[Closed] Recommend me a decent tripod...

Cheap, light. strong - choose 2 🙂

I would take a look at the Manfrotto range and see if anything fits your needs.

So the manfrotos are a good range then?
Will peruse their collection...

DrP

+1 for Manfrotto. Quality is second to none, but you pay for it. I have an alloy studio model, weighs a ton but will outlast me.

For lightweight occasional use, Velbon do some very reasonable alloy-legged ones that aren't massively heavier than carbon.

I can recommend you a bad tripod. A very bad tripod indeed.

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I've got a Velbon Luxi F (I think), but searching for it didn't turn much up so I am not sure it's made anymore. I think this is the equivalent:

http://www.velbon.co.uk/newvelbon/pages/ultraluxil.html

It is compact, but extends massively. The legs can be splayed almost horizontal & the centre column removed so it will sit almost flat on the ground and it's fairly easy to set-up & adjust.
It is lightweight and because of this it isn't the most stable tripods to use in high winds. It doesn't fall over or anything, but you can get some camera shake in high winds.
One thing it doesn't have that would be useful is a hook for hanging your kit bag on to add some weight and stabilise it, but this is only a small point.

It is not as good quality as the offerings from Manfrotto and others, but they are way more expensive. Overall, the Velbon is a pretty good buy.

Have a look at the Manfrotto Modo. It's a bit too lightweight for my camera with a heavy lens (Nikon D60) but it's about right with the kit lens, and perfect for my housemate's Lumix LX3. Should be ok with the GF1 I'd have thought. Reasonably light, strong and cheap, and flexible too.

[url= http://www.redsnapperuk.com/camera-accessories/RS-283_tripod_and_RSH-24_3-way_head_.html#a91 ]You wont beat this for VFM[/url]

wysiwyg speaks sense - loads of happy punters on Talk Photography with them. I've got one and it seems really good quality for the money.

I upgraded to the ball head but the other one is perfectly fine for starters. There is a 4 section one which packs down a little smaller if you think you might be hiking with it etc

Yep, that redsnapper stuff is good for the money.

I've had a Benbo for 20 odd years, good for supporting cameras in odd positions.

I have had a Manfrotto 055 for years and its still going strong, not that light, but its solid which is more important to me
Also every part can be bought as a spare so you can just replace any bits that get worn out or broken

For a lighter travel option I have a Velbon Ultra Luxi F (as mentioned by Stumpy above) been discontinued now, but its really good and worth buying if you see one on Ebay or the like. Folds down small and can be carried in a backpack, legs are solid enough being a slightly larger diameter than many travel tripods

Its Successor is the Ultra Maxi L, supposed to be very good too, but can't say as I have never used one. There are two similar models, make sure you get the 25mm dia legs not the 22mm, supposed to make a bit of difference to rigidity

Second Stumpy with the Velbon - the best sub £100 tripod you can buy and once you have used the twist lock legs you will never want to go back to the 3 individual (so 12 in total) clip legs normally found on tripods.

I have screwed a brass hook onto the bottom of of mine to hang your camera bag onto to stabilize it even more.

One downside with the Velbon tripods is the crappy 3 way head they come with. Best to ditch that and get a decent ball-head type with a quick release.
I use a Cullmann Magnesit, but Giottos also make a very similar one which has the friction adjustment (very handy feature)
Also the Velbon have a 1/4" screw on the mounting plate, most good heads accept a 3/8" so make sure you get the reducer too. Some heads come with it, but if not only a couple of quid extra

Well, after 3 months of deliberating, I went for the Velbon luxi L!

Ta peeps!

DrP