10 year old tripod still ok?

[Thronsen]

Hi there-

Following some of the suggestions on this board I was looking into getting a Manfrotto 190B tripod. They are about US$150 new. Someone is selling a 10 year old one (Like new! Never used!) for around US$90. Can I assume that 'tripod technology' has not changed so much in the last 10 years that its ok to get a cheap and cheerful older one?

My demands on it arent great, just something to take shots off my balcony and from the beach down the road.

[K1W1]

The tripod I use was a Christmas present in 1983. It's still every bit as good today as it was then.

[jcon]

. Someone is selling a 10 year old one (Like new! Never used!) for around US$90.


Kind of doesnt make sense. Like new, Never used.. if it was never used, it is new. Although, being 10 years old, I find it hard to believe it hasnt been used. Im guessing this is eBay?

Nothing wrong with old equipment, as K1W1 mentioned, but when someone sounds deceitful, be careful.

[K1W1]

It can't be new if it's 10 years old so I think the 'like new" description is probably valid.
My tripod could be described as like new. If I gave it a bit of a wipe around the feet and set it up amongst the other tripods at the local camera store you would have no idea that it's 25 or so years old.
I also think the unused description could be valid. I suspect my tripod went close to ten years without use when I was more interested in light weight P&S cameras for outdoor sports. Often these things are presents are purchased on a whim and then not used much and are simply left forgotten in a cupboard.

[Thronsen]

Lol yeah sorry I was exaggerating what he said a little. He did admit to using it a few times, and that the paint is scratched where his dog gnawed one of the bolts. It doesnt sound like he used it alot. Does that matter though? Is there anything I should check?

This used tripod also has the advantage of being near where I live. The new one I was thinking of getting would mean lugging it back from the US the next time I was there.

[btuner]

does it come with a head on it? cause if not, that's more money you will spend.

[Thronsen]

Head? Doesnt the camera just screw onto the top of it?

[tim11]

No. Lots of expensive tripods don't come with heads so you have to choose many varieties of heads to use on them.
How near is near where you live? If that means near enough to go inspect before you buy then that would solve the many questions you have here.

[Thronsen]

To save me the trouble of starting a new thread, what does one look for in a tripod head? What does it do beyond the basic screw setup a tripod comes with? Just an easier way to manipulate the camera when it is on the tripod?

[swpars]

Hi there-

Following some of the suggestions on this board I was looking into getting a Manfrotto 190B tripod. They are about US$150 new. Someone is selling a 10 year old one (Like new! Never used!) for around US$90. Can I assume that 'tripod technology' has not changed so much in the last 10 years that its ok to get a cheap and cheerful older one?

My demands on it arent great, just something to take shots off my balcony and from the beach down the road.

I have a pan/tilt head tripod that's 35 years old. My dad bought it to shoot with Kodachrome 64 in his Minolta SRT. Still works great with the D80 and my relatively light lenses.

[K1W1]

To save me the trouble of starting a new thread, what does one look for in a tripod head? What does it do beyond the basic screw setup a tripod comes with? Just an easier way to manipulate the camera when it is on the tripod?


The head needs to allow the camera to rotate left and right, tilt up and down and allow the camera to move from the horizontal to the vertical shooting position.
There are a couple of different types of head the more professional (and expensive) ones work using a large ball in a socket that gives virtually infinite adjustment, lower spec ones tend to rotate in several directions using friction bearings.