Good cheap tripod for my Nikon D80?

[SeANMcBAY@gmail.com]

I'm a newbie to photography and I decided I think it's time for my first tripod. What would you guys recommend. I want something thats cheaper but also quality. I'm interested in using this tripod for self portraits of myself. What tripod would be good for self portraits? Also for that matter, what lens' would also work well for self portraits. I have a fixed 50mm lens and a 18-55mm that came with the camera. Thanks.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Welcome to the site.

FYI there's a search thread function on this site.

Here's a recent and excellent tripod thread.
http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38477

Cheap is relative to different people, it'd help people comment to know a budget. My 20 year old light and cheap ($100) tripod is not very usefull but was ok when it was only holding a handycam. Useless for a decent camera though.

If you're after a cheap Nikkor lens for portraits where cheap means exceptional value for money then the Nikkor 50mm F/1.8

[T06]

I'm a newbie to photography and I decided I think it's time for my first tripod. What would you guys recommend. I want something thats cheaper but also quality. I'm interested in using this tripod for self portraits of myself. What tripod would be good for self portraits? Also for that matter, what lens' would also work well for self portraits. I have a fixed 50mm lens and a 18-55mm that came with the camera. Thanks.

I'd try the nearest rock.!! Seriously if you want a good tripod they are expensive because they are better than the above the usual bycheaper.comstorel Buy a decent tripod try typing it into the search function & see what happens.

[FlashX83]

I have a cheap Sunpak (this one: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/272490-REG/Sunpak_620080B_8001UT_Tripod.html) that does everything I need it to. I don't work with super-teles or take incredibly long exposures or anything like that. All I need from a tripod is to hold the camera when I can't (like a group shot) or when I want to keep it in relatively the same spot (like portrait type stuff).

[kev.]

http://www.dcresource.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gifThere are none....can you spell????:D

[SeANMcBAY@gmail.com]

My budget would be about hopefully less then $250. I don't care how heavy it would be.

[Visual Reality]

Well then now we're talking...when you say "cheap" usually you think of $50 tripods. Which work fine for most people, but you really do get what you pay for.

[SeANMcBAY@gmail.com]

No, I'd like to get one for maybe around $200 if its decent enough. I just want something thats a step above best buy 50 dollar tripods.

[Geoff Chandler]

I need to keep an eye on this thread
I have a cheap tripod I got ages ago (20 years back? - for about £25=)
It has served OK with lightweight Olympus SLR's and P&S digitals - but it
is almost useless (not quite) with my D80 - I have to steady it and wait until
it stops rocking!!! :eek:- then use the timer.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

I'm sorry I don't know more about this issue to advise you properly but since others haven't yet given advice I'll have a go.

The little I know is that my mates Velbon tripod has a quick release plate, it is fairly steady but doesn't hold my largish DSLR vertically properly because it has a plastic baseplate that you just can't do up too tightly. For a more sensibly sized and weighted camera that cheap Velbon would be in your budget and work well. What are you putting on the tripod by the way?

Velbon is definately a step up from the very cheap tripods whilst not being as sturdy as say the Manfrotto range, particularly the popular 190PROB+322RC2 ballhead that in the USA would cost you $265 online. A lot of people on this site seam to use that Manfrotto combination for even quite heavy cameras and they like it.

Personally I'm planning to buy the Manfrotto 055XProB and 322RC2 head but then I wanted my pod a little taller and sturdier and will tolerate a 0.5 kilo weight penalty.

[Visual Reality]

The little I know is that my mates Velbon tripod has a quick release plate, it is fairly steady but doesn't hold my largish DSLR vertically properly because it has a plastic baseplate that you just can't do up too tightly.
Velbon is definately a step up from the very cheap tripods
Hmm it shouldn't have those problems, I have a plastic quick release baseplate and adjustments on my $30 Sunpak tripod and it will hold the camera vertical as well. Doesn't sound like that Velbon is a step up to me...which model is it, do you know?

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Unfortunately I don't know the model number and I've borrowed it a bit much from my mate to borrow it again:D I've got to buy a real tripod myself pretty soon which is a shame because I'm sick of how slow this computer is and would have liked to put the tripod money towards a new computer instead. When you add it all up photography can get a bit pricey can't it.

One thing my mates Velbon tripod doesn't have a cork/rubber top on the plastic baseplate. So it's got nothing flexible to compress and "increase friction" as it where.

When I was talking to the sales guy in the photography store a couple weeks back he said there are several grades of Velbon tripod and that I shouldn't hold 1 models shortcomings against the manufacturer as a whole. ie the sales guys point was I should look at the better speced Velbon models which I didn't. Don't know how truthfull he was being.

[TDN169]

I use a Miranda TP25 or gorillapod.- both good, cheap, high quality and very easy to transport

[kgosden]

Dread Pirate, the salesman is spot on about the Velbon line. I have been very pleased with my US spec'ed CF640. In the US it is an El Carmagne series I believe it is a Sherpa in Europe. One thing I like on the US model is lever locks; the Euro version uses twist lock legs. If you want to get a decent tripod you will really be looking at models that have either a removable or no head option, so you can ignore the head related issues. Buy the head you want and always be able to upgrade that portion as needed. I swapped the included 3-way pan-tilt (which was nice enough) for a Manfrotto 486RC2 ball head.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Whats the key difference between the 486 heads and the 322 heads. I've noticed about an equal number of people with each on this site?

[kgosden]

Just take a quick look at them online. The 486 is a standard style ball head with a lever lock. The 322 has a pliers like squeeze ball release.

[toriaj]

I got the 486 over the 322 because you have to hold down the levers to move the camera, and occasionally I want to pan something and I didn't think that would work well. I love the 486RC2 (http://www.adorama.com/BG486RC2.html?searchinfo=486rc2&item_no=1) that I got. There's only one adjustment for tightness, but if you don't tighten it all the way down, you can pan with it. I also got the 190cx3 (http://www.adorama.com/BG190CX3.html?searchinfo=190cx3&item_no=1) tripod. It's carbon fiber and boy, that thing does NOT MOVE! It's lightyears away from my old cheapie tripod. I also got the Giotto's 31" padded case (http://www.adorama.com/GTAA1254.html). It's about 6 inches too long(with the head installed on the tripod,) but I just further padded it with a bath towel and it's great.