Tripod Recommendations

[Robb]

I haven’t purchased a tripod in 15+ years (and still have/use ones my father bought in the '60s), and was wondering what recommendations people have for small, light tripod to carry around the parks. I just bought a Nikon D80, and am interested in doing some HDR (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging) shooting while I am at MouseFest.

Help?

[Master Mason]

I haven’t purchased a tripod in 15+ years (and still have/use ones my father bought in the '60s), and was wondering what recommendations people have for small, light tripod to carry around the parks. I just bought a Nikon D80, and am interested in doing some HDR (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging) shooting while I am at MouseFest.

Help?

I bought the velabon #347 and have been happy with it. I would really have liked one of the carbon fiberones, but just couldn't justify the cost for the amount I use it. Now my monopod I use all the time for sports, so I paid as more for the Monfotto monopod I got then my tripod.

Found the tripod I wanted, and the ended up getting it on eBay from a camera dealer for about half of what I could find elsewhere. Shipped from Canada in fact.

ETA I still have my dad's tripods too from the 50's, but they are heavy monsters.

[Kelly Grannell]

Robb, my personal rule of thumb (due to my paranoia) is to get a tripod which maximum load capability is at least 50% more than my heaviest setup. The caveat from using that calculation method is that you will never get a light tripod.

Regardless, the lighter the tripod, the more segments the tripod has, the less vibration that tripod can dampen.

PS: currently I use a Manfrotto 055MF-3 tripod with 322RC2 head.

[Photographer]

I have 2 words for you. Slik. Bogen.