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Tripod help please

Califmike33
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Tripod help please

I I know this is probably been done 300 400 times I have about a $300 budget looking for a decent tripod Vanguard, KF Concepts, or Ben row something along those lines looking for people to have experience in this price category what's the best bang for buck tripod.

I will be using it mostly for landscapes and some just general Studio use look forward to your suggestions.

Oct 21, 2023 at 09:42 AM

sjms
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Tripod help please

right now look into Leofoto.

Oct 21, 2023 at 10:17 AM

Califmike33
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Tripod help please

Okay

Oct 21, 2023 at 10:18 AM

Craig Gillette
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Tripod help please

I don't have a huge problem with Leofoto. Watch for sales if you can.

Don't under buy. A perfectly well-made tripod that doesn't have the needed height or "load" capacity will either disappoint or need to be replaced with a proper second purchase to get the stability, load, height, etc. I happen to have settled on a couple of Siruis but don't use them often. But what works for my my A6700 well isn't all that well suited to the a7Riv and 200-600. so an idea of your gear might help people make better suggestions.

Oct 21, 2023 at 02:38 PM

mike650
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Tripod help please

one way to stretch your budget is to buy a used tripod which tend to run about 60-70% of new.
Look at local Craigslist or FB marketplace.

Oct 21, 2023 at 03:39 PM

sjms
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Tripod help please

when the question was put forth there was a price tag attached to it. that will cover possibly one tripod and while one looks into these that price tag may want to be adjusted. i have my 2 tripods but they are not in that original range. but then i've had and used them over 10+ years and i see their use to be well extended too.
don't forget, you will also want to look into the head you intend to use and that generally is not included in the price of the legs. there is that one phrase that is most important when purchasing things, what and where are you willing to compromise?

a tripod and head are tools of composition

the one in the picture is tucked away in my carry on roller for a trip next week.

setup/positioning

Results

NIKON Z 9 NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens 120mm 10s 64 ISO

Oct 21, 2023 at 04:29 PM

opotopo
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Tripod help please

I love the Benro Tortoise range of tripods. I have two. The 34CLV and the 24C. The first is for when I'm not going to walk far and the second is for hiking. The 24C also packs down small enough to go inside my backpack, which I like. I used to have a Benro Mach3 and that was great too.

I tried the Leofoto tripods but they didn't open as far between the legs as the Benros do, so weren't as stable.

I use Leofoto heads though, a G2 on the 34CLV and a LH24R or LH30R (depending on how far I'm hiking) on the 24C .

They are used for landscapes mostly with a Sony A7RIII and various lenses.

All the above set ups are more of less within the budget specified.

Hope that helps.
Simon

Oct 21, 2023 at 05:19 PM

sjms
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Tripod help please

what you are going to find is that there are lots of options along with the equivalent opinions

Oct 21, 2023 at 06:31 PM

Califmike33
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Tripod help please

Yes, many options and brands to choose from. I have owned Benro before and had no issues at all. I will agree that the Leofoto tripod heads are excellent.

I was looking at a Vanguard that looks promising and the Benro Mach 3, both in my price range.

Oct 21, 2023 at 07:01 PM

OregonSun
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Tripod help please

mike650 wrote:
one way to stretch your budget is to buy a used tripod which tend to run about 60-70% of new.
Look at local Craigslist or FB marketplace.

Good deals on eBay too as long as you are patient and know what you want.

Oct 21, 2023 at 08:25 PM

Califmike33
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Tripod help please

OregonSun wrote:
Good deals on eBay too as long as you are patient and know what you want.

Ohhh yeah im all over Ebay for lenses, tripods. This one looks interesting to me.... .https://www.kentfaith.com/KF09.117_x-series-68-1-7m-carbon-fiber-camera-tripod-professional-photography-tripod-with-36mm-metal-ball-hea

Oct 21, 2023 at 08:26 PM

Robin Smith
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Tripod help please

I too would get something secondhand if possible. Choosing tripods by spec and price is exhausting. Personally I would steer clear of RRS and Gitzo because their prices are so bad, but others will insist anything else is useless. Also ask yourself how much you are going to use it. Tripods are not needed in the same way as they were with film. My most used tripod is a Leica table top tripod with Leica large ballhead, incomparably the most useful tripod I have ever owned.

Oct 23, 2023 at 11:32 AM

rek101
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Tripod help please

I've noticed a lot of tripods out there are almost identical copies of one another. I can't remember which brands and models are the clones, but boy does it get frustrating comparing specs only to find out two products from different companies are the same. So when you say best bang for your buck and most of these products are kind of the same product rebranded, it's even more confusing. I got what I thought was good value when Sirui put a travel carbon tripod on sale with my ideal specs and a decent rebate only to find out the smallest leg angle was so small that the thing barely stood up without tipping over.

I think the best bank for your buck is not trying to get specs that are too good to be true and overspending on something new from a premium brand. I'd also avoid Sirui and benro unless you are sure the specs are exactly what you want. If I were doing it again, I'd get something used from a higher end company like gitzo or RRS who won't produce a junky product to trick you into buying it OR go with K&F concepts when it goes on sale or something relatively cheap on Amazon.

Oct 23, 2023 at 06:22 PM

hiepphotog
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Tripod help please

To snag a great deal, consider purchasing Chinese-made tripods from Aliexpress or Taobao/JD if possible. You could save a substantial 40-50% compared to the US prices (especially on their big sale 11/11). For a stylish and diverse selection, I'd recommend Leofoto, while Marsace edges ahead in performance. Other Chinese brands might compromise on the performance/cost ratio unless you're looking for unique features like those offered by Benro or Heipi.

FLM, boasting a top-tier stiffness with a slightly heavier build due to their tweener tube size, is a solid choice. PMG shares the same advantages with reliable American-made quality.

Opting for a used Gitzo tripod delivers impressive value for its performance, with prices closely aligning with many high-end Chinese counterparts. The Carbon Exact model stands out for its unparalleled stiffness in its class.

For an all-encompassing package, RRS takes the crown in my opinion, although it does come with a hefty price tag.

Ultimately, the performance discrepancy may not be a deal-breaker if you seldom find yourself shooting in challenging conditions like windy environments, running rivers, or long time-lapses. Good shooting techniques can also offset the difference.

Oct 23, 2023 at 09:08 PM

Califmike33
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Tripod help please

Thank you I'll be checking into all those tripods listed above.

Oct 24, 2023 at 11:34 AM

hiepphotog
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Tripod help please

Califmike33 wrote:
Thank you I'll be checking into all those tripods listed above.

In case you don't know, check out: https://thecentercolumn.com/. Use his stiffness score and compare tripods with a similar top tube diameter.

Oct 24, 2023 at 11:22 PM

Califmike33
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Tripod help please

hiepphotog wrote:
In case you don't know, check out: https://thecentercolumn.com/. Use his stiffness score and compare tripods with a similar top tube diameter.

No Benro at all on that testing website

Oct 25, 2023 at 11:52 AM

SGinNorcal
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Tripod help please

If you are over 6' tall, be aware that some tripods don't go very high. I picked up a used Gitzo tripod and Acratech GP ball head. Great stuff both a joy to use.

Oct 25, 2023 at 12:06 PM

jeffbuzz
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Tripod help please

Califmike33 wrote:
No Benro at all on that testing website

??

Actually, there is one Benro in the overall rankings https://thecentercolumn.com/rankings/all-purpose-tripod-rankings/

Induro is made by Benro. I had a couple of the Induro branded tripods several years ago. Quality was excellent. But at the time they lacked some of the nice features that seem to be standard nowadays like auto ratcheting leg angle locks. Perhaps the newer models have added that but I don't know.

In a given price range you're not going to find much difference. Many of the "brands" are made by the same few companies and sold under varying names.

As someone above already hinted, for 10 tripods you'll get 11 different opinions.

I made the choice to switch almost entirely to Leofoto. This was based on value, completeness of the system and service. I've had a couple minor repairs and both were handled through the US distributor quickly. Leofoto even made a minor design change to a gimbal based on my input. I cannot say the same for some of the big $$$$ brands.

thecentercolumn.com has superb technical data which I appreciate. But I don't think the differences between most brands are relevant to the average user shooting in daylight. Extreme vibration control can certainly be meaningful for astro shooting with very long exposures. Comparing the technical tests does show some interesting results. Like that there are marginal differences between $1000 and $300 tripods.

Oct 25, 2023 at 01:00 PM

Califmike33
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Tripod help please

jeffbuzz wrote:
There is one Benro in the overall rankings https://thecentercolumn.com/rankings/all-purpose-tripod-rankings/

Induro is made by Benro. I had a couple of the Induro-branded tripods several years ago. The quality was excellent. But at the time they lacked some of the nice features that seem to be standard nowadays like auto ratcheting leg angle locks. Perhaps the newer models have added that but I don't know.

In a given price range you're not going to find much difference. Many of the "brands" are made by the same few companies and sold under varying names.

As someone above already hinted, for 10 tripods you'll get 11...Show more →

Leofoto has some interesting options, but in those reviews and from other people they don't extend all the way. They look like the best bang for buck tripods for sure. I don't want aluminum, CF for sure. The reviewer said they don't open up enough and it affects the stability of the tripod, have you had an issue?

Oct 25, 2023 at 01:10 PM

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