If you had only this budget, which would you choose?
 

Hi, i need a tripod, i need it now, and i only have 200$
Which of those would you "recommend"?
Thanks

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=472706&is=REG


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=243272&is=REG

I'd just rent. A $200 tripod for a video camera is going to be good for just holding the camera still, that's it.

Giovanni:

From the descriptions of the two, I'd go with the Davis Sanford. Your budget is what it is, and do what you can with it, and I think you will find this tripod a step up. Certainly there will be limitations, but you'd be surprised what you can do with a sand bag or weight added....

Thank you both, this will be a provvisory tripod, by the end of the year i will but something better, but for now i simply need something to put on my camera.

Practice a with your tripod a lot when you get it. Get to know the feel of it and it's limitations. More importantly, how to work around and with the limitations.

Remember if you can make it work with a inexpensive tripod, you'll be 10 steps ahead when you upgrade.

Im using a $50 tripod for my crane.

I'm using a $400 friction head tripod right now and it's perfect for the price and what I'm doing... it's smooth as long as I'm smooth :P It's not as forgiving as a real fluid-head...

501HDV if you're curious... it was $400 with legs and a case... which I use for travelling/storage (handy)

I'll post some examples in a bit...

What you choose depends on your camera. A heavy camera with a high center of gravity is the worst case, and needs the most expensive tripod.

Assuming you are working with a small DV camera under 3 pounds, many of the Bogen Manfrotto models should work.

I am basically against renting because it is important to know the performance of your equipment instinctively.