Another Tripod question. Stability not just strength: I have a Dolica tripod and a Silk. the Silk is rated at 5.5 lbs. The Dolica is rated at 15 lbs. My new rig D7100 with the Tamron...

jbmauser Loc: Roanoke, VA

I have a Dolica tripod and a Silk. the Silk is rated at 5.5 lbs.
The Dolica is rated at 15 lbs. My new rig D7100 with the Tamron 150-600 weighs in at just over 6 lbs. When mounted on the Dolica and the lens racked all the way out the rig vibrates when touched. Not so with the Silk with it's channel legs. they do not flex but it is not rated for the weight. I want to get a tripod that is rated 10 lbs or better but with stiffer legs.

Suggestions?

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

I do not use mine all the way out

Check out:Manfrotto 955X P R O B with Oben BA-1 head

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Unless money is no object, my first recommendation is the SLIK - http://www.ebay.com/itm/371480985590?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

If money and weight are no object and/or you need to go high, I like the Manfrotto 475b - which is a better buy used.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Your pod should have a hook on the bottom of the center column. I usually hang my 20# camera bag from it and it steadies the tripod just fine.

jbmauser Loc: Roanoke, VA

Yes, I suppose the low center weight would put more stress on the legs and prevent them from flexing with the long lens movement adding torque at the head to transmit down the legs but the weight on board should do that as well. I will run some tests. thanks

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

Try a Manfrotto 117- nothing will shift That !

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Do you use the same tripod head on both setups ?

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

jbmauser wrote:

I have a Dolica tripod and a Silk. the Silk is rated at 5.5 lbs.
The Dolica is rated at 15 lbs. My new rig D7100 with the Tamron 150-600 weighs in at just over 6 lbs. When mounted on the Dolica and the lens racked all the way out the rig vibrates when touched. Not so with the Silk with it's channel legs. they do not flex but it is not rated for the weight. I want to get a tripod that is rated 10 lbs or better but with stiffer legs.

Suggestions?

I have been shooting an Induro Alloy 8M AT413 for about a year. It has been in snow 3 feet deep, water up to my waist, on all sorts of uneven terrain, and has generally been beat to, YOU KNOW. It comes with an outstanding warranty, carrying case, tool pack, is sold by B&H and will not cost you an arm and a leg for a very sturdy, very reliable, tripod. NO, it is not the lightest tripod out there but it is not real heavy either.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I also prefer a 3 section leg over a 4 section leg more stable for me

jbmauser Loc: Roanoke, VA

No Joe, The Silk has the standard tilt head and the Dolcia has it's original ball head. The Dolcia is a 4 section tripod. Both had the center post fully extended when tested and none had any weight attached.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

jbmauser wrote:

No Joe, The Silk has the standard tilt head and the Dolcia has it's original ball head. The Dolcia is a 4 section tripod. Both had the center post fully extended when tested and none had any weight attached.

With the center post fully extended you converted your TRIPOD into a MONOPOD which is less stable :thumbdown:

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

jbmauser wrote:

No Joe, The Silk has the standard tilt head and the Dolcia has it's original ball head. The Dolcia is a 4 section tripod. Both had the center post fully extended when tested and none had any weight attached.

The centre column is your problem. I don't think any tripod will be terribly stable once that column is extended.

Bob Boner

I agree with Billnikon. I have a smaller Induro tripod that I got just for landscape photography (rather than wildlife) and it works really well, even with the Canon 100--400 II. It was several hundred dollars less than the equivalent Gitzo (which my other tripods are}. I don't use a center column on any of my tripods.

jbmauser Loc: Roanoke, VA

Thanks all, I am 6'3" and have always cranked my tripods all the way up to eye level. Working with this long lens and some weight is new ground for me and old habits need to be scraped with the tech upgrade. thanks all. I can see a long legged tripod without a center post is probably what I am looking for.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

jbmauser wrote:

Thanks all, I am 6'3" and have always cranked my tripods all the way up to eye level. Working with this long lens and some weight is new ground for me and old habits need to be scraped with the tech upgrade. thanks all. I can see a long legged tripod without a center post is probably what I am looking for.

:thumbup: :thumbup: