Starter tripod.

[Photo550D]

Any recommendations for a budget/ starter tripod with ball and socket for £100 or under?

It will need to accommodate a 550D with BG battery grip and lens of course.

My existing tripod has been inherited and is more suited for video cameras.

[Alex]

Chris, if you can I would recommend going for a good quality tripod that will last you years to come. As you'll only wish you hadn't spent good money on on sub gear to upgrade again a month or two later because it's not cutting the mustard.
You want one that will give you a good solid surface to take images in all conditions while being light enough to trek with all your gear, carbon fibre tripods would be the best option if you can wait and save some more money.

[Latvian Lover]

Hi Chris.

Alex is dead right about the tripod! Although the Carbon Fibre part for me is an extra cost that only needs to be paid if you're desperate to keep weight to a minimum (eg walking long distances to get the perfect landscape shot)
I bought a Manfrotto for £99 and had to wait another month before I could afford the £60 head. But now I've got a fantastic set up that was well worth the wait.
The only way you'll get a decent/reliable tripod and ball joint head for £100 is second hand by somebody looking for a quick sale or taking a gamble on an eBay or MadBid type web site (really not recommended). Otherwise it'll just be cheap tat that'll let you down at some point.

I wish you luck and REALLY recommend spending your money on a Manfrotto or Gitzo type tripod and play the waiting game for the right head.

This is one of those times where the phrase "You get what you pay for" is VERY relevant. You can get away with budget filters, flashguns, bags etc. But go for the best tripod and glass you can.

Ash :)

[Nog]

I got a RedSnapper tripod for Christmas, it's a three section leg with ball head and trigger grip. Very good build quality and equally as sturdy as tripods I looked at for double the money. Think it was about £89.

They are very well built tripods and excellent value. Also has spirit levels on both the tripod and another on the head.

[STUARTINPERTH]

I got my Giottos from Jessops for just over £100 and its served me pretty well, I think I want to change the head to a ball head with pano capabilities as the tilt and shift is not my favourite, quite interested in these 3 legged thingys (the blue ones)

[Photo550D]

Thank you guys. I appreciate your comments and suggestions. I also realise it is well worth buying the best you can afford. So it looks like more grovelling is in order to convince the misses that it is money well spent!! ;-)

[Photo550D]

Okay, the missess is brighter than she looks and despite telling her that I "needed" to spend a couple more hundred quid on a tripod in order to prevent my investment crashing to the ground or convince her my pictures would look cr@p, she didn't fall for it!

Instead I bought, (based on number of reviews and recommendations from respectable photographers,) a Redsnapper RS-284 & RSH-12 Ball Head.

I have to say I was eager to inspect it when it arrived at my office today, despite the weight, it truly is a sturdy and solid piece of kit. The leg sections are made of thick tubing and the twist locks keep the legs where they should be even with my weight pushing down on them. The ball head is very smooth and precise with a friction adjustment knob and a locking knob also. The quick release plate seems to lock into place well. The legs feel solid, no play whatsoever and to be honest, having trawled around a number of local camera shops looking at the pro models, I am struggling to see where the extra £150+ is justified. For me, £99 is a bargain and some say its too good to be true. I was even impressed with the comfortable carrying bag, Allen keys and shorter middle section that came with it all and I was also pleased with the fluid panning movement.

Overall I would give it 8/10. Simply because it weighs a little heavier than some of the more well known brands I viewed in the shop.

Overall it's a cracking tripod for the money. Hopefully father Christmas may upgrade it, then again, I'd much prefer a 5D mkII

I may get to test it this Sunday!!

[Alex]

Good to see they're still some quality products out there then for a decent amount of money.

Let us know what you think of it after a field trip Chris.

[herke]

another +1 for red snapper equipment. I got the 324 with the ball head and its fantastic. It was my 1st "proper" tripod as I had a cheapie one that was bending under the weight of my camera!
The build quality is fantastic and i'm really glad I went for the ball head.

I'm quite tall and with the legs fully extended I have to stand on my tip toes to see through the camera.