Best Tripods Under $200
photo by 0804Creative via iStock
Whether you’re into real estate photography, vlogging, or photography as a hobby, you need a tripod.
Tripods don’t just provide stability for your camera.
Instead, they enable you to take creative shots, like long exposures.
Having a tripod also helps you slow things down as you set them up - even just a few seconds to survey the scene as you get the tripod ready might help you notice better compositions.
Plus, the best tripods are light and easy to carry with you all day.
But, I’d much rather spend my hard earned money on new camera bodies and lenses, which is why I created this best tripods under $200 list.
E-Image EK610
The E-Image EK610 is probably the easiest to use of all best budget tripods thanks to its easy leg locking mechanism. The E-Image EK610 uses dual-stage aluminum legs to allow you to shoot at the exact height you want to, but the legs also deploy quickly and efficiently.
So, if you’re a wildlife photographer or a portrait photographer this may be one of the top tripods you should be looking at.
You can use this tripod with plenty of gear, too - the included head can accommodate up to 6.5 lbs of camera gear.
This is all thanks to the 65mm half-ball fluid head which provides stability to your equipment through the counterbalance system.
This is one of our best tripods under $200 for another reason: it is incredibly stable.
It’s stable even at its highest height because of the integrated mid-level spreader that works to keep your equipment balanced at all times.
My favorite quality about this tripod, though, is its rubber feet paired with metal spikes which ensures it stays put, even if your shooting on uneven or slippery terrain.
The E-Image EK610 is available at Ikan for $129.99.
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Manfrotto Befree
The Manfrotto Befree is one of the best budget tripods for travellers because it is incredibly compact.
This tripod is built from aluminum, so its light enough to fit in your carry on at just over 3 lbs. But, you aren’t trading weight for stability with the Befree because it’s built for your mirrorless or otherwise lighter camera setup. It can hold up to 8.8 lbs of gear.
It features a maximum height of 56.6 inches, a two-way locking mechanism on the ball head to keep your camera in place, and it can break down into less than 16 inches when you’re on the move. That’s a huge bonus for you travel photographers out there!
The Manfrotto Befree Travel Tripod is available on Adorama for $190.
MeFOTO Roadtrip Classic
You cannot create a list of the top tripods and not include something by MeFOTO, but out of all of MeFOTO’s tripods, the Roadtrip Classic is, indeed, a classic.
This tripod weighs in at just over 3.5 lbs and features a maximum height of 61.1 inches. However, none of this is the most impressive part of the Roadtrip Classic because it actually doubles as both a tripod and a monopod.
MeFOTO is quickly making a name for itself in the camera gear world because of innovative products like this one.
Much like the Manfrotto Befree, this tripod is made out of aluminum (with customizable colors). While it is in use it stands at over 60 inches, but can fold down to around 15 inches for travel.
You can also carry a whopping 17.6 pounds on the MeFOTO, which is more than most of the best tripods under $200. You usually need to be in the $300-$400 range to fit these specs.
The transition from tripod to monopod is also quite simple as you remove one of the legs and screw it into place on the base.
The MeFOTO Roadtrip Classic tripod/monopod is available on Amazon for $160.
With that, you have a quick list of three of the best tripods under $200. As you can see, you don’t have to sacrifice quality or features when you shop for a less expensive tripod!
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