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Get the best tripod you can afford. My first tripod was an inexpensive Vivitar which was more trouble than it's worth. Just when I have composition right and let go off the handle, the head tilts. This happens no matter how hard I tighten the knobs and handle. But what can you expect from a pan and tilt head that's made of plastic?

That's when I started reading up on what's available in tripods. The usual material for tripods is aluminum alloy. The lightest (and most expensive) are made from carbon fiber. However, heavy isn't bad. Lighter tripods tend to sway even in little wind. Thus, a tripod in the 2.5 to 3 kg range is not too heavy at all.

The lighter tripods also need braces on the legs to keep them from bending against the weight of the camera. Sturdier tripods don't need braces. Unbraced legs are also more versatile as the legs may be spread apart allowing the camera to be positioned closer to the ground.

A pan and tilt head seems ideal for most shooting situations. It's easier to adjust since vertical and horizontal tilt may be adjusted independently of each other. With a ball head, you have to adjust vertical and horizontal tilt at the same time.

I got the Slik ABLE 300DX. At US$89.95 (B&H price, I bought mine for less in Hongkong), it was well worth the money. It is sturdy and very well designed with all the features mentioned above, and more.

First of all the Slik is all metal. It is sturdily built as you can see from the photo at the right. The legs have no braces and may be spread apart by pulling the angle adjustment locks (see arrow).

Even the Quick Release Platform is metal. The Quick Release Platform has a Wing Nut underneath that turns to tighten the mounting screw (see photo at left). Thus, you don't need to scrounge inside your pockets looking for a coin everytime you mount or dismount your camera from the platform. The platform may also be attached sideways on the Pan Head's catch.

The Slik has two handles, one for Pan & Tilt and the other for Vertical Tilt. This is a quicker and more convenient set up. You may think that with two protruding handles the Slik is bulkier to store, but the Vertical Tilt handle may be removed and screwed at the rear of the other handle.

For close up or copy work, the center column may be removed and inserted backwards from the bottom.

The Slik ABLE 300DX is not provided with a bubble level, which I think is a major omission. Even my inexpensive Vivitar has a bubble level. However, you can buy one of those bubble levels that attaches to the camera's flash hotshoe, which should be just as convenient to use.

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