Tripod and CF card questions

[jaybird]

My tripod went "missing" during our last move and I really need to replace it. I'm looking for something light-weight and durable. Something that I could strap to the side or rear of a backpack and not worry about. I'm hoping that some people here have some good suggestions.

Also, as for CF cards, Lexar has a nice 300X 16GB card for about $275 but I am still leaning towards the Sandisk Extreme III or IV. Using the 5D, I don't think it will make a noticible difference for me with either. Perhaps with 10FPS 1DMIII but even the 1DsMIII wouldn't make much difference. Anyone with experience with the two.

[RPCrowe]

What is your intended price range for the tripod? Additionally, would you consider a tripod which requires a bit of bending over to use? You can often get light and fairly reasonable tripods which are shorter.

Additionally, what is the maximum intended load for your tripod.

I have and use two tripods. Giottos Carbon Fiber MT-8180 with a MH-1300 ball head and a SLIK 330 Pro. I have modified the SLIK using their short center column option and I have removed the SLIK supplied head which I disliked.

The leg-set with the shorter center column weighs exactly two pounds. It is a relatively short tripod - only about 48 inches set up. However, it is sturdy for its weight. I use the MH-1300 ball head from my Giottos which gives me about an additional 6 inches in height and weighs 1.7 pounds. The entire setup weighs just 3.7 pounds. I could get a smaller and lighter ball head weighing under a pound which would make the entire rig weigh less than 3 pounds. However, I am not going to spend $150-$200 to save eight or none ounces.

The SLIK converted will easily handle a 40D with my 70-200mm f/4L IS lens which is about the heaviest package I will use on it.

However, using an Arca compatible quick release and a RRS L-bracket - the package is really quite stable since I don't have to cantilever the camera off balance to achieve portrait position. Of course, this is only critical when using a non-tripod ring equipped lens.

I personally would not use a 16 GIG CF card. It's the carrying all your eggs in one basket concept.

I shoot a 40D and always shoot RAW. I often shoot in exposure bracketing mode. Still; I have never felt exceptionally constrained using 4 GIG cards. I even have several 2 GIG cards which I do very well with.

[milorad]

8gig cards are much better value. Is there a reason you don't want to swap CF cards?

Storage is a funny beast, its not like buying glass or legs... the money you save today can buy you 4 times as much tomorrow, so there's no real reason to buy more than you need early on.

[jaybird]

I'm thinking of about $200-$300 for the tripod. Heaviest I would shoot on it would be a 5D an 70-200 2.8, so about 5kg for the ballhead would be fine. I've never had a ballhead tripod, so I don't have much of an idea of what I should shoot for. I figure that if I get a good one now, I won't have to replace it for a long, long time.

I feel the same way about 16GB cards, but I hate travelling with a tonne of gear. I already have to lug about more than I want. 8GBs should be fine, but is there that much difference between the Extreme III and Extreme IV? Sure one is faster, but will you really notice it. A 2.4Ghz is technically faster than a 2.1Ghz processor, but realistically, most people using a computer will not notice the difference.

[Sasquatch41]

I just ordered 4 cfx133 Kingston cards at 4gb each from B&H, very reasonable prices. I had a card go bad on me, lost about 140 photos from a Hawaiian vacation. I would rather lose 4 gb worth than 8 or 16 gb worth. Those small cards take hardly any space in my lens bag, so no problems for me. Tripods, I have three bogens, 3031 xpro, and 2 055xpro b. They are VERY good pods and serve me well. I keep one in the trunk and one set up out on the deck. I use 20D with 70-200, and Sigma 150-500 with remote release from POTN with 100 feet of cable for birds on the feeders. Wonderful setups.