Best Tripod for Sports?

I am looking for a tripod that I could use for sports and landscape photography with the Canon 70-200 2.8L and the Canon 100-400L. (For sports) and the 18-55 for landscape with my 30D.

Now I do not really know to much about tripods...or what is out there so I hope you can help me. I am willing to spend what it takes to get a good pod for what I'm doing.

I hope I have given you the useful info for helping me find the right tripod.

-Danny

For sports you do not want a tripod. You want a monopod. I have a 679b Manfrotto that I got for $35. Works great.

For my tripod I bought an Amvona on eBay for about $40 shipped. Also works great.

DANNY454 wrote in post #5704092
I am looking for a tripod that I could use for sports and landscape photography with the Canon 70-200 2.8L and the Canon 100-400L. (For sports) and the 18-55 for landscape with my 30D.

Now I do not really know to much about tripods...or what is out there so I hope you can help me. I am willing to spend what it takes to get a good pod for what I'm doing.

I hope I have given you the useful info for helping me find the right tripod.

-Danny

What kind of sports? Indoor or outdoor?

jhom wrote in post #5704133
What kind of sports? Indoor or outdoor?

Outdoor, like football.

DANNY454 wrote in post #5704150
Outdoor, like football.

For football, sportshooters typically don't use tripods. In fact, for many venues, it is prohibited. You need a good monopod. For inexpensive but good monopods, I would recommend the Manfrottos, 679, 680, or 681. For more expensive monopods, I would recommend the Gitzos. I have the Gitzo GM5540. It is expensive but it is well worth it.

jhom wrote in post #5704172
For football, sportshooters typically don't use tripods. In fact, for many venues, it is prohibited. You need a good monopod. For inexpensive but good monopods, I would recommend the Manfrottos, 679, 680, or 681. For more expensive monopods, I would recommend the Gitzos. I have the Gitzo GM5540. It is expensive but it is well worth it.

Well thank you Sir!

As for the landscape, what would you recommend?

a monopod for the 70-200 isnt needed

Zilly wrote in post #5704279
a monopod for the 70-200 isnt needed

Have you tried holding a 70-20 f/2.8 up to your eye for 90 minutes, without support?

tdodd wrote in post #5704411
Have you tried holding a 70-20 f/2.8 up to your eye for 90 minutes, without support?

yep then plus extra time and stoppages
infact quite often do that sitting down hunched under a steal railing.

a mono pod isnt needed.
In fact its not that heavy go buy a 300mm f2.8 and hand hold that for 90 minuets and then complain about the weight

DANNY454 wrote in post #5704236
Well thank you Sir!

As for the landscape, what would you recommend?

For landscapes, a good tripod/ballhead combination would be appropriate. Again, Manfrotto makes some inexpensive tripod setups that are very good. Gitzo makes the more expensive and better tripods. When it comes to tripod setups, you need to decide what is your budget and what weight you will be willing to tolerate. If you do alot of hiking or toting the tripod around, you will likely want a lightweight setup. There is a sticky post on tripods at the beginning of this forum that may help. There are also many posts about tripods on this forum. If you do a search you will find some for your reference.

DANNY454 wrote in post #5704092
I am looking for a tripod that I could use for sports and landscape photography with the Canon 70-200 2.8L and the Canon 100-400L. (For sports) and the 18-55 for landscape with my 30D.

-Danny

Zilly wrote in post #5704279
a monopod for the 70-200 isnt needed

tdodd wrote in post #5704411
Have you tried holding a 70-20 f/2.8 up to your eye for 90 minutes, without support?

The 70-200 f2.8 and 100-400 are about the same weight. I've shot all day air shows handholding the 100-400 because even a monopod is impractical when shooting airplanes in flight. Yeah, I'm usually a little tired at the end of the day, but it's not impossible to do. And keep in mind, I'm not a young, fit teenager like Dom. I'm 62, overweight and out of shape...

All the sports photographers that I have worked with use
a monopod.

Can you shoot a football game using a 70-200 or 100-400 without a monopod? Sure you can...but why not use a monopod? It makes for a more comfortable and fun shooting situation. After a couple of hours running up and down the sidelines in a typical high school football game, even the youngsters amoung us will get tired. A monopod makes the shoot easier.

i highly suggest the cf ones from www.feisol.com

Ralph Merlino wrote in post #5704696
All the sports photographers that I have worked with use
a monopod.

I do too, with the 400 f2.8. The second body with the 70-200 f2.8 hangs from my shoulder, no monopod for it.