6 top budget tripods tested and rated

jmeyer | Accessories | Reviews | 05/11/2012 16:30pm

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Why spend a fortune on keeping your pictures sharp? We’ve found 6 of the best budget tripod kits for around £100 and put them to the test.

Back row, left to right

Benro A350F N0

Price: £90
Buy: www.kenro.co.uk
The travel-friendly Benro weighs just 1.3kg, folds to the smallest length in the group (50cm) and comes with a bag. It’s the only tripod here to include a ball-and-socket head, and has a decent maximum load of 4kg. It’s well made, but maximum height is an under-average 143cm.
SCORE: 4/5

Giottos MTL9351B + MH5011

Price: £105
Buy: giottos-tripods.co.uk
Extending from 70cm to 180cm, the Giottos is sturdy with lots of clever design flourishes. It’s the only tripod here to feature a pivoting centre column, ideal for ultra-wide-angle and macro photography. The kit weighs in at 2.2kg and has a 4kg load rating. Overall build quality is superb.
SCORE: 5/5 

Hama Omega Premium III

Price: £80
Buy: www.hama.co.uk
At 3.8kg, the beefy Hama is the heaviest on test, and has a 7kg load rating. At 74cm, it’s also the longest tripod when folded, and stretches to a useful 171cm. A carrying bag is included and, uniquely in this group, the detachable centre column also works as a monopod.
SCORE: 4/5 

Front row, left to right

Jessops Major Carbon Fibre

Price: £88
Buy: www.jessops.com
Inexpensive for a carbon-fibre tripod, the 1.75kg Jessops is nevertheless heavier than the Benro aluminium kit. At least it extends from its 64cm carrying length to a maximum height of 153cm (10cm higher than the Benro). Despite the 5kg load rating, the lower legs are thin and wobbly.
SCORE: 2/5

Slik Able 300DX

Price: £70
Buy: www.sliktripod.co.uk
The Slik has a maximum height of 155cm, folds to 65cm, weighs 2.6kg and takes loads of up to 5kg. All the other tripods on test have clip-locks, but the Slik has unusual thumbscrews for each leg section. They’re a bit fiddly to use, but in other respects the Slik is sturdy and capable.
SCORE: 3/5

Velbon Sherpa 600R

Price: £80
Buy: www.velbon.co.uk
Easy to use, the Velbon’s three-way head has one locking arm for both pan and tilt. Build quality is good, and the tripod easily lives up to its 4kg load rating. Stowage length and weight are 63cm and 2.1kg, and a bag is included. Maximum operating height is a lofty 170cm.
SCORE: 4/5

Posted on Monday, November 5th, 2012 at 4:30 pm under Accessories, Reviews.