button that causes the blur. Set your camera on a 2-second delay. Press and step away. The only time it should be blurry after that is if it's windy or the house you're in is falling down...in which case get your ass outta there!
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seany
location:
Santa Clara, California, USA
Gender: Male
| |  |  | | | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 14 on 2/3/2006 8:23 PM >
| | | | i also have a crappy tripod. BUT what seems to have helped is using mirror lockup in timer mode (you might have to flash the firmware on your 300 to get mirror lockup as a custom function).
I don't really have an good recommendations though.
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0U812
location:
Lubbock, TX
Gender: Female
Texploration
| | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 15 on 2/3/2006 9:06 PM >
| | | | You can also use a cable release to stop movement.
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atomx
location:
Brighton, ON
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 16 on 2/3/2006 9:50 PM >
| | | | I have a tripod that I bought 9 months ago, and it was a cheap ass $30 nexxtech one, and it's done rather well I'd say. If I notice that I'm taking some blury pics, I let the timer take over and walk away.
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tunnelbug
location:
California
Gender: Male
| | | | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 17 on 2/4/2006 12:38 AM >
| | | | Thanks All!
| Set your camera on a 2-second delay. Press and step away. The only time it should be blurry after that is if it's windy or the house you're in is falling down...in which case get your ass outta there! |
| If I notice that I'm taking some blury pics, I let the timer take over and walk away. |
| You can also use a cable release to stop movement. |
I actually have a wireless remote, so no problem with jarring caused by shutter. I think the problem is the mirror lockup thing seany is talking about (thanks for reminding me of that seany). I will upload the firmware for the 300D and see if that does the trick.
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Kelwyn
location:
DC Metro area
Gender: Male
Jackass of all trades.
| | | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 18 on 2/4/2006 3:35 AM >
| | | | I would have thought that even a cheap ass tripod should be able to hold relatively stable in the wind. I'd say you should invest in a cable release before a new tripod... a hell of a lot cheaper, and still useful even when you have a better tripod.
But that's just me.
- Kel
"I worry that Jesus drinks himself to sleep when he hears me talk like this."
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tunnelbug
location:
California
Gender: Male
| | | | Re: Why not to use cheap-arse tripods
<Reply # 19 on 2/4/2006 5:26 AM >
| | | | Posted by Kelwyn
I would have thought that even a cheap ass tripod should be able to hold relatively stable in the wind. I'd say you should invest in a cable release before a new tripod... a hell of a lot cheaper, and still useful even when you have a better tripod.
But that's just me.
- Kel
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Umm... I have a wireless release. But thanks again for the tip. I've isolated it down to the tripod or mirror lockup.
Then again, I could have been in a building that is unstable. If that's the case, I'm happy to be alive! 
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