$100 vs $1000 Tripod
Вставка
- Опубліковано 15 лип 2024
- I've always wondered how much better a top-of-the-line, expensive tripod would be compared to a more "normal" entry-level tripod. When I had the chance to test for myself, I didn't hesitate to put them side by side!
This video includes a complete stability test between a $100 tripod (the ESDDI TP-60) and a tripod that costs more than $1000 (the RRS TVC-24 with BH-40 ballhead). Maybe this will help you out when you're buying your next tripod!
Frankly, even if you don't go for something in the $1000 range - which you definitely don't need to do - it should be clearer after this video what you gain with a higher-end tripod in general.
As always, if you liked this video or have any questions, feel free to drop a comment.
Good luck and good light!
~Spencer
/ spencercoxphoto
👇👇👇
This video is not sponsored! You can support Photography Life and Spencer Cox Photography by buying anything through my affiliate links!
Here is all the photo equipment I use: bhpho.to/3XUv32a
And here’s my video gear to film this video: bhpho.to/3Yt8th1
Appreciate the straightforward and honest video, Spencer! A lot of people focus on the importance of having the "right" gear, so it's reassuring to a beginner like myself to know that I could easily get by with a cheaper tripod and not feel pressured to go all out on the most expensive stuff.
Sure thing! And definitely true. I’ve taken plenty of my favorite photos with basic gear. Composition, light, and subject are way more important.
This is the fairess test I ever seen on tripods. The RRS is very expensive but I couldn't believe I would spend 1500$cdn just for the tripod not including the ball head mount. I finally bought at a bargain price the " Benro TMCA38C MACH 3 carbon fiber (max load 16 kg or 35.2 lbs; max height 61"; folded 21.29"; weight 4.19lbs) " after reading a few positive reviews. That tripod is usually sold around $400 usd, that I bought a year ago for $179 usd shipping included to canada, and I added a Gitzo GH2780QR ser 2 MAG. CENTRE BALL HEAD QR (Not the best but I would say fair to good). a few weeks later in canada. I think the Gitzo head while much expensive than the tripod is the weakest part of this setup.
Thanks again Spencer for your work, I am sure it is much appreciated by all your viewers.
Great demonstration! I think it also shows why a video format is sometimes better when comparing potential blur: Even if in this specific case the difference between the photos was not extreme, it could become more significant in longer exposures/extreme weather/when photographing small details.
Absolutely! Especially in windy conditions with a medium or telephoto lens, you could expect the differences in photos to be even more significant. Glad you liked the video!
Hi Spencer,
thank you for the great video. Tripods really are a huge topic with little coverage. I do not think that I have seen a video on youtube yet, that points out the benefits of a higher priced tripod as well as yours. Most youtubers do not put in the effort of making the camera shake visible ...
That being said I would really like to see a video on "tripod hacks" ... Things you can do to ensure you're tripod is as stabel as possible. After all, even a chinapod can provide much improved results with simmple everyday hacks.
I’m glad you liked it, and thanks for the video idea! Yeah, would be great to do something like that.
Video was great. Very interesting. Doing the videos helped compare the two a lot more than if you only did photos.
Thank you, Seth! Very happy you liked it and found the video comparison useful.
We love your videos and learn a lot from you, so thank you! A good tip for driving those Forest Service roads is to release air out of your tires as it will cushion your ride. It is called "airing down" and smooths those bumpy roads out :). Buy a portable air compressor that you can hook up to your battery and fill the tires back up before you hit the pavement.
Excellent tip and very true! Thanks for adding this.
Thanks Spencer... Great Video
Sure thing, Anurag, glad you liked it!
Excellent video Spencer! I just discovered your channel looking for a Lightroom tutorial. Those were great! Would the ESDDI be more stable is using a mirrorless camera such as a Sony or Olympus (with one of their longer lenses)? Also good to see a Denver resident making such excellent videos. Thanks!
Thank you, Mark! I actually used a mirrorless camera here (Nikon rather than Sony or Olympus) so I can say pretty confidently that the answer is no. In general, the camera doesn’t have much effect on the stability of your tripod. A lighter camera may be slightly more prone to vibration, but it’s unlikely to be anything that would show up in a photo.
I have tripod that is likely made in the same Chinese factory. It's great to get something like that to get started. I'm not ready to get into 4 digit tripods, but maybe something in the $300-500 range. Sirui seems to be making some really good stuff...
Although I've been through the "cycle of tripods" I am still always interested in this topic. Wonderful comparison Spencer! The costs for the high quality tripod are overwhelming but I have found (of feels like) it has paid off in the long run especially in moving to a higher megapixel sensor and doing stuff like time lapse sequences. Never been to Colorado but it looks extra amazing during Fall.
I've never seen a TVC-24 with a center column. Is that an optional piece you picked up?
Thank you, Frank! Yes, I added on the center column once I started doing video work, because otherwise it was always too low to film me speaking. I absolutely agree with your assessment of tripod value! I often say this is the one piece of equipment in my bag which I’m sure I’ll still have in a decade, so that does make the cost feel a bit less extreme.
@@PhotographyLifeChannel Ah, makes sense. Nice add on. Thanks for this video again as it definitely helps to justify the cost :)
Very good video, but what if the photographer simply weighted their tripod with their camera bag?
Thanks for a great video! On the topic of tripods, is there one(s) you would suggest as a good all around tripod? One that could be used to travel, including flying, but also when local? Thank you!
Much appreciated! What budget do you have in mind?
@@PhotographyLifeChannel Budget is flexible, but ~$800-1000. I'd certainly be happy with one that is less expensive, because sometimes less is more. But, as the saying goes, buy nice or buy twice. I know this put the RRS tripod you reviewed into play. Would this work for travel as well as home? How would you compare it to the Gitzo reviewed by Nasim on Photography Life? Thank you again for your help!
@@flamingquail1415 I’ve personally used Nasim’s Gitzo tripods, so hopefully I can answer that! I marginally prefer the RRS side by side (and so does Nasim, who bought a RRS tripod himself a couple years ago), but the clearer step up is the tripod head. If the RRS TVC-24 plus BH-40 ballhead combo is a bridge too far for price, I’d strongly consider a ~$600 Gitzo tripod with the same head. Or, with the Markins Q10. I don’t have specific Gitzo recommendations, but anything in the Series 2 range is a good balance between weight and stability.
With Gitzo vs RRS for the tripod itself, the difference isn’t really in terms of stability that I’ve seen (which is excellent on both) but in build quality and feel, where RRS wins by a bit. Not a big enough difference that I’d recommend going over your budget, but it is there.
Interesting, but for me too much focus on videos rather than photos with long exposure (where the difference is maybe more important).
Also, is the material of which the tripod is made of the factor which makes a tripod more stable? I could imagine there are other reasons as well.
Thanks for the feedback! I did it with videos instead of photos because I think it’s easier to compare motion rather than low-lying blur on a compressed UA-cam video. Hopefully you can extrapolate from that to see if it will affect your photos or not. In terms of material, it’s far from the only factor, but it definitely matters.
You should do the stability test near train tracks. Stand on the platform of a train station. Then see how much each tripod rumbles. The 1000$ tripod would make a MUCH bigger difference.
That’s an excellent idea!
I have always agreed it is better to spend the money up front, as you will get there anyway. That said, do you think tripods have improved in recent years? Do you still need to purchase Gitzo or RRS to get top quality. A UA-camr I like (he is sponsored by them) pushes a brand called Leofoto that he says rivals the quality of Gitzo. I also know that a company called Promedia is producing very expensive and high quality tripods. Also, I have a Sirui monopod (relatively expensive) that is good enough to make me think their top tripods might pass muster. Really don't know, but worth asking.
I thought I could manage with a cheap tripod until as luck would have it I broke one of the legs. I then watched every video and read articles on the best tripods. In the end I bought the biggest lightest tripod I could afford. It's made from CF and is high enough when fully extended for me without the center column being used. It has made so much difference to my photography it's hard to believe. It as also meant I can use older lenses (which seem sharper to me ) which have no OS. Best bit of kit I have bought, which made the most difference. Lastly I think it's very important that your tripod is light and of course easy to use other wise it ends up staying in the bag. I carry mine all the time now, even when stalking wildlife, because it brings down the shutter speed which in turn lowers the iso which makes for more keepers. Thanks for the video.
That’s awesome, really happy to hear you’ve found the right tripod for your needs! It makes a surprisingly big difference at the end of the day. I’ve managed to break three tripods over the years simply by using them in sandy conditions, and two of them were far from cheap (in the $200-400 range). I actually think the ESDDI tripod in this video is better than - and not totally representative of - the typical $100 tripod. Either that or they’ve gotten better since I last tried them.
What tripod did you get? I had a $120 CF tripod very similar to the one in this video, and yesterday the glue holding the twist lock on 1 leg gave out. Now I'm in the market for a new tripod (that doesn't cost $1000).
@@chrisross3631 K&F Concept. KF -TC 2834 carbon. smallest biggest tripod I could get away with. Works great with my D500 Sigma 150-600 lens. Really stable. I now use it all the time for more or less every shot. makes all the difference. Oh and not that expensive really.
Not willing to spend $1,000 at this point. I've just spent WAY too much on gear the last few years. But I am looking for something in the middle-ground in the $300-$500 range which should be a nice upgrade from my $80 Amazon special that has been a lot more reliable over the years than it had any right to be. Any suggestions?
Awesome! I do think there are two things you should strongly consider: carbon fiber and twist locks. Carbon fiber is probably a given, and I've found that every tripod I've owned with twist locks performs better than one with flip locks, especially in sand or saltwater conditions. I also wouldn't get a tripod with more than three extending leg sections. I've used good tripods and heads in that price range from Gitzo, FLM, and Induro. Had pretty bad luck with Oben and Benro. So-so from Manfrotto. I haven't tried most other brands. But there are plenty of good brands out there, so I doubt you'll be disappointed. Hope this helps!
I have a RRS TVC 24 plus a BH55 that costed me a fortune, but it is a dream to use, not at-least to say the BH55. Highly recommended !
They’re far too expensive, yet worth every penny for photographers who use them like crazy for years upon years! I use mine with the BH-40, as you could probably tell from the video, but otherwise have the same setup as you. It’s awesome and has lasted through far more than it has any right to.
@@PhotographyLifeChannel Buy quality, cry once.
@@mr.t5610 So true! My recommendation these days for new photographers is to start off with something like a $100 tripod (no way they’d buy a RRS that early) and then immediately jump to a RRS or Gitzo when they outgrow it. It’s expensive, but saves money compared to incrementally upgrading to slightly better tripods each time. Which may or may not have been a mistake I made 😂
@@PhotographyLifeChannel Well, I can only talk for my self. My RRS tripod was the first one I bought and it costed me (included with the panohead and the bag to carry the thing) roughly 1 400 $ US back then, (approx. 8 years ago). The higher price because I imported it from the US with all that extra expenses it carries with it.
After I discoverer that it was way to heavy to log around with (together with all the other gear I tend to bring with me (but never use), so for that reason I bought a Sirui travel tripod. Then before I went out on my trip to Asia (Nepal-India and Japan between Okt 2018 ~ June 2019) I wanted to have a very light tripod with me, so I bought a third one, also a Sirui travel tripod.
But the story doesn't end there. Some months ago, I bought a Sony RX100 M5A, a camera to always carry with me everywhere I go, and since I'm a slow photographer, I also wanted to have a tripod that I always could carry with me, together with my RX100. What did I do !? Well, I bought one small Sirui (again) tabletripod. So now I have four (4) tripods and I think I'll do fine with tripods until the bitter end, with these ones, not at least in the context that I'm not a professional photographer 😁.
@@mr.t5610 Interesting! I think you went a bit of the opposite route from most photographers, and that probably saved you some good money in the long run. Sounds like you have a great setup for the types of photos you take.
This was an excellent video, though I feel like it would've been slightly improved by going for the ~20-30$ more expensive option of those cheapo tripods (the 100 dollar tripod is marketed and branded under many different names, including geekoto and neewer I believe) which is also carbon fiber.
Carbon fiber, as a material, is superior in rigidity to aluminum (counterintuitively enough), meaning that alone might have generated the difference in shake for the first test.
In very windy environments, I simply hang my backpack from my tripod hook and get excellent results that way (at least for photos), even though it's a rather thin carbon fiber travel type. But I think this is a very valuable video, especially for beginner photographers. 100$ isn't 1000$, but 100$ can get you quite far.
Glad that you like the video, and that’s interesting to hear! I didn’t know there was a slightly more expensive version of the ESDDI tripod made of carbon fiber. Huh. I bought it as my secondary/filming tripod, and now I’m wondering if I should have bumped up to the carbon fiber version. I suspect that the overall sharpness results would be similar because the carbon fiber model is lighter by comparison, but naturally the benefit is a lighter tripod!
@@PhotographyLifeChannel
Aliexpress, one of the biggest chinese platforms, has a sale coming up on the 11th of November. Might wanna check then, its called, among other things (though the ball head is slightly different in the first one I found)
"Neewer 79 inches carbon fiber camera tripod monopod with 2 center Axis"
You can probably get rid of your old one locally at the same price you'll pay for the carbon fiber one.
Experience has taught me "buy nice or buy twice". My RRS products have proven to be stellar investments and will last a very, very long time. It took me several years to accumulate them, and I highly recommend them.
Michael, agreed! It’s why I went for RRS too, 4-5 years ago, and I think that tripod will outlast me 😂
BTW, where is that waterfall?
It’s Zapata Falls in Colorado. Beautiful place.
@@PhotographyLifeChannel I've been able to get to Colorado 3 times in the past year. I had a couple of nights in Leadville 2 weeks ago and was hoping to get there. Still have not been. Hopefully next time...
You’ll make it there at some point. And they just finished smoothing down the road, so it should be a much better drive than you saw in this video!
@@PhotographyLifeChannel good to hear!
I went through 2 "chinapods" over a 2 year period, (about $200 per chinapod). I realised they are not built to last, especially when shooting 20-30 seascapes per year like I do. Chinapods will eventially fail and break sooner than you plan. Any of the chinapods that you can take the leg off as a monopod are the absolute worst. So...I decided to bite the bullet and get a RRS TVC 34L with BH40 head. Been using about 2+ years and 60+ seascape sessions without a single issue. Feels as good as new, but I do rinse it off after each usage, just as I did with my Chinapods.
Oh yeah, same thing happened to me as well! One of the low-quality tripods that broke when I used it in sandy conditions (not even seascapes, which is a step worse!) is a $400 carbon fiber tripod, but it was a piece of junk. Not all tripods are as good as their price indicates. I think you can imagine why I went with RRS in the end as well. I’ve done sand dune and seascape photography with mine for about five years now, and like yours, it’s still working just like new. The ESDDI did fairly well in this stability test, but I definitely don’t trust that it’s built to last for multiple decades.
I'm baffled. Why not just attach a 400mm lens, shoot actual full-res photos at various shutter speeds on each tripod, and compare the results? 2K/4K video isn't a realistic test for a tripod, though it may be of use to videographers.
The movement you see in this video shows up in photos as blur. Showing videos is a better way to visualize the differences compared to showing crops of photos, which may be compressed by UA-cam and inherently have more variance from photo to photo.
light carbon fibre tripods are not better for stability.
For sure, but at a given weight, carbon fiber is going to be more stable most of the time.
Mine is $20 :p
Nothing wrong with that! Any tripod is better than no tripod. If you end up hitting its limits or the tripod breaks, your replacement costs are certainly lower than most tripods 😄