catterar Loc: Angier, NC

I am leaving for Antarctica in 10 days and I need a tripod.
I am looking at the Sirui T-024X Traveler Light Carbon Fiber Tripod with a C-10S Ball Head. I am basing my choice on size and weight. However I am concerned about whether or not it will be stable enough. I will be shooting with a Nikon D5300 body and a Nikon 18-55mm kit lens and a Nikon 55-300mm zoom lens. The weight of the camera body and 55-300mm lens is 2lb 10.125oz.
Any comments on the suitability of this set-up or suggestions for a more suitable tripod. I only have a budget of $300.00.
Thanks,
Bob

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Bob,
Go for it. Great tripod. I have one and use it for travel.It will be stable enough I use it with my D800 and 200-500 Nikon Nikkor.

catterar Loc: Angier, NC

Thanks, that eases my mind.
Bob

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

It's a compromise and appears undersized for your stated use. Read the reviews. It may serve a short term goal which is your up-coming trip-- but if you do a lot of tripod photography, I foresee that you'll find it inadequate and replace it. Nothing to recommend with that budget limitation. Oh, look at the thread :carbon fiber tripod". There are a few other suggestions of more stability.

catterar Loc: Angier, NC

Thanks, I'll look at that thread. I'm brand new to photography and have already made to many purchasing mistakes before finding UHH.
Bob

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Oh Bob, that's part of the charm of those late life hobbies, yes? Besides, that's what the E-Bays are for. Watch the T&C vdieo for the cost per day purchase vs sell price discussion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=743NAj8AcUM&t=7s

Haydon

Gene should be piping in soon Bob. Pay attention to his advice. Wealth of information to say the least. Good luck.

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

I am assuming you are planning on using the 300mm lens with the tripod.

What you are looking at is a little too light duty for a 300mm lens on a crop camera - with the equivalent field of view of a 450mm. Though I guess it would be fine if you are using the shorter lens - the shorter the focal length the better. A tripod with a top tube diameter of only 22mm is going to shake with a 300mm lens (450mm FoV)regardless of whether you spend $140 or $670. If you are more than 5'4" tall, you will have to extend the center column, which will make it even less stable. And though I think Sirui ball heads are among the best values out there, this does not include the C10X, which only has a 29mm ball. It will droop under the asymmetrical load of a fully extended 55-300mm, supported only by the camera's tripod thread. I think you will regret that purchase, unless you don't intend to use the 300 with it, and don't mind stooping over your tripod, or a little shake here and there if you need to extend the center tube.

If you like Sirui, then you should consider their tripods with 29 or 32 mm top tubes, like their 2204 series Carbon or their heavier duty ones, and a K30X as a minimum head, and preferably the K40X.

This might sound obvious and possibly a little patronizing, but the point of bringing a tripod is to use it to hold your camera in a stable and safe fashion to ensure minimal vibrations that will rob your images of the quality that your camera and lenses are capable of. If you cannot justify the $400-$500 expense needed to get good sharp results, then consider renting. The other thing is that both of your lenses have really good stabilization, adn you may not even need a tripod.

Something to consider - Gitzo rates their gear based on the angle of view of the lens. Their 22mm tube diameter tripod, their Series 0, is rated for stable use with a 75mm lens. There is no rational reason to think that the $235 (with ball head) Sirui is going to be any more stable than the $670 (no ball head) Gitzo. When you think about it, it doesn't really make any sense. As far as using a 200-500 lens with it, I would suggest you don't do that. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. And if you do, and something bad happens, you'll have no one to blame for the disaster but yourself.

Here is a little video that I like to post the link to from time to time. Pay particular attention to his pearls of wisdom at :45. Makes me chuckle every time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8HVPrPzpR4

Putting a long telephoto lens on a ultralight tripod reminds me of the guy with the red Jetta coming back from Home Depot.

Gitzo Catalog
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LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

In no way was I disparaging the Sirui mentioned-- just that it isn't up to the task as stated in the original post.

Bill_de Loc: US

If the lens has VR, all you really need the tripod for is to support the weight. Keep the ball head knobs loose, use highest shutter speed that's practical, and hold the camera/lens as still as possible. Then let VR do the rest.

Have a great trip.

--

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Looking at the responses to your query I'm thinking that perhaps it would be helpful if you'd provide more information about your thinking. I hardly ever use a tripod, in fact I hardly ever pack one to take with me, because it most cases the shutter speed I use to capture my target is sufficient to overcome any camera motion not stopped by the Image Stabilization, but I recognize that others have other priorities. What kinds of pictures are you expecting to take? What benefit are you expecting to get from this tripod?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The tripod is rated for 13 lb, and your heaviest combo is under 3 lb, so you should be okay.

Other choices -

http://www.techradar.com/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/best-travel-tripods-6-great-carbon-fibre-stands-for-your-camera-1325010
http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2015/05/01/8-great-travel-tripods-whats-the-best-tripod-the-one-you-take-with-you
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_6?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=mefoto+tripod&sprefix=mefoto%2Caps%2C152
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/01/26/best-tripod-travel-8-top-options-tested-rated/5/

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Good point. The idea of setting up a tripod, attaching the camera, etc., doesn't appeal to me - in Antarctica!!!

breck Loc: Derbyshire UK

I think it will be fine just do not extend the center pole, use a remote release and mirror up with live view where possible. place a weight hanging from the top of the tripod. All things you should do with a Gitzo or RRS real expensive heavy tripod

stevelink Loc: Colorado

Hi Bob.
Have you looked at the MeFOTO GlobeTrotter tripods? I use the aluminum model for my Fuji X-Pro2 system with Fujinon glass from 16-55 to 55-200, and am quite sure that it (or the carbon fiber model) would handle your Nikon + 55-300 with ease. Plus, it has a built-in monopod, which was a main feature that brought me to this brand in the first place! I also recommend Gitzo Travelers, but they're quite out of your budget. The MeFOTO line seems very solid and robust for the money! Have fun on your trip!