Suggestions for a good tripod

I am planning to buy my first tripod. I can spend around $300 on it. I am just a hobbyist and would like to use it for landscape and other stuff occasionally. I don't shoot sports if that helps. The heaviest lens I own is probably 85L II or 80-200mm and I have a 1D Mark IIn. Thanks in advance.

Checked out this sticky? What questions do you still have after that?

The standard recommendation around here for a very decent general-purpose but not overpriced tripod rig is the Manfrotto 055XProB topped off with the Manfrotto 498RC2 ball head.

SkipD wrote in post #10866306
The standard recommendation around here for a very decent general-purpose but not overpriced tripod rig is the Manfrotto 055XProB topped off with the Manfrotto 498RC2 ball head.

I think I am going to go for this. Thanks so much.

Thanks Jon. I'll go through that sticky.

What's your intended use for the tripod? Pull it out of the car and shoot or travel with it or backpack/hike with it or?

Pull it out of the car and shoot (mainly). I guess if I want it to be lighter (< 5+2 lbs) it's going to be much more expensive.

I've recently become a convert to Feisol tripods and the 3441S (standard) and 3441T (tall) without anti-rotation legs are just about $300, are carbon fiber, very light, and have had a good response here. They're on the market for eight years.

The Manfrotto's are bulletproof and will last a lifetime.

tvphotog wrote in post #10866560
I've recently become a convert to Feisol tripods and the 3441S (standard) and 3441T (tall) without anti-rotation legs are just about $300, are carbon fiber, very light, and have had a good response here. They're on the market for eight years.

The Manfrotto's are bulletproof and will last a lifetime.

Thanks. Which ball head would you suggest?

alpha_1976 wrote in post #10866604
Thanks. Which ball head would you suggest?

Herein lies the rub. My favorite for that CF tripod is the Markins Q3t, as it will fit between the legs when they're inverted, and make a tight package for carrying on a backpack.

But if you're taking it out of the trunk and don't care about the portability, the Markins M10. It has a bigger ball, which is easier to position.

The rub is that these run in the $300 range. The Manfrotto 488rc2 and 498rc2 are super, rocksolid heads for less money.

If the 3441's speak to you but you don't care about the lightest weight possible in a tripod, email Kerry at ReallyBigCameras and ask about the other CF sticks in the line, which may be a bit heavier, but less expensive.

Thanks Jay. I'll send an e-mail to him and ask if I have more options. Thanks again.

If as stated you do landscapes I would consider a Pan n Tilt head as they really do make framing a lot easier and indeed more precise. A ball may be smaller and more convenient to carry but if you're just going to pull it out of a car and shoot then I would have considered that a Pan n Tilt would be eminently suitable.

2c from one who'd never consider a ballhead

What do you guys think of 190xPROB and 486RC2 ball head? I don't have any heavy lens at this moment so weight wise this should do as well. I have an opportunity to pick one locally for about $160.

alpha_1976 wrote in post #10873112
What do you guys think of 190xPROB and 486RC2 ball head? I don't have any heavy lens at this moment so weight wise this should do as well. I have an opportunity to pick one locally for about $160.

The 190 family of Manfrotto tripods is shorter and less sturdy than the 055 family.

The Manfrotto 486/496 ball heads are missing the separate pan lock/release that the 488/498 ball heads have. Also, my personal experience is that my 486 creeps more under load than my 488 does.

My suggestion - if this is going to be your only tripod and you need for it to be sturdy (as in both solidly built AND able to hold a camera steadily), stick with the 055XProB/498RC2 combination.

I'd suggest the 488RC2 or the (current) 498RC2 instead. It's a bit heavier but has a separate pan control which is very often convenient.

Thanks Skip and Jon. I am going to stick with 055 and 498RC2 then. I have invested a lot in my gear so some more is not a problem.