(Ball)headed in right direction?

I am getting verrrrry close to pulling the trigger on my first serious tripod and head. I own a 450D (and expect I will upgrade to the 60D... that's not a typo... I figure the 60D will have everything the 50D has plus the video, so I'll do just fine with the 450D until then). The biggest lens I am even contemplating is the 100-400L; I'll mostly be using much smaller lighter lenses than that. I'm 5'10" in height, not a spring chicken (can we say "lightweight," boys and girls, and with an easy-to-maneuver set of controls for older weaker hands). I also need it to travel well (another reason for light weight.)

With those characteristics in mind, I'm looking at:

Feisol CT-3441 with center column and tripod bag
1.98 lbs, 53.54" unextended, 6kg capacity
OR Feisol CT-3441S with center column and tripod bag
2.2 lbs, 50.39" unextended, 10kg capacity

Kirk BH-3 panning ballhead
19 oz., "For use with lenses smaller than 300mm f2.8 or 400mm f3.5"
OR Bogen / Manfrotto 488RC2
1.5 lb, 17.6 lb rating

Whaddaya think?

Before you buy a lightweight tripod, I suggest that you physically check it out to see that it will be sturdy enough to be useful with your longer lenses.

The "weight capacity" rating of tripods is really a useless number (except within a single manufacturer's line as a comparison of their tripods against each other). How much a tripod can support without collapsing has absolutely nothing to do with how resistant to camera movement and vibration the tripod is.

I have found that I am generally happier with tripods that are rated for three times the weight of my equipment (or more) than tripods rated for just a little more than the weight of my equipment.

I will ditto the statement regarding vibration. JohnJ80, is a mbr here, & on FM. He is very knowledgeable, with regard to Tripods/ Head/ & Vibration. I was running a very similar set of questions on both forums. He answered my post on FM, with many specific details, that helped me gain a better understanding about vibration, and what needs to be bought, to minimize it.

OP: Before you go that route, have you considered the Gitzo 1541T and a Markins Q3T head? Check out my review of it here: LINK

ben_r_ wrote in post #6378558
OP: Before you go that route, have you considered the Gitzo 1541T and a Markins Q3T head? Check out my review of it here: LINK

I did, and surely appreciate the time and effort you put into writing and posting it. The Q3T looks good, except for the spirit level's placement. I can't for the life of me understand why they put it in a place where it will always be obscured if the camera's in place. As for the Gitzo, well, yes, it'd be wonderful, if I had another spare $500 or so.

jgrussell wrote in post #6379601
I can't for the life of me understand why they put it in a place where it will always be obscured if the camera's in place.

Probably because It's a bit less vulnerable there.
I have an M10, with the markins QR. No problems with it: Set up the tripod, level it, level the ballhead. Tighten it. Put the camera on.

I use two tripods...

I use two tripods... Not at the same time of course, but I have not been able to find one single tripod which will fill all of my needs. Basically, I have two parameters in mind for my tripod.

1. I'm fairly tall (6'1") and wanted a very sturdy tripod which will support a heavy load and which can articulate to enable me to get my camera into virtually any position. The tripod which I have chosen is the carbon fiber Giottos MT-8180 and use either the Giottos MH-1300 ball head or the Manfrotto 3421 Gimbal Support and a 400mm f/4L IS lens. This tripod will support (as per Giottos specifications) a package weighing 26 pounds. I take manufacturer's specs with a grain of salt and usually divide by two or three. This tripod will easily support my 40D with the Manfrotto. Unfortunately, the MT-8180 is a bit heavy for boonie tromping weighing in at 7.14 pounds with the MH-1300 head. However, it is a great tripod for general use and the Manfrotto 3421 gimbal is a jewel.

2. I felt that I needed a lighter tripod for boonie tromping which would support a maximum load of 40D with the 70-200mm f/4L IS lens. I was willing to use a shorter tripod in order to conserve weight. I use the Really Right Stuff L-bracket and noticed this information on the RRS website.

http://reallyrightstuf​f.com/QR/05.html
"Flyweight legs with a light ballhead (such as our BH-25 Pro on Gitzo GT0530 or GT1530 legs) can be a great travel setup. Enhance the stability and keep the load straight up (directly over the center of gravity) by using an L-plate on your camera."

I procrastinated until a trip to Alaska came up and then I needed a lightweight set of legs for that trip.

I was able to modify a SLIK 330 Pro leg set (on sale at my local Calumet store for about $75) to fit my needs at a much lower price than the Gitzo/RRS head combination. I replaced the SLIK center column with the optional short column which reduced the weight of that leg set to exactly 2 pounds. I then replaced the SLIK pan/tilt head with the MH-1300 head from my Giottos tripod bringing the total weight of the unit to 3.44 pounds which was within my level of comfort. This combination worked just great on my Alaska trip.

I subscribe to the old saying that an ounce of weight at the start of a long hike will seem like a pound at the end. I have since purchased the Adorama Flashpoint Magnesium Alloy F-1 ball head to use on the SLIK leg set. This reduces the weight of the total package to 2 pounds 11 ounces which is just great for hiking.

http://www.adorama.com …lashpoint%20F-1&item_no=1

The SLIK/Flashpoint combination does a great job supporting my 40D and 70-200mm f/4L IS lens or 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens. I would not use this with my 400mm f/5.6L lens and especially not with the Manfrotto 3421 gimbal mount. I probably would not use this setup for following fast moving subjects. However, within my constraints, this 2 pound 11 ounce tripod/head combo works fine for boonie tromping and fits well inside my carry-on suitcase.

The one problem is that the tripod and head is fairly short but, I am willing to stoop a bit or use my right angle finder to have a lightweight combination like this with a price that totalled out to about $135.00....

René Damkot wrote in post #6396485
Set up the tripod, level it, level the ballhead. Tighten it. Put the camera on.

I suppose that makes sense, except that every time you move, you have to remove the camera to check the level.

RPCrowe wrote in post #6396716
I use two tripods... Not at the same time of course, but I have not been able to find one single tripod which will fill all of my needs.

That seems to be a common response to this, since it appears that there is great truth to the notion that you can have two out of three of the key characteristics (lightweight, sturdy, inexpensive) but not all three!

My primary concern is the weight. I know from my own history that if the silly thing is too heavy, I won't bother packing it along. So I have to put that as the first criterion. It's figuring out how to balance a not-unlimited-budget with a desire for some degree of sturdiness that's giving me running fits!

jgrussell wrote in post #6396810
I suppose that makes sense, except that every time you move, you have to remove the camera to check the level.

I don't (have to) move the ball head any more (assuming I need to shoot level). If I don't have to shoot level, I don't need the spirit level

For panning, I use the pan base. And since the tripod is levelled as well, the camera stays level when panning.

René Damkot wrote in post #6401671
I don't (have to) move the ball head any more (assuming I need to shoot level). If I don't have to shoot level, I don't need the spirit level For panning, I use the pan base. And since the tripod is levelled as well, the camera stays level when panning.

Sorry I wasn't clear -- I meant move the tripod, not simply move. You know, you shoot this plant here and then have to move it to shoot that plant there. In any case this doesn't seem like a deal breaker.

René Damkot wrote in post #6396485
Probably because It's a bit less vulnerable there.
I have an M10, with the markins QR. No problems with it: Set up the tripod, level it, level the ballhead. Tighten it. Put the camera on.

Yep, thats the trick there