janewynn

Hi Everyone,

My wobbly tripod finally broke, i will say "yeah" as I need a good light weight one that can hold a camera with a 500mm lens. I like photographing birds and sports. Any suggestions?

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Budget?
You want carbon fiber.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1495136-REG/peak_design_tt_cb_5_150_cf_1_carbon_fiber_travel_tripod.html/reviews?sts=pi-ps&pim=Y

The best of the best are Gitzo and Really Right Stuff

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

If you want the best and have the money buy RRS or Gitzo.
Millions of others at reasonable price. I use often a Dolica, a cheap aluminum tripod that cost me $45 and continues to give me excellent service. I have a $200 Desmond DCF-432 carbon fiber for my D7000 and 80-400 VR lens. The tripod is solid and decently made and I do not abuse of my tripods.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Lightweight normally means a carbon fiber unit and good tripods are not cheap. What is your budget? Oh and a gimbal would be better to use than a ball head considering your uses...

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Check RRS or Gitzo.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

3 Legged Thing - have one, comes with a head - first one that doesn't drop when you take your hands off the lens.
British firm, ships quickly, great variety of tripods and accessories

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I have the older CF Eddie Evo 2 myself...I got it directly from the mfgr. That said, I got it for free. I won a contest...

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

+1 - Check RRS or Gitzo.

The head is just as important as the tripod. A ballhead that will 'lock' the head under the weight is critical. For your BIF / sports, a gimbal might be an even better choice. Finally, the mounting option can make the entire tripod that much more useful. Look at a L-plate for the camera body, a lens plate for the lens colar, and finally, quick-release clamps on the head or gimbal. Best approach is that all plates and clamps are based on the arca-swiss dovetail standard.

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

Go as the Moose!

Cuw

I did a lot of research in regards to my last tripod purchase. I purchased a Innorel tripod after reading many reviews. It's carbon fiber has 10 layers ,supports up to 88lbs. Its the best tripod that I've ever owned. It supports my 5d mark iv, with 150-600mm tamron lens with ease. Comparable tripods will easily cost you up to 800.00 plus dollars. You can purchase the 90c innorel for 319.00 through Amazon. I have no regrets in my purchase of this product.

janewynn

Thank you, I will check it out. It looks like what I need

janewynn

Thanks, I like to read your answers on this web site. You seem very knowledgeable

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Since directed to no one specific, I'll take this 'thank you'. If looking to save some money, take any useful suggestion from this tread and see if you can find a used version on ebay. Back in 2013, based on feedback here at UHH, I found a Gitzo - G1352 MkII Carbon Fiber Professional on ebay for $450. This was an older model back then and they might be harder to find today. A quality tripod is built to last forever, so there's little risk of problems from an online used version, even if it shows some cosmetic wear. The Gitzo was 1/3 the price of the corresponding RRS version sold new. The RRS was a bit lighter, but no functional difference.

To both tripod I added the RRS BH-40 head. The ballheads and quick-release clamps from RRS really are the best and worth their expense. For gimbals, you have some choices, where Wimberley is the preferred model, at a higher price.

Consider <quote reply> when replying to specific prior posts.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Currently, an instant 5% coupon is available getting an additional $15 off.

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

If budget is no consideration there is no substitute for Really Right Stuff. It's a company that will be around for a while, and has been accepted in the professional community simply because it works as promised and the company stands behind it. The same things can be said about Gitzo.

There are lots of other companies selling carbon fiber tripods - most of which are of questionable quality, and with even more questionable support policies. It's hard to name them all but research will help you ferret them out.

in 2007 I was looking for exactly the same thing you are looking for today - strong and light support for a 500mm lens, in this case on a crop sensor camera.

I bought a new Gitzo, after reading about how amazing they are, and my previous experience with a studio model, the Gitzo Studex - which was similarly amazing but at around 15 lbs, not at all suitable for field use.

I got the tripod, a Series 3, and while I was impressed with the quality, its relatively thin legs were not up to the task of keeping a 500mm lens steady. I think I paid around $525 for it, but it was not what I needed.

I had seen some ads and a few non-professional reviews of a brand I had never heard of - Feisol. Looking at the specs of a tripod they were about to release, the CT-3472 - I found that it might be stiffer than the Series 3 because it had thicker legs, and it only weighed 2 ounces more, which was not a big deal for me. I pre-ordered it directly from China, and received it 6 weeks later.

It turned out to be a very well constructed tripod, and definitely better suited for long lens use than the Gitzo. BTW, Gitzo rates their Series 3 tripods as appropriate for up to 300mm to 400mm lenses, so there was no surprise there.

I have used my Feisol with a 600mm lens + a 1.4X TC with great results. It was a good purchase, and while in 2007 it was a risk because Feisol was an unknown brand, it has turned out to be quite a good alternative to RRS and Gitzo, with good performance at a reduced price.

Bottom line, you should be looking for a tripod that has a minimum top leg tube diameter of 37mm. Anything less with a 500mm lens you will be inviting camera shake and soft images.