Reddit reviews Davis & Sanford EXPLORERV Vista Explorer 60” Tripod with Tripod Bag, BONUS Smartphone Adapter and 10 Year Warranty

To offer a counter point...

I have a similar good deal / high amazon rating tripod sitting in my closet right now. My thinking was that it holds the camera still so you can take a picture, why would I need something expensive? However after receiving my cheap tripod and using it a few times I knew I had just waisted $30 and started researching better options.

My issues were with long 20 sec+ low iso night shots which I happen to enjoy. I couldn't get anything over 5-10 sec to look sharp even with a remote shutter release, mirror lockup, and weighting the tripod down with my camera bag. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but after I switched to a much more stable tripod my issues went away.

I ended up going with the Manfrotto 055XPROB legs and 488RC2 Midi Ball Head which solved my sharpness issues with the added benefit of a much quicker setup and some cool macro options.

tl;dr I'm all for saving money, buying my lenses and bodies used, etc. but I tried to save money on a tripod and it didn't work out well.

Personally?

Lee Challenger 50th Anniversary kit.. Last time I did the math, even with the pieces I don't use, it came out cheaper than the individual components.

I wouldn't bother wasting the weeks of trying to get the included measure to throw properly for pistol rounds and would have gone straight to the Lee Pro Auto-Disk with the Adjustable Charge Bar. That thing throws accurate enough for pistol plinking with a few modifications.

I'd also pop right off the bat for a Universal Decapper so I could decap before wet tumbling.

Oh, and I'd get a chronograph and tripod from the start, too.

For dies, I like Lee. I'd just snag whatever dies I needed. I'd also get the various bits and baubles: Bullet puller, digital scale, digital calipers, etc.

Get this, this, and this. Find a dark, empty field, and see where it takes you.

Point of note: I own all three items, and can attest to their quality.. (well, the third is a pretty close match)

Here is the one you have on your list: http://www.amazon.com/Vista-Explorer-60-Inch-Lightweight-Tripod/dp/B000V7AF8E/ref=wl_it_dp_v_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1I76YQASWWNWR&coliid=I3CIDM3VOZ69TZ

Here is the exact one I have that I want to get rid of, still in the box: http://www.amazon.com/Hakuba-CX-300-Velbon-Floor-Standing-Tripod/dp/B00004TY7F

If you want it, it's yours.

Go with anything cheap (<$40) that has good reviews on Amazon; I'd probably get something like the AmazonBasics one, since I trust Amazon's house brand and is has 4.5 stars on 200+ reviews: http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-60-Inch-Lightweight-Tripod-Bag/dp/B005KP473Q/ and is $22. http://www.amazon.com/Vista-Explorer-60-Inch-Lightweight-Tripod/dp/B000V7AF8E/ at $25 with 700+ 4.5 star reviews would also work, as would LOTS of others.

While I have a tripod that's literally an order of magnitude more expensive (well, the ballhead is quite expensive on its own) it's completely unnecessary for the kind of shot you're describing.

this tripod is on the wishlist of fchdx, a newbie who gave a great answer to my question this evening.

Buy an inexpensive tripod like this and a mount like this and you can use your cell phone as a camera. The tripod and mount will last way longer than any webcam, and can be used with any future phone you buy. Almost all phones today shoot 1080p, and the tripod will give you way more flexibility in setting up shots.

I'm live streaming my upcoming wedding for people who can't make it. I did a ton of research on this, and am doing this for under $100. This is what I'm using:

1 iphone 4S (already own)

1 Edutige mic

1 vista explorer tripod

1 iphone tripod adaptor

I'm using the venue's wireless connection, but I also tested this over 3G and that works fine as well (even though it's a bit slow a little jumpy at times).

I downloaded the ustream app on the iphone (it's called ustream broadcaster and it's free), and I embedded the ustream video on a page on my wedding website (you can see it here).

I then created a new ustream channel just for the wedding, and then linked it up to the ustream app.

I all need to do on the day-of is set up the camera (hook the mic up to the camera, put it on the adaptor, which goes on the tripod), open the ustream app, and hit "record". It will stream right to video window on my website. I tested this out and it really is that easy! It will even let you save the video after.

I bought these for Xmas '11 Celestron SkyMaster 20x80

And tbh I'm a little disappointed, I wonder if I'm doing something wrong, because Mars for example doesn't look much different than a red bigger dot. It's pretty cool for the moon to be that big though!

Now if I can recommend one thing, like others have, is to buy a REALLY good mount, I got a cheap 30$ mount and it's really annoying, I cannot touch the lense one tiny bit or the entire thing vibrates due to the heavy weight of the binoculars.

December 14th, girl.

This is about 20

This is about 40

Both with prime.

Hope and pray all goes well with you and the baby! Enjoy this time!

Cheap solution-

Kodak PlaySport pocket video camera ($189.99) and a cheap Tripod, such as this one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V7AF8E/

I've been using these to record games and the result is nice, accessible and cheap. The sound quality is low to mediocre, but I doubt you can get any better without a mic (and a commentary track will go over the sound anyway). I think this is enough for taking game videos.

Here is a tripod with its central column slightly raised. Your manfrotto (according to the specs) has a central column. For best stability, it should not be in the raised position, pretty much... ever.

Also, if your camera strap was hanging and the wind was blowing, it wasn't doing you any favors. Either hold it with your hand loosely, or tie it in a knot so that there's much less wind force on it.

Do you have a remote release of any kind? If not, then you really should get one. Failing that, use the self-timer on a 2s delay. (1/2s isn't really enough damping time, IMHO, if you're still pushing the shutter button.) Buy an ML-L3 for about $20; dirt cheap and it'll help a ton. (Plus you won't have to wait 2 seconds before your exposure starts!)

Long exposures can be quite fun, but you have to get 'the basics' right before you'll get good, sharp, shots.

You need to describe the attachment point or take a photo. Most spotting scopes nowadays have a standard camera mounting which means you can use a cheap camera tripod or a highend one designed for shooting. I'll edit this and add some examples. Information on your mounting point would be really useful.


Are you looking for a tripod for a spotter to use whilst sitting/standing or a ground level tripod for using whilst prone?


Standing/sitting on the cheap end: http://www.amazon.com/Vista-Explorer-60-Inch-Lightweight-Tripod/dp/B000V7AF8E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404414063&sr=8-1&keywords=tripod+camera


Standing/sitting expensive: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/367492/vortex-ridgeview-backpack-tripod?cm_vc=ProductFinding


Prone shooting stand: http://www.intershoot.co.uk/acatalog/Opticron-Bipod-116.html

I just upgraded to a DSLR in the last two weeks and I have a really low end tripod. I tighten the shoe onto the camera what I believe is a reasonable tightness (and beyond which I'm scared to tighten more) but when I try to use my camera on the tripod in portrait orientation it doesn't stay in place - it rotates toward the ground. It is essentially tightening itself further because I haven't tightened it enough, but as I said, I'm scared to tighten it further for fear of damage and I essentially can't use it in portrait orientation as is. So, a couple of questions:
 

• How tight can I tighten the tripod shoe onto the bottom of the camera without damaging the camera?
  
• Is this problem a characteristic of cheap tripods and will a better tripod have some characteristic or feature that solves this problem?
  
• What is that little silver button on the shoe? If that locked in somewhere on the camera (essentially two connection points - the screw and the button) it would solve this, but it doesn't seem to go anywhere.
   
  Thanks for any insight you can provide.
  Equipment: D7100, Vista Explorer by Davis and Sanford
  

The problem is that if you are planning on doing terrestrial viewing you actually would be better with a refractor or a cassegrain reflector. Both of which are more expensive. That reflector I gave you is considered a high quality starter scope. Unfortunately it is not designed for terrestrial viewing and would be a pain to use for such primarily due to the fact that it sits low to the ground. I personally would save up and get a refractor as a tripod mounted small refractor would be much easier on the back for terrestrial viewing.

Really though based on your criteria ($300 or under) and desire to use it for terrestrial viewing I would get something like this:

Bushnell 20x50

Binocular Tripod Adapter

Tripod

All of the above comes out to less than $90 and will serve your dad much better than a sub $300 telescope would for terrestrial viewing.

I would like some recommendations on a good tripod, something I can travel with if possible. I would like to avoid paying a ton of money, but I also realize that you get what you pay for. Maybe some suggestions in different price ranges or at least some reputable brands. I bought this one as my first, and the handle broke off the second time I tried to use it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!