Argos tripod gamble!

[Dave]

Basically, I've wanted a tripod for a while now, and haven't got round to buying one. Anyway, I had a brief look in the Argos catalogue and I saw one for £14.99! I was a bit wary, but thought, what the hell, it's only 15 quid, so I bought it.

To be fair, it is pretty cheaply made, and a bit plasticy, but it does the job, and that's all you can ask really. Goes to a height of about 1.5m, and it can tilt and pan, but it doesn't use the best mechanism in the world. But if you get the tightening screws on the tilt and pan to good point, you can tilt and pan relatively smoothly.
There are none of those spirit level bubbles incoporated in the tripod, but then what are they all about? If you are setting up a shot by looking at the position of a spirit level rather than looking at how the camera is framing your shot.... then you're going about it all the wrong way in my opinion.

Anyway, if you don't have a tripod, and want one to make your still and steady shots rock steady, then you may as well buy this cheapo tripod. The Argos catalogue only has 3 tripods in it, and it's the cheapest one if you take a look. I think it's called the Hama Star 42.

[Dazza]

I think this is the one I have from Argos as well Dave from memory I'm sure mine was £15 and like you say it does the job nicely. The other thing I liked about the Tripod is the weight, its quite lightweight if its the same as mine and ideal when you are travelling around on a film shoot. Yeah I can't complain with mine and have made a few movies with it now :-)

I made "Bringing war home" on the tripod.

[fattaxi]

Ah im curious, I've wanted one for a while too.

[deadmansrockports]

I have the very same one and found that it is a very good un

[Dave]

deadmanrockports said:

I have the very same one and found that it is a very good un

Yeah... you've got to love those quick release legs! No time consuming screws to arse about with.

[Dazza]

Go on fat taxi treat yourself to one. :-)

[Dave]

I used my new tripod yesterday. Wandering about in the streets like a lunatic, or overt peeping tom.

I was trying it out as well as getting some shots for my possible forthcoming sequel to my Weston-Super-Mare tourist info film. This time it should be about the secret history of Bath Abbey.
This cheapo tripod has spurred me on to doing it again!

[Dazza]

Lol I will look forward to seeing this new short piece Dave as I loved the Weston Supermare one and again Bath is somewhere I have been which will make it even funnier i'm sure. :-)

[PatrickCoyle]

I also have a £15-from-Argos tripod. I've found it to do the job fine for my camcorder, though haven't used it in a while (jerky handheld stuff represent!). My lack of firewire card on the laptop is really annoying me.

[RydCook]

admin said:

I used my new tripod yesterday. Wandering about in the streets like a lunatic, or overt peeping tom.

I was trying it out as well as getting some shots for my possible forthcoming sequel to my Weston-Super-Mare tourist info film. This time it should be about the secret history of Bath Abbey.
This cheapo tripod has spurred me on to doing it again!

ha ha you reffering to the film Peeping Tom dave? where he stabs people with his spike on his tripod? ha ha, good film.. bit disturbing.

look forward to your sequel mate! the last one was great, and now you have a tripod!