nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

One of the items on my Christmas Wishlist is a new tripod. I doubt very seriously that anyone in the family will actually go buy a good one for me as they know I tend to be rather picky. What will happen is I'll get contributions toward the purchase. I'm considering the Giottos Pro Series 9314. B&H has it for $185.00 and their usual free expedited shipping. My main reasons for picking this one are the max height of 75" and 22 pound max load. I don't need that much height but don't want to raise the center column to the top. My current setup is an Alpha 850 & Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 which tips the scale just over 6 pounds. I'm planning on either the Sigma or Tamron 150-600 for wildlife work. Do any of ya'll have other suggestions in approximately the same size & price range. Also, I'm looking for suggestions for a head. I'd love to have one of MTShooter's Nest gimbal heads but, that's out of my budget.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Good tripods are not cheap. Do a lot of research and take time to select one that you won 't need to replace with a better one later.

JOHNRENAUDETTE Loc: ATLANTA

No one seems to trust low cost tripods on here and I was skeptical myself until I looked when someone else here on site suggested this one all I can say is take a look I am very pleased with it and the 120.00 price see link. Carbon fiber prof tripod with ball head.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/370966743161?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

Perhaps I didn't state my question clearly enough. I'm looking for a recommendation for either a ball head or pan head to support my Alpha 850 & eventually a Sigma or Tamron 150-600mm lens. I've decided on a tripod. Just need a recommendation for a head.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Manfrotto 475b or similar - about $200 and up used ......For serious wildlife using a medium sized lens, ( like the Tammy) I recommend the speed and proper use of a well articualted monopod for most scenerios. Video pan/tilt heads are good for following action but good ones can be as expensive as good gimbals.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

My personal choice for ballheads is ReallyRightStuff. They run from $100 to $ 350, plus another $100 for the clamp. Check their site to see if you can get what you need for what you want to spend!

james leavitt Loc: maine, USA

I have a Nikon 28-300 zoom lens on a Nikon D7000 body but it was too off balanced when zoomed out to 300mm, so I had to purchase a
MEPHOTO globetrotter carbon fiber tripod with ball head and that has proven to work for me, very light and compact and supports 26.5 lbs yet weights only 3.3 lbs. Carbon fiber inherrently has better dampening characteristics then aluminum, minimizes vibration.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

You are making a mistake considering tripod load capacity in making a selection. It is not a predictor for stability. A better spec is the top tube diameter - generally, the bigger the tube the more stable the tripod will be. A $75 tripod will "support" 15lbs, but it doesn't mean it will hold your camera steady, especially if you are using a long focal length or doing macro.

Now, a 600mm lens regardless of whether it is a lightweight like the Tamron at 6 lbs, or a heavyweight, like a Nikon 600mm F4 AF-S II at 13 lbs, will require the exact same tripod and head. If anyone tells you otherwise, they either don't know any better, or are deliberately trying to sell you a bill of goods.

You will see lots of testimonials and well-intended suggestions from many respondents - but unless they have worked with tripods that will provide stable support, you must take their advice with a grain of salt. Take a look at this site for some common sense suggestions on what constitutes proper support for a long lens:

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/s.nl/sc.27/category.24/.f

You can learn all that you need to know before you spend a dime, or you can learn the hard way, by purchasing a $185 tripod that will not provide what you need, then the $300 one, then the $500 and eventually the one you really should have bought in the first place. Just trying to save you frustration and money -

As far as a head is concerned, if you don't need a locking head, then consider the Manfrotto 393 - it is a U shaped gimbal that extremely steady and fairly smooth - it just doesn't lock to a specific position. BTW, its only $190, but I suspect that you will need to rethink your budget, since this is the least expensive "safe" support for a camera and long lens that I can recommend. I've used one for 7 years and can vouch for it's performance and value. You can always add an Arca-Swiss clamp to the Manfrotto QR plate if you want to have a more flexible system.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

I thought the BH55 was about $500

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I'm over there <<< Nickster.
I got a surveying tripod, then made aluminum plates for my heads to mount to. Stout as a truck.

That tripod you mention has a 12 year warranty.

I have a geared head I use for Macro adjusting.
And one of MT Shooter's Nest Gimbal heads for my Big Tammy lens.

For big lenses, weight, and ease of use, I can't recommend the Nest Gimbal Head high enough.

I have a ball head, and it works fine. But I wouldn't recommend a ball head with a heavy lens. YMMV

Which brings us down to a panning head. I'd suggest that over a ball head for big lenses.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Holy Crap!! And I've been using my Arca-Swiss Z1 with my 600 F4 - I guess I should stop doing that, huh. :)

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Well, Gene, you don't want your lens to be a floppy... :twisted:

I believe I said I wouldn't recommend it. And added YMMV.
Let's see...
"I have a ball head, and it works fine. But I wouldn't recommend a ball head with a heavy lens. YMMV"

I, as in me, myself, and I, am not sold on the ball head craze.
But hey, what I do is for my assurances.
I have used my Itty-Bitty Sirui ball head under my Big Tammy. But found a betterer method for me.

Now, letgo my lego and quit pullin it. ;) :lol:

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I just checked the site to be sure. They are $ 355 without a clamp, as stated (with a small rounding). Their price, with clamp, varies quite a bit, but an average was noted. Since I had no idea what clamp was desired, I quoted head only, with a note @ the clamp.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Phew! Am I relieved with your clarification! I thought I was doing something irrevocably wrong all these years. So I really won't have a floppy lens. Great!

Actually, the Arca is one of the few (joining the top end Markins, RRS, Kirk etc) that is actually recommended for use with a Sidekick-style gimbal. I do use it particularly if I am shooting static subjects or slow moving large birds (like eagles and osprey) and don't have the gimbal with me. But I would have to agree with you, the Sirui (which I happen to like a lot for a smaller ball head) is probably not going to work that well with a 15 lb camera and lens.