Has anyone tried a AmazonBasics Tripod?

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weebee

Senior Member
A good ball head will have three adjustment knobs on it. A tension adjust, which you set for smooth, controlled movement of your camera. A lock knob to secure it if needed. The third will be for rotation. I have not seen a pistol grip with smooth motion and positive lock yet. I messed around with a couple at a camera store and I just didn't care for them. A decent mono pod can be had for around 50 or so, then you'll need either a ball head or tilt plate for it. I have a K5 ball head made by 3POD, 50.00 on my Sirui carbon fiber mono pod, 100.00. I have a Giottos pro aluminum mono pod as well. Made very well, cost 50.00 without ball head.I will be getting a ball head for this one as well. For speed on attaching your camera to mono pod and tripod look into a quick release system. I have two of these from 3POD, 40.00 each I feel both of these set ups are very good for someone on a budget.
 
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W

weebee

Senior Member
Looks alright, can hold 13 pounds. The only obvious drawback is there isn't a lock for the ball. So every time you lock it by using the adjuster you will have to set it again for normal use. Try it, you can always return it. Here's what I mean about the lock feature for the ball head

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The knob on the left is the tension adjust. That is used to dial in the right resistance of the ball head to match the camera/lenses set up you have mounted. You'll want to be able to smoothly move the camera around with just the right amount of pressure so it isn't jerking and gives a nice smooth travel.
The middle bottom knob is to adjust tension on panning, and to lock it. The middle top knob is the quick release plate lock. The large right knob is the ball head lock. It's larger so you can locate it without having to take your eye off the view finder.

Hope this helps. A good ball head will be filled with some type of dampening fluid, hydraulic or teflon. It should rotate smoothly with no grinding or jerky motions. And most importantly. Be able to hold your camera with no movement when it is locked at any position. Nothing is more annoying then to have your camera creep out of position. The K3 ball head that came with my tripod was doing that. Which is why it is now on my mono pod where that isn't a issue.
 
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