I read the sticky but still have questions

OK, so i need a manfrotto tripod for the 20d 100-400 and maybe a bg-e2 as a heaviest weight. I will also be doing macro work with a sigma 150. I need the tripod to be tall enough as I am 6'. It will be used mostly in the woods so it should be light weight and able to take some abuse. I dont want to worry about denting it. I also need a head, thinking the 488rc2. I would like to be able to follow moving animals and birds easily.

Ive thought about the neotech, 055 magfiber and 3021pro. Should I even consider the uber lightweight tripods like the 190 magfibers or 3001pro?

I apreciate the help with yet another tripod question, but I searched everywhere and really stilll had these questions.

I think you will find that carbon fiber tripods are not much lighter than aluminum ones of the same height, yet they cost dramatically more money.

---Bob Gross---

Im not to concerned about price with this thread but more on functionality and durability. Thank You for the quick reply.

I would purchase my 3021 again. Just got back from Yellowstone where I am one of the few who actually get out of the car and hike into the back country. Toted the 3021 coupled to my 100-400 miles and miles and untold hours. My only complaint was that I might have lost a step, not that the tripod was heavy.

I highly recommend as a reasonable compromise between portable and sturdy - the Bogen/Manfrotto 3021BPRO with a Bogen/Manfrotto 488RC2 ball head. The tripod leg set is extremely versatile. About $250 US at B&H for the combination.

For the ultra in sturdy combined with ultra convenient controls, look at the Bogen/Manfrotto 3051 legs.

So, are we saying that the 3021 is more versitle than the magfiber?? Price is not a concern here. Thanks

I just want to remind everyone that I will be using this in the woods and not in the studio so something like the 13lb 3051 would most likely not work. Why would the 3021 be better than the magfiber, both seem to have the same specs and the 055 magfiber is less weight.

I love my 3021PRO but I'd consider a lighter version if I could afford/warrant it.

One thing that I liked about the 3021PRO was that the center column was removable and that you could place it at 90-degrees from the original position. I thought this would be great for macro work. But I didn't find it to be so great, since it was *only* 90-degrees and now the ball-head was in the wrong position. Maybe if my macro lens had a tripod ring with a foot it would have been better, since then I would have worried less about the ballhead position. I also wasn't always comfortable with the rig once I got it into position, as the center of balance was often way off.

Just my opinion here, others may find it great for macro work. But I didn't find it to be so great. And now I barely do any macro since I just don't like it as much as I thought I would, but if I did I'd look at a Benbo with it's almost infinitely-variable arm.

Still, it's a great, tall, sturdy tripod.

Thanks or the reply, fortunately or unfortunately, however you look at it, it must be a manfrotto. So i am seeing that the 3021pro is a popular option. If you guys had the green resources available would you have purchased the 055 magfiber? My sigma 150 does have a tripod collar. Thanks.

The 055MF3 would do just fine, I am sure. It is very close, functionally, to my 3021BPRO, but more than twice the price for the 1 pound weight difference. If money grew on trees, I would probably choose the 055MF3.

My experience with Gitzo 2220 and it's swiveling all around column left me unsatisfied with stability for macro

IMO you need:
1) You want a tripod with a short geared column to move up/down an inch or so.
2) You need a macro rail
3) You need a geared head

Unless you flash your macrowork of course. Lack of any elements above has made doing macro a very frustrating experience for me.

The OP had specified Manfrotto, not other brands. Nevertheless, I wanted to share my opinion of the Gitzo 2220 Explorer.

I agree that for serious macro work the Gitzo 2220 Explorer probably isn't what you want - but for those of us who want one decent tripod to do most things, and don't have a 1:1 macro lens (the best I've got is an EF 24-70mm f/2.8L - an EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro may be a future purchase, but there's other things I want first) it can be a good choice.

I've got some macro-ish shots that I wouldn't have been able to get with a conventional tripod using my G2220, and it's fine for use as an 'ordinary' tripod too. Indeed, I'm grateful for the flexibility of the G2220, being a wheelchair user. I have got a Gitzo offset ball head on mine (G1275M with a Manfrotto RC2 adapter), because you can't really make full use of the Explorer's flexibility without - though it's not the perfect head for general purpose use.

For me G2220 works, but there are circumstances where two more specialised tripods rather than one all-rounder may make more sense.

David

Thanks again for the replies. It does need to be a manfrotto. As far as heads go I can only get one for now, maybe another next year. TLets assume the differnece in price between the 3021pro and 055mf3 is about $96, which would you go for. How is the magfiber in cold weather. Are you able or do you need to add legwarmers? Is the neotech junk?? Wich is more stable or harde rto damage? Thanks again.

I know this is slightly off-topic, but I use a Gitzo "mountaineer series" G1128 carbon fiber for all of my outdoor shots. It does not have a geared column, but at 2 lbs including the Bogen 383 head, it is useful for hiking as well. I understand you can buy a geared column as an accessory. This assumes price is no object, as the legs alone will set you back about $400 at B&H. I picked up my head on ebay for $30. I have a second, 3-way pan/tilt head that I use for macro. This is definitley more useful than using a ball head. For macro, you want the ability to fine-tune camera position/focus.

I second the opinion of the other poster who stated that a geared column would be useful for macro shots. The Gitzo comes with a hook on the bottom of the column so you can hang a weight on for added stability. Also you can buy large pads ($15) to affix to the legs for use in snow or mud.

I have no experience with the Velbon Carmagne carbon tripods, but they also look to be good value for money, compared to the comparable Gitzo models.

The 488rc2 is a great head. Why does the tripod have to be manfrotto?