recommendations for a inexpensive tripod for a beginner to pair with a d90?

[endervalentine]

title says it all ... want to start playing around with some some macro shots and landscape. Beginner here still learning the ins and outs but from what I think I want is something that is light and can easily move around.

Also, does a tripod help when taking video? Sometimes I like chasing my little nephew around but it gets pretty bouncy ... would holding a tripod help any bit?

 

[jpeyton]

This one.

Read the glowing reviews.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

The tripod jpeyton posted sounds really good. The only thing that concerns me is the plastic mechanism that locks telescoping legs - it could wear out and no longer lock after some time. But you're not going to find anything like that for the price, which is incredible. $45 for a tripod and ball head - an entry level ball head from a more well known brand would be $50 in itself.

Tripod helps when taking video if you're standing still. It could get in the way if you're moving around, but depending on the tripod and ballhead and camera, you may be able to hold it in such a way that you use the legs of the tripod like the stock of a rifle, or have the legs resting horizontally on your shoulder.

 

[ProfJohn]

With a d90 you don't really need a tripod.

About the only time you need a tripod is for subjects with poor lighting or for photos of the moon or star photography.

For everything else the camera is fast enough to go without a tripod.
You can use the tripod for long exposures to get art type effects, such as traffic lights.
But for general landscapes you probably don't need one
This was taken handheld
This was taken with a tripod

I doubt you need a tripod for macro either. For most of your subjects you are going to need a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the object and at that point a tripod does you no good.

I have a tripod myself, but since going digital I hardly ever use it.

 

[twistedlogic]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
With a d90 you don't really need a tripod.

Have you tried 500mm handheld?

Sure you can turn your ISO up, but then you degrade your image with noise and rob some DR. And even then, for 500mm (35mm equivalent of 800mm) you still need 1/1000 SS to offset hand shake. I know someone that shoots EVERYTHING with a tripod + mirror lockup regardless of focal length, he is that picky.

But for Macro work, a tripod is a must, a focus rail is even better.

Thanks for the link jpeyton, I've been neglecting getting a nicer tripod.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
With a d90 you don't really need a tripod.

About the only time you need a tripod is for subjects with poor lighting or for photos of the moon or star photography.

For everything else the camera is fast enough to go without a tripod.
You can use the tripod for long exposures to get art type effects, such as traffic lights.
But for general landscapes you probably don't need one
This was taken handheld
This was taken with a tripod

I doubt you need a tripod for macro either. For most of your subjects you are going to need a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the object and at that point a tripod does you no good.

I have a tripod myself, but since going digital I hardly ever use it.

what does having a d90 or going digital have anything to do w/ needing a tripod?

 

[jacc1234]

I would look into an entry level Feisol tripod. It looks like their prices might have gone up but you can get one for a little over $200. It might seem like a lot but a bad tripod is worse then no tripod. You invested in a D90 and you should really hold out until you can spend at least $200 for a tripod. You are then going to need a decent ballhead which will probably set you back about $100. I have a Feisol myself and love it.

Here is a link to their site: http://www.feisol.com/english/feisolen.htm

They are made and ship from HK I believe but they are not knock offs and are well reviewed by many on the various camera forums. It might seem like too much to spend but if you really want to take macro or landscape shots you NEED a tripod. ProfJohn im sorry but you are wrong. To me both of those shots illustrate why you should have a tripod. The vegas strip photo is good but there is a ton of ambient light and the image is still very soft. Tripod = WIN but you need to spend the money. Buy the right product the first time and you will save yourself a ton of grief and money in the long run.

 

[endervalentine]

awesome, you guys rock! thanks for the help! I'll take a look at the links
there's just way so much to know and learn!

 

[Munky]

I have a tripod, but do you think I'm using it? With good high-ISO performance and a VR lens, I don't usually bother with a tripod, unless some specific conditions require it, such as long exposure photography. A tripod is good to have when you need it, but I think you'll find that you won't be using it as much as you think you will.

 

[troytime]

manfrotto 725b can be picked up for about 100 bucks.

 

[whoiswes]

Not sure if you have a BB in your area but they are/were clearancing out the Velbon 530 carbon fiber tripods for $100. They have a panhead (which I replaced with a Manfrotto 486 ballhead) but it's a VERY nice tripod for $100, if you can find one. More info at slickdeals, just search for Velbon.

otherwise the unit posted by jpeyton looks nice, I might pick up one or two for off camera flashes and/or just to have a nice spare.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: twistedlogic

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
With a d90 you don't really need a tripod.

Have you tried 500mm handheld?

Sure you can turn your ISO up, but then you degrade your image with noise and rob some DR. And even then, for 500mm (35mm equivalent of 800mm) you still need 1/1000 SS to offset hand shake. I know someone that shoots EVERYTHING with a tripod + mirror lockup regardless of focal length, he is that picky.

But for Macro work, a tripod is a must, a focus rail is even better.

Thanks for the link jpeyton, I've been neglecting getting a nicer tripod.

I have a 500mm sigma lens that I use handheld all the time.

The only time I use the tripod is at night or when taking photos of something far away, like the Space Shuttle on the launch pad.

BTW the reason pros use tripod or monopods with the big lenses is not to improve their pics, but because the things are damn heavy. For most objects you are going to shot with a lens that big you need a fast enough shutter speed that you will not even notice any shake from holding it.

As for macro work, unless you are using long shutter speeds or you want the camera really still you don't need the tripod. I can show you examples of macro done with no tripod and they look fine and I am using an old cheap ass macro-zoom.
Example: Macro with no tripod.
Another
It really depends on your subject choice and the environment.

I like to shot flowers with my macro and the wind is typically more of a problem than shake caused by me hand holding the camera.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
what does having a d90 or going digital have anything to do w/ needing a tripod?

The ISO performance on the d90 is awesome.

So if you are having problems with photos you can just crank up the ISO until you get a fast enough shutter speed and your problem is solved.

There is also the big metal difference between film and digital.

When I was film I used a tripod for all my macro work because I wanted to make sure the photos came out right. Since I didnt get to see the results till later the tripod provided that reassurance.

With digital I can look at my result right away or I can take multiple photos of the same object until I am satisfied with my results.

Also the OP talked about landscape and macro, which is why I answered the way I did.

I went to Bryce Canyon last year and did some sunrise photos. A bunch of people were lugging tripods around with them while I walked around with just my camera and wide angle lens on and I am sure my photos look just as good.
Example, no tripod

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
I went to Bryce Canyon last year and did some sunrise photos. A bunch of people were lugging tripods around with them while I walked around with just my camera and wide angle lens on and I am sure my photos look just as good.
Example, no tripod

True, a tripod isn't needed if you're point-and-shooting at sunrise; you had plenty of light and the camera was shooting at base ISO.

What would have helped out your sunrise photo is a ND grad filter, which would have prevented you from overexposing the sky. If you're using one of those, you definitely need a tripod.

But to each his own. Your comments sound a bit Rockwellian (Ken, not Norman)...which isn't such a bad thing, since he's a damn fine photographer behind all his online jabbering.

 

[twistedlogic]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
What would have helped out your sunrise photo is a ND grad filter, which would have prevented you from overexposing the sky. If you're using one of those, you definitely need a tripod.

Or maybe tripod + Auto Exposure Bracketing?

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Your comments sound a bit Rockwellian (Ken, not Norman)...

I don't see where he posted anything about a Lecia,

 

[ProfJohn]

Well I did read Ken's bit about ditching the tripod, but I had ditched mine long before that.

I fond that it wasn't doing anything other than weighting my down.

I would like to get a nice monopod though, that 170-500mm Sigma gets heavy

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: randomlinh
what does having a d90 or going digital have anything to do w/ needing a tripod?

The ISO performance on the d90 is awesome.

So if you are having problems with photos you can just crank up the ISO until you get a fast enough shutter speed and your problem is solved.

But not everyone wants to boost their ISO. That and some of us don't have as steady hands =) I don't use it often, but I find it to be very useful for macro work. Then again, I just only got my macro lens.

But I do agree, a monopod is oh so useful on larger lenses (and even not so large lenses). Makes for a great walking stick too, heh.