Need help buying first Tripod

Hi, I am in the market for my first tripod. I do a lot of international traveling and have never had the courage to lug a tripod around everywhere with me but I have missed out on a lot of great shots because of it. I guess I am looking for suggestions of good models for my specific situation. I need something that could potentially connect to a book bag and cost around a 100 bucks. I am about 5'11. I shoot with a D750. Im not looking for the second coming, but something that could really get compact and not break the bank. Thanks.

I wouldn't go putting an expensive camera on a cheap light tripod. Lugging a tripod around can be a pain but I am so used to it that I hardly give it a second thought these days. I carry it often and seldom use it.
Buy something sturdy even if second hand to fit in with your budget.
Let us know what you decide on.

What do you shoot mainly? And what kind of lenses (weight) will you be shooting with? In my mind versatility, cost and sturdiness/size are relatively related. The old saying goes, pick two and forget the third. For cost and versatility I would look at the gorilla pod. For sturdiness and cost there are quite a few to choose from.

These "fold flat" tripods may be what you are looking for...
D.C. Photography Reviews: Benro 2nd Generation Flat Folding Tripods
cheers

Thanks for the help guys. I guess I need to update my question and ask what is a good tripod brand and what should I be seeking to spend?

Jaysmark said:

Thanks for the help guys. I guess I need to update my question and ask what is a good tripod brand and what should I be seeking to spend?

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I have Manfrotto but am not that impressed by it. My first was too cheap and too light. My second is actually too heavy to carry around all the time but even when, after the first time it dropped, I had to fix it. I was lucky I didn't lose the whole head.

Don't buy a too heavy or a too cheap; both you'll regret at some point.

Of all the photography advice I've gotten, and subsequently ignored, the advice to spend the money on a really *good* tripod and ball-head was some of the best. I've wasted a lot of money on tripods and ball-heads both and would tell you to budget AT LEAST $300 for this. I know, it sounds like a lot. A good, all-around tripod is the Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 055 and it will set you back around $250. As for ballheads... Hmmm... the Oben BE-117 would be a good choice and would come in at around $80 or so. There are other options of course, lots of them, but that would be decent setup that would last you a gpod long while.
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I recently bought this one Oben AC-1441 4-Section Aluminum Tripod AC-1441/BA-111 B&H Photo and like it very much. I have no problem trusting it with my current equipment, but have a large lens coming (4.3 lbs) so will have to see about that.

Can't go wrong w/ this one either, Amazon.com : Dolica GX600B200 Proline GX Series 60-Inch Aluminum Tripod and Ball Head Combo for DSLR : Camera & Photo

Holds 600+70-200 just fine.

Horoscope Fish said:

A good, all-around tripod is the Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 055 and it will set you back around $250. As for ballheads... Hmmm... the Oben BE-117 would be a good choice and would come in at around $80 or so. There are other options of course, lots of them, but that would be decent setup that would last you a gpod long while.
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I got a 055 series and am not that impressed by it. I have a serious love-hate relation with it. It's great indoors but to carry along out there, and use, it has some issues.

I have the MT055XPRO3-3W.

What I dislike about mine is that the cam is not a tight fit to the pod. When I attach the plate to the cam, it has some "room" when attaching it to the tripod's quick-fit. That isn't always problem when you shoot normal but when you flip the cam to the side, it can be. You can move it slightly which implies, the wind can do that too. Especially when using a heavy lens set-up, the tolerance becomes counterproductive.

The clamps on the legs also jump open too quickly. Again; inside no problem but it has been more than once I noticed I was walking around with a tripod on my back having one leg sticking out.

When normally positioned on the pod, the cam only tilts a limited degree upwards. Which is not enough for star-shots. Even for other shots I often run into this limitation. I can work around that by turning the connector plate on my cam 180° and attaching it backwards on the pod. Then I'm not restricted in my tilting angle but the 3W control of my head becomes very clumsy.

These are my experiences with this pod and outside, especially at night, it does not perform as well as I had hoped.

J-see said:

What I dislike about mine is that the cam is not a tight fit to the pod. When I attach the plate to the cam, it has some "room" when attaching it to the tripod's quick-fit. That isn't always problem when you shoot normal but when you flip the cam to the side, it can be. You can move it slightly which implies, the wind can do that too. Especially when using a heavy lens set-up, the tolerance becomes counterproductive.

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This sounds like an issue with your ball-head, not the tripod. I don't use nor do I recommend "Quick Detach" anything these days, partly for the very reasons you state. We're all Arca Swiss in the house these days and I think it's the far superior system.

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Horoscope Fish said:

This sounds like an issue with your ball-head, not the tripod. I don't use nor do I recommend "Quick Detach" anything these days, partly for the very reasons you state. We're all Arca Swiss in the house these days and I think it's the far superior system.

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Most problems are the ballhead indeed. No matter how wonderful quick-fit sounds, I'd never buy it again. The leg system is pretty solid besides the clamps that open too easily.

I have the manfrotto with quick release and i have arca swiss on my gimbal,give me the arca swiss every time,going to change the tripod to arca swiss

Lawrence said:

I wouldn't go putting an expensive camera on a cheap light tripod. Lugging a tripod around can be a pain but I am so used to it that I hardly give it a second thought these days. I carry it often and seldom use it.
Buy something sturdy even if second hand to fit in with your budget.
Let us know what you decide on.

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x2
Don't trust expensive gear on a cheap tripod. Also, you mention traveling with it, that means lighter and lighter costs more.


One tip I learned that I don't see much, get one that you can use comfortably without having to extend the center post up too much. Taller is usually better.

I use Manfrotto and Benro myself, but a really good alternative would be this: Amazon.com : Dolica GX600B200 Proline GX Series 60-Inch Aluminum Tripod and Ball Head Combo for DSLR : Camera & Photo

My Manfrotto is the older 055 professional aluminum model....heavy, great for in studio, but not practical to lug around for hours in the outdoors. For that, I use a monopod or a Slik Spring Pro GM....small, light and easy to carry on my back pack.

As for ball heads, I have the Manfrotto 496RC2 on the o55, and for in studio, I use a Pergear TH3.

Thanks for the direction guys.

I've heard some good things about the MeFoto tripods (roadtrip and globetrotter), for a slightly less expensive option, but still not less than $100... The globetrotter will hold a heavier combo out of the two.

I will check out the MeFoto. Right now I am taking a hard look at the Manfrotto BeFree. Best Travel Tripod for DSLR - Lightweight Manfrotto Befree I am not a Pro and have no interest in studio photography. My entire thing is travel based.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaysmark/

I would forgo the tripod and look into a vr lens. I've held vr lens for 1-3 seconds and got clean shots. I could see the tripod for a star trail or multi second exposure