Camera Labs

I have just purchased my first DSLR (Olympus E-510) and I'm looking for a tripod, preferably for £80 or less, but possibly a bit more. I generally do landscape photography and go walking in the mountains, so it needs to be fairly compact and lightweight, but also stable enough to stand up to strong winds. I have a spirit level which fits into the hotshoe of my camera so that's not a necessary feature.

Can anyone recommend any tripods that would suit? (I have been looking at the Slik Pro 330DX, is it any good?)

Thanks!

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Olympus E-510 | ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 | ED 40-150mm 1:4.0-5.6 | 35mm 1:3.5 Macro | Giottos MTL8361B & MH-5001 3-way head | Lowepro Orion Trekker II bag

http://www.calummacnab.com

Hiya. I can't really comment on the Slik but I use a Manfrotto 190 for exactly the same job as you are envisioning for yourself. It's a bit over your budget but not by much at £95 for the legs. A head need cost no more than £50. Bear in my mind that with tripods in particular you get what you pay for, cheap legs aren't particularly rigid I'm afraid.

Velbon have a couple of cheaper tripods and they're a reputable manufacturer. I als hear good things about the National Geographic branded ones.

Good luck,

Zorro

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http://zorrofox4.deviantart.com/



Various lenses, SB800 & Manfrotto 190 with 460MG head

Hi calmac1991,

A warm welcome to the CameraLabs forums.

Hopefully you have seen this thread which has a link to a recent tripod group test.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll have a look at the Manfrotto 190.

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Olympus E-510 | ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 | ED 40-150mm 1:4.0-5.6 | 35mm 1:3.5 Macro | Giottos MTL8361B & MH-5001 3-way head | Lowepro Orion Trekker II bag

http://www.calummacnab.com

Hi Calmac1991, a suggestion from left-field is the Gorillapod - I'm just testing one right now, and while they obviously don't give you the height of a conventional tripod, they are small, light and can wrap around anything to hand - like a fence or a tree!

Of course that's not much use if there's no fence or tree to hand, but you get the idea...

http://www.joby.com/products/gorillapod/slrzoom

Gordon

Thanks Gordon, but I already have the Gorillapod SLR version but I find that while it's very handy, it's not too good up mountains or on rough terrain, where there could be rocks, heather or even deep snow in the way, requiring a taller tripod.

However, after looking at the group test here, I managed to find the winner (assuming the reviewer meant the Giottos MT9242, as there isn't an MH9242) for £60 (or about £90 with a Giottos pro 3-way head) at 1st Cameras, which seems like a good deal.

Let me know what you think.

p.s. I also heard a useful tip for a make-shift tripod bag if you don't want to buy one - use the bag from one of those fold-up camping chairs which many people have. They usually have a strap for carrying the bag on your shoulder.

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Olympus E-510 | ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 | ED 40-150mm 1:4.0-5.6 | 35mm 1:3.5 Macro | Giottos MTL8361B & MH-5001 3-way head | Lowepro Orion Trekker II bag

http://www.calummacnab.com

I would say that's a very good deal. It's £90 for the legs alone from my usual dealer.

Zorro

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http://zorrofox4.deviantart.com/



Various lenses, SB800 & Manfrotto 190 with 460MG head

Ball and socket or 3-way? What are they used for and what do you recommend?

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Olympus E-510 | ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 | ED 40-150mm 1:4.0-5.6 | 35mm 1:3.5 Macro | Giottos MTL8361B & MH-5001 3-way head | Lowepro Orion Trekker II bag

http://www.calummacnab.com

For trekking up the hills I assume landscapes are your thing. If si then I'd suggest a good quality 3-way. As you know I have a Manfrotto 190 tripod and the head's a 460MG (bought on Gordons recommendation). It's a 3-way head, although somewhat different in execution than the normal type. I wouldn't swap it for toffee. Cheers for that one Gordon.

Zorro

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http://zorrofox4.deviantart.com/



Various lenses, SB800 & Manfrotto 190 with 460MG head

I thought that would be the case. 3-way it is then. Thanks.

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Olympus E-510 | ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 | ED 40-150mm 1:4.0-5.6 | 35mm 1:3.5 Macro | Giottos MTL8361B & MH-5001 3-way head | Lowepro Orion Trekker II bag

http://www.calummacnab.com

Hi Zorro, glad the tripod kit's working out for you! I really like that mag head...

I've ordered the Giottos MT9242 and the Giottos MH 5001 3-way head (£101 total). I'll let you know how it goes.

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Olympus E-510 | ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 | ED 40-150mm 1:4.0-5.6 | 35mm 1:3.5 Macro | Giottos MTL8361B & MH-5001 3-way head | Lowepro Orion Trekker II bag

http://www.calummacnab.com