Good camera tripods for DSLR?
I have a Nikon D3100 looking for something suitable for getting smooth pans and stuff. Reasonably priced please I'm not rich! And MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Sam, tripods are one of those bits of kit that are personal, different people like different things. I'd suggest that you take a trip to a local Jessops (UK) on boxing day, take, your camera, and try a few! Tripods are an item that does tend to get heavily discounted in the Xmas sales, but what works for you may not work for me. If you attempt to buy one on-line I'd put money on you not getting one that does what you really want.
I was in the same boat as you a short while back.
If it's smooth pan you are after then is it safe to assume you are shooting video?
If so then your tripod legs need to be nice and sturdy and your head needs to have fluid movement.
I watched loads of reviews and the manfrotto 701 kept popping up as the best fluid head for small cameras under £100.
http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/75648/show.html
There are also youtube videos where you can see how fluid the movement is.
As for the legs, I'm still using cheap tripod legs till I save up some more cash for some heavy duty legs to match the head.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/...0686899379
It's all relative to budget really. If you are strapped for cash, get the cheapest head with fluid cartridges.
If you are loaded, get the manfrotto gear.
Cheap tripods are worse than useless, you frame your shot and they droop, you frame again and they sag, it's a dog chasing it's tail routine that is very frustrating. You only have to buy a tripod once in your life if you buy a decent one.
About as cheap as I would go is a Manfrotto 190PROB with a 486/RC2 ball head (for stills, a pan and tilt is better for video). With these you frame your shot, lock the ball head and it stays where you put it, no droop or sag. They just work.
Your looking at around the £100 mark for both, the carbon fibre version (lighter, but just as rigid) will be around twice that price, expensive? Yes, but you only have to buy it once it will last all your life.
Gitzo is good too, but Manfrotto is cheaper.
Well i have the "Silk sprint pro ii" on my nikon d90 with the 18-105mm vr lens and it just works
it light, conpacked, versable, and i love it. It comes with a ball head and its fine you can upgrade if you wish but for he its great i can't recommend it anuth defiantly have a look.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/...B000Y070GS