Equipment

With the cost of a new tripod it becomes very important to purchase the right tripod the first time. I've already purchased cheap and learned valuable lessons from this mistake. I'm ready and willing to pay what it costs to get a quality unit. I'm under 6', shoot a Canon 50D and my biggest lens is a 70 - 200 with 2x extension. Would love to venture into macro and panorama at some point. I climb 14ers and am already carrying 40 lbs of gear so light weight would be a consideration. I've done research on Really Right Stuff website and am impressed but confused about all the components needed. I'm wondering what club memberrs have learned from their purchases and what recommendations they might make. I'd really appreciate your input. Ed Boyle

Ed - I'm a huge proponent of the Induro line - I own both the CT213 and CT313. They are made of carbon fiber and don't have the huge expense of a Gitzo. The 213 will hold everything you described and more. Feel free to come check mine out if you want.

Hi Ed.
I'll also suggest a carbon fiber tripod. For a head, I recently bought one of these:
MH-1302 PRO SERIES II MEDIUM BALLHEAD
and I am really impressed with it's performance. Very very light and handles my 1D Mark IV at odd angles when doing long exposure night photography and holds the position perfectly. I'm going to buy a second one for hiking. I was skeptical because it is so small and light, but it works well.

Roger

Ed - I purchased a Gitzo GT2541 this past spring. It was initially tough to swallow the cost, but it's been a rock solid tripod. I shot on some very windy coastal locations this past year, and it didn't move, even without a bag/weight hanging from the center column. With the four section legs, it nicely fits in carry-on luggage and packs well when backpacking - two thing also important to me. It's become a great all purpose tripod, I don't see the need for something more heavy duty.

Hope this helps. Happy New Year!

-Justin

It isn't the weight of my carbon fiber tripod legs that kills me when I carry a big lens, it's the weight of the Wimberly tripod head. Are there any lighter options that work for a 500mm lens????

Nancy

Nancy, there is a Jubu Jr3 head that is considerably lighter than the Wimberly. It is lighter and smaller to pack. I use it with a 500mm and it works but it doesn't balance as nicely as the WImberly. The Manufacturers of Jobu state it works with the 500mm but don't recommend it. If you wish to see one, feel free to contact me as I don't think anyone local sells them.

Tom

A lot of people are liking the Mongoose M3.5b. See this review:
http://www.outdoorphotogear.com/blog/dpe-video-review-of-the-mongoose-m3-5b-gimbal-tripod-head-1715

I have the full wimberly version 1 and will probably get the mongoose. It weights only 1.5 pounds.

Roger

Well, not sure if the mongoose 3.5b is still current. I also see a 3.6. Note it is similarly priced to the wimberly II, however, the wimberly comes with the bottom mount and the equivalent Low Mount Arm for the Mongoose is another $110. For the heavy 500 f/4, I would recommend having the bottom mount rather than a side mount.

Roger

I've naroowed my search and from the responses I've gotten from this blog and others it sounds like the Gitzo GT3541 with GH3780 QR ballhead might be the best option for me. I was looking at the GS3750 DQR panoramic head and was wondering if it would give me a more percise 360 degree than using the GH3780 QR for panoramics. It the anser is yes, is there a "L" plate that is compatible with it so I can shoot both landscape and portrait panoramics?

Ed