Tripod Help for 500 F4 IS

I could use some help from those experienced with the 500 F4 IS and a sturdy tripod. I have been using an old manfrotto for some time but I need to upgrade. I thought the Gitzo GT3530LSV would be perfect but the Gitzo site rates this combo as "be careful". They seem to recommend the G1500, G1505 and GT5540LS as a "perfect fit". However the latter tripods are quite heavy. Is there not a carbon fibre model that will work? I presently use a Jobu Black Widow Gimbal Head. Any advice would be appreciated.

what? where did you see the GT3530LSV as "be careful"? that tripod is pretty much used by all 500 f4 owners that i know including myself. the tripod is rated for almost 40lbs so even if you take your 500 F4 and add a 1D to it with a 1.4x + 2x + 580ex flash + brackets + another 500F4 just for fun, you are still under the recommended load limit...

www.gitzo.com has an automatic Gitzo Tripod configurator. You simply plug in the weight of the lens and camera and length of lens etc and it "spits out" the appropriate choices. For the GT3530LSV and 1DMKIIN and 500 IS choice it grants "one Star" which means be careful. The other choices I listed have a "three star" rating which means perfect fit. Quite frankly I was flabbergasted as I thought my first choice was perfect. This is the Gitzo site so I don't know what to think?

just for fun, i decided to do some math for you:

Load capacity of tripod: 39.7 lbs

Your entire kit: 33 lbs which leaves you enough room to put a small kid on your rig if you wish to do so

1DmkIIn- 3.5 lb

2 x 30D- 3.5 lb

16-35L- 1.5 lb

24-70L- 2.1 lb

135L- 1.64 lb

70-200L- 3.5 lb

300 2.8L- 6.00 lb

100-400 L- 3.00 lb

500L -8.53 lb

LOL...thank you very much...no wonder I suffer from back pain.

hahah, i hear you on that one. the bottom line is forget that stupid calculator and just go for it. it is an amazing tripod that i enjoy every single time i use it and if you need more proof, just head over to naturescapes and see which tripod all the birders use for their 500's and even 600's...

Thanks for the help...it seemed like the logical choice.

blonde wrote in post #5070462
what? where did you see the GT3530LSV as "be careful"? that tripod is pretty much used by all 500 f4 owners that i know including myself. the tripod is rated for almost 40lbs so even if you take your 500 F4 and add a 1D to it with a 1.4x + 2x + 580ex flash + brackets + another 500F4 just for fun, you are still under the recommended load limit...

Ahem, Snir. I use the GT5530S myself so that's "all but one 500 f/4 owners you know".

Gitzo says about the systematic 3 series "A great choice for DSLR with 300mm lens up to 500mm".

Tripods aren't about load rating, but about stability.

Me thinks a 3 series will work, but a 5 series will offer more "leeway".

I got 5 series to be in safe side as i may use 500 or 600 or even 400, who knows in the future i may borrow 800 someday, so then i will never look back with my 5 series, and i don't know about birders or any wildlife shooters but i never see my 5540 as a heavy tripod at all unless they want very light tripod that they consider 5 series as heavy tripod [when folded it is little heavy, but when opened fully it is lighter than my most tripod non-CF].

René Damkot wrote in post #5071775
Gitzo says about the systematic 3 series "A great choice for DSLR with 300mm lens up to 500mm".

Tripods aren't about load rating, but about stability.

Me thinks a 3 series will work, but a 5 series will offer more "leeway".

like i said, from my own experience, the one that he wants to go with has been tested and proven with the 500 F4 and from my experience, i can tell you that stability is a non issue even in the toughest conditions. the 5 series is also a great choice and i agree that it might give you a bit more leeway but it also comes at a price..

3540LS with Wimberley. Been in all sorts of environments. Not a problem to note.

Thanks for all the assistance guys...it is appreciated.

I pop a 500 on my G1257LVL with no problems at all.