Actually not really. Stability is directly correlated to two main factors - the diameter of the top tube and how it attaches to the camera platform - the bigger each of these is the more torsionally rigid and stable it will be. A secondary factor is the leg locking mechanism. Gitzo, RRS, Induro, Benro Feisol and some of the higher end Sirui tripods all publish their leg diameter data, but only RRS and Gitzo make the correlation to focal length/magnification, and Induro by association - their leg diameters are almost exactly the same as Gitzo.

I did exactly that for 3 weeks in Ireland. Took an RX10M4 - no tripod, nothing else. No regrets.

Last night I was taking night shots of the NYC skyline, with an 80-200 - and it was a little windy. Two friends were also there, one with a very nice $400 Benro Travel Angel for her 100-400, and 24-105, and the other using a Globetrotter with her 24-120 and 150-600, and neither were able to nail sharp, clear pictures. I brought my two Feisols, I used the 3472 and the friend with the 150-600 used the 3442. I told her it was the wrong tripod for that lens, but she was able to get a fair number of vibration-free images, even at full 600mm, when the wind died down. Both took turns using the 3472 and claimed that the images that they took with it were the only ones that had no vibration.

So, a tripod can be used in a number of settings that don't involve wildlife, where a body pod, monopod or anything other than a solid platform would be ill-advised and frustrating to use. Here is an example of what we were shooting in a 12-18 mph wind.

Ha! No-o-o-o..... I'm 72 and, even though I'm appreciative and pretty much in agreement with Gene51's suggestions, the thought of lugging the combination of body, lenses, and tripod is becoming more and more unacceptable for 4 miles each day for a week. One tweak of my somewhat fragile lower back and I'm SOL for the remainder of the workshop. I'm not sure what I'm going to do to be honest. One option is to rent a Sony RX10 IV and not bring the beefier body and lenses. Believe me, that's crossing my mind more and more.

Ha! No-o-o-o..... I'm 72 and, even though I'm appreciative and pretty much in agreement with Gene51's suggestions, the thought of lugging the combination of body, lenses, and tripod is becoming more and more unacceptable for 4 miles each day for a week. One tweak of my somewhat fragile lower back and I'm SOL for the remainder of the workshop. I'm not sure what I'm going to do to be honest. One option is to rent a Sony RX10 IV and not bring the beefier body and lenses. Believe me, that's crossing my mind more and more.