Tripod advice

[steve nunn]

I am fairly new to photography and I am completely confused by tripods and tripod heads. I do mainly outdoor nature photography and use a 100-400L. I was thinking about hiring a 500 f4 but obviously need good support. I would appreciate advice on my options.

Thanks

[Eric DeCastro]

i have a bogen 3011bn legs and bogen 486 ball head. I got it from b&h for 176 shipped. it is great supports about 13 lbs.

[DaveG]

I am fairly new to photography and I am completely confused by tripods and tripod heads. I do mainly outdoor nature photography and use a 100-400L. I was thinking about hiring a 500 f4 but obviously need good support. I would appreciate advice on my options.

Thanks

A larger Manfrotto or a Gitzo should be just fine. Normally I'd suggest some type of a ball head but the lenses that you have or are interested in, have a tripod collar. A ball head doesn't work very well when you use a tripod collar (and you should - FOR SURE - use that collar) as it introduces more joints. It's kind of like you have a couple of extra knees in your leg and all it does is destabilize things.

I use a 70-200 and used to use a 300 f2.8 on a monopod which has no head at all. I can change the level of the camera by tilting it forward and backwards, and of course the tripod collar keeps the lens and camera at their centre of gravity. With a tripod you won't be able to do this tilting (one hopes) so you will need something and I'd suggest a robust, conventional tilt/pan head made by someone like Gitzo.

[scottbergerphoto]

I use a Gitzo G1228 Reporter Mountaineer Carbon Fibre tripod. It's very sturdy and light. I alternate between an Ultimate Ball head from www.acratech.net for most lenses and a Wimberley for my 500mm http://www.tripodhead.com/products/wimberley-main.cfm .
Scott

[ssim]

I have the 500 f4 and use it on a Gitzo 1325 tripod with a Kirk ball head and the Wimberley side kick. It is a rock solid setup.

PM me if you want to see the setup. I have some shots of it.

[robertwgross]

The other tripod factor that seems to get very little attention is the speed or ease with which it can be erected. If you were hiking a short distance, shoot some nature scene, and then hike back out, it doesn't matter too much if it takes a while to erect it. On the other hand, if you were hiking, shooting, hiking more, shooting more, etc., then the ease for putting it up and folding it down is a factor. QR becomes important.

We could call this Erectile Dysfunction.

Somebody calls his tripod Gitzo. I call mine Viagra.

---Bob Gross---

[RichardtheSane]

We could call this Erectile Dysfunction.

Somebody calls his tripod Gitzo. I call mine Viagra.

---Bob Gross---

:lol: :lol:
Thanks bob, needed that :)