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93octane
24th of June 2005 (Fri), 17:27
I just got me a Canon 70-200 F4L lens what is a good tripod for my D-rebel and this lens under $70????
DavidEB
27th of June 2005 (Mon), 06:03
Hate to break bad news....

Suggest you read the tripod sticky post (http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=53864), lots of good information there.

All tripods in the price range you mention will work for you some of the time and leave you frustrated and angry some of the time. The 70-200 f4 is heavy enough that if you mount the camera to the tripod on the body, the front weight will make it droop on any but the best tripods. Cheap tripods shake in the wind, don't keep the camera pointed where you think it's pointed, and vibrate during long exposures just from the camera's own mirror movement.

HEAVY TRIPOD = less shake.
LARGE BALLHEAD = solid positioning.
BIG $$$ = less frustration.

Something like this (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=353239&is=REG&addedTroughType=search) Bogen 3001 + mini ball head might do well for you at about double the price range you listed, but even that is just OK. A larger ball head like the bogen 488RC2 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=272779&is=REG&addedTroughType=search) with panning is better. And the bogen 3021 is more versatile.

But then you might find, as I did, that those flat release plates don't prevent the camera from twisting, the spring-loaded release base isn't really secure, etc, etc... then you'll end up with an ARCA system. Also the cheaper tripods can't get close to the ground for flowers, and then you'll end up with a more expensive system.

I got the Gitzo explorer (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=206491&is=REG&addedTroughType=search) and an acratech ultimate ballhead (http://www.acratech.net/). I'm very happy with this setup, but with the cost of extra arca plates and clamps it is running about 10x the price you mentioned.


and I haven't even mentioned carbon fiber yet....


sorry for the bad news,
CyberDyneSystems
27th of June 2005 (Mon), 06:39
I'll second David's recomendation for the 3001 as a bare minimum. It's a nice compact yet sturdy solution. That with a 488.. or similar ballhead is quite a handy tripod.
DocFrankenstein
27th of June 2005 (Mon), 08:09
I second G2220 recomendation... I'll probably get an acratech ballhead for that too, since it's a good combination for those legs.
DavidEB
27th of June 2005 (Mon), 08:16
Doc --

I love the Gitzo/acratech combination, but be warned by this thread (http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=81459) - your expenses will mount as you buy plates for lenses, clamps for monopods, and then more plates and clamps for flash brackets.

Way out of 93octane's price bracket. he wants a 70octane tripod. The bogen above is a 150octane tripod. the gitzo/acratech is a 600octane tripod:( , and the extra clamps are more than another 100octanes:confused: . That's an exchange rate of 1ctane per US dollar. ;)


kind regards,