Hello friends,
I have a Canon Optura 30 and I would like to record my table tennis game basically to review my stroke action. Can someone suggest a tripod for my camcorder? It is something specific that I should buy or can i buy anyone?

I can't recommend any particular model but I can tell you what to look for.

You want a video tripod or, more specifically, a tripod with a video head. Often heads and legs are purchased separately. For the legs, get a set that is sturdy enough for what you want yet light enough to carry around outdoors if you plan to do that. Newer models are being made of carbon fiber which are light weight but more expensive than other, steel tripods. What you want is something that won't twist when you pan your cam. Whether the legs have spreaders or not is a personal preference. Also look for how wide the legs spread to position the cam close to the floor/ground if you need to frame low shots.

For heads, you want one that pans and tilts smoothly. If you can, try them out to see if they are smooth operating. With a cam as small as yours you don't want a head that has a lot of resistance; a light weight cam is pretty easy to move. Yet you don't want a head that keeps moving after you stop panning. Some heads have adjustable resistance but those are usually more expensive.

A video head will only move in two directions, left-to-right (panning) and up-and-down (tilting). If it moves in a third direction, it is not a video cam head; it's a still camera head. You don't need to flip a camcorder over to the portrait mode.

Still cam heads are made to lock a cam down to prevent movement. Video cam heads lock down but they are also made to move smoothly. That's the major difference between a video cam head and a still cam head.

Expect to spend a couple hundred dollars for a decent tripod and head. Bogen/Manfrotto is a very popular brand among hobbyists.

Good luck.

Dennis

will any tripod and head be suitable for my canon optura 30?

"Any" is difficult to say. Certainly "any" light weight video head and legs will work. You don't need a $3000 set of Vinton legs or a $10,000 Sachtler video head. Nor do you want a $35 tripod and head combo from a big box discount store. I suggest you look at some of the lower priced Bogen head/tripod systems. B&H offers. They also have some other brands listed on their site so look around.

Good luck.

Dennis

ok, now i also have an answer to my question.
thanx for the advice.

grtz rikki