First Tripod Purchase

I normally shoot handheld but am thinking that a good sturdy tripod would be nice for the upcoming Owl season. My setup is the Nikon D7200 and the new ver of the 80-400 lense, total weight around 7 lbs. Some people I have spoken to think I should first replace my Nikon lense collar. Any input or ideas are most welcome, my plan is to buy a proper setup to keep for a few years.

I have a RRS (Really Right Stuff) Carbon Fiber tripod and ball head and never expect to ever have to buy any more. They're not cheap but the build/quality is tops and the ease of use is about as good as it gets.

Dermit wrote in post #17711348
I have a RRS (Really Right Stuff) Carbon Fiber tripod and ball head and never expect to ever have to buy any more. They're not cheap but the build/quality is tops and the ease of use is about as good as it gets.

I couldn't agree more.... but you might get sticker shock when you look at the prices. I know I did. Three tripods later, I ended buying RRS. If you are going to really use your tripod, try not to cheap out.

The first thing you need to do it set a budget. Then if the RRS is Way out of your budget, read POTN tripod threads for decent alternatives.

I looked at it like a lens purchase. I am going to have and use it for a very long time and quite frequently. So it may as well be something that will last a very long time. Be easy to use and hold up in all kinds of conditions. Keep in mind that in the high end tripod world you find a tripod you want and then you find a head you want... as well as all the brackets/attachments/q​uick release plates, etc. But. Once you get it you are set. I go from camera strap to tripod in seconds and get camera positioned on tripod very quickly even going form landscape to portrait mode lightning fast and the best part is when the camera is on tripod it is rock solid. I never worry about that part. It's a peace of mind you can just feel when working with the good stuff. I've left my camera on tripod over a few hours shooting time lapse when I'm off doing something else and I never think twice about it falling over or being unstable. Something I could not or would not do with my cheaper previous tripod that I paid decent money for a few years back.

A nice affordable tripod that you can own for decades would be Induro carbon fiber with a SIRUI K30 head.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #17711389
A nice affordable tripod that you can own for decades would be Induro carbon fiber with a SIRUI K30 head.

I've never used one personally, but a couple I met last year shooting the Spring nesting birds each had one and they liked them a lot.

Phoenixkh wrote in post #17711711
I've never used one personally, but a couple I met last year shooting the Spring nesting birds each had one and they liked them a lot.

I've got an Induro aluminum(AT 214) tripod with the Sirui K30 and love the combo. Rock solid and extremely affordable.

I have the induro at 413 , its the HD tripod that induro makes, I use the induro Gimble instead of a ball head.

I can only say there really isn't a comparison the gimble has the smoothest motion IMO.
Good luck

I also own a Manfroto tripod with the RC2 connection system .
My Manfroto tripod doesn't compare to the induro.
And I will never buy another manfroto product because of the RC 2 connection system.
Yes its that loose that at times I wonder if the camera will just topple off...........

nothing bad about the induro tripods to say,i love using mine all the time,good investment i would say.

B&H Still has one of the Grand series Induro on clearance for more than 50% off, it's super steal at only $209!!!!

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …203_carbon_8x_t​ripod.html

Same specs in A Gitzo would cost about $700-800.00

Wow

That looks like a nice tripod.

wyntastr wrote in post #17720538
I've got an Induro aluminum(AT 214) tripod with the Sirui K30 and love the combo. Rock solid and extremely affordable.

+1 for this combination.

For tripods, Gitzo and RRS are at the top of the heap, both for price and quality. Below them however, Induro, Feisol, and Sirui make very solid tripods. The sale that Jake mentioned on the Induro is a really good deal right now.

I am looking at getting a 3LT pod as i have my manfrotto cf one and want a more portable one. Recently bought the mohawk ball head and impressed with it's weight handling.