So you’re looking for a tripod and you don’t want to break the bank? What is the best tripod under 100 dollars? A tripod is one of the most simple and basic pieces of camera equipment out there. The word “tripod” basically means three legged or three footed, and that’s exactly what it is – a three-legged stand that can be used to support a camera. The use of a tripod allows you to easily maintain the stability of your camera to lessen shake and improve the all around sharpness of the shots that you take. So don’t let your production look like some handheld video that you made on vacation when you were 10! Instead, use a quality tripod for professional stabilization. Of course, there are tripods out there for use with all the different types of cameras. We’ll be covering a number of those right here in this article. The Evolution of the Tripod Tripods were originally conceived for use with the huge video and still cameras of the past. Before, the only way to take video was to use a huge camera that was almost impossible to carry and hold steady for any length of time. Now, with the advent of smaller video cameras and ultra-light DSLRs, it’s much easier to shoot videos with a minimal amount of shaking. However, videographers are only human and there is only so much strength in your arms. If you’re shooting hours of video, you are going to get tired eventually, and that’s one of the primary reasons for using a tripod. Apart from the aforementioned issue of eliminating camera shake and unsteadiness. There are a number of good tripods out there that you can use to better control your video camera and shoot stable and non-shaky video footage. And many of them are quite inexpensive. Here is a list of good tripods that you can get for under $100. Best Tripod Under 100 Let’s take a look at some of our favorite tripods that cost less than $100. 1. AmazonBasics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod This is a very light-weight tripod, coming in at only 3 pounds, but it can carry around 6.6 pounds of weight. Which, handily, is about the average weight of the heaviest DSLR cameras out there. There is a quick mounting plate that fits most standard DSLRs and allows you to quickly set up your camera in time to take the shots you need. This plate works with the majority of tripods out there. As it is a compact and lightweight tripod, the AmazonBasics is easy to store and transport, which makes it a very handy tool for the videographer on the go. It is a little short, however. You can only extend it from 2 feet to 5 feet. It does have rubber feet, though, which helps improve the tripod’s overall stability. The best thing about this tripod, aside from its price, is the three way head, which allows you to quickly and smoothly tilt and swivel the camera. There is also a portable bag included in the package. AmazonBasics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod with Bag Lightweight tripod with adjustable-height legs and rubber feet Compatible with most video cameras, digital cameras, still cameras, GoPro devices, smartphone... Recommended max load weight is 6.6 lbs (3kg) for optimal performance Weighs 3 lbs; Extends from 25 inches to 60 inches when center post is fully extended; Carrying case... Two built-in bubble view levels and 3-way head to allow for tilt and swivel motion; portrait or... $23.49 Buy on Amazon 2. Slik U9000 Tripod The Slik U9000 Tripod stands on three aluminum-alloy legs tipped with rubber feet equipped with metal spikes that you can twist in and out. This makes it a good tripod to use when working outdoors, as it will dig into the turf and minimize slippage on tricky surfaces such as wet grass. When you’ve moved back indoors, you can twist the spikes in and the tripod will then stand on rubber feet that will also minimize slippage but won’t damage floors. The Slik U9000 only has a maximum height of 59 inches or about 5 feet. So if you are a very tall person, it might be difficult to get the tripod to hold your camera at a comfortable eye level. It also weighs only 3.5 pounds, but can handle loads of 4.5 pounds. One advantage of the Slik U9000 is its 3-way fluid effect pan head that allows you to easily and smoothly move the camera to get the shoots you desire. Sale Slik U9000 Tripod with 3-Way Fluid-Effect Head and Built-In Bubble Level Aluminum-Alloy Legs, Flip Locks Geared Column, Center Brace Simultaneous Pan-and-Tilt Head Independent Portrait Orientation Rubber Feet with Twist-Out, Metal Spikes $51.87 - $1.92 $49.95 Buy on Amazon 3. Magnus VT-300 This portable video tripod system is designed to work with DSLRs as well as small and even large camcorders. The Magnus VT-300 weighs 5.8 pounds and has a maximum weight capacity of 15 pounds. The maximum height that this tripod extends to is around 64.3 inches or about 5’4 feet. The Magnus VT-300 has a built-in fluid effect video head that allows you to quickly and smoothly tilt your camera a full 360 degrees up and down. It comes with a quick release camera plate that enables you to quickly and easily mount your camera to take the shots that you need. Magnus VT-300 Video Tripod with Fluid Head Portable Video Tripod System | Supports DSLRs, Small | Large Camcorders 15 lb Weight Capacity, 64.3" Max Height | Built-In Pan/Tilt Video Head | Independent Pan and Tilt... Quick-Release Camera Plate Included | Integrated Center-Column & Mid-Spreader Two Leg Stages, Three Sections | Flip-Lock Leg Locks | Carry Case with Shoulder Strap Included In The Box: VT-QRP30 Quick Release Plate for VT-300, 350 & 400 and VPH-20 Tripods, Pan Bar, Carry... $79.95 Buy on Amazon 4. Kamisafe VT-1500 The Kamisafe VT-1500 is a tripod that was especially designed for film and video shooting. Its legs are made of light-weight aluminum alloy, making it portable but very strong. It is a fluid head tripod which makes it ideal for taking smooth and steady panning and multi-angled shots. The Kamisafe VT-1500 has a maximum load capacity of 22 pounds. It can be extended to around 5’4 feet in height, and shortened to around 2’ feet in height for easy storage and portability. The legs are tipped with non-slip rubber feet which help the tripod retain its balance even on rugged ground. Sale Kamisafe KINGJOY VT-1500 65"/166cm Adjustable Camera Video Tripod with Detachable Fluid Drag Pan Tilt Head Compatible with Canon Nikon Sony DSLR Camera Video Camcorder Shooting Filming Professional heavy duty video tripod kit with fluid head, with 1/4" camera screw, suitable for all... Removable video pan tilt head with independent pan and tilt locks, with quick release locking knob... With max. load capacity to 10kg/22lbs, the tripod can be extended to 65"/166cm max. height and... Three-section adjustable tripod legs with flip locks system, integrated center column and... Humanized non-slip handle bar for comfortable to grip, can support 360-degree adjustment for... $85.99 - $10.00 $75.99 Buy on Amazon 5. BONOFOTO B671C The BONOFOTO B671C is a carbon fiber tripod. Being made of carbon fiber makes it sturdy, lightweight and budget friendly. This tripod only weighs about 2.52 pounds, but it has a maximum weight capacity of 17.6 pounds. It is more than capable of supporting most of the DSLR and video cameras out there. The BONOFOTO B671C has a compact folded height of 15.4 inches but it can be extended to almost 55.12 inches, or 4’5 feet. The feet of this tripod end in high-friction rubber foot mats which keep them from sliding on most surfaces. One of the legs is removable, so you can easily convert this tripod into a monopod if you want to. This tripod has a ball head and three lock knobs. You can get a 360-degree panoramic panning effect that is great for when you want to capture landscapes or are taking video of a large group of people. Sale BONFOTO B690A Lightweight Aluminum Alloy Camera Travel Portable Tripod with 360 Degree Ball Head,1/4" Quick Release Plate and Carry Bag for Canon Nikon Sony DSLR Professional: 360 degree horizontal swivel and 90 degree vertical platform with 3-way head allows... Main Features: This tripod is designed with double telescoping center columns, compact when folded... Compact: Adjustable-height tripod is made of lightweight aluminum, weight just 2.6lbs (1.18kg) make... Easy to operate: The quick release mounting plate with standard 1/4" screw and secure clip makes it... Gift: Spend $3 can get 6 Wool Dryer Balls when you purchase 1 or more B690A tripods. We promise 1... $139.99 - $74.00 $65.99 Buy on Amazon 6. Manfrotto MKCOMPACTADV-BK Tripod with 3-Way Head This lightweight, compact tripod weighs only 3 pounds but can support around 6.6 pounds of weight. This makes its weight capacity more than enough to support most of the DSLRs that are currently out there. The Manfrotto Compact Advance Tripod is very stable and easy to use. The head and the resistance adjustment settings are good and allow for very fluid panning and tilting shots. The tripod has a low maximum height of only about 5’2 so, if you’re very much taller than that you might want to look into another option. Sale Manfrotto MKCOMPACTADV-BK Compact Advanced Tripod with 3-Way Head (Black) Quick release Foldable 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head Supports up to 6.6lbs $112.00 - $43.89 $68.11 Buy on Amazon What You Need To Know About Tripods A tripod’s main job is to hold up your camera and keep it steady. This enables you to take steady shots for long periods of time without tiring yourself out. Even if your camera has image stabilization technology, a tripod is still a good piece of equipment to have. Most tripods are easy to transport and set up and, best of all, they are very budget friendly. The most common materials for tripods are aluminum and carbon fiber. These two materials are equal in terms of stability and strength, but different when it comes to weight and cost. Carbon fiber tripods are more lightweight than aluminum tripods, but are also a little bit more expensive. What To Look For In a Great Tripod In order to ensure that you are getting a good tripod for video shooting, you need to look for a few important features. First, look at the tripod head. The head is where you mount the camera. Most tripod heads are movable, so you can both pan and tilt your camera without taking it off the tripod. For the purpose of shooting video, you should look for a tripod that has a fluid head. These are specially designed to offer you greater and smoother control when panning or tilting the camera. A fluid head has three locks, one to lock the camera into position, and the other two to control the tilting and panning movements of the camera. Fluid head cameras also have tension control, which you can adjust to control the resistance to tilting and panning. This allows you to better control the motion of the camera for smoother footage. Note: Not all of the tripods featured in this article have a fluid head. If you go for the more budget tripod options, then you do compromise on some of the solid features like fluid heads. If you can’t find a budget tripod with a fluid head camera, which can be rather expensive, you should look for a 3-way tilt or a pan head camera. You can also buy a fluid motion head separately at a later date when you have a bigger budget. Tripod Considerations – It All Starts With The Base Secondly, you need to look at the tripod’s legs or base. You need to consider the strength of the legs and the overall weight capacity of the tripod you are thinking of getting. It should be able to carry your camera’s weight comfortably. The last thing you want is your tripod to suddenly collapse just as you are lining up the perfect shot. In line with this, you also need to consider your tripod’s feet. They need to be able to grip the ground and not slip during a crucial moment. It’s best to get a tripod with rubber feet mounted on metal hardware. Another thing to consider, if you shoot outdoors a lot, is to get a tripod with rubber metal spikes as feet. This allows you to better position your tripod on dirt or grass. Make sure, though, that there are accompanying rubber covers that you can quickly put over the spikes for when you need to shoot indoors again or on a solid surface such as wood or cement. Lastly, make sure to check what the tripod’s maximum height is. Tripod legs are telescopic, which allows you to extend or shorten the length of the legs to suit your own height. You want to be able to extend the tripod so the mounting plate can be at chin-height. Otherwise, you’re going to spend most of the shooting time uncomfortably bent over. All of these are important and worthwhile considerations when you’re looking at the best tripod under 100 dollars. Best Tripod Under 100 – In Conclusion When you purchase a tripod, you don’t need to break the bank. And I hope this article has proved that. There are plenty of great tripods out there for a reasonable budget. It’s important to go with quality manufacturers like the ones we’ve mentioned here. For instance, a company like Manfrotto has been producing filmmaking gear for decades and they have a long track record of great quality. Also worth considering are things like use case (what you’re going to be using the tripod for), as well as things like weight and durability. Weight comes into play when we consider that most filmmakers will be travelling a lot and will need their tripod to be easy to carry (and stow away), especially when we consider things like flying. Durability is also of paramount importance, as you want robust gear that will stand the test of time. Even for this price point, you can find incredible, durable pieces of kit. I hope this guide to the best tripod under 100 dollars has been useful to you. Did we leave out your favorite tripod? Let us know in the comments just below here. The post Best Tripod Under 100: 6 of Our Favourite Budget Tripods appeared first on Filmmaking Lifestyle.
