Quote Originally Posted by ham View Post
How much would I have to spend to get some thing that I won't regret buying? Are we talking 200-300? Or more like 400-500?

What are the factors that make the extra money worth spending? Purely stability and usability? Or things like weight and strength?
I'd say £200 at a minimum, £400-500 would be better.

For the legs, the extra money gets you added stability with less weight (carbon fiber is lighter than aluminum but transmits vibrations less). An added plus is that CF doesn't transfer heat well, meaning it doesn't freeze your hands like aluminum (which transfers heat very well, and that's why my Calphalon cookware is aluminum). CF legs are much easier to carry, meaning it's more likely you'll bring the tripod with you.

For the head, the extra money gets you stability. A less expensive head will droop, either when you let go of the camera or over time, or both. With better heads, when you lock them down, they stay put. A head clamp that's compatible with the Arca-Swiss system is a good long-term investment - that's an industry standard (although neither Gitzo nor Manfrotto adhere to it), so camera plates, L-brackets if you get them, lens plates if you get them, will all be compatible with many other types of heads.

Looking at Jessops for some costs, here's what I'd recommend as a starter set:

• Manfrotto 055XPROB = £105
• Manfrotto 498RC2 = £87
• TOTAL = £192

You might want to read this article, which advises just getting the best from the start, and makes some good points. But take a rational approach (and keep in mind that the author just assumes you'll chuck the gear you don't want anymore into the bin, instead of selling it to recoup some of the loss).

As a mid-level solution, I'd consider:

• Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 = £200 (if you're over 175cm tall, the 055CXPRO4 = £300 would be better)
• Manfrotto 498 = £80 (note - just the 498, without RC# clamp/plate)
• Wimberley C-12 clamp = £65 (note - the Wimberley distributor in the UK is bobrigby.com)
• Wimberley P-5 plate = £44
• TOTAL = £389-489

One more suggestion - go into a shop and try some out. Manfrotto uses lever-locks for the legs, other brands use twist-locks. Play with the heads. See how easy it is to extend/collapse the legs. Find something that's comfortable for you to use.

Hope that helps...