Need a camera tripod???

[steveturner]

Guys i know a little about trains but nothing about camera tripods. Have Canon digital and i dont know if the threads are all the same? I need something 5 ft tall and that will do the job in the trainroom...................i would rather spend my money on train stuff than on an expensive tripod. So something that will do the job but thats not too cheaply made. Any suggestions or help appreciated.Thanks steve

[alco539]

Even though most camera equipment is based on the metric system. The tripod hole was made 1/4-20 UNC, as standard. Every camera I've ever owned was 1/4-20 UNC, up to including my Sony Cyber-shot digital. I don't think it's changed in the last few years. I hope this helps, Charley.

[stevef45]

some tripods if they have a head included will have an adapter screw to make it larger.

I bought my tripod off ebay years ago for less then $10. This company started all there bids at .01 cents and some days you could get a deal, which i ended up getting. Its sturdy as all can be. Im 6'2 and its fine for me.

[sd80macs]

Oct 17, 2012 22:58:49 GMT -8 steveturner said:

Guys i know a little about trains but nothing about camera tripods. Have Canon digital and i dont know if the threads are all the same? I need something 5 ft tall and that will do the job in the trainroom...................i would rather spend my money on train stuff than on an expensive tripod. So something that will do the job but thats not too cheaply made. Any suggestions or help appreciated.Thanks steve

If you plan to use it mainly indoors in the train room then you can get something cheap that has the height you want, just stay away from plastic tripods. I do a lot of outdoor photography and its another expensive hobby I recently got into, my tripod and head cost around $180 but its rugged and fit the task.

[Brakie]

Steve,For what its worth I got my tripod from Wal-Mart for $20.00.It extends to 6'.

[stevef45]

not bad. when I was looking i wanted something heavy duty and in 2005 most of the chain stores didn't have a large selection. and on a canon forum everyone was talking about this seller on ebay so i went for it. It hasn't let me down.

[mlehman]

Hmmm, no "plastic"? That'll be hard to find these days. Depends on what you call plastic, as somethings look like plastic, but are carbon fiber -- not likely in a cheap tripod.

In reality, thetre are a lot of really decent tripods out there for ~$50ish and a few no bad ones that are even cheaper, many fo which are in part plastic. What you'll want to look for IMO is something with a lot of vertical travel, as that's very useful around a layout. If it has only limited vertical travel and you have high benchwork, well, you get the picture.

Something else to consider in the cheap tripod category are the mini-tripods. I know, I know, but for some layout shots, they are just the thing when the angle you need means you have to shoot from on the layout itself. Don't get one too cheap and you may find you use it more than your full size tripod.

Finally, a friend of mine shoots stop-motion animation on my layout. She uses my mini-tripod on occasion, but a lot of the time she sets her camera down on a 2"x4" chunk of rubber eraser. This hold the camera close to the surface for good low angle shots without it slipping. Since she has to reproduce a series of tiny changes without the camera moving between shots this works great.

Just for fun and to show you how effective these techniques are, here are a couple of clips. She's working on a travel epic with dancing burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches involving travel over the line right now IIRC, which should be interesting:

[theengineshed]

"Canon digital" covers a lot of ground. If it is a DSLR with a lens, it is going to be heavier than a compact. If the camera does not weigh much, you can get away with a lightweight tripod...

[sd80macs]

See if you can find something here that you want. www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Complete-Tripods-with-Heads/ci/2635/N/4291756644