Advice on tripods please....

jwb1

Hi -

I have a Minolta Maxxum 5 SLR and I'm looking to buy a tripod for it. I looked around Cork and most decent tripods seem to cost from 150 euro upwards - seems like a lot for a few pieces of metal and plastic quite frankly!

I'm not a pro (obviously) so I don't need the super-deluxe whatever....however, I do have some basic requirements: the thing must be heavy enough to remain stable, it must have a spirit level and it must have good height with "snap" fittings (to avoid mucking around with screws, etc. out in the field).

Any advice out there? I saw some tripods on Amazon and eBay but I'm wary of buying this online until I know a bit more....

Ta - JB

Metacortex

You get what you pay for really. If you want a decent one you'll have to fork out. The cheap ones aren't worth it really, or so i've found.

qwertz

How much are you willing to spend? Will you be hiking with it?

jwb1

qwertz wrote:

How much are you willing to spend? Will you be hiking with it?

Hi - I haven't got a fixed budget so I'll spend what it takes to get a reasonably decent model. Having said that, I'm not - and never will be - a professional photographer so I don't need the luxury models! Thoughts?

JB

qwertz

For hiking or just for your garden?

jwb1

...I'll probably want to take it around with me alright....I like doing landscape photographs.

JB

qwertz

I strongly recommend to get a carbon fibre one. Everything else will either break your back or you just won't take it with you because of the wight. Get it right the first time, otherwise you'll throw away money. Go to some of the camera stores in the city ( Conns, Bermingham, Camera Exchange or Jessops) and play with the tripods/heads. Then have a look online to compare prices. Also, have a look at feisol.com, they are reasonably priced.

Hope this helps

jwb1

Many thanks...great advice.

JB

Rockiemalt

don't superglue it together and then try to unstick it using nail varnish remover and end up with a 2 legged tripod like i now have....

the camera shop just opposite whelans is the best place i've found. really nice and helpful

jwb1

Rockiemalt wrote:

don't superglue it together and then try to unstick it using nail varnish remover and end up with a 2 legged tripod like i now have....

the camera shop just opposite whelans is the best place i've found. really nice and helpful

Do you mean Whelan's the well-known Dublin pub? (I'm from Cork, so just checking!). Any idea what the place is called - or even the street?

JB

qwertz

Pixels?

joolsveer

qwertz wrote:

Pixels?

Gunns of Wexford Street?

FX Meister

I've heard good things about that place too. I'd source a tripod here then buy it from abroad.

qwertz

Gunn have the Manfrotto 055B tripod in stock for €181. Good sturdy tripod but not the lightest. Keep this in mind. I might get that one for myself with the Manfrotto joystick head.

jwb1

qwertz wrote:

Gunn have the Manfrotto 055B tripod in stock for €181. Good sturdy tripod but not the lightest. Keep this in mind. I might get that one for myself with the Manfrotto joystick head.

Thanks for this....yes, this looks like a popular model. It is sold as the 3021 in the US..for about $140. The head that's recommended for it is the Manfrotto 3047...for about $106. Anybody have any opinions on these?

JB

qwertz

You really have to try them out and get a good feeling for them. Conns have a good selection of heads. I personally like the joystick head (has a bubble lever or whatever it's called). The only disadvantage I can see atm is the weight restriction. You won't be able to use it with a really long prime telelens. Go play with them. Then buy wherever it's cheapest