Will cheapoer equipement damage your DSLR?

[Foster Kane]

If you get a cheap crappy tripod, it is going to effect whatever pictures or footage you take, But it will damage the camera itself physically? Is it just better to pay for high quality equipment to make that your DSLR does not get damaged? I am talking about tripods and monopods.

 

[Samuel H]

well, if it falls down or flies away with the wind, it definitely will - it should happen less often with more expensive options, but it can also happen (Philip Bloom had a GH2 that flew away into the sea, I think it was on a Manfrotto tripod, at the Sydney Bay)

 

[brunerww]

I have had a good quality, relatively expensive tripod tip over too - but it was my fault, not the tripod's.

The only way a tripod can damage a camera is to be too flimsy to support its weight or too light for the environmental conditions. Other than that, for our relatively lightweight DSL-type cameras, a tripod is a tripod.

If we're talking durability, ease-of-use, good workmanship, quality fluid heads for smooth panning - that's something else. You'll need to spend money to get these features. But an inexpensive tripod will not "damage the camera physically".

Bill

 

[sonofaresiii]

Never leave a camera on a tripod unattended. Someone should ALWAYS have a hand on that camera. If you're standing around, discussing the next shot... get into the habit of leaving a hand on the camera while you talk.