Tripods

[Jimmy1983]

I've got a Hama Star 63 which can be had for £10 from a competitor and I can't fault it (I've not known anything different). What is it all these more expensive tripods do that mine doesn't!
The head seems solid and won't budge once I've tightened unless I put a lot more force than any camera would on it, full adjustable legs, spirit level and it seems sturdy enough. The position of the head handle isn't great, but I could see no reason to spend more money. Have I missed something?

Think iam going to go with the Hama Star 63. Its £15 with P&P.

I take it, it will be fine for my 400d? Ive only got the stock lens but will hopefully get another one soon, and hope to use this tripod with it aswell.

 

[PinkFloyd]

Well it comfortably takes the weight of my 450D and my heaviest lens (the Sigma 28-300DG that I want to get rid of) So I can't see a 400D and kit lens being a problem.

I guess I'd need to try a much better tripod to really notice where mine lacks, At the moment Id be spending money on lenses, filters and possibly a separate flash before I think about getting a new tripod.

 

[Inquisitor]

Personally, I'd suggest forking out £65 for a redsnapper tripod and head (google is your friend). Haven't used one myself but by all accounts they're excellent value and should last you forever.

Go for the deal on the Redsnapper tripod & head . £72 posted

Seconded.

I have a Red Snapper tripod and ball head and I really can vouch for their quality. Excellent value for money, especially with the Christmas deal

And honestly, the difference is well worth the money; it'll serve you well and for a long time. I'd avoid anything under £40-50.

 

[Jimmy1983]

Go for the deal on the Redsnapper tripod & head . £72 posted

Cant find anywhere selling it for that price?!

 

[Doohickey]

Cant find anywhere selling it for that price?!

http://www1.clikpic.com/Redsnapper/photo_3193393.html

 

[insane200]

i have a hama star thing and its crap, i wouldnt trust my d40 on it , i tried it with my 70-300 and it just wobbles to much to be of any use, and the top plastic is breaking already, for a few quid more id get a better one tbh, cheap tripod vs exspesive camera just inst worth the risk .

 

[famas]

im considering getting the red snapper mentioned, does any one have it? what are your opinions of it?

i like the twist leg locking system, but how efective is it?
the head looks pretty decent, will it securly hold a body and larger lenses, like the sigma 50-500?
is it ridged and stable.

ive had a cheap hama star, which i gave away, it was ok for a start but i found it awkward to use and bulky to carry around,

i currently have a manfrotto modo, which is light, small, easy to useand pretty stable but the head is no good for large lenes, also i dont trust it in portait position, i fear the head is going to rip off from the weight of the camera.

 

[Inquisitor]

im considering getting the red snapper mentioned, does any one have it? what are your opinions of it?

i like the twist leg locking system, but how efective is it?
the head looks pretty decent, will it securly hold a body and larger lenses, like the sigma 50-500?
is it ridged and stable.

ive had a cheap hama star, which i gave away, it was ok for a start but i found it awkward to use and bulky to carry around,

i currently have a manfrotto modo, which is light, small, easy to useand pretty stable but the head is no good for large lenes, also i dont trust it in portait position, i fear the head is going to rip off from the weight of the camera.

I can't speak for the three-way head, but the ball head is incredibly sturdy. It's rated for loads up to 10 kg (as is the tripod itself), so it should hold a 50-500 easily. It locks in place very securely, so you don't have to worry about creep or slipping, even when in portrait.

The tripod itself is excellent; can't fault it really. Very stable and reasonably light too. Comes with a nice carry bag and exchangeable centre columns: a long one for normal use and a short one for when you want to get close to the ground (the legs can be unlocked so that they can splay out). The centre column can also be inverted, so that the camera hangs beneath the tripod instead of above it.

 

[A.N.Other]

snip

Sums it up pretty well. I'm extremely pleased with mine (again with the ball head). The build quality is excellent, you can strip it all down easily for cleaning and the leg system works very well. The tripod is extremely stable and although the head doesn't creep with a heavy lens, it does sag a touch in the portrait position. When you're composing and supporting the lens, you lock the head and when you let go, the camera sags a bit (rotating the frame). I will point out though that I've never found a head so far that doesn't do that to some extent or another and the RedSnapper one really is very good. I'd definitely not hesitate to get either again.

 

[Inquisitor]

The tripod is extremely stable and although the head doesn't creep with a heavy lens, it does sag a touch in the portrait position. When you're composing and supporting the lens, you lock the head and when you let go, the camera sags a bit (rotating the frame). I will point out though that I've never found a head so far that doesn't do that to some extent or another and the RedSnapper one really is very good. I'd definitely not hesitate to get either again.

True, but as you say all heads are susceptible to this without something like an L-plate to keep it steady

 

[famas]

cheers for the comments guys, think the wallet is going to take a beating again

 

[Jimmy1983]

cheers for the comments guys, think the wallet is going to take a beating again

Which one you going for?

 

[Jimmy1983]

Go for the deal on the Redsnapper tripod & head . £72 posted

Odered Tuesday night, got here today. Eager to try it out but its a Christmas present from my brother to me. will have to wait a week...booo

 

[Troop]

You made the right choice, don't think anything will touch it on quality/price

 

[growse]

Looking at the red snapper 3-way offer now. Is the consensus that this would be as good as splashing out up to £100 on a manfrotto? Or at least the return I'd get from the manfrotto diminishes the more I'd spend? I'm after stability but flexibility more than anything else. Cheap tripods just don't allow me to do put really put the camera where I want to.

Also, I'm used to 3-way heads, but have never used a ball. What's the reason for people going for a ball over a 3-way? Surely you have the option of panning / panorama shots with a 3 way that you just don't get with a ball, but still have the flexibility of moving in all 3 axes

 

[Mud]

Looking at the red snapper 3-way offer now. Is the consensus that this would be as good as splashing out up to £100 on a manfrotto? Or at least the return I'd get from the manfrotto diminishes the more I'd spend? I'm after stability but flexibility more than anything else. Cheap tripods just don't allow me to do put really put the camera where I want to.

Bare in mind if you do go Manfrotto, only the 'Pro' models allow you to set the column horizontally. You still need to be careful how you set the tripod up though...it's easy to unbalance any fully extended tripod (and it may not balance fully extended horizontally at all). I agree that the return diminishes with Manfrotto, but that's the way with most things...

I chose in-store (which I'd recommend), and for the record I ended up with a Manfrotto 190XProB and a 804RC2 head (IIRC, hardly snappily named ). Shame you don't see these red snappers in stores (though doubtless they wouldn't be as cheap if you did).