stevelink Loc: Colorado

IMHO, if you're interested in absolutely maximum image sharpness, I'd use a good tripod with VR OFF! It's a known fact that VR can actually degrade image sharpness when used for stationary subjects and not hand-held. I appreciate VR when a tripod is unavailable AND when shooting action hand-held, but when optimum sharpness is required, I ALWAYS recommend a tripod and optimum aperture for the lens you're using (usually 2 stops down from maximum aperture). Have fun!

repleo Loc: Boston

I bought a used Sony FE 90mm OSS Macro lens intending to use it for macro on my A6000. It is my first FF lens. It is a great lens but a little bit on the heavy side. When I put it on my 15 pound rated travel tripod I found I was getting quite a bit of sag. I bought a new Sirui head for the tripod hoping it would help. Even though it one of their lighter heads, it is beautifully made. When I put it, on I found it cut the sag in half, but I was still getting more sag than I liked. On further investigation I found the movement was due to flexing at the camera base or screw hole. That scared me. Now I am looking for a lens mount collar.
The point is, if the lens is too heavy for the camera body, the tripod may not be the limiting factor. Many Hoggers here recommend buying FF lenses for crop sensor cameras, but some of these are just too heavy for the tripod mount and for the lens mount.

stevelink Loc: Colorado

Greetings! IMHO, it is false economy to purchase a FF lens for an APS-C body, because there are many superb APS-C lenses made specifically for that sensor. Unless you're doing work that requires tilt/shift perspective or fine DOF control, I recommend sticking with the many great APS-C lens options. What you might gain in peripheral image quality, you lose in the substantial weight/size increase, with the requisite pitfalls, as you mentioned.

Fat Gregory Loc: Southern New Jersey

I suggest that you contact MTShooter, an active member in the forum. He has a Bricks and Mortar store in Montana. He distributes a brand called Nest and has a great deal on a carbon fiber pod with a ball Head that is rated to 55 pounds... Both pod and head for about $250. Worth serious consideration.
Greg

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

So it is late Summer in Antarctica. I'm assuming one does not instantly adhere to metal at this time of year there. Cost / Quality vise you might look at a used vintage all metal "$300" Gitzo tripod and head. You might just find something in that price range. The newer carbon fiber legs are going to be pricey for any good tripod. I found myself a second Gitzo set (legs & ball head) (series 2) as a used '80-'90 all metal model on ebay for far less than $300. My second Gitzo looks almost new but it is at least 20 years old. I already had a series 3 leg and pan head that my wife bought me decades ago. Back even then the set was close to $500. This was prior to 1984. We probably were not even married yet. Good luck.

jblazar Loc: Sunnyvale, CA

VR should be turned off when using a tripod.

racerrich3 Loc: Los Angeles, Ca.

<catterar> for budget check out Slik brand. there good. a couple of people thanked me. so many brands. www.Slik.com

stevelink Loc: Colorado

Hi Bob,
I found a Chinese brand called Leofoto, that makes an amazing travel tripod, AND it includes a fantastic ball head with one feature that I've not found INCLUDED on any other ball head...namely, a panoramic head! This allows the single ball head to function as a pano head, plus, if you swing it into the notch, turns the pano head into a "poor man's " gimbal head! (Max payload = 22 lbs.) Also, another feature of this tripod/head combo, is that the knobs/controls on the ball head each have a different shape and texture (ALL metal, CNC aluminum)! Simply ingenious design, because it eliminates the possibility of inadvertently loosening the wrong knob!! Why ALL ball head manufacturers don't do this is beyond me...actually, probably because of design and manufacture costs! In any case, this Leofoto LN-254CT Tripod is awesome...10X carbon fiber legs, included quality metal spikes (with rubber gaskets), included handy carabiner allen tool, and a very nice carrying case. Well worth $380, IMHO.…Thanks, and Be Safe!