Tripod shopping...
The other night I was out taking some night photography and ended up using a somewhat unstable plastic chair for stability as I set the camera to take a timed photo. After taking the 4th photo like this I started thinking its time I got myself a tripod.
A quick look around the internet shows a varying range of models and prices, but I have no idea what I should be looking for, or avoiding.
Ideally I'm wanting something compact and light thats easy to pack and carry, but something that can get low, or higher up if need be (maybe I need two tripods here - a mini and a regular.
Does anyone out there have any suggestions on what brands to look for, or avoid? Priced preferably below NZ$100...
Comments (3)
I'm in the market myself. Was taking some photos and video of a recent significant event http://liamroberts.net/gallery2/v/one/ and when long exposure was required, or I wanted to be in the pic myself, I needed a tripod, but didn't have one. What a hassle.
Check pawn shops. I got a nice Manfrotto 'pod and head for $90 at a Cash Converters in Gisborne. Get a ball head and as little plastic as possible. Bogen/Manfrotto, Velbon and Slik are top brands.
^ What they both said. I've had both plastic and metal before, and as lightweight as the plastic ones are, they move a whole lot (which is pretty pointless considering their purpose). The plastic ones you need to have grounded into dirt or they will blow in the wind, and if you're somewhere like on concrete, you can't anchor it. I got my brother a Velbon one from Cashies, it was $50. Go for metal, with retractable spikes on the feet. You won't regret it. I've got a plastic one at the moment (because I won it in the divorce) otherwise I would have a metal one. In fact, I'm going to get myself a metal one when I hit the US.