Photojournal

I have a D500 and use a Tamron 150-600 lens. What tripod would you recommend? Needs to be lightweight but sturdy, also budget friendly? Also - recommend ballhead, gimbal or whatever you think is best. Preferably a portable tripod to fit in backpack…but doesn’t need to be.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I’ve read that the only "good" tripod is an expensive tripod. Carbon fiber tripods are light and strong but being lightweight means they're less stable than heavier ones and need extra weight hung from them to reduce vibration.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

I use a Manfrotto 190 Carbon Fiber tripod coupled with a RRS BH-40 Ball Head and it holds my 5D and 100-400 lens just fine. It may not be completely backpack friendly, but it is def small enough to attach to the outside of a camera backpack.

Here on the Florida Panhandle we get some pretty windy days along the coast, and it seems that when I'm using my 100-400 lens it does get a a little shaky in the strongest gusts of wind, but at that point with a lens that size I don't think much would stop it from shaking slightly when zoomed out to 400.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

This is a tough ask. First of all a 600mm lens on dx body is 900mm equivalent. Thats 18x magnification. To battle vibrations while being sturdy rules out lighter, cheaper legs and heads.

Carbon is more expensive than aluminum but naturally dampens vibrations far better. You will be much happier with a heavier duty head that does not droop after fixing in position.

On its face this an untenable solution "within a budget". One way out though may be if your needs allow for shooting from low positions. For most adults, especially older ones, this is uncomfortable. But there are some reasonably priced, decently built and sturdy legs available in the 3 feet high zone which would work from a seated position.

Purchasing used gear will greatly relax these constraints. I would personally suggest an older set of gitzo carbon legs and markins head. Oh yeah, definitely want arca-swiss compatible mounting.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...Preferably a portable tripod to fit in backpack…"
Photojournal you're wanting to hang a 4 lb lens on this? Really?

Sturdy isn't light... nor is it cheap... you're looking at maybe carbon fiber...
However please tell us what genre you work in... That is pivotal to the mix here.
There is a vast difference between shooting Polo and Fashion Editorials.

I shoot fashion and beauty editorials on location with a fluid head on a Carbon Fiber Sirui ET 2204 US albeit that is certainly not going to work for your 4 lb plus beast...
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1456057-REG/sirui_suet2204l_et_2204_tripods_legs.html
It's only 3 lbs albeit the fluid head is another couple of lbs on top of that...

You can't have long glass and light weight...
So funny how folks never seem to learn until the brutal truth of reality kicks in...

btw, I make big bucks as a photo assistant for commercial shooters in my market who use massive tripods on location. It's exhausting work, long hours (up to 14 hour days) but I'm smiling on the way to the bank.

Bottom Line? Perhaps you may benefit from the services of an assistant?
Yes US Marines can endure a 40lb plus loading and move quickly over rough terrain...
But then again they are highly trained endurance athletes.

Maybe consider renting one first?
https://www.lensrentals.com/rent/video/tripods

If you're only shooting a couple of location events per year this is an excellent solution.

btw, the naive pay twice... once to figure out that they seriously need to pony up considerably more for the appropriate tool for the job... Just saying...

Wishing you all the best on your journey Photojournal

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

Three words of advice. Don't go cheap. Plan on spending in the neighborhood of $1K.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Carbon Fiber tripods are built to last. Seriously consider buying a used tripod to save money and then consider new heads / clamps / plates if you can't find those too used. You want a tripod that has the platform at your eye level before the ball / gimbal raises the camera still higher. This way, you can stand straight when shooting something above your head. Having to stoop down to try to get your eye to the viewfinder will have you immediately wishing you'd chosen a taller model. A center column will make for a lighter overall tripod, but far less sturdy than just a three leg model that is as tall as a center column can rise. The more 'sections' in the legs have is another way to save weight (like using a center column), where 3 sections will be heavier than 4, and 4 heavier than 5. It takes more time to release and then set the tripods with more sections.

The Really Right Stuff heads (RRS) are the best choice. Save money on the tripod model so you can get at least the RRS-40 head, mentioned above. Then, there's the clamping. Quick-release lever clamps are the best option, fast to open / close, rock solid when locked. A screw clamp can be just as secure and cheaper, just not as quick to use. An L-plate on your camera and dove-tail plates on your lens collars make (complete) the system. Brands that follow the arca-swiss standard allow you to consider multiple brands like RRS, Kirk and others.

The point of all this equipment is to make for a versatile and easy to use tool, tools that enable your photography, not detract. The camera can always be mounted in two orientations via the permanently installed L-plate. The lens can always be mounted via the permanently installed plate on the collar. The tripod is easy to set-up with just three (minimum) sections on the legs and no center column. Your thump flips the lever to open the clamp and then close to mount the camera / lens.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

B&H has a selection system for tripods. You check boxes for everything you might want or think you want. It is divided into two sections:

Tripods with Heads:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Complete-Tripods-with-Heads/ci/2635/N/4075788742

Tripod Legs Only:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Tripod-Legs/ci/2636/N/4075788741

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

I use a Stealth 203 (Enduro) tripod. I have used it with a Nikon 200-500 lens and in the past a Tamron 150-600 lens. Now I just use a Nikon 500PF lens and no tripod for the most part. A heavy lens will drop a bit if the ball head is not large enough to hold it. I use a RRS B-55 ball head. This gear has worked out well for me. Budgets differ and you did not state yours but my budget found the cost to be reasonable for what I wanted, a stable setting to get the best shots. Putting a long lens on a small transportable tripod would be asking for trouble.

photoman43

Follow the good advice above. You need a good tripod and a good head to keep your heavy camera and lens stable.

The lens may need a long arca swiss lens plate as its size and balance point changes as you zoom it.

A used three leg carbon fiber tripod, series three or four, from Gitzo, Induro (now Benro) and a new or used head from RRS, Kirk Enterprises or a Flexshooter Pro head may be what you need.

Check out the tripods sold by Naturescapes.net Store :

https://store.naturescapes.net/tripod-comparison-chart/

dsnoke Loc: North Georgia, USA

A lot of good advice here. My experience with a long lens (both 150-600 and100-400 by Tamron) is that a tripod is not always as useful as it would seem. For shooting birds, cars, horses or other things in motion, I find a monopod is much more useful. That takes the weight off my arms while still allowing me to be nimble. If you really want a tripod, seriously consider pairing it with a gimbal head.
But what other have said is correct, a tripod strong enough for your combination of gear won't be light or inexpensive.
Good Luck!

Photojournal

FYI….lol, I shoot polo, and wildlife for the most part.

Photojournal

Thank you all for the advice. So far what I’m seeing is carbon is best and try for used to save a couple bucks. Consider height, legs and mount. Probably shoot for a Manfrotto as i like the clamps over the twist legs.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Assure the head is not integrated, or a Manfrotto model that doesn't come with a head, so you can change to the desired model and / or swap between a ball and gimbal when desired.

photoman43

Regarding clamps vs twist locks on carbon fiber tripods, I have seen clamps made from carbon fiber or plastic break on tripods. (maybe thee problems have now been fixed.) I use twist locks on my carbon fiber tripods and monopod. I due use clamps on my metal monopod.