can anybody recommend me a light versatile/flexible budget tripod

What's the budget?

Personally I'd get a decent one like a Manfrotto O55pro, I still have mine, it's like new from 2001! And they still make them too. It's my oldest pieces of photographic gear.
 
Rather like the look of the Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod with 496RC2 Ball head, unless anybody can suggest a cheaper alternative that will do the same?

 
ethan said:
Rather like the look of the Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod with 496RC2 Ball head, unless anybody can suggest a cheaper alternative that will do the same?

Click to expand...

Great tripod but god that is a terrible video, I know narrow dof is all the rage in youtube videos but that is just out of focus half the time!
 
Only had a quick browse of it but did notice it appeared an amalgamation of another. I later noticed there was another video depicting the same tripod. I was much too tired by then to check if it was the same guy :D
 
0x55 is anything but light. Mind you I have the pro3 and it's ace. Just makes you stronger. And knackered.
 
Craig321 said:
Won't one of those Gorrilapods do? Or am I thinking way too low budget here? :p
Click to expand...

I usually lug the heavy duty version around with me just in case I come across a situation where a tripod would be inappropriate. For example I once tried to take a photo of the Chainbridge hotel that is lit up at night on the River Dee. Unfortunately the only place to take the shot was a very narrow, single lane bridge. No room for a tripod as its legs would be protruding in to the middle of the lane.
 
Jono said:
0x55 is anything but light. Mind you I have the pro3 and it's ace. Just makes you stronger. And knackered.
Click to expand...

That was my thinking too.

If you want an all round tripod for general shooting (rather than using bigger/heavier lenses) then I'd recommend the 190 over the 055 every time. I have both the 055 and the (carbon) 190 (as well as a couple of other pods) and the 055 rarely leaves the house as it's too big and heavy for much more than shooting near the car.
 
Like my 190 but have a 410 geared head that is way too heavy and makes the whole thing far less portable.
 
I don't think the Gitzo would be considered budget... :p

Then again I don't think many of the suggestions in this thread match the title, including the 055!
 
Light, strong, cheap - pick any 2.
Budget is also relative. A ford focus is a budget car but is still 15k, so the 055 meets string and budget requirements IMO. The gut On meets the light and strong
 
Last edited:
I ended up going for a 3 Legged Thing Evolution 3 Punks - Vyv Magnesium Alloy Tripod with AirHed Mohawk. I wavered between a couple of Vanguards and the Mefoto Roadtrip but liked the load capacity on the 3 legged thing plus the stability when shooting from five inches from the ground with a heavy(ish) lens. The angled center column on the Altopro 264 gave the tripod stability issues when using anything over and above a 200mm.

Edit: On a lighter note the Brian edition is here. Not sure if this rates among one of the worst tripod demonstrations ever? Made me laugh though as he displayed it like a four point locking ring with an erection?.
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
Nice tripod. But I had to go Arc a Swiss compatible due to plate requirements on the xf100-400mm.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom