There is a reason why tripods are one of the most discussed topics on internet forums.  The obvious reason is the fact that they are absolutely essential to any serious photographer and without one you will never see what your pricey lens is really capable of producing.  A tripod will enable you to work in low light, stop down to increase depth of field, use telephoto and macro lenses, and even take self portraits.  Not only will your images be sharper but your composition will improve and creativity heightened.  So if you don't have one, get one.

Selecting a tripod is another whole can of worms and reason for the intense discussion on internet forums and sites.  It really depends what you are doing and why.  Once you know that, your problem is half solved.  As a travel and location photographer I needed something that I would actually take with me.  So I needed a tripod that was under 4 pounds (1.8 kg), could hold a maximum of 10 pounds, and collapses within 22" inches (56cm).  Now it's a question of deciding how much you want to cough up.   Tripods in this category come in various materials, build qualities, and can cost anywhere from $50 - $1200.  As a rule of thumb, try to spend at least $100 for something decent.

So what is the difference between the $100 model and the higher priced versions?  In the following, I will put my $100 Manfrotto up with my $800 Gitzo and hash out the real advantages vs. (in this case) price.  The Gitzo costs 8 times more, so is it 8 times better?

The Vital Stats	The Manfrotto 719B  (now replaced by the 724B)	The Gitzo Mountaineer G1158 with Acratech Ultimate Ballhead
Photo(click to enlarge)
Weight (including head)	1.65 kg, 3.63 lbs	1.46 kg, 3.21 lbs
Maximum Height	64", 162.6 cm	57", 145 cm
Base Height	51", 129.5 cm	48.25", 122.5 cm
Widest Circumference	32.5 cm	30 cm
Setup time (without camera)	16 seconds	11.8 seconds
Take down time	14.5 seconds	9.6 seconds
Minimum Height	19.25", 48.9 cm	17", 43.18 cm
Collapsed length	20", 49.5 cm	21.5", 55 cm
Leg Locks	Flip Lever	Twist
Column type	Rapid	Rapid
Max Load (complete setup)	8.8 lbs ,4 kg	9.9 lb, 4.5 kg
Price	100 U.S. Dollars	800 U.S. Dollars
Chances it will last a lifetime	Maybe	Very High / Guaranteed

Discussion

Every photographer has their own preferences as to what they are looking for when buying a tripod.  Personally, I weight toward a tripod that is light, collapses small, and is quick and easily set up and take down.  It must also be able to survive the rigors of field use meaning getting dragged through mud, sitting in the ocean, and getting thrown in the trunk of my car.  My kit is is generally on the light side so maximum load for the legs and ballhead are less of an issue.  My largest order for my tripods is my DSLR with a big 80-200mm f/2.8 Nikkor on top. 

Here I have tested and compared two similar looking yet very different tripods.  If you disregard the price and compare the vital stats above it seems as though either tripod could be favored depending on the users need.  Both are built and designed by top end names in the camera support industry and they both weigh under 4 pounds.  The Manfrotto has the height advantage and collapses 1.5" smaller (that's taking the ballhead into account) while the Gitzo is easier to set up and take down.  According to the manufactures specifications, both tripods are strong enough to hold my gear.  So according to the stats, the Gitzo's main advantage is the setup and take down times for the cost of 8 times more.  Lets take a closer look.... this can't be right.

Again, it depends on what you value as a photographer when choosing your tripod.  Personally, I really value being able to set up and take down my tripod in about 10 seconds.  I've found that the twist release legs on the Gitzo are a huge improvement to the previous Gitzo models I've tried.  They are much smoother and require less force to operate than the clumsy flip lever design on the Manfrotto.  A normal size hand can grab all three twists per leg and with a quarter turn loosen the entire lot.  With a quick quarter turn clockwise and each segment is locked.  When doing my timed setup and take down trials I found using the Manfrotto plastic flip levers to be painful on my fingers and they would occasionally get pinched in the levers themselves.  I definitely prefer the smooth action of the twist locks on the Gitzo.  Another advantage to the twist locks are that they don't get caught on things.  Have you ever dragged your Manfrotto tripod thought a field and found that your flip levers were pulling out weeds along the way?  So, I've been converted and am definitly a fan of the the Gitzo's twist locks.  With that said, both tripods didn't budge when 20lbs was applied to each leg.  Not bad.

The Gitzo G1158 is made from Gitzo's new 6x Carbon Fiber while the Manfrotto is made from anodized aluminum.  The carbon fiber is lighter, stiffer, and absorbs vibration better than the aluminum version and the Gitzo/Acratech combo take full advantage of this weighing 0.19 kg (0.42 lb) less than the Manfrotto 719B.  Due to the fact that the Gitzo is made from carbon, the far superior Acratech Ultimate Ballhead could be attached and still keep the total tripod weight below 3.5 lbs.  Aluminum tripods tend to get little bits of dirt trapped in the leg segments causing resistance when opening and closing.  The Gitzo's carbon fiber is put together with such high tolerances the dirt doesn't seem to be a problem at all.  You can actually hear the air release when collapsing the Gitzo's legs. 

The Acratech Ultimate Ballhead

This is a great ballhead for under $300.  You can read all about it here.  It locks using a band that wraps around the entire ball making positioning smooth and ensuring a secure fix when tightened.  It works great and holds my heaviest setup at any angle without a flinch.  It's fantastic.  For my equipment it is definitely overkill but at a weight of only one pound it makes a great companion for the Gitzo G1158 legs.  It has an open ball design which makes it easily cleaned which is quite important when shooting by the sea or muddy conditions. I like the fact that it will easily go to 90 degrees to one side.  The problem is that the other side will only do about 20 degrees.  It requires the user to spin around the base to the other side which also turns the locking knob making reframing somewhat awkward (althought due to the shutter realease location on my camera this isn't much of an issue)..  My only other issue is that I didn't get the quick release plate that snaps into place.  I found that if the quick release knob becomes loose, it's possible that the camera can unexpectantly slide off the platform (especially if shooting in portrait).  Aside from that, it's rock solid, light and made flawlessly by expert machinists in the U.S.A.

You can do all the in-house tests you want but the truth will be told in the field.  This is where you really see where that 8 times the cost of the cheap tripod comes into play.  Using the Gitzo and the Acratech combo you can focus more on photography rather than fiddling around to make something work.  The Gitzo's legs splay so the entire tripod can get ultra low with excellent stability.  The legs are also especially easy to realign on uneven terrain.  A light twist to the leg will still leave enough tension where repositioning can be done safely.  The Manfrotto's flip snaps either are fully gripped or not at all therefore possibly causing jerky movement or a spillage if your not careful. 

Related Articles and Links

Upgrade you Manfrotto 719B D.I.Y. - from www.stockholmviews.com

http://www.bythom.com/support.htm

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/arcatech.shtml

http://www.nordicgroup.us/tripod/

http://www.manfrotto.com/jsp/index.jsp

http://www.gitzo.com/

www.acratech.net