planning on buying a tripod, should I care about the hook for

>>2977705
what camera are you using?
and do you really want to lug around a dumbell everywhere?
but hey, at least you're getting a workout right?

>>2977705
Mine doesn't have one but it won't stop me to gather a few rocks in a bag and hook it up on it.
If it doesn't have a hook or other means to attach one just drill through the column and DIY one you can put on anytime.

>>2977714
nikon 5100
no i don't, i can just have an empty bag with me and fill it with rocks, I'm just wondering how useful it actually is

>>2977722
it just won't tip over by a little wind.

>>2977705
> should I care about the hook for adding weight?
For lightweight travel tripods used in nature, it's almost necessary for stability in wind or just on various surfaces (where you often also want spiked feet). [At least it's far more elegant than securing a hook-less tripod with tent nails tied to its legs or ad-hoc weighing it down or such.]

With heavier alu or even wooden/steel tripods and easier surface for the tripod to stand on, it can be unnecessary.
I definitely don't need a hook on the heavy tripod I use at home in my "studio" only.

>>2977714
yeah normally you would have an empty sand bag to tote with you and put rocks in it like>>2977722

I just use my hiking bag as weight if the tripod you want doesnt have a hook you can always drill into the bottom of the center column and use your own clip. just make sure the tripod can indeed hold the extra weight.

as for its usefulness I totally recommend it for long exposures and panoramas. its damn near necessary on most tripods when you shoot the night sky

>>2977705
It depends what you're doing. I've absolutely used the weight hook, but only on extremely windy days on outdoor landscape shoots.

It can be very important in that respect. If you're just doing studio and fair-weather stuff then you can forget it.

I used to use it to hang the tripod bag on.

Then i bought a heavy ass slik 700DX pro tripod - no added weight required. Damn thing weighs a moon. Carrying it all day slightly prolapses ones left kidney.

>>2977705
I use it when it's windy out in the archipelago.

Otherwise the wind shake will shit your longer exposures, or even toss your entire tripod + camera over in the worst case, if you have the legs set at the max upright angle.

>>2977939
i'll be definitely buying twice, I don't have enough money right now to buy such expensive tripod, maybe in a few years

hook it is, thanks guys

>>2977817
it also reduces camera shake

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i thought most tripods come with a hook

buy a sand bag and just anchor it on the one leg

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these fit in a camera bag and you can fill it up with rocks or whatever you can find that's heavy

https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Photographic-Studio-SandBag-Universal/dp/B00ZI30CGQ