Tripod confusion!

[stevetb]

Hi,

I'm finally getting a new scope, and now am in need of a new tripod. Up until now, I have been using a little velbon travel tripod, as my old sherpa broke, which wasnt too pleasing.
Basically my specs are:
2kg ish or less
Sturdy enough
High enough to be used standing with an angled scope
Multi angled legs
Budget: no more than £100 :-O
Oh, and i'd like to be able to use it for my 400D + 400 5.6 too.

For these reasons I have been looking at the velbon sherpa 600r (£59) - but I didnt have a good experience with them last time - so is there something better for under a 100? I have seen a manfrotto mn055v + 701rc2 for £99, but Im not sure the legs are splay-able.

Thanks,
Steve.

[stevetb]

Anyone? I need a pod pretty sharpish :king:

[Swissboy]

Hi,

I'm finally getting a new scope, and now am in need of a new tripod. Up until now, I have been using a little velbon travel tripod, as my old sherpa broke, which wasnt too pleasing.
Basically my specs are:
2kg ish or less
Sturdy enough
High enough to be used standing with an angled scope
Multi angled legs
Budget: no more than £100 :-O
Oh, and i'd like to be able to use it for my 400D + 400 5.6 too.

For these reasons I have been looking at the velbon sherpa 600r (£59) - but I didnt have a good experience with them last time - so is there something better for under a 100? I have seen a manfrotto mn055v + 701rc2 for £99, but Im not sure the legs are splay-able.

Thanks,
Steve.


You should not be too stingy on your tripod. I believe you can't expect a good one fulfilling the specs you listed at the price you are contemplating. For a scope you certainly need a sturdy tripod. I don't know the 055v, so can't comment on it. I have a much older 055c which is very sturdy and has splay-able legs. But it is much heavier than what you want.
For light weights you need to get a carbon fiber model or a basalt one from Gitzo. Either way, they'd cost more than what you are looking for. Velbon has very good carbon models.

[stevetb]

You should not be too stingy on your tripod.
Very true - all I want is to see if there is anything better than the velbon sherpa's for the price. The one I used to have was sufficiently stable for my needs, so im not looking for a boulder in terms of stability. At the moment, I really cannot go over that price range, but maybe able to get something carbon fibre in the future.

[Swissboy]

Very true - all I want is to see if there is anything better than the velbon sherpa's for the price. The one I used to have was sufficiently stable for my needs, so im not looking for a boulder in terms of stability. At the moment, I really cannot go over that price range, but maybe able to get something carbon fibre in the future.

I have a Velbon SherpaPro 6400 (a carbon model) which has served me very well for several years now. But, again, as this is an older model, it may be difficult to compare directly. Bought it from Forbe's in Scotland by mailorder. That was the cheapest way I could find at the time.

[PYRTLE]

I have seen a manfrotto mn055v + 701rc2 for £99, but Im not sure the legs are splay-able.
.

These legs are splayable - at the price you mention I would go for it - on its own the MN701RC2 r.r.p. is around £89! What are you hanging around for?

[stevetb]

Thanks for your input PYRTLE. In the end, I managed to get an 055 classic - which splays all the way down to 7cm - and an MN128RC - i've seen and had a go with this one - for £80!!! If anyone's interested, ffordes have a huge amount of ex-demo manfrotto stuff at the moment, as well as lowepro bags, a lot of bargains to be had!