Aug 31, 2011 Tripods are a must-have for long exposures, low light, macro work, landscapes or product photography to name just a few typical situations. We've taken a close look at five of the best models for under $450. Read our tripod-roundup to find out which one is most suited to your photography. So, my tripod for this particular adventure was the Manfrotto 190X Video tripod & 500 fluid head. The ideal setup for shooting video at NAB, but some might think it a little unusual for landscape photography. For me, though, and I mentioned this briefly in a vlog I made during the trip, video tripods make the best landscape tripods.
April 30, 2019:
Without much in the way of new, high end models hitting the market, this year's ranking mostly contains products seen last time around, though their positions on our list have moved around quite a bit thanks to certain offerings proving themselves in the field and others dealing with some quality issues that might have cost them a few slots. The only real new product is the 3-Series Mach 3 from Benro, which comes in to replace the 2-Series. This is a case in which the 2-Series is struggling with availability issues, and the 3-Series has proved to be the more effective option of the pair. Yes, it's a little heavier and a little shorter, but those minor inconveniences are trumped by the fact that it can hold nearly six more pounds of gear.
Elsewhere, the Manfrotto that was our previous number one pick swapped with our old number three simply because the excellent video head that comes with the Manfrotto is just a little less versatile than the simple, but outstanding ball head that comes with the Gitzo. I happen to own and love that Manfrotto tripod, but I'm a cinematographer. If you don't make movies or bird watch, it's simply less useful. Also, the Vanguard previously at number two took a big dip due to construction quality issues with its rotating central column — a big bummer considering that it's probably the device's most exciting feature.