Opteka 70" Tripod or Canon 59" Tripod?

Question

the Opteka 70" tripod is $41 including shipping and the Canon 59" tripod is $46 including shipping...now the Opteka is 11" bigger, but the Canon tripod comes with a carrying case and it is made by a reliable company...

Answer 1

Buy a good tripod and you won't have to chastise yourself for going cheap. You'll spend more money buying a cheap tripod then relaizing you've made a mistake than just saving up for a real tripod like Gitzo or Bogen/Manfrotto. Who says the Canon tripod is made by a reliable company? Do you really think Canon manufactures them? They're just branded... Go for a ballhead when you've tired of a pan/tilt head. But don't go cheap there either. You definitely get what you pay for for these items.

Answer 2

If you're short, 5' 2" maybe, then the Canon will be fine. If you're taller, say 6' then look elsewhere. Try Bogen, Manfrotto, Velbon, Gitzmo, Slik. Get a fluid pan/tilt head for smooth operation.

You want your tripod to "fit" you as well as providing sturdy support for your camera and lens. Some may say "Well just raise the center column." I caution against raising it more than a couple of inches. Why? Because extending it to its full height creates what is known as a "moment arm". You may have 3, 4 pounds of camera and lens and if its sitting atop a slender tube 2' up in the air it becomes unstable. A slight breeze can shake it. Think of it this way: Its like a heavy door on stiff hinges. The farther away from the hinges you are the easier it is to push the door open. As you get closer and closer to the hinges, it becomes harder and harder to push it open. So make sure the tripod is tall enough for you.

Another useful accessory is the "right-angle finder". This is like a little periscope that slides into the groove on either side of your viewfinder. They also rotate so you can see through your lens from the top or side of the camera. Very useful when a handle from the head is sticking into your neck or cheek. Also a necessity when using the camera at ground level.