# $500-$600 tripod recommendation **URL:** \ **Category:** Discussions\ **Created:** [September 17, 2024, 4:34pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/500-600-tripod-recommendation/43229 "2024-09-17T16:34:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tony\_Siciliano](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/tony_siciliano/32/36124_2.png) [@Tony\_Siciliano](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Tony_Siciliano)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 4:34pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/500-600-tripod-recommendation/43229/1 "2024-09-17T16:34:11Z")
I use a high end Gitzo tripod and RRS ballhead and haven’t followed tripod recommendations in years. I have a friend who wants to buy a tripod. He was planning on a really cheap one, but I have convinced him to spend at least $500. Can anybody recommend a tripod in that price range? Also, I remember years ago a great article which described the process of buying a cheap tripod and then upgrading three times or so, thus increasing the final good tripod cost a lot. Does anybody have a link to that article? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_Breitkreuz](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/paul_breitkreuz/32/400_2.png) [@Paul\_Breitkreuz](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Paul_Breitkreuz)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/500-600-tripod-recommendation/43229/2 "2024-09-17T17:17:28Z")
I have a Carbon Fiber Feisol 3301 I bought at least 20 years ago or more. Over time I bought both the long & short center columns. I also bought 2 Induro BHL3S Ballheads too. It is plenty sturdy as I use a heavy ProSD Mamiya RB67 medium format and a Wista DXIII 4x5 large format camera with no issues at all. The tripod use to sell by itself for around $350-$400. [Feisol 3301](https://www.feisol.net/tripods/feisol-classic-tripod-ct-3301-rapid.html) ---
**Author:** ![Trevor\_Vellinga](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/trevor_vellinga/32/44407_2.png) [@Trevor\_Vellinga](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Trevor_Vellinga)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 5:23pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/500-600-tripod-recommendation/43229/3 "2024-09-17T17:23:00Z")
The best $500 tripod you can get is the FLM CP30-L4 II. This tripod has roughly the same specs as the RRS tvc-24L but is lighter and cheaper. > **[FLM CP30-L4 II 10X Carbon Fiber Series II Tripod - USA authorized distributor...](https://flmusa.com/product/flm-cp30-l4-ii-carbon-fiber-tripod/)** > > The FLM CP30-L4 II 10X Carbon Fiber Series II Tripod is a 4-section support with a twist leg system. ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Payne](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/matt_payne/32/76789_2.png) [@Matt\_Payne](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Matt_Payne)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/500-600-tripod-recommendation/43229/5 "2024-09-17T17:32:46Z")
I agree. I have been using this tripod for a few years and I love it. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Siciliano](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/tony_siciliano/32/36124_2.png) [@Tony\_Siciliano](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Tony_Siciliano)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 5:48pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/500-600-tripod-recommendation/43229/6 "2024-09-17T17:48:58Z")
Thanks for the responses one and all. I really appreciate it. I should have also asked for a reasonably priced ballhead. The cheapest RRS version, the BH-40, is $378 andI am sure he will not want to spend that much. ---
**Author:** ![guy](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@guy](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/guy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 11:58pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/500-600-tripod-recommendation/43229/7 "2024-09-17T23:58:22Z")
Leofoto makes tripods and heads with a solid reputation. I have heard several origin stories ranging from knockoffs to the overseas makers of brand named equipment with overstock… What ever the real story the quality/price ratio is very good. Made in china, they have a US dealer with a store on ebay: [https://www.ebay.com/str/Leofotousa](https://www.ebay.com/str/Leofotousa). For someone looking to save some money they are worth a look. I use their G4 Geared Head, it is beautifully made and very precise (every bit as good as my RRS BH-55 and BH-40 heads). A really excellent head for the landscape specialist. HTH, Guy