Does it matter the cost of the tripod i wanna buy ?

Question

ok i wanna get a tripod and have been in jessops and they have some for £30 ish. thats the cheapest. now i can guess that getting a much more expensive one would be a better tripod. but. i have seen one on ebay for £2.50 plus £7 postage (coming from hong kong).

i can't really afford to spend much money on one but want to get the best quality i can (dont wanna have to buy another 1 cos it's broke or whatever).

do u recon that this cheaper tripod would be a good buy, before i do actually purchase it or do u think in the long run it could be a bad mistake

the cheapie

42" Photo Video Expandable Tripod w/ carry case NEW


Brand New 15"to 42" Tripod for Cameras and Camcorders with Carry Handle and case.

Dimensions:

17mm Leg Diameter (Very Sturdy)
Extends to 42" when fully open
Folds to 15"
2.80 lbs
Features:

Heavy Duty Construction
Convenient Carry Handle
Adjustable Rubber Tip Feet
Hook: Helps carry Accessories
Center Column Brace
Bubble Level
2 Way Fluid Pan Head
Quick release mount
3 section channel leg locks
FREE Carrying Case
3 year manufacturer's warranty
Will fit most cameras including those made by:

Minolta
Canon
Sony
Olympus
Nikon
Konica
Ricoh
Panasonic
JVC
Casio
Leica
Kodak
Pentax
Hitachi
Fuji

the tripod fully extended

http://www.uauctionsource.com/picture/X40_2.jpg

comment 6 noted. am only short myself tho 5ft 1/4 lol.

could i get a cheap monopod and spend more on a tripod, might this work out better as i might be more tempted to buy a tripod but then can have both if needed

Answer 1

In some cases, yes it does matter. You need to ask yourself a few questions like how much weight will it support, how heavy is it (if it's way heavy, it'll end up in the closet not in the field), do you really need that pro ball head or could you get by with the pan tilt, how many leg sections does it have, can it be configured to get way low, does it extend high enough to position the camera at eye level ? Price is but one factor and not the most important to consider. Shop around a bit, put hands on before you buy online.
EDIT: First that thing looks like junk (link to photo)
Second, how much does your camera weigh?
Lastly, go to camera shop, put hands on many tripods, pick stable most affordable one, tell sales person your going to the ATM, go home, find it online for less and buy.

Answer 2

I realize I'm bucking the trend here, but I would not advise spending a LOT on a tripod until you really know what you need if for.

Most amateurs do not NEED an expensive model with "fluid head" and other features you will not even know how to utilize. A cheap, lightweight model may be all you will need for a few years.

AFTER you've outgrown it, THEN is the time to spend the money on better equipment. By that time, you'll know exactly which features you need and can shop around for the one that gives you those features.

If you are going to invest any real money, spend it, first, on a good camera. The accessories are, just that, accessories!

Answer 3

I note that you say you have 739 MB. That is not a whole lot: at least 1 GB would be better. If you are running Windows XP 32-bit, you should be able to handle up to 3 GB. After that, you will want to look at replacing the video card: I can help speed. After that, a motherboard upgrade will give you a faster processor, and require you to use faster memory. You may also want to consider loading a different operating system. Linux operating systems, such as Ubuntu, bog down the processor a whole lot less... And, hey, it's free for the download.

Answer 4

Like anything, you get what you pay for.

How high do the legs extend? You really don't want to be relying on extending the central column too high as it becomes less stable.

The best tripods are heavy, lightweight ones will move in the wind.

If you're interest in photography is going to last then buy the best you can, in the long run it'll pay off.

Answer 5

I have a Manfrotto which cost £180 with a pro head. Well worth the money. Great for long exposures even in windy conditions, it wont budge a millimetre.

I have a Cullman Magic as well for backpacking. A bit fidgity and ok with 35mm but nothing too heavy.

Answer 6

Note that it only extends to 42" - 106.7 cm. Unless you are very short you'll be bent over trying to use it. Don't waste your money.

Plan to spend approximately 20% of what you paid for your camera for a quality tripod.

Answer 7

Don't go cheap, you will regret it, the thing will last for YEARS if you get a decent one. Look at dropping at least a 100 quid. If you end up going pro you can spend more.

Answer 8

a quick tip put tripod up(in shop) press down on it if legs flex forget it,
tighten clamp up with gentle pressure on clamp does it move ,if it does forget it
if you find a cheap/.er one that passes these tests it should be ok,

Answer 9

If it has a builders bubble so you centre it, then an cheapie will do. You can also get a monopod or single leg which is light and easy and cheap! jessops do over charge.