Baltimore Grassroots Media

The tripod you use can be even more important for getting quality video than the camera you use. The Bogen/Manfrotto 3001N (chrome) or 3001BN (black) tripod legs with a 3126 Micro Fluid Head is probably the least expensive tripod that can track motion smoothly to get good quality video without the jerkiness associated with nearly all cheaper tripods. The true "fluid head" means there is an oily substance inside and is the most important feature. This tripod sells for about $160, weighs 6.1 lbs., has a folded length of 25.2" and has a height range of 11" to 61.4". It also screws directly into the bottom of your video camera so it doesn't need a release plate. This is good because with a release plate, even though the camera slides on, it usually needs to be secured by tightening a screw anyway, so it can take almost as long to mount or remove your camera as it does to just screw or unscrew it, and if you lose the release plate, the tripod is useless until you buy another release plate. If your video camera loads tapes from the bottom, it is an even greater advantage to not have a release plate, because you would have to remove the release plate just to change tapes. If you know of a better low budget tripod, let us know.