If the Easter Bunny hopped by your home and neglected to leave you the tripod you requested when you visited him at the mall, then I would suggest shopping on eBay. If you have the means, purchasing a new tripod is ideal, but if times are tight, then consider buying a used one. In most cases you can find decent deals and score a solid tripod in the process. The trick is knowing what to look for.
With standard tripods you have two head options. The first is a pan-tilt head, which allows you to adjust it three different ways, but only one way at a time. You have to lock the position, then move it another way if you need to make modifications. The other type is the ball head which allows you to adjust the head three different ways at the same time. Unlike the pan-tilt head, you do not need to stop to lock it in various positions before moving it again.
Another option is not a true tripod. It’s called a monopod, but it works similar to a tripod, but it only has one leg. Monopods are traditionally used by sports or action photographers who need to move to a variety of different spots in a short period of time. Obviously, you will get more stability from three legs than one, but a monopod is a great tool to have if you are working on a small budget, yet still want a tool to steady your shots.
Shopping on eBay for a tripod has its pros and cons. Whereas you can score some really sweet deals, the downside is that you can’t test out the tripod before purchasing. Ideally, you want to have your camera with you when you buy a tripod so you can make sure it is appropriate for the weight and size of your camera. Placing a heavy camera on a light tripod is just asking for trouble. Even if your camera is fairly light, if you add on a large telephoto lens you could risk tipping the entire thing and breaking the camera, the lens, and the tripod.
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