8 replies to this topic

[chandra]

Hi,

I have D5300 with 18-300 mm .Just started. prefer to do landscapes and city scapes ,macros

I would like to have a budget tripod and have been to "MeFoto RoadTrip A1350Q1 Travel Tripod Kit. sold for USD180 or so. i had a plan for carbon fiber but found a .4lb weight for $100 more is not worth.

Is the model ok? i assume this is by Benro and can be a better choice for my budget $200-300?

 

This comes with a ball head and has individual drag control and panning knobs, can offer precise adjustments?

 

also will it be possible to interchange change the head? if needed to a 3way pan/tilt or so?

 

requesting members advise please,

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[Veloman]

Hi Chandra,sorry to post a negative response but I stopped carrying a tripod years ago,in extreme cases I use an extending monopod with a small bean bag attached as a resting platform,It collapses down to walking stick.I wish you luck in your search for advice.Cycling around with a camera contributed to ditching the tripod,take a shot and move on.

[chandra]

Thanks Veloman for the tip and probably i will have to practise it .

i wanted to try long exposure shots and therefore a tripod is necessary ;

 

Looking forward to see more commets &advise from members on points above.

[Merco_61]

Benro tripods are well regarded and the head seems to have the standard 3/8" mount. The Arca-compatible quick release is a big plus.

What you need to consider is the height, it seems a bit low without raising the centre column. When you raise the column you lose much of the tripod's stability.

As so many photographers buy and upgrade their way towards a really good tripod, used legs and heads are usually easy to find in most parts of the world and might be better value for money... A friend bought a Manfrotto 190 and a 168 WOB ballhead in very good condition for about $150 last month. Old, but sturdy and nearly indestructible.

[chandra]

Thanks Merco_61 for your really valuable advise; so on the feture side this ia accpetbale , while i have noted the Max Height w/Column Retracted which is 53.1" (135cm), i m 174cm and thus a point to reconsider ?

I will search for used legs .

Also , is the carbon fiber can techniaclly better in handling the vibration or is it just a gimmick? from your professional experince.

 

Thanks again,

[Merco_61]

Carbon fibre can be much better when it comes to resonance, but most cheaper carbon tripods have a simple layup in the moulds that  doesn't change the bias of the cloth or loose fibres from layer to layer. This means that it is about equal to, but still a little better than aluminium alloys.

Buying used carbon can be risky, as it is not always easy to spot a small nick that then becomes a stress riser and shortens the lifespan of the part. A metal tripod can be abused and neglected and still work for decades...

[Kenafein]

A nylon bag, filled with weight, will allow you to stabilize a tripod well enough for most conditions.  If you don't want to carry weight with you, people often add rocks and such to their bags to stabilize their tripods.  Others will use their backpack, or whatever they have around.  Benro is usually a pretty good bet, but if you already have a cheap tripod laying around, why not try to just add some weight to it and see if it satisfies your needs?

[chandra]

Great piece of advise from you gentlemen ! really appreciated.

 

Thanks,,

[weebee]

I know a few people that have the Road trip tripod. They swear by it. I went with the Mefoto day trip model for my travel tripod. Small, light, and rock solid.