Giotto MT-9371 tripod?

[RikWriter]

Anyone have any experience with the Giotto MT-9371 aluminum tripod?
Would it be sturdy enough to support a 500mm f4L IS lens?

[RikWriter]

Anyone?

[jrsamples]

Ahhh... the tortured tripod question again. I'm guessing you are going back and forth between the Manfrotto 055xprob and this one, either that or you found an incredible deal on the Giottos. If the first... I was there with you...

...and I went with the Giottos after trying both out in the "real world". Both are excellent... but the MT-9371 is much more flexible and I feel a much better value considering the sealed legs(the 055 is prone to pulling water and sand up into the legs), the articulated center, padded bag and leg pads, etc. Oh yeah, and the Giottos is less expensive. After having both in my hands and seeing the exceptional build quality of both (yep they are both built well...) I bought the Giottos and never looked back or even had a second thought. Well one thought... maybe I should have gotten carbon or lava but that's pretty irrelevant.

As far as the 500, I really can't answer that since I don't have one but I have the 100-400 (as you do) and the tripod doesn't even flinch with it on it. It's rated up to 22 pounds I do believe and I wouldn't even question the number...

Don't know if this helps or not...

-Chuck

[Bumgardnern]

I have this tripod. I really like it. The biggest thing I have ever put on it is a 1DMKIII and 300mm f2.8. This combo was fine on top of it. This combo worried me on top of the tripod but it was well under the max rated weight.