....if you love making video, buy a GOOD tripod - it'll certainly outlive your next two or three cameras!

Agreed. I have 2 or 3 cheap trpods but I also have 4 Bogen/Manfrotto tripods. The most expensive was about $500. I still have my first Bogen (before they started using the Manfrotto name)

How's this look? Good price? I couldn't find this model on Manfrotto or BH's site, so I don't know what to price compare it to:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bogen-Manfrotto-Model-3001BN-Tripod-Exc-Cond-/290533043983?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a51e6f0fBogen Manfrotto Model [/link]

And looks like this is just the legs, the head is separate.

Yes, that would be good for you.

Actually I own an earlier model of the 3001 .. with silver legs and different locking system for the legs. Yes .. it is the "legs" only .. you will need a video head.

Unless you purchase a "package" .. ALL Manfrotto tripods come without heads ... and even if you do purchase a "package" (new) .. it will come in two boxes that you will have to assemble.

See this for a small new Manfrotto video head:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/272630-REG/Manfrotto_700RC2_700RC2_Mini_Video_Fluid.html .. that would be for small camcorders only .. but should last you for years .. and .. (with the 3001 legs) will outperform ANY cheap tripod.

OR .. you could go with a used head:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Bogen-Imaging-128-LP-Micro-Video-Head-Camera-Pro-NEW-/370484831136?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item56429de3a0 would not be as good .. but still better than any cheap tripod.

Another eBay head:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Manfrotto-Photo-Video-Tripod-Head-391RC2-MINT-COND-/170604006747?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b8ca8d5b

fwiw, After being very disappointed with the "Best Buy" tripods, I've been happy with this combo for my small, consumer Canon HG21:

Manfrotto 128RC QR Micro Fluid Head
Manfrotto 190XPROB Pro Aluminum Tripod Legs (Black) - Supports 11 lbs

Good Luck!
...Jerry

You have a small camera so I would suggest you not buy a used tripod. Here is what I bought for my son who has a similar camera and it worked very well.

Sunpak 7575-Pro Platinum Plus Tripod with 3-Way Pan Head. for around $60 or if you can find the model 7500 that preceded it for around $30.

Remove the head and replace it with this one:

Velbon PH-368 Vel-Flo 9 Mini-Pro 2-Way Panhead for around $30.

It would work very well for you with that camera.

John

The problem with these kinds of triopds is they lack a proper levelling system. Better to put the money towards a proper video tripod that uses a ball.
I saw some excellent Chinese tripods at NAB a couple of years ago. 75mm bowl, 5 stage tilt, drag and counterbalance adjustment, reasonable legs and all for around $500. Don't remember the name but I've seen them on some US sites. They really stand out as the pan and tilt drag rings are gold.

We've also had reasonable service out of the cheap Libec tripods and again these have a bowl and ball so they're easy to get level.

Bob.

I saw this one on cheesycam.com a great site with an enormous amount of info and DIY ideas for video gear that does not cost you a fortune. I got it on ebay in the UK but you also in the US direct from China, it seems to sell like crazy.

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360317983645&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

It's around $150 and I was really surprised at the build quality when I got mine. Obviously not a Sachtler but then again, my canon D550 weighs a few hundred grams, not 10kg. It pans really well and is very sturdy and well made. It confusingly comes under different names tough, but always seems to have the 717 type number in it.
Cheesycam is a great site, I got plenty of ideas and gear there, like my lilput 7" TFT for my canon or the shutter timer etc, and hid DIY projects for rigs or pseudo steadycam constructions are brilliant.

The problem with these kinds of triopds is they lack a proper levelling system. Better to put the money towards a proper video tripod that uses a ball.
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He has a $600 camera Bob. So does my son. That's why I suggested something that appears to work very well for my son and that has a price commensurate with the camera.

He can attach an inexpensive Bubble Level if that's the issue.

John

Leveling a camera on a tripod without a ball is a pain. You have to do the leveling by adjusting the height of the legs, which can take several minutes for each setup. None the less, I have found a pretty quick way of doing this for those instances where I am stuck with a tripod with a bubble level on the head, but no leveling ball. Here is my method of leveling a tripod on a bit of a slope when there is no ball:

1/ Put the tripod down on the uneven ground with the legs fully extended so that the length is even. Look at the bubble level and see which way it is pointing.

2/ Put one leg in exactly the direction that the bubble level is pointing.

3/ Lower that leg until the level is even.

This method works well and saves a bunch of time when you need to use it. Limitations are that you have to start with the legs fully extended and that limits heights you can use. I would still rather have a ball, but there are times when it is a handy trick to know.

You have a small camera so I would suggest you not buy a used tripod.

Why?

You have a small camera so I would suggest you not buy a used tripod.
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Why?
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1. His requirements for a tripod aren't as rigid as that of a larger camera.

2. With lesser requirements he can afford an adequate new one such as the setup I recommended.

John

You have a small camera so I would suggest you not buy a used tripod.

Odds are that a cheap (to begin with) used tripod has been used and abused to the point that it's almost worthless.

Mike

"He has a $600 camera Bob."

So do we, a Sony HC5. I was lucky enough to get a never used Miller DS5 second hand for $350 at an ex govt auction. Even so, the camera is happier on a Miller Compass 15 head on a beefy set of legs despite it being underweight for that head.
I know, it not only seems crazy, it also looks wierd putting a $700 camera on a $2,000 tripod but it works very well. I suspect the reason it works well is simply the mass of the tripod and head helps keep the whole system stable. We oftenly shoot on sprung timber floors with kids running around.
One of the problems I have with the really cheap tripods with a light camera on them is there's not enough weight on the tripod and legs to load the mechanical joints enough to stop them wobbling a bit. You could probably address this to some extent by tying a shot bag to the top of the tripod with a bungie cord.

One thing I've observed. Give a true professional in most fields a cheap tool and they'll bitch and moan about it but still turn in an almost perfect result. A rank amateur like me needs all the help I can get and the very best tools enable me to get a generally acceptable result. Many decades ago I had no end of problems trying to bash a nail in straight until I bought a quite expensive Estwing hammer. 40 years later I still use that same hammer. The leather started to fall off the grip but I've epoxied it on.

Bob.

@Mindmatter - I found this one on Amazon, looks similar to the one you linked to on eBay:

http://www.amazon.com/Tripod-Camcorder-Professional-Francier-WF717B/dp/B003UOMWUY/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_1_0Heavy Duty Professional Tripod By Francier WF717B[/link]

So you've had good luck with yours? And can get smooth pans from it?

I'm sure some of the more expensive ones are much better, but this one is pretty decent then it might be one for me.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I've been looking at the other links and comments you've made as well. Still thinking about them all.

Yes ,that one seems to be exactly the one I got. It seeems to be called either Fancier or Weifeng. The one you found seems even a good deal cheaper pricewise than one on ebay.
As I mentioned, I was surprised at how well it works. The pan friction seems a bit high, but I´ve read that this will ease up after some use. Not too high for my taste anway as I prefer to have the pan friction a bit stiffer. I remember having read somewhere, possibly on cheesycam, that this tripod equals or even surpasses some Manfrotto models in quality, in spite of its extremely low price. There´s some reviews on the net and on cheesycam as well if memory serves.

"He has a $600 camera Bob."
-----------------------------------------------
"So do we, a Sony HC5"
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I get that, but you also have a bunch of very expensive professional cameras as well. I suspect that the $600 camera may be his only one, thus my cheaper recommendation. I think that is what he was asking for.

John

My $600 camera is the only one I have. And come to think of it, I've spent much more on Vegas over the years than my camera itself. :)

But I was looking to spend less than $150 or so on a tripod.

The Davis & Sanford Provista 18 is a pretty solid buy for about $160 from B&H. We purchased them for podcast kits for a large corporation in our area. They are made for lightweight cameras but have a ball leveling head, which, as others have said, is very nice to have to get your camera leveled quickly. I think you'd be pretty happy with it.

Have you looked on craigslist? I scored a Manfrotto 501HDV head in excellent shape for $100 a while back. You can find good legs there too. If there's not one listed now, it will be soon. Keep checking.

Today only - Sunday, 02-20-2011 the Deal-a-Day site http://www.woot.com has the "Sunpak Carbon Fiber Tripod with Pistol Grip Handle" for $99. I dunno whether this is a good quality combo or not, but it is $70 cheaper than B&H.

It might be usable in the Velbon/Sunpak combo suggested by craftech in an earlier post.

...Jerry

"But I was looking to spend less than $150 or so on a tripod."

If you can find another $50 there's the Libec TH-650DV. We have about 6 of them in rental, they have no adjustments, just fixed drag and counterbalance but they do have a levelling ball and they've mostly survived a fair amount of abuse.
The reviews on B&H are pretty positive.

Bob.

Today only - Sunday, 02-20-2011 the Deal-a-Day site www.woot.com has the "Sunpak Carbon Fiber Tripod with Pistol Grip Handle" for $99.
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Jerry,

That's more of a photo tripod. It's only five feet tall fully extended.

John