I don't have a tripod, but I read these articles by Thom Hogan which seemed helpful..

Http://bythom.com/support.htm (Tripods 101)http://bythom.com/recommendations.htm (Recommended Products)..

PriorityOvernight wrote:.

I'm about 6 foot tall, will that make a difference? Can you guys.

Back pain from stooping over is not my idea of a good thing, so I'd say 'yes'..

Give a few tips on things I should look for when making a purchasingdecision? Maybe you can recommend a few good entry level tripodsthat will go well with my Slingshot 200 that won't break the bank..

Decide what you need..

In terms of physical constraints, height preferably height without extending the center column very far should ideally be high enough to avoid stooping over. If you're going to be hiking with it, you may need it to be light but not so light it's unstable. If you're going to be flying or backpacking, you may also care about length when folded. Too low weight == unstable regardless..

The fewer sections per leg, the more stable, and the shorter set-up time (fewer locks to fiddle with, say), and the longer it's likely to be packed up..

Avoid tripods with cross-braces between legs and center column. Less flexibility in setup. Center colunms that are invertible, or able to be oriented horizontally or at other angles, give you more flexibility that may or may not be useful..

And so forth..

You might want to look at, say, a Bogen/Manfrotto 3021. Bog-standard no-frills aluminum.tripod leg set. I use the 3001D at times, but I'm only 5'5"...

The only tripod worth owning is the one that you'll take with you.....it does no good at home in the closet..

That said it is less than helpful to have an unstable tripod and downright destructive is a sudden gust of wind knocks it and your camera over..

I own a Bogen/Manfrotto 3001N with a 3025 head. Compact and light. Yes I still stoop to use it (I'm 6') and set up is not particularly quick. The 3025 head is also slow to set up, but very stable, cheap and light. But then I don't use a tripod all that often, but it's almost always with me so that I can use it if I need to..

If on the other hand if I was using one regularly (multiple times a day) I'd opt for taller legs and probably a ball or pistol grip head, just be sure to size them for the maximum weight that you'll put on it (camera + the largest telephoto you think you'll someday own).A member of the rabble in good standing...

I have the bogen 3021b with 3047 head am very satisfied..

Make sure you buy a tripod tha is tall enough. do not under normal use count on using the center post. the center post simply reduces the tripod to a monopod. the camera on the tripod should be eyelevel without the use of the cemter post during normal use. most of the super light tripods are very low priced; to get a light tripod that is strong and sturdy you are talking in the $500-1000 range..

The trpod above all has to support the camera plus the heaviest lens you are ever going to mput on itand ideally should be rock solid. any wiggle movement is a no-no. my bogen 3021b is not light but it certainly does not move either. when I bought it the tripod and head was less then $250 fom b&h. the tripod is still made but the head has been replaced with a newer model...

Also keep in mind what lens will you use on tripod.If you are going to use a heavy lens you will need more support...

Well, thanks for all the feedback and suggestions..

I think I am going to have to keep saving my pennies so I can get a good, quality tripod it seems. I always thought tripods were a cheaper accessory and they are.... just not very good ones! HA!.

I guess the single best piece of advice is that a tripod does no good sitting in a closet somewhere..

Are monopods any cheaper than tripods? My longest lens is a Sigma 70-300mm. I can probably manage to get a fast enough shutter speed at those focal lengths so I won't need a tripod, right?..

Just a point - the taller your tripod is, the less stable it will be. And bending over for a little while is hardly going to injure your back. Don't worry too much about the tripod's ultimate height..

PriorityOvernight wrote:.

I think I am going to have to keep saving my pennies so I can get agood, quality tripod it seems..

Good thought. Keep thinking that. Have another look at the Thom Hogan article already posted..

I always thought tripods were a cheaper accessory and they are.... just not very > good ones! HA!.

Like they say, you want it cheap, or you want it good? (c:.

I guess the single best piece of advice is that a tripod does no goodsitting in a closet somewhere..

Yes. But quite often you have to MAKE the decision to drag your tripod along with you, even when you don't think you'll need it. Coz sure as eggs, you'll wish you'd brought it..

Are monopods any cheaper than tripods?.

Yes, significantly. But they're nowhere near as stable. Not even when used correctly, which most people don't. There's no need to go ape over a monopod - Manfrotto/Bogen do very nice ones, as do most of the better manufacturers..

My longest lens is a Sigma70-300mm. I can probably manage to get a fast enough shutter speedat those focal lengths so I won't need a tripod, right?.

Depends what you're shooting, as well as when and where. Add in to the mix your expectations of picture quality and your skill set, and you'll start to get your answer. Remember that that 300mm lens is looking more like a 480mm lens on your XT, so you'll need to compensate shutter speeds accordingly to handhold it - at least 1/500 sec, which means you'll need quite a bit of light, even with IS (if the lens has it). Lack of light makes taking early morning pictures of tigers quite difficult... As I said, it will depend on YOUR needs and abilities, not anyone elses..

Tripods are good. Monopods less so. Both CAN be better than hand-holding, depending on the situation..

Rob.

Everyone, everywhere, has to do everything for a first time. There is no failure in failure, only in failing to learn...

PriorityOvernight wrote:.

I guess the single best piece of advice is that a tripod does no goodsitting in a closet somewhere..

It may better to keep it in the trunk of the car then when you take your camera bag out of the house with you it is there just in case you need it. But it depends upon what sort of photography you do. I do mainly event photography so I take absolutely everything with me to the theatre or whatever. For that reason also I have a heavy tall Gitzo tripod that will get to about 6ft before raising the centre column. No way would I want to hike or go sight seeing with that! (I also go armed with a small stepladder!).

Are monopods any cheaper than tripods? My longest lens is a Sigma70-300mm. I can probably manage to get a fast enough shutter speedat those focal lengths so I won't need a tripod, right?.

I make a lot of use of monopods. They go a long way towards replacing VR. Just as with a tripod there is a trade off between the number of sections, the diameter of the sections and the thickness of metal..

You must get a monopod that will reach eye height with a small ball head mounted. I started with the Manfrotto Bogen monopod head but that just allows you to move form Portrait to Landscape mode. You will get the best out of a monopod with a small ball head (ie big enough for the weight of you biggest lens). Beware a big head plus camera on a very light weight monopod..

I have a dog lead clip on my monopod so I can clip it to a belt loop or my camera bag. I also have a hand leash which means I can have it on my wrist and use both hands while changing lenses or whatever..

-Chris Elliott.

*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.

Http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/..