Which Tripod

I know that they are not brilliant Tripods but Jessops 320 or Velbon DX-300. The Velbon feels and looks more sturdy and works well but the Jessop has 3 way and looks more tidy, not sure about the removeable camera fitting on the Jessops feels and looks cheap. Your views are very welcome.

Richard

Any tripod is better than none.
heavier is more stable.
my preference is to go with a lighter model (I use a manfrotto, with pistol grip), there's a giottos model Gerri's eying up. both of which are fairly light (I think carbonfibre is too light and way too expensive). notice the shot of me chasing a moose in another thread and you'll see me holding my camera in my right hand, and my wrapped up with pipe foam and duct tape manfrotto in my left hand. picked up together and mobile...
my rational is this the lighter weight aluminum pods from reputable companies stand up to abuse better than cheaper brands..and I do abuse my equipment...my manfrotto has seen swamp, dessert, arctic, beach and snow for years and with regular maintenence is still in great shape. It's no good if it breaks, its no good if you leave it behind cauase it's too heavy to carry.
normal, light use, with little abuse, cheaper a tripod should serve you well.

Buy the biggest and sturdiest you can afford; they wont let you down. I have Velbon legs that I've used and abused for 29 years, the head eventually gave out and I replaced it with a Manfrotto one. If you are in a situation where you need legs, you'll be carrying a ton of gear anyway so the tripod wont be any extra big deal.

Ken

I second the Manfrotto suggestion. On a 1999 trip to B.C. and Washington State I decided against taking my old Velbon with me as I deemed it too light. I has just purchased a Sigma 170-500mm and was using it with an MZ50 which was the interim replacement for my old SP500 when it bit the dust after a faithfull 28 years.

Handheld was a pain, if not impossible, and I slipped out of Stanley Park in Vancouver to buy a Manfrotto with a three-handle head. Plenty heavy enough to handle the big zoom and allowed me to take some treasured memories. The head has now been replaced by a Manfrotto ball head. This tropd has been used intensively with my scope and the camera on many birding outings and all weather with no problems. The only concession I made was to purchase the foam leg sleeves for winter use.

Mike

Money spent on a cheap tripod will soon be regretted when you discover that the whole outfit is not as 'stiff' as you had hoped. For a tripod to be effective you need:-

Legs that don't bend or have loose fitting joints.
A head that does not move when locked.
An adapter plate to fit your camera that does not move under the weight of the camera.

If you buy Manfrotto, Gitzo, or any of the top names, possibly even some of the Velbon range, you will not go far wrong.

However, there are many other things to consider when choosing a tripod. These are a few that were important to me.

Do you want tripod stability with the camera at near to ground level?If so, a tripod having a centre column that can't be removed will not be much use. Neither will a tripod who's legs cannot be extended to the horizontal.

Will you be using your tripod in windy conditions? If so, it will need a hook from which to hang your sack of bricks (camera bag) to stop it from being blown over.

Will you need a leveller (spirit level), ball, 2, or 3 way head, the ability to fix the camera upside down under the centre column, or rubber leg sleeves for winter handling.

Perhaps most important of all questions . . . do I want a black or silver tripod. Not such a daft question. You will not want shiny silver if you main use is wildlife photography. Also, in hot conditions, black can be unbearable to handle.

Finally on the carbon fibre front. Great, very light if you are carrying it more than using it, but maybe too light in windy situations and can be damaged by freezing conditions.

I use a Manfrotto 055PROB with a Manfrotto 488RC2 ball head for general work. This has a removeable centre column which can also be fixed horizontally across the top of the legs (to which I added spiked feet). I use a Manfrotto 190C with a mini-ball head attached for photography on the move and a Manfrotto monopod. All of these are very stiff (resistant to movement) combinations. I gave my Slik 88 (used and abused for about 25 years) with its new Manfrotto 3 way head to my son.

Sorry i should have said i do apologise i already have both tripods and need to get rid of one.