Tripod for bridge camera suggestions please?

TheAlex · 26 Aug 2008 at 23:14

Just the obvious really; light, sturdy, compact, but tall when extended and easy to set up! I have a 15kg baggage limit coming up for a 3 week trip across Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Being a bridge I won't need to support heavy lenses, I've seen people in old threads say bridge users will upgrade to a professional model eventually so should buy a tripod to pre-empt that, but I'm pretty sure I won't. I've had 2 bridges in 5 years and love the convenience of being able to stick them in my pocket.

I have £150 vouchers for a well-known high-street camera store but would prefer not to use all of it on a tripod. I did find two that looked good in a magazine but I've lost it and can't remember what they are...

Darg · 26 Aug 2008 at 23:51

My parents got me a Manfrotto 724B tripod for my last bday. Should be around £60-70. Excellent tripod, very compact, I was able to strap it to the side of my backpack and carry it on to the plane with me and yet it's up to my eye height when fully extended (I'm 6'2). Very stable, the only thing I'd like it to have is a better swivel head but you have to pay quite a bit for the professional 3D ones that show the angle of each dimension. For quick and easy setup I find mine perfect though and I really can't think of a situation where I'd need to know the exact degree of any angle it's at.

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/2053

Goliath · 26 Aug 2008 at 23:51

You sure you want a full tripod? just got a Gorillapod (SLR) from a well known online bookseller and I'm pretty sure I'll never take the tripod on holiday again.

TheAlex · 27 Aug 2008 at 13:17

I've been tempted by a Gorillapod but I've been in situations where it wouldn't have been useful.

Thanks Darg; that looks slightly larger than ideal but I only have a week to make up my mind so I might go for it if I don't find anything more suitable.

TheAlex · 27 Aug 2008 at 13:24

Actually that might be fine if I can order it from J'ps; I thought the icons meant it weighed 3.5kg but now I've realised that's it's capacity. I guess it would weigh less than 2kg?

domthecondom · 27 Aug 2008 at 13:25

go into a high street shop and play around with a few

TheAlex · 27 Aug 2008 at 14:02

The last time I went to the local camera shop they had four tripods, all cheapo types.

Darg · 27 Aug 2008 at 19:14

Hrm.. I would guess that it's more around 1.5kg. It really is designed for easy transport. Comes with a carrier bag as well if you'll be carrying it on its own. As I said I strapped it onto the side of my backpack and apart from catching it on a couple of doorways you really wouldn't notice it was there so not that heavy at all.

a1ex2001 · 28 Aug 2008 at 09:12

TheAlex said:
. I've had 2 bridges in 5 years and love the convenience of being able to stick them in my pocket.

Appologies for the minor thread trash but either you have VERY VERY big pockets or a you don't have a bridge camera!

domthecondom · 28 Aug 2008 at 12:45

a1ex2001 said:
Appologies for the minor thread trash but either you have VERY VERY big pockets or a you don't have a bridge camera!

hahahahaha

TheAlex · 28 Aug 2008 at 13:06

I have some combat trousers that have some sizable pockets around the knee area. My camera just about squeezes in.

Or if I'm wearing a coat, it's an easy fit.

TheAlex · 31 Aug 2008 at 14:06

Darg said:
My parents got me a Manfrotto 724B tripod for my last bday. Should be around £60-70. Excellent tripod, very compact, I was able to strap it to the side of my backpack and carry it on to the plane with me and yet it's up to my eye height when fully extended (I'm 6'2).
http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/2053

Ah well, I can't get this anywhere, least of all from the high-street camera store where my vouchers are for. I had a play with a couple and there was a Velbon one that seemed okay, I think it was the CX540. Has anyone used it?

I'm currently browsing the high-street store website to try and figure out what my best option is...