Tripod suggestion (Page 2): The surveyor's tripods, Majestic tripods, or Linhof are the one's mentioned that are suitable. In any case, a Majestic gearhead is essentially the way to...

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Zone-System-Grandpa wrote:

Also, I already have a very heavy duty carbon fiber tripod, but I question its stability when taking into consideration that the lens, alone, weighs 28 pounds. Luckily, it does have a built in handle for carrying !

The surveyor's tripods, Majestic tripods, or Linhof are the one's mentioned that are suitable.

In any case, a Majestic gearhead is essentially the way to go! A good gimbal can handle the weight, but it won't be as stable or as easy to adjust.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Bill_de wrote:

Check the rating on your tripod. This one is rated for 88 lbs

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=846218&gclid=CIqQzv2uycsCFZUjgQodQRgN8A&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876%2C92051678642%2C&Q=&A=details

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I made an error in missing the Gitzo Series 5 tripods. I have one, and was thinking it was rated at 56 lbs or so. My bad. 88 lbs is enough for this project, and it is in fact a very nice tripod.

Get a Majestic gearhead though... :-)

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Zone-System-Grandpa wrote:

For you birders with long focal length lenses, I h... (show quote)

My suggestion is : A good carbon fiber rated for twice the camera/lens weight and a GOOD gimbal head.
I use a Gitzo GT5561 SGT ( no longer listed) and a Wimberly head
This tripod is quite a bit of over kill, but ver strudy.
A lot of people are going to the Nest gimbal head ( about half the price of the Wimberly). The Wimberly while imo is greatly over priced it is very well made.
20 yds is a bit far for small birds.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Zone-System-Grandpa wrote:

For you birders with long focal length lenses, I h... (show quote)

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Zone-System-Grandpa wrote:

For you birders with long focal length lenses, I h... (show quote)

OK, for the guy that owns 12 D810's I am going to recommend the enduro AT413 with a Wimberley head. And, I have to ask, if you own all of that Nikon stuff why are you shooting THAT lens and not the new 200-500 Nikon.

jmizera Loc: Austin Texas

Zone-System-Grandpa wrote:

For you birders with long focal length lenses, I h... (show quote)

You can't go wrong with Manfrotto.

Bill_de Loc: US

billnikon wrote:

OK, for the guy that owns 12 D810's I am going to recommend the enduro AT413 with a Wimberley head. And, I have to ask, if you own all of that Nikon stuff why are you shooting THAT lens and not the new 200-500 Nikon.

Can I take a guess at one reason ... F/ 2.8.

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RRS Loc: Not sure

Zone-System-Grandpa wrote:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ br br My ap... (show quote)

Doug, I think your lens weight is 34.54 lbs if it's the new one. I'd have to agree with imagemeister and I don't think any wind would tip it over short of a hurricane.

lowkick Loc: Connecticut

Zone-System-Grandpa wrote:

For you birders with long focal length lenses, I h... (show quote)

If you are going to use this tripod exclusively for shooting remotely off your back porch, you don't need to spend a lot of money. You don't need light weight carbon fiber and you don't need a gimbal head. In fact, a tripod meant for video cameras will work quite well for you. Take a look at this one as an example. http://www.amazon.com/Davis-Sanford-Provista-7518-Tripod/dp/B00009UTCA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1458310020&sr=8-2&keywords=studio+tripod+davis+and+sanford

Just make sure that you have something to help secure the tripod from tipping over if you are going to leave it unmanned and shoot remotely. I just watched a great video on shooting wildlife from your back yard. It is called "A beginner's Guide To Wildlife Photography" by Moose Peterson and it is available (you have to subscribe) on KelbyOne.com. This guy has a lot of great advice for shooting birds off your back porch, including shooting remote.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Zone-System-Grandpa wrote:

For you birders with long focal length lenses, I h... (show quote)

Doug, I use a Gitzo tripod for every camera I use. It was purchased primarily for my view camera, but I'm not one to have a collection of camera specific tripods. So, look at that brand and pick the model most suitable for your use.
--Bob

Bill_de Loc: US

lowkick wrote:

I just watched a great video on shooting wildlife from your back yard. It is called "A beginner's Guide To Wildlife Photography" by Moose Peterson and it is available (you have to subscribe) on KelbyOne.com. This guy has a lot of great advice for shooting birds off your back porch, including shooting remote.

It was his book, I think by the same name, that got me started in backyard bird photography many years ago. It is what prompted me to start putting a perch next to my feeders. I later took a workshop with him and saw my first dslr, a D1x.

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WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

One of our members sells Nest equipment both tripods and gimbal heads. Top quality carbon fiber equipment. Here is the link to the tripods the gimbal head is under equipment on the site.

http://www.cameracottage.com/tripods

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Zone-System-Grandpa wrote:

...
Yesterday, I received my new Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 APO EX DG lens which my wife and I will be using for birding....

The lens is rather heavy which is why I am asking if anyone might suggest a best tripod to accommodate the need....

Understatement of the year!

That's a massive, heavy lens.

I'd say a Gitzo Series 5 (or equivalent) with a heavy duty video head would be the best bet. The current models are rated for 88 lbs, while the older ones are around 55 lbs, if memory serves.

I normally recommend a gimbal head with a long telephoto, but that lens is just way too heavy for most of those. Manfrotto 393 is about the heaviest duty one made, and that's "only" rated to about 50 lbs, so only marginally strong enough for this particular lens.

A video tripod and head might be your best solution. Some of those are quite heavy duty... rated for 80 to 100 or more lbs. Unfortunately, they're quite expensive. Many are over $5000... some over $10,000... But, hey, after all the Sigma 200-500mm f2.8 is a $26,000 lens.

I'm waiting for someone to jump in and write "Hand hold it! You don't need no stinkin' tripod! I handhold mine all day long."...
http://2.static.img-dpreview.com/files/w/TS560x560?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftambnguyen.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F04%2F01b151c88da08ddc655c0210.L.jpg&signature=PcYbTFKVguesW%2FRuoKNSn1LnUFQ%3D

;)

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

imagemeister wrote:

I would seriously be looking at a surveyer's transit pod.

Seriously????

I use a Gitzo Series 3 carbon fiber tripod and a gimbal head. Since your equipment is already pretty heavy, you want your tripod to be light, stable, and suitable to support double the weight of your current and possibly future camera/lens combo.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

jeep_daddy wrote:

Seriously????

I use a Gitzo Series 3 carbon fiber tripod and a gimbal head. Since your equipment is already pretty heavy, you want your tripod to be light, stable, and suitable to support double the weight of your current and possibly future camera/lens combo.

YES very seriously - and you will need the biggest and best ! BTW, he will not be moving this rig around ! see above for size ....