Need a new tripod and or gimbal: I'm new to the forum and this is my first post. I have been reading the forum for more than a year and I really appreciate all the information you all...

Rich475 Loc: North of San Francsico

I'm new to the forum and this is my first post. I have been reading the forum for more than a year and I really appreciate all the information you all have given in your posts . . . it has really helped me getting started. Everyone's comments are very ethical and positive. My question is - I have a Canon camera and have just purchased a Tamron 150-600 lens and it does not work well with my rickety old aluminum tripod. What would be my best setup (tripod - tripod & gimbal) for nature photography? I have probably taken over 20,000 photos in Italy . . . all on automatic and now I'm really excited about 'manual' . . wow!

ps: I unexpectedly came across this shot of the Golden Gate Bridge a couple weeks ago and only had my iPhone with me.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Nice shot ! ......

IMO, perusing the "best" nature photography requires mobility - so that means my support preference would be (in order) : a bodypod with appropriate head , a monopod with appropriate head, a tripod with appropriate head - depending on what the exact subject was and budget limitations.

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

Generally speaking, gimbals are used when you need to track a moving subject such as a bird in flight or a moving anamal.
Having said that, I keep my gimbal on my primary tripod all the time and mostly shoot macro.
If you are shooting more stationary subjects or landscapes a ball head is a good choice.

Grnway Loc: Manchester, NH

Hi Luigi. Welcome to the forum!

Check out many of the threads that have already been written about tripods. Just be sure to buy a good one! Feisol, Really Right Stuff, Gitzo, Induro, are a few top quality names to check out.

Nice shot! It just proves that the best camera you own is the one you have with you;)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

luigischiavo wrote:

I'm new to the forum and this is my first post. I... (show quote)

Welcome to our forum!

"Everyone's comments are very ethical and positive." Apparently, you haven't been reading many posts.

Don't go crazy with Manual. I generally shoot in Aperture.

Some tripod links -

http://www.bythom.com/support.htm
https://digital-photography-school.com/everything-about-tripods-phil-steele/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIWvjfI_-PA
http://digital-photography-school.com/build-ideal-tripod/
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/5-pros-and-5-cons-of-using-a-tripod/
http://www.lightstalking.com/tripod-heads/

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

Take a serious look at Really Right Stuff and Gitzo for great products and systems that can grow and extend your capabilities.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

RRS Loc: Not sure

luigischiavo wrote:

I'm new to the forum and this is my first post. I... (show quote)

Welcome to the forum. The only problem I see with a gimbal head with the 150-600 is that as you change the zoom of your lens the balance point on the gimbal will also change. I use a Jobo gimbal head out of Canada but I shoot primarily primes.

williejoha

I use a gimbal on a Induro carbon fiber tripod. With a lens this size it is much easier to get good balance with a gimbal then let's say a ball head. My preference would be the gimbal.
WJH

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

luigischiavo wrote:

I'm new to the forum and this is my first post. I... (show quote)

I am a fan of the Manfrotto carbon fiber tripods with a gimbal head for wildlife. If you are not shooting critters at a distance then you can forgo the gimbal...but stick with carbon fiber tripods.

Rich475 Loc: North of San Francsico

imagemeister wrote:

Nice shot ! ......

IMO, perusing the "best" nature photography requires mobility - so that means my support preference would be (in order) : a bodypod with appropriate head , a monopod with appropriate head, a tripod with appropriate head - depending on what the exact subject was and budget limitations.

Thank you
luigi

Rich475 Loc: North of San Francsico

rwilson1942 wrote:

Generally speaking, gimbals are used when you need to track a moving subject such as a bird in flight or a moving anamal.
Having said that, I keep my gimbal on my primary tripod all the time and mostly shoot macro.
If you are shooting more stationary subjects or landscapes a ball head is a good choice.

Thanks Rick

Rich475 Loc: North of San Francsico

Grnway wrote:

Hi Luigi. Welcome to the forum!

Check out many of the threads that have already been written about tripods. Just be sure to buy a good one! Feisol, Really Right Stuff, Gitzo, Induro, are a few top quality names to check out.

Nice shot! It just proves that the best camera you own is the one you have with you;)

Thanks for the info . . will check them out
luigi

Rich475 Loc: North of San Francsico

jerryc41 wrote:

Welcome to our forum! br br "Everyone's comm... (show quote)

Thanks for those 6 sites Jerry Lots of stuff to digest but I'm on the right track . . . and you're right I haven't read to many posts but the one that impressed me was a guy who wrote in about having a nude photo of a young starlet and he wanted to know how he could make some easy money from the photo. Everybody wrote back and told him to send the gal the negative and basically get a life. I was impressed!
luigi

Rich475 Loc: North of San Francsico

RRS wrote:

Welcome to the forum. The only problem I see with a gimbal head with the 150-600 is that as you change the zoom of your lens the balance point on the gimbal will also change. I use a Jobo gimbal head out of Canada but I shoot primarily primes.

Yeh . . the weight is really the problem. Thanks for the info.
luigi

Rich475 Loc: North of San Francsico

Notorious T.O.D. wrote:

Take a serious look at Really Right Stuff and Gitzo for great products and systems that can grow and extend your capabilities.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

Thanks Todd
luigi