Best Tripod for Landscape Photography?
Manfrotto tripods are great for most people because they are not only cheap, but good quality too. You are not going to get the best tripod out there if you go with a Manfrotto, but you will get a reliable tripod that won’t break down in the field. If you opt for a $25 cheapie tripod made from plastic, you can expect to pay a price when you actually use the tripod. Such tripods are not very stable, a pain in the rear to use, and may suddenly break when you need it the most (I know, it happened to me!).
Finding the right tripod is especially important if you are into landscape photography. There are a lot of different tripods out there to choose from, but some work better for landscape photography than others. Now, the main thing to consider is WEIGHT. The heavier your tripod, the harder it is to haul it around in the field with you. Get a tripod that’s too heavy, and you are not going to want to lug it around when you go hiking. So the compromise here is to find a tripod you can afford, but one that’s not too heavy. If you want the best tripod for landscape photography, I would say go with a Gitzo 1541T. It’s ultra light (less than 2.5lbs with a ballhead on), it’s ultra short (less than 16 inches folded), and it’s stable as a rock with up to 8kg’s. There are also a whole wack of features that make using the tripod easier. However, you can expect to pay over $500 for such a tripod.
For a cheaper option, you might look at some Manfrotto tripods (Gitzo and Manfrotto are in fact owned by the same company). They are cheaper, heavier (made from aluminum and not carbon fiber), but the quality is there. For a well-priced Manfrotto that’s not too heavy to use in the field, you might try the Manfrotto 190XB 3 Section Aluminum Tripod. The price is right and the weight won’t overload you. Keep in mind though, you are not going to be able to get an ultra light tripod if you go with a Manfrotto. Typically, aluminum tripod are going to be twice as heavy as Carbon fiber, so expect your tripod + ballhead to be around 6 or so lbs.