cheap, compact tripod

ash_scotland88

ash_scotland88

ash_scotland88

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Looking into picking up a tripod for my holiday, id like it to be compact as possible. What id be using it for would be night time and landscape/panoramic.

I saw the Velbon vtp787, but weight limit i'm worried that a Canon 550d would be too much.
I'm also thinking if I want to spend so little and with minimum camera tripod experience i might be better off with a monopod?
 
depends what you are intending to use it for.

If you are wanting to shoot 30 + second long exposures etc.. a monopod simply won't cut it. Tripods are good for getting cracking shots in low light where you would otherwise have to open the aperture more (and potentially lose some sharpness) or up the ISO (and again lose sharpness)

If you're wanting something to help your hands while out and about and just help steady your shots, then a monopod would be worth a look.

For monopods, take a look at the manfrotto compact advanced monopod. That badge, that build quality, and only for £30. Can't go wrong.

As for travel tripods. ive seen the Redged stuff come recommended. Have a look at the Redged TCA-522K.

From manfrotto you could check out the compact advanced tripod as well as the Manfrotto BeFree Compact Lightweight Travel Tripod
 
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You could try an Ultrapod 2 or similar. Save on weight and works well if you don't mind the low angles or can find something to strap it to. I have a lot of fun with mine.
 
Fr0dders said:
depends what you are intending to use it for.

If you are wanting to shoot 30 + second long exposures etc.. a monopod simply won't cut it. Tripods are good for getting cracking shots in low light where you would otherwise have to open the aperture more (and potentially lose some sharpness) or up the ISO (and again lose sharpness)

If you're wanting something to help your hands while out and about and just help steady your shots, then a monopod would be worth a look.

For monopods, take a look at the manfrotto compact advanced monopod. That badget, that build quality, and only for £30. Can't go wrong.

As for travel tripods. ive seen the Redged stuff come recommended. Have a look at the Redged TCA-522K.

From manfrotto you could check out the compact advanced tripod as well as the Manfrotto BeFree Compact Lightweight Travel Tripod
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Thanks, all good advice. I'd be wanting it for night time shots and as said landscape, where the longer exposure causes blur. I'm not the most stable. I won't be doing 30second+ exposures.
Unfortunately the tripod you've recommended are out of my current budget, i know the saying buy cheap buy twice but I honestly dont know how much it'll end up being used.
 
given your very low budget (guessing by the Velbon vtp787 being £25) then everything will be much of a muchness. I wouldn't put to much emphasis on the weight limit any reasonably made tripod will hold your 550D and a kit type lens in normal conditions jut don't expect it to be rick steady with the legs fully extended and a gale blowing!

I have owned a super cheap tripod & day shop special and a Manfrotto befree and I can say the difference between the two is night and day but the Manfrotto still spends most of it's life in a bag down the back of the sofa as I just don't like tripods!
 
ash_scotland88 said:
Thanks, all good advice. I'd be wanting it for night time shots and as said landscape, where the longer exposure causes blur. I'm not the most stable. I won't be doing 30second+ exposures.
Unfortunately the tripod you've recommended are out of my current budget, i know the saying buy cheap buy twice but I honestly dont know how much it'll end up being used.
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Just get yourself one of those cheap Velbon ones in that case then and see how you go. You'll struggle to get perfectly still shots when doing 30 + second exposures on a monpod. Not really what they are for.

As already said, at this price they are all much of a muchness !
 
Thanks, my standard lense is a Sigma 17-70, which only ever having the kit lense and a 50mm on it was surprised how weight it became.
My other new toy is a tamron 70-300, but that could almost be the kit lense in weight.

I'm as amateur as they come for budget wise. I don't mind paying cheap if I'm not sure if I'll get much use from it.

edit:
how would those feel about a tripod that only extends to 990mm? So around waist height. Do you guys photograph landscape/cityscape much higher than this? So of been tempted by the slik compact 2 due to also the small fold size but not sure if the small maximum height might be a tad restrictive.
 
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wouldn't bother myself, would be a massive pain in the backside having to bend down when lining up shots in the viewfinder.
 
Fr0dders said:
wouldn't bother myself, would be a massive pain in the backside having to bend down when lining up shots in the viewfinder.
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First mistake of tripod use, setting it up at eye level! Almost always makes for a duller picture than being low or high.
 
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