Tripod and CF card questions

My tripod went "missing" during our last move and I really need to replace it. I'm looking for something light-weight and durable. Something that I could strap to the side or rear of a backpack and not worry about. I'm hoping that some people here have some good suggestions.

Also, as for CF cards, Lexar has a nice 300X 16GB card for about $275 but I am still leaning towards the Sandisk Extreme III or IV. Using the 5D, I don't think it will make a noticible difference for me with either. Perhaps with 10FPS 1DMIII but even the 1DsMIII wouldn't make much difference. Anyone with experience with the two.

Budget for tripod? 16 GIG CF Card

What is your intended price range for the tripod? Additionally, would you consider a tripod which requires a bit of bending over to use? You can often get light and fairly reasonable tripods which are shorter.

Additionally, what is the maximum intended load for your tripod.

I have and use two tripods. Giottos Carbon Fiber MT-8180 with a MH-1300 ball head and a SLIK 330 Pro. I have modified the SLIK using their short center column option and I have removed the SLIK supplied head which I disliked.

The leg-set with the shorter center column weighs exactly two pounds. It is a relatively short tripod - only about 48 inches set up. However, it is sturdy for its weight. I use the MH-1300 ball head from my Giottos which gives me about an additional 6 inches in height and weighs 1.7 pounds. The entire setup weighs just 3.7 pounds. I could get a smaller and lighter ball head weighing under a pound which would make the entire rig weigh less than 3 pounds. However, I am not going to spend $150-$200 to save eight or none ounces.

The SLIK converted will easily handle a 40D with my 70-200mm f/4L IS lens which is about the heaviest package I will use on it.

However, using an Arca compatible quick release and a RRS L-bracket - the package is really quite stable since I don't have to cantilever the camera off balance to achieve portrait position. Of course, this is only critical when using a non-tripod ring equipped lens.

I personally would not use a 16 GIG CF card. It's the carrying all your eggs in one basket concept.

I shoot a 40D and always shoot RAW. I often shoot in exposure bracketing mode. Still; I have never felt exceptionally constrained using 4 GIG cards. I even have several 2 GIG cards which I do very well with.

8gig cards are much better value. Is there a reason you don't want to swap CF cards?

Storage is a funny beast, its not like buying glass or legs... the money you save today can buy you 4 times as much tomorrow, so there's no real reason to buy more than you need early on.

I'm thinking of about $200-$300 for the tripod. Heaviest I would shoot on it would be a 5D an 70-200 2.8, so about 5kg for the ballhead would be fine. I've never had a ballhead tripod, so I don't have much of an idea of what I should shoot for. I figure that if I get a good one now, I won't have to replace it for a long, long time.

I feel the same way about 16GB cards, but I hate travelling with a tonne of gear. I already have to lug about more than I want. 8GBs should be fine, but is there that much difference between the Extreme III and Extreme IV? Sure one is faster, but will you really notice it. A 2.4Ghz is technically faster than a 2.1Ghz processor, but realistically, most people using a computer will not notice the difference.

I just ordered 4 cfx133 Kingston cards at 4gb each from B&H, very reasonable prices. I had a card go bad on me, lost about 140 photos from a Hawaiian vacation. I would rather lose 4 gb worth than 8 or 16 gb worth. Those small cards take hardly any space in my lens bag, so no problems for me. Tripods, I have three bogens, 3031 xpro, and 2 055xpro b. They are VERY good pods and serve me well. I keep one in the trunk and one set up out on the deck. I use 20D with 70-200, and Sigma 150-500 with remote release from POTN with 100 feet of cable for birds on the feeders. Wonderful setups.