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Tripods -- Cheap and Compact
Bottom line, you should always have some kind of tripod with you, even if its only
a tabletop model. Its too indespensible. I can forgo 75% of my gear most times and
resign myself to its loss, but this compact tripod is so light and handy, I'm always
bummed if I forget it... even if I don't actually need it.
Actually, this tripod is much better than better than nothing.
-- J.R. Neumiller, October 23, 1998
Lightweight Sliks are great for lightweight cameras, but if you're planning on
having any significant weight on top, the vibrations from even a slight breeze
defeat the purpose.
For a recent trek to Nepal, I loaded up with a Nikon 80-200 ED lens (portraits can
be of mountains as well as of people), plus a 1.6x magnifier, in order to be able to
take some moderate distance shots. When I set this up on my Slik, it rattled like
straw in the wind. I wasn't about to consider lugging my Manfretto (which I love)
into the Himalayas -- my lenses were going to cause enough pain. So I bit my lip,
went shopping, and came home with a Gitzo mountaineer (G1228).
The mountaineer fits only half the criteria for this bulletin board -- is is definitely
not cheap (about US$450 for a new one). But it is wonderfully light (about 2 lbs)
and offers the sturdiest support of any tripod in its weight class.
Using a tiny, and cheap, used Gitzo #00 ball head, I have a replacement for my old
Sliks which is just as light and wonderfully friendly.
With a sturdier head (such as the companion G1275), I have enough muscle to
handle any combination of 35mm or 6x9 format lenses and cameras, and I can even
get away with a 4x5 in a pinch.
The magnesium alloy technology which Gitzo uses is super strong, feather light,
and folds very compactly. If you're going to splurge on a field tripod, you can't do
better than this.
-- Julian Svedosh, November 28, 1998
After reading everything on this page, I went tripod shopping. Came home with a
slik compact XL and a Manfrotto Junior. The slik is incredibly stable for its weight
and is sort of my "any tripod is better than none" tripod. It's already gone hiking
http://www.photo.net/equipment/tripods/cheap (7 of 15)7/3/2005 2:21:27 AM