Looking for a good tripod

[Ponty301]

I'm looking for a sturdy, metal, and smooth moving tripod for my Sony z1u.
I've got a few hundred bucks saved up for a tripod. My old one had a plastic
head so everytime I'd go for a slow pan or tilt, or any movement for that matter
it would be bumpy and shaky.

 

[directorik]

I'm looking for a sturdy, metal, and smooth moving tripod for my Sony z1u.
I've got a few hundred bucks saved up for a tripod. My old one had a plastic
head so everytime I'd go for a slow pan or tilt, or any movement for that matter
it would be bumpy and shaky.

A few hundred. Is that three? Is that two? Is a few hundred five?

Oben makes fairly good, low end sticks and heads in the $300 range.
The make both Aluminum (AT-3420) and Carbon Fiber (CC-2310)
with a ball head. Not as good as a fluid head, but usable. Look at Benro,
too. Not bad. More expensive but better are the Manfrotto's look at the
701HDV.

 

[Ponty301]

Around $300. thanks for the response

 

[PaulGriffith]

I'll second the Manfrotto. Great company, great products. If you really search online you can find decent sticks with a fluid ball head for $300.

 

[brunerww]

Ponty - if you can stretch your budget by 50 bucks, I recommend the Manfrotto 701HDV fluid head and MVT502AM sticks for $350 at Amazon.

This is the least expensive fluid head/bowl tripod combo from Manfrotto.

Hope this is helpful,

Bill

 

[Ponty301]

I can raise the budget for the tripod another hundred or two.
I apologize for not being specific about the tripod earlier in this thread.
I'm looking for a tripod that can be raised taller than me (72") and
also lay flat on the ground. I've seen them before, legs that can extend
out horizontally and vertically. The tripod must also have a fluid head,
one that can accomadate a Sony Z1u.

If they end up in the thousand dollar plus range then I'll be SOL and
have to compromise with something less extravagant.

Thanks,

Ponty301

 

[TheArtist]

The 501 HDV is even better than the 701 (also more expensive). For the actual tripod, I hear a lot of good things about the 190xprob. That's the combo I'll get as soon as I can afford it. That should cost you around 320$ (it's 260€).

If weight is an issue and you are willing to spend more, you can get the carbon version of the 190xprob.

EDIT : I didn't see your height restriction. I'm curious about the flat thing. What's the use ?

 

[Ponty301]

To The Artist

Weight is not a problem. In fact, the heavier the more stable. As far as height goes, it would be nice to have a tripod that can get to my height of 72".

What I mean by the tripod laying flat is this. The legs should be independently adjustable. If I want to go flat, I can. If I want to go up, I can. An all in one tripod if you will.