Tripod Suggestions

I am looking for a tripod. It needs to be carbon fiber as I want light weight for hiking. It also needs to be tall. I am 80" tall, so in some instances I'd want the tripod+ballhead+camera height to be around 74"-76". I am looking at the RSS medium sizes ballhead to go with my 60D. The main question I guess I need to figure out an answer for is should I spend the extra money to get a tripod that goes up to my desired height of around 70" without the center column, or is something like the Feisol 3301 with center column stable enough? I have ready that extending the center column causes a vast decrease in stability. Truth to this? I know I won't always have the tripod at eye level for me as a lot of circumstances call for a shorter viewpoint. I like the weight, height, and cost of the Feisol. How stable is it at fully center column extension? Thanks in advance for reviews of this one or advice on any other.

RRS TVC 34L. Love mine with the RRS BH 55 and 80mm QR clamp.

Ideally you'd get a tripod that would get to your desired height (remember the ballhead and camera add about 10 inches from the top of the tripod, and your eyes aren't at the top of your head, so minus another few inches from your measured height, giving us ~65").

However, tripods that tall without centre column are going to be heavier than those with a centre column, which is not what you want for hiking. Thus the best bet would be a compromise, slightly shorter than your desired max height in order to have a lighter set of legs.
I would therefore recommend you look at the more expensive tripods in the Feisol range, such as the 3441T which weighs 2.2lbs and goes to 56" without centre column extension, or 67" with it extended, or if you feel that is too short, there is the 3371 which extends to 61" without centre column, and goes to 80" with the optional ($25 I believe) centre column.
These options both cost $414 (+$25 for the 3371 w/ CC) which means they are still relatively affordable, unlike the RRS option recommended above.

My feisol has been, IMO, the perfect hiking tripod. It is very light, folds up small, is rock solid, and has amazing build quality. It has been with me from sandy beaches where it took quite a bit of salt water abuse, to the top of windy cliffs, to standing in icy lagoons, and falling completely into a relatively fast flowing river. Still works the same as the day I bought it, and hasn't let me down once.

bmaxphoto wrote in post #15114803
I am looking for a tripod. It needs to be carbon fiber as I want light weight for hiking. It also needs to be tall.

It ain't gonna happen. I'm 5cm shorter than you and I found it very difficult to find a tripod tall enough so that I wouldn't need to bend down (the Induro CT313). But that weighs 2.2kg (almost 5 LB). Anything lighter and taller is going to be very wobbly.

My solution was to have more than one tripod. My Induro is for when I'm shooting at home or within a few hundred metres or so of the car. Any further and my Velbon (lighter and shorter) gets used and I swap the discomfort of having to bend down for the comfort of carrying more than a pound less weight.

Eight_Blade wrote in post #15114817
RRS TVC 34L. Love mine with the RRS BH 55 and 80mm QR clamp.

I've got this one too - I've had others (Manfrotto and Gitzo). I liked them both at the time I had them, Manfrotto is a good deal, Gitzo was good but the weight and the 4+ week nightmare of getting a part out of them really turned me off.

You might want to take a look at these links about tripods

http://bythom.com/supp​ort.htm

http://www.luminous-landscape.com …_worlds_best_tr​ipod.shtml

Induro CT414 is another option, I own it and can testify that it is a solid beast. These are all heavy though!

Eight_Blade wrote in post #15114817
RRS TVC 34L. Love mine with the RRS BH 55 and 80mm QR clamp.

It extends to 52 inches. A little bit short of the OP's requirements.

hollis_f wrote in post #15117357
It extends to 52 inches. A little bit short of the OP's requirements.

What? It extends to 68.5" and w/ the BH-55 and camera, I have to stand on my toes to even see the viewfinder and I'm 6' 2".

hollis_f wrote in post #15117357
It extends to 52 inches. A little bit short of the OP's requirements.

According to the RRS website it extends to 68.5"

My bad! I misread the specs. 52 inches is the height with just the top 3 sections.

I don't think the OP is quite up for spending over $1k on a tripod, given his gear list and his question about that particular Feisol which is one of the cheapest of their range.

Sirrith wrote in post #15118347
I don't think the OP is quite up for spending over $1k on a tripod, given his gear list and his question about that particular Feisol which is one of the cheapest of their range.

Well that's what happens when someone doesn't list a budget.

Get this http://www.jessops.com …/products/82288​/show.html

jonneymendoza wrote in post #15120878
Get this http://www.jessops.com …/products/82288​/show.html

Maximum height 116.5 cm. That might be suitable if the OP, who is 200 cm tall, had eyes in his navel.

I think I've got the specs right this time...