Entry Level Tripod

[mindforge]

It only takes one accident to destroy your camera, if it can't stand a good wind why take the chance.

I completely agree. But some people cannot afford a good tripod, let alone spend several hundred dollars on one but still need something sturdy. My camera is worth less than $500. Oh yeah, it is insured for everything except for water damage, there is another reason I am a little more risky too.

I really want to drop $800+ on a tripod but I can't, I am still trying to get some lighting stuff and all that. Getting a horrible flash can fry your camera too.

I am not in disagreement at all with you. I think if you have an expensive camera you need to have a good tripod, but if you are operating with an entry level DSLR I think that having a tripod that is more expensive than your camera just doesn't make any sense. But, when I do upgrade to a better camera body, trust me I will be upgrading to a better tripod. It's kind of like getting applicable insurance. I wouldn't pay $1000 to protect $500. But I would pay that much to protect a more expensive camera and to take better pictures.

Again, I completely agree but this inexpensive Hakuba tripod works really well for what I need it for but I would never set it up in the wind. I am pretty much standing right next to my camera when I use my tripod... but you are right... "It only takes one gust of wind to topple this thing and a fall from six feet would probably destroy my camera."

[Travis]

I completely agree. But some people cannot afford a good tripod, let alone spend several hundred dollars on one but still need something sturdy. My camera is worth less than $500. Oh yeah, it is insured for everything except for water damage, there is another reason I am a little more risky too.

I really want to drop $800+ on a tripod but I can't, I am still trying to get some lighting stuff and all that. Getting a horrible flash can fry your camera too.

I am not in disagreement at all with you. I think if you have an expensive camera you need to have a good tripod, but if you are operating with an entry level DSLR I think that having a tripod that is more expensive than your camera just doesn't make any sense. But, when I do upgrade to a better camera body, trust me I will be upgrading to a better tripod. It's kind of like getting applicable insurance. I wouldn't pay $1000 to protect $500. But I would pay that much to protect a more expensive camera and to take better pictures.

Again, I completely agree but this inexpensive Hakuba tripod works really well for what I need it for but I would never set it up in the wind. I am pretty much standing right next to my camera when I use my tripod... but you are right... "It only takes one gust of wind to topple this thing and a fall from six feet would probably destroy my camera."

You don't have to spend $800 on a tripod.... a reasonably sturdy budget tripod can be found for $125.00...

this is obviously more than the $30.00 walmart tripod... but hey... your not paying for film and film development...

if you have nothing but stitches in you pocket than you can make due with a $30 special.... I did for a while.... but not because I couldn't afford it... I thought a more expensive tripod wasn't necessary...

[mindforge]

In all honesty, I do the same thing. I don't think I really need to spend the extra money if this 'walmart version' will do. Have you had any spills with a camera because of a tripod? Personally, I haven't heard of anyone really having something bad happen. Even with my tripod, I hardly use it. I figure, if I am getting under 1/5 second shutter speed I need to figure something else out. I also shoot predominantly people, and not in a studio.

I also want to say that I really am an amateur. I am just getting back into photography. I shot with an SLR for about ten years (from freshman to about 5-6 years after high school). Back then, I had a cheap tripod too. Better than this one though, I think my parents spent $100 on it (freshman year, 20 years ago). I never had any problems. Although, that one could level out pretty well, seems with the cheap one I am doomed to level out in post process.

I have read, and I think it was in a link above that good tripods don't really start until you spend about $700-800. I felt the difference between the more expensive but under $200 and they didn't feel much different. They were still made of aluminum. The differences were in the head, the other ones moved smoother but I don't think that the head is going to prevent the gust of wind.

All this talk is actually making me a little nervous to even use my cheap tripod anymore.