Camera Tripod?

[bikinpunk 10+ year member]

I've got a Digital SLR (canon digital rebel) and have been shooting alot of photos lately of BMX with my friends. I like tinkering around with uber-slow shutter speeds, but really need a tripod for this since I shake like I have tourette's. I was looking through BB's site and there are tripods from $20-500. Any reason why I shouldn't buy one that's cheap, or why I should buy one that's more expensive? I'm not sure what major feature can make a tripod so much more expensive. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

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[SocMunky 10+ year member]

I've got a Digital SLR (canon digital rebel) and have been shooting alot of photos lately of BMX with my friends. I like tinkering around with uber-slow shutter speeds, but really need a tripod for this since I shake like I have tourette's. I was looking through BB's site and there are tripods from $20-500. Any reason why I shouldn't buy one that's cheap, or why I should buy one that's more expensive? I'm not sure what major feature can make a tripod so much more expensive. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

I can't see what would make that kind of a difference in price....maybe more adjustability...maybe even some shock absorption? Or possibly heavy duty for the big zoom lenses. I've just gotten into photography with an old Nikon N90s, so I've not had to much experience with the tripods yet beyond the one I already have....there was no descriptions between the various models at BB?

 

[bikinpunk 10+ year member]

Here's the search results. I'm assuming it's the little add-ons. I just dunno what I would need other than something to hold a camera steady.

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

Usually its material and flexibility of the tripod. You may want to look at a gorilla pod, as they give you lots of different options for mounting and holding in place (kinda small but you can attach it to almost anything)

What rebel do you have? 20d, XT, etc...

 

[bikinpunk 10+ year member]

^XT.

Do most all tripods have the same swivel options (degrees up & down)? I wouldn't think I'd need to spend any more than $30 or so. A tripod is a tripod, I thought...apparently I was wrong.

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

Xt is an EXCELLENT camera. I upgraded my fiance's from the 300D to the XT and now I got her the 20D, soon to go to the 30 I think. For the most part, tripod is a tripod. At least in my opinion. Some are better constructed (stronger metal, smoother pull out) but still do the same basic thing.

 

[bikinpunk 10+ year member]

Alright. I'm gonna make a trip to Wolf Camera and try to get one for

Anything I need to make sure to look for? Height adjustability. Check. Anything else?

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Alright. I'm gonna make a trip to Wolf Camera and try to get one for
You'll destroy anything in that price range within a year, if you use it even somewhat regularly. What you're paying for in a tripod is durability of moving parts.

Bogen, Manfrotto and Gitzo make some of the most reliable tripods out there. The first two are made from aluminum tubes, Gitzo is a carbon fiber composite that cuts down on weight a lot...you probably don't need to look into them unless you're hiking with it a lot.

You can find a good Bogen with a "decent" ball mount for $200 new. I say decent ball mount because they get steep in price quick - ARCA Swiss makes the king of the ball mounts but it costs more than your camera does //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

A tripod is definitely not a tripod...and since you have a decent camera already, why skimp out?

 

[bikinpunk 10+ year member]

Well, turns out my parents had one for their old VHS camera that works just fine. Dad said it was "good one when he bought it" and I don't see something like a tripod losing its value.

I'll use this for a while and see how it goes.

Now, I gotta work on multiple flashes...

 

[SocMunky 10+ year member]

Same here, I gots no flash, so its all outdoors stuff now....gotta go scour fleabay for one