Tripod Advice

With my current gear below, and the 70-200 f/2.8L II being the biggest/heaviest lens I'll probably buy for a while. Will this Manfrotto do the trick for me? I'm just looking for a basic ball head tripod that's well made... no need for any fancy features.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …tion_Aluminum_T​ripod.html

With that ball head, you are most likely to get some creep. The weight rating needs to give you some extra room. At 7 lbs. you arent giving yourself much safety. It should be able to hold what you have, not as sturdy as I would trust with, but it will not be able to hold a 70-200mm with your 5D. Best of luck with your search of a tripod!

I like to cut the manufacturer's maximum weight limit in half in order to ensure that my gear is safe and that the mount is secure.

Maybe this is overkill but, I would rather be safe than sorry. This is especially true since I often carry the tripod with camera and lens attached.

our max lens is a 100-400. Even with that weight, went with GT-3531S with BH-55. That combo is 1/3 lighter than our old combo (055proB with 488) and holds more weight and is definitely more stable. Only downside...significant​ly more expensive. But we figure this will be the last tripod and head sets we will purchase.

realmike15 wrote in post #11531531
With my current gear below, and the 70-200 f/2.8L II being the biggest/heaviest lens I'll probably buy for a while. Will this Manfrotto do the trick for me? I'm just looking for a basic ball head tripod that's well made... no need for any fancy features.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …tion_Aluminum_T​ripod.html

The weight specifications on tripods really means nothing to the photographer except that the tripod won't totally collapse with that weight on it.

I've found that if you TRIPLE the weight of your equipment and buy a good name-brand tripod (such as Manfrotto or Gitzo) rated for that or more (and I like more), you'll have a tripod that is worth using. A flimsy tripod that cannot hold a decent camera/lens package steady is not worth owning.

My recommendation for a good general-purpose still photography tripod that won't break the bank: the Manfrotto 055XProB topped off with the Manfrotto 498RC2 ball head.

I like Skip's suggestion. I own that package myself and it is quite sturdy. But heavy. Below is an option that is lighter and would be suitable for what you are asking.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Aluminum_Tripo​d_Kit.html

Thanks guys, I'll check out those other combos. I just got $150 gift card for Christmas so my budget went up a little anyway