John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

I would have thought a 3 section leg would be more stable than a 4 section leg, and lighter as well. I often extend the centre pole and hang some weight off it (usually the kit bag).
That same centre pole that some people claim might wobble, is the same centre pole that might be extended horizontally or reversed and I don't hear the same arguments then.

That's my 2 pennyworths on a cheaper GIOTTO tripod. But I wouldn't go so far as to say wobbly centre sections is baloney!

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I have a Really Right Stuff tripod that is both tall and you can also change it to use a fixed platform, leveling platform or a center column platform. Not inexpensive but very well designed and built. I would suggest you look at their website or call and discuss your needs with them as part of your search.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Look at induro tripods that come without a center post http://www.indurogear.com/products/tripods/
Pick the one that will give you the height you need

breck Loc: Derbyshire UK

Centre pole use is never a good idea, your head is great aand an L bracket does keet the weight over the tripod center not hanging of one side so reaally helpsas for extraa height if you can afford it aa RRS tripod might fit your needs, good luck

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

All of my Nikons have a RRS L bracket. I consider them to be standard equipment.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The same for me as in all my cameras have L-brackets, both digital and film. The older camera models are generic or Kirk and RRS for the 5DIII. They're just a piece of metal so shopping used from ebay or elsewhere is a great way to save some money.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Both of my cameras have RRS L brackets. I have the two piece ones so I can take the side bracket off if I want too. I also like the newer brackets that have the mounting hole for the military grade quick release. I buy these from RRS for $12 IIRC and use them with my BrackRapid wrist strap and Sport strap. Really love this QR combination. But not all RRS brackets have it as I recall... eBay can be a good source for saving money especially on older model L brackets. I have probably purchased 60 percent of my RRS gear on eBay.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

cytafex Loc: Clarksburg MA

I just purchased this https://www.ebay.com/itm/SIRUI-W-2204-Waterproof-Carbon-Fiber-Tripod/252806573333?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649. Will let you know how the tripod works. I own 4 Gitzo aluminum tripods including a Series 3 that I bought in 1975 down to a small tripod I have used for backpacking. I also bought a cheap Amvona CF tripod some years ago and I have used it a fair amount, but currently I can't get one of the legs unstuck from a trip to Maine when I forgot to clean the tripod after the trip. My observation is twist locks will get clogged up and corroded and leg extension will get jammed if you are not careful. With metal tripods I have used vice grips to get them unstuck, where the CF materials will crack if too much pressure is used. So when I saw a tripod that may keep materials out of the mechanism I thought I would try the Surui at $270 including shipping as the equivalent Gitzo costs around $1000.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

If the 3-section tripod you bought is a "short" version and isn't tall enough for you to use comfortably, your best bet would be to get a taller 3-section tripod (not a 4-section).

4-section legs necessarily use a smaller diameter bottom section. It has to fit inside the section immediately above. So using the fourth section will make for a less stable support, similar to having to extend the center column a lot. Of course, it would be even worse with 5-section or greater legs. Each additional section has to be smaller diameter.

Not all 4-section and/or center column tripods are "bad". For example I use an old Gitzo G1348 Mark II that's HUGE. For most purposes, it's more than tall enough for me (5' 9") without having to extend the center column OR use the fourth leg section. I don't have center columns on two other Gitzo Series 3 Systematics (two G1325 Mark IIs), but wanted one on this to be able to reverse it and "hang" the camera underneath the tripod for low angle macro work. And, if needed for extra high angle shots I can carefully use the fourth leg section and/or extend the center column. My other two Gitzo use 3-section legs, too. But, in spite of being carbon fiber, none of these are particularly small or lightweight.

Tripods always involve some compromise and it's a matter of finding what works best for you and your purposes. You have to find a good balance of working height versus how compact it folds up for travel, carrying and storage. Plus you have to think about the weight of the tripod versus it's stability. Number of leg sections, the way the tripod folds, other features such as the materials it's made of and more are considerations. Of course there's also price... and durability, the availability of replacement parts and accessories that might be needed, etc.

I'll tell you up front that I'm not a fan of L-brackets. They're expensive and add a lot of bulk to the camera. But to use a ballhead for landscape photography an L-bracket might be necessary... when the lenses you're using don't have tripod mounting brackets (as is the case with many lenses used for landscapes, in particular) The reason an L-bracket is needed is because when you shift a ballhead to vertical camera orientation, the camera is positioned off to one side so that the whole rig is unbalanced and difficult to work with. Using an L-bracket gives you a second mounting point to be able to orient the camera vertically without having to shift the ballhead, maintaining better balance and stability.

Really Right Stuff (RRS), Kirk Photo and several others make quality L-brackets. They all use Arca-style dovetail design, so to use them requires a ballhead with a compatible quick release platform (which most Acratech have, AFAIK).

Personally I mostly use long telephotos on tripods, where the lenses themselves are fitted with tripod mounting rings that allow changes in orientation and make an L-bracket unnecessary. But I also use a Wimberley Sidekick gimbal mount with various ballheads. It's not often pointed out in marketing materials, but the way that side-mounts to lenses, it can also serve very well to be able to mount cameras vertically when using them with shorter lenses that lack a tripod ring. Other gimbal mounts from Induro, Jobu and others are similar. I'm carrying around the gimbal adapter anyway, for large telephoto lens work. As a result, I don't need an L-bracket, too.

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

One thing I could add is that an L bracket could add some possible protection against bumps or a drop. They do add weight to what can be already heavy lens camera combinations. That is why I like the RRS two piece bracket because you can quickly and easily remove the L part. But I usually don't remove it...

Best,
Todd Ferguson

whitewolfowner

All depends on what you are shooting but I have found that a tripod that does not at least come up to eye level with no center extension is quite useless to me.

Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

I agree with the wise whitewolfowner.
By the way, do you own a white wolf?