I'm looking for a tripod for my Nikon D70, any recommendations?

Question

I'm looking for a good tripod that can be used in studio. My camera it's a Nikon D70, so I need something not very expensive nor so cheap. A friend told me about Promaster, but I'm still not so sure about the quality. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

For a balance between cost and quality, Slik is always good. They start at under $100, so set your budget and make your choice. You will find quite a few at B&H Photo or Adorama, either in Popular Photography or online. You can go there to browse the line and buy locally, if you wish, or order from either company. They are very reputable.

You don't need a monster graphite tripod for a D70 in the studio, but buy whatever you are comfortable with. Consider the total weight of the camera and lens. The D70 with a battery is about a pound and a half. Most lenses are under 2 pounds. On camera flash adds less than a pound. a 5 pound capacity is probably safe, but you might look to the future and buy something that would hold up to 8-10 pounds, just to be sure.

Slik Sprint Pro Tripod with Ballhead (Gunmetal Black) - Supports 5.5 lb at $80 is nice. I like the ball head.

Slik Pro 500DX Tripod with 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head (Quick Release) - Supports 11 lb at $130 is nicer.

I have a Slik, but I forget the number!

Answer 2

I had a Velbon that I'd had for something like 20 years and then bought a Bogen/Manfrotto 3021 and wondered if I'd wasted money buying the more expensive tripod (and Bogen 488 ballhead). I continued to wonder until I mounted a heavy lens (nikon 80-200 f2.8) on the D50. There is no way I'd mount my D50 with the heavier lens on the old tripod, it simply isn't strong enough. That said, with a less sturdy tripod will probably handle the D70 and the common kits lenses.

One last note - a tripod will last a long time. Probably, no make that certainly, longer than the digital cameras we are shooting with. With that in mind, go with the best tripod you can get within your budget.

Answer 3

I'm not sure what your budget is but there are a few on the market that may suit your purpose. The following are just a few that bring 2 quick release plates and a carry case:

Velbon has the CX-470 for $30; Ultra MXIi S for $30; Videomate 607 for $70.

SUNPAK has: 6601UT for $28; 7001DX for $30; Ultra 757 for $80.

Visit the B & H site ( www.bhphotovideo.com ) and see for yourself; there are several other good brand names that you might want to consider (I'd recommend those that support anywhere between 3.5-5.5 lbs for a D70 plus flash).

I hope these help you. Best wishes.

Answer 4

you can also check craigslist or a local classifieds newspaper for used equipment. you can often find really good deals and end up with something a lot nicer than you could afford new for less money. just be sure to go around to your local camera stores and check out the tripods they have in stock well so you know what to look for, know how to spot good quality, and know how to spot flaws, warped legs, messed up mounts, etc