Alright I'm trying to upgrade tripods because the one I have was 10 bucks and is honestly crap. I've been looking on Amvona and my budget is about 100 dollars. Could you guys guide me to one that's decent?

www.amvona.com


Also, are the ball jointed tops better or the traditional pivot ones better? I'm planning to upgrade bodies from 400D to possibly a D90 (nikon) or a 30/5D depending on how my funds turn out ... And It is highly possible that I will be using a master slave with it since i'm gonna be working on wedding/portrait shots indoors. (not sure how heavy it'll be total in the end) Thanks in advance!

 

I greatly prefer ball heads to pan/tilt styles except for special work (stitching/panning). They are faster to frame an image but cheap ball heads shift a bit when you tighten them and may not handle the combined weight of your camera + lens.

Can' t speak to a good tripod in your budget. I'd have said the $175-ish aluminum Bogen's are as cheap as I'd recommend. I went through three cheap tripods before I got a decent one and they were all instruments of torture compared to the decent one.

 

I have the manfrotto 190xb with 486rc2 ball head...works great and was around $200 for the combo.

I also have a 680b monopod with 234rc tilt head which I love equally as much.

 

For $100 I would recommend this one.

http://www.adorama.com/SU757TM.html?...37854356363116

It will fit your needs until you can afford to invest in a better one. Free shipping also.

 

For what its worth, I have one of these and I dont really care for it.

I never really understood the value of a GOOD ballhead tri-pod until I used one, and it really does make shoots that much easier.

 

^ Im working within the OP's budget

 

Good point, it does get the job done for $100.

 

I just bought the Manfrotto 190xb w/486rc2 ball head and let me tell you this piece is amazing! It was around $176 shipped I believe.