Is the Feisol CT-3442 enough for a 120-300 f/2.8?

I am looking to buy a new tripod since my current tripod can't support my heaviest lens steadily. I use a Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 OS, mainly with a 1.4 and sometimes with a 2x teleconverter on a crop body dslr.

I am looking for a new tripod and really liked the Feisol CT-3442 because of it's low weight and good reviews. But is it steady enough to support my combination?

I bought my Feisol CT-3442 from Really Big Cameras and before I bought it I asked if it would handle a 7D+ grip and a 100-400. I was told that combo would be marginal on the 3442. It might work on a calm day but wind would create problems. The Sigma 120-300 is significantly heavier them the 7D combo above so I would go with a beefier tripod. The 3442 won't cave in with the weight you are proposing to put on it but its steadiness and vibration suppression would be questionable.

Take a look at this HorusBennu C3540V. I love mine. Solid as a rock! I've owned the 120-300 f2.8 and I'd be more concerned with the head than these legs. I have the FX-45Q ballhead which should be fine. Not the slightest vibration with my 70-200 with 2xTC. The whole rig will cost about $400.

http://www.ebay.com …_trksid=p3984.m​1497.l2649

Reviewed here: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1081696

I prefer the locking lever QR on this ballhead to the LX-5. I find the ball action very smooth.

Good Luck!

No, the 3442 would not handle the 120-300, especially with a 1.4 on it. I max out with my 70-200 f4. I tried a 300 f4 and was not happy with the results.

Ok thanks a lot! That's too bad I guess I'll have to go for the Feisol CT-3472 or the Benro C3780T then if I want a relatively lightweight carbon fibre tripod with 4 sections and without a center column that doesn't cost a fortune like the Gitzo's? Which one of those 2 would you pick? The price is similar.
I haven't found any other tripods with 4 sections that fit these specs. Any pointers for other tripods that would be able to support it well and are still affordable?

I would go with Feisol. I used to have a Benro tripod and git Feisol recently. The quality is definetely on Feisol's side.

freddyronny wrote in post #15256275
I am looking to buy a new tripod since my current tripod can't support my heaviest lens steadily. I use a Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 OS, mainly with a 1.4 and sometimes with a 2x teleconverter on a crop body dslr.

I am looking for a new tripod and really liked the Feisol CT-3442 because of it's low weight and good reviews. But is it steady enough to support my combination?

To put it as simply as possible - YES!
A friend of mine has the 3 section version and I am impressed. I was using it today with my 300 F2.8 L IS + 2x Mk3 extender and 1D4 and simply had zero issues with it (also got some nice Kingfisher shots!). With longer heavier lenses my Gitzo's are better, I wouldn't be too happy using his Feisol with my 600 F4 but though it will support it quite well - it just does not have the vibration damping and rigidity for lenses in the 600 class. However for a heavy 300 it is spot on and very light.
If you don't plan to go bigger (in the lens department) for a while just but one - I think you will be very happy with it!

johnf3f wrote in post #15257862
To put it as simply as possible - YES!
A friend of mine has the 3 section version and I am impressed. I was using it today with my 300 F2.8 L IS + 2x Mk3 extender and 1D4 and simply had zero issues with it (also got some nice Kingfisher shots!). With longer heavier lenses my Gitzo's are better, I wouldn't be too happy using his Feisol with my 600 F4 but though it will support it quite well - it just does not have the vibration damping and rigidity for lenses in the 600 class. However for a heavy 300 it is spot on and very light.
If you don't plan to go bigger (in the lens department) for a while just but one - I think you will be very happy with it!

Could you show me some of those pictures? If you lock it down, and tap the legs, does the viewfinder/live view shake or does it stay steady? Because it might be more than enough to carry it but will it be steady...

I am probably not going to go bigger soon, the 500/600mm f/4 lenses are way out of my price range, certainly since Canon replaced the old versions with the version II.

@pfjbaldwin: Thanks for your tips, but unfortunately the Horusbennu tripods are not available in Belgium, you have to order them through Ebay. I don't like doing that because of the risk of getting a lost package and the time it takes to get here. Also the tripod you're advising me, would it be a good choice? I see it has a center column, I've always heard that it is better not to have one, you get a more stable platform. The ballhead is already covered, I own a Sirui K30x that can handle the lens very well. I'll probably get a swinghead as well, I've heard that it is much easier to use with heavier lenses.

lomenak wrote in post #15257710
I would go with Feisol. I used to have a Benro tripod and git Feisol recently. The quality is definetely on Feisol's side.

What Benro model did you own?

freddyronny wrote in post #15259188
Could you show me some of those pictures? If you lock it down, and tap the legs, does the viewfinder/live view shake or does it stay steady? Because it might be more than enough to carry it but will it be steady...

I am probably not going to go bigger soon, the 500/600mm f/4 lenses are way out of my price range, certainly since Canon replaced the old versions with the version II.

@pfjbaldwin: Thanks for your tips, but unfortunately the Horusbennu tripods are not available in Belgium, you have to order them through Ebay. I don't like doing that because of the risk of getting a lost package and the time it takes to get here. Also the tripod you're advising me, would it be a good choice? I see it has a center column, I've always heard that it is better not to have one, you get a more stable platform. The ballhead is already covered, I own a Sirui K30x that can handle the lens very well. I'll probably get a swinghead as well, I've heard that it is much easier to use with heavier lenses.

I can post pictures if you like but they won't tell you much. I have attached a re-sized Raw file, no in camera sharpening just sized for web. As to vibration - you will get vibration through the viewfinder/live view on any tripod, also I was shooting with IS on which would mask this effect. If you are really concerned about vibration then it's 3 series Gitzo (or RRS equivalent) or bigger but I didn't think you wanted to spend that much.

johnf3f wrote in post #15257862
To put it as simply as possible - YES!
A friend of mine has the 3 section version and I am impressed. I was using it today with my 300 F2.8 L IS + 2x Mk3 extender and 1D4 and simply had zero issues with it (also got some nice Kingfisher shots!). With longer heavier lenses my Gitzo's are better, I wouldn't be too happy using his Feisol with my 600 F4 but though it will support it quite well - it just does not have the vibration damping and rigidity for lenses in the 600 class. However for a heavy 300 it is spot on and very light.
If you don't plan to go bigger (in the lens department) for a while just but one - I think you will be very happy with it!

I have the 3442 along with a markins ballhead and with my 300 f4 and 1.4x, it is not stable. Any slight wind will show movement when looking through liveview. Putting the same outfit on my Manfrotto 3021 aluminum tripod shows not movement in wind. If you are concerned about utmost image quality, the 3442 will not provide it with lens the size the OP wants to use.

DavidR wrote in post #15259336
What Benro model did you own?

I used to have C-168M8 Travel Angel, now I have Feisol 3471 and there is no comparison between those two..

Hogloff wrote in post #15261458
I have the 3442 along with a markins ballhead and with my 300 f4 and 1.4x, it is not stable. Any slight wind will show movement when looking through liveview. Putting the same outfit on my Manfrotto 3021 aluminum tripod shows not movement in wind. If you are concerned about utmost image quality, the 3442 will not provide it with lens the size the OP wants to use.

Thank you for the information. So this is definately not the tripod I'm looking for. I am leaning towards the Feisol CT-3472 which seems a very good tripod that should support my lens with ease.

@johnf3f: Thank you for the image but 1/160s and IS turned on is not really a test for the tripod. Today I went shooting some ducks with my old tripod and I could get away with 1/60s-1/80s at 420mm if I left the OS/IS on. The Gitzo's are out of my price range, I can, but don't want to spend that much on a tripod. The Feisol that I've mentioned gets good reviews and some of them say it's better than the 3 series of Gitzo because the legs are a bit bigger.

lomenak wrote in post #15262338
I used to have C-168M8 Travel Angel, now I have Feisol 3471 and there is no comparison between those two..

Two very different tripods for different purposes.

I have owned a few Benro tripods and the quality has always been excellent. I was considering the Feisol CT-3372 but in the end settled on the Benro C4770T based on my experience with their tripods.

lomenak wrote in post #15262338
I used to have C-168M8 Travel Angel, now I have Feisol 3471 and there is no comparison between those two..

Of course not. There's no comparison between my Benro C2680T and my Gitzo 3541LS either; apples and oranges!

freddyronny wrote in post #15256470
Ok thanks a lot! That's too bad I guess I'll have to go for the Feisol CT-3472 or the Benro C3780T then if I want a relatively lightweight carbon fibre tripod with 4 sections and without a center column that doesn't cost a fortune like the Gitzo's? Which one of those 2 would you pick? The price is similar.

I would give the Benro C3780T a good look, especially given David's comment on the C4770T above. Also the Benros are Gitzo copies so Gitzo parts will fit them. I would bet that if you remove the top plate of a Benro systematic then Gitzo parts like the leveling base will fit. David have you looked at this at all?