latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

Feisol 3472 and SIRUI K-40X 54mm Ballhead with Quick Release. This will be under $1,000. Gene51 recommended this and I could not be happier. It will outlast me and/or any equipment I have. I have bee very pleased using the tripod with a gimbal head and a 150 - 600 lens.

jackpi Loc: Southwest Ohio

Long lenses on a ball head are a pain. Contact Carter (MT Shooter). He runs the Camera Cottage and sells a great inexpensive gimbal head. He can also recommend a tripod that, with the gimbal head, will fit your budget.

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

But if your budget only allows for a single head, a ball head is a pretty decent choice. I have a cheap gimbal - a Manfrotto 393, which has served me well over the last 12 yrs, but my first ever ball head was an old Arca Swiss B1 (?) which I upgraded to a Z1 when it looked like I would be getting involved in bird and wildlife photography and I purchased my first Feisol, a CT-3472, in 2007. I've since gotten it's baby brother, the CT-3442, and a Sirui K30X for travel and backpacking. While i would not recommend it for a 600mm lens especially on a crop sensor - as it is too unstable for that, it is a great solution for wide to middle focal lengths, up to around 300mm, and closeup. For macro and really long lenses the bigger "thicker" CT-3472 is what I use. If anyone is curious. the load capacity on the 3442 is 55 lbs, and on the 3472 it's 66 lbs - which of course has zero to do with stability.

bobwalder

Gene51 - assuming I am going for the CT-3472, which head would you recommend for the 150-600mm zoom? Ball or gimbal? Both (and when would you use each one, if so). Sidewinder? Thanks.

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

I'm glad to see you have even upped the budget even more, to a $1000.00. You'll not be sorry for this decision. I have a Bogan 3011, which was designed to be used with heavy older video equipment. It came with a video pan type head, which was also very heavy. I got the tripod and head as a bonus gift when I cleaned out a airplane hangar. I used this on my old 7D, and old Tamron 150-500mm lens. I carried this monster all through the bayous and swamps shooting wading birds. The pan head just didn't help with any real moving subjects. I decided to look into a gimbal head. I had been reading many of MTshooters posts and his photos. At the time he owned his store, but did guided photo tours of Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks. He was now shutting down his tour business, and upping his new store, and became the national rep for Nest Products. I looked into several gimbal heads for my Bogan tripod, and finally settled for the Nest Gimbal, with fluid drive. When it arrived, I was amazed at the light weight, and how the joints could be adjusted, and easily balanced. The head is carbon fiber, and very well designed and machined, and comes with a 5 year warranty. The Bogen was very heavy, but very stout, and really did the job with the gimbal head. I decided after carrying this rig I needed to reduce the weight, or stop going to the ponds back in the bayous. I decided to look into a lighter, but strong, easy carry tripod. I again called the Camera Cottage, and talked to Carter (MTShooter) Since I had now upgraded all my equipment, to a 5D Mark IV, and the Tamron 150-600mm lens, I decided on one of the Nest tripods. I does not have either type of leg systems that have been discussed on this forum, but a new leg locking mechanism, with a small switch on the joint that you work from lock position to unlock position. The tripod is rated at 45 lbs, and is made of tubular carbon fiber. It came with a ball head, that I removed and installed my gimbal when in the deep bayous. The tripod also came with a nice well made bag, with a interior zipped pocket for extra plates or other stuff. When folded the tripod is about 20-24 inches with the ball head mounted. On the center post, there is a hook for a bag of rocks or weight to add stability, I've never used this feature since the bayous are about rock free. Yesterday, I used the tripod to conk a rather aggressive water moccasin that invaded my blind. I usually setup near the edge of the water, to get as close as possible to the area where the birds fish, and where the ducks land, so many times there is water in my blind. I don't want to have my gear get wet from collapse of my tripod, that is why I do such a research of the equipment.

B

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

[quote=Gene51]But if your budget only allows for a single head, a ball head is a pretty decent choice. I have a cheap gimbal - a Manfrotto 393, which has served me well over the last 12 yrs, but my first ever ball head was an old Arca Swiss B1 (?) which I upgraded to a Z1 when it looked like I would be getting involved in bird and wildlife photography and I purchased my first Feisol, a CT-3472, in 2007. I've since gotten it's baby brother, the CT-3442, and a Sirui K30X for travel and backpacking. While i would not recommend it for a 600mm lens especially on a crop sensor - as it is too unstable for that, it is a great solution for wide to middle focal lengths, up to around 300mm, and closeup. For macro and really long lenses the bigger "thicker" CT-3472 is what I use. If anyone is curious. the load capacity on the 3442 is 55 lbs, and on the 3472 it's 66 lbs - which of course has zero to do with stability.[/quote


Gene: I'm curious why you opted for the Sirius K30X over the Feisol CB50-DC as a head for the Feisol CT-3442.

Thanks, Allen