[lgt525]

need a tripod for my k30, my ancient one has officially died. Any suggestions? A good mount for the camera is really important to me, and I dont want a huge heavy one, but need it to not be so light as to be useless. I will gladly buy it at B&H photo or Adorama.

[i83N]

Manfrotto tripods are solid build and will last you for very long time

[lgt525]

Manfrotto tripods are solid build and will last you for very long time

Thanks! Is there particular model you recommend?

[gjtoth]

I own the Vanguard Alta Pro 264AT and love it.

[tibbitts]

You'll get more helpful replies if you post a price range and your height. Lots of tripods are adequately constructed, but too short. Carbon fiber tripods are nice, but generally very expensive. I have had 2 Slik U212 tripods (which have given me decades of good service), a Bogen/Monfrotto 3036 (not something you'd ever accuse of being too short or flimsy), and a Slik 700. Every tripod has advantages and disadvantages.

Some tripods come with heads and others come with legs alone, so you also need to consider your preferences in head features. For example I have a ball head that I like, but it doesn't have a panning feature, which is important so some people.

Paul

[lgt525]

You'll get more helpful replies if you post a price range and your height. Lots of tripods are adequately constructed, but too short. Carbon fiber tripods are nice, but generally very expensive. I have had 2 Slik U212 tripods (which have given me decades of good service), a Bogen/Monfrotto 3036 (not something you'd ever accuse of being too short or flimsy), and a Slik 700. Every tripod has advantages and disadvantages.

Paul

I want to keep the price to under 300 dollars and I am five foot five, so most tripods will work fine height wise.

[wombat2go]

Last week I did some tests on a tripod for another thread here - difficult shots with Pentax -M 1:4 200mm on a small M43 sensor in a cold breeze.
I was quite astonished- that the dominant factor in sharpness was the tripod.
Camara & lens settings were same,
Here is an old Velbon light duty tripod
https://www.box.com/s/nv69t8qpeyutdtd4s2w3

Compared to a heavy duty Slik 700
https://www.box.com/s/uaoahbqfr6l92l1jf8tx

[excanonfd]

I am still using the Art 055 (predecessor to 055ProB) tripod legs from the 80ies' with the 410 Geared Head. My 679B Monopod has a 222 Joystick head and my latest purchase, an MT294A4 with 496RC2 ball head, a carry-on bag stow-able tripod, when fully extended almost lets me shoot comfortably without raising the centre column (I am about 177cm). Take your pick, all are available at B&H.

[PBandJ]

Have you looked at the Sirui CF ones? They are supposed to be pretty good knockoffs of Gitzos.
At B&H etc

[SOldBear]

Whatever you buy, make sure it's compatible with Arca-Swiss quick release plates. That will save you a lot of headache later on.

Also, remember that the best tripod is the one you have at hand. A tripod, no matter how costly, is useless if you're are in the field and it's at home.

I have 2 carbon-fiber tripods: a Benro C1190T (2 lb. 10 oz., including the Benro B0 head) and a Hakuba HG-6230C (4 lb 11 oz, including the Kirk head). Guess which one stays at home more often! The Benro can handle a K7 with vertical grip + Pentax DA* 60-250mm + Pentax 1.7X AFA with no problem, as long as I don't extend the smallest section of the legs.

Last year, on a trip to Boston, I put the Benro in my wife's suitcase, she didn't notice it until unpacking at the hotel.

Sometimes I carry the Benro C1190T inside the backpack.

[lgt525]

Thanks everyone for your awesome help! I want a relatively light one that folds down to a small size. I take a lot of urban shots (I live in the detroit area and like to shoot "ruin porn" as they call it here ) I was looking at the manfrotto ones that are good for both video and still, although I don't do much video. The Benro one really looks like something that I would like so I am going to go check that one out right now on B&H website.

[PBandJ]

Thanks everyone for your awesome help! I want a relatively light one that folds down to a small size. I take a lot of urban shots (I live in the detroit area and like to shoot "ruin porn" as they call it here ) I was looking at the manfrotto ones that are good for both video and still, although I don't do much video. The Benro one really looks like something that I would like so I am going to go check that one out right now on B&H website.

Check out sirui too. The c10 ballhead gets awesome reviews, is arcaswiss compatible and a new model is coming out with removable center column.
I just went thru this whole analysis and bought the new t005x. I didn't look at the higher $ benro tripods, but in the sub-$150 range, sirui t005 gets the best reviews, very light and small
Note the t005x is the new model announced at CES this year. T005 doesn't have the removable center column.

[SOldBear]

The Benro Travel Flat tripods are also available in aluminum for less money than the fiber carbon counterparts. They also come in different sizes.

In cold weather, carbon fiber is more user friendly though.

[loco]

I'm waiting on my IRS refund and then I think I'm getting the Benro MeFoto transfunctional tripod. Lightweight, folds into travel size, and getting good early reviews. It also converts into a monopod, which is a neat feature. I can't afford some of the more expensive tripods. I'm hoping this will be a bit step up from the super cheap ones I currently have.

MeFoto Transfunctional Travel Tripod Kit - Titanium A1350Q1T | pictureline.com

[bdery]

Whatever you buy, make sure it's compatible with Arca-Swiss quick release plates. That will save you a lot of headache later on.

That is the best advice you can get.

Also, get a decent tripod but get a high-quality head, you'll never regret it.