foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

Received my new D7200 and 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6, very heavy, lens. I currently have a Bogen/Manfrotto 3236 (very heavy) tripod with a Bogen/Manfrotto 3047 head that I mainly use indoors. What I would like to find, without breaking the bank, is a sturdy, lighter, tripod with a crank/geared center column and head that would be suitable for local travel & field use. I don't plan to be traveling on foot for any great distances with this set up. I've never used a ball head, or any other head other than the 3047 so I really don't know which one would give me the best latitude in usage without using a gimbal head which I do not want at this time. Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

I agree cost is important, but so is the equipment that it supports.
A tripod should support one and one half to twice the total weight of the camera and your heaviest lens (think ahead).

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

If I may make a suggestion, look for a tripod that's tall enough to use without need to raise the center column at all. Any time you raise a column, you reduce stability quite a bit. And the higher you raise it, the worst it gets.

Also, you won't find geared columns on most quality, lighter weight tripods. Pretty much all of them use "rapid" columns that simply slide up and down after the clamping knob is loosened. I've only seen geared on really heavy duty, high-end tripods or on "cheapo" junk tripods that I wouldn't trust with my cameras & lenses!

I've been impressed with the Benro Travel Angel Series 2 tripod. Seems like a good setup for the money (and includes a ballhead).

At under 2 lb., the Nikkor 18-300mm is not a particularly heavy lens. But it's probably wise to do what you can to help steady a 300mm lens on an APS-C camera... That's a lot of focal length to try to hand hold steady, even with image stabilization.

And, unfortunately, that lens doesn't have a tripod collar, so you'll be mounting the camera to the tripod instead. That's less well balanced when using longer telephotos.

That said, the Benro Travel Angel Series 2 with ballhead comes in carbon fiber for $400 or in aluminum for $250. The carbon fiber version is just over 1/2 lb. lighter.

There is also choice of 4-section or 5-section legs. I recommend the 4-section because they're more stable, although the tripod won't fold up quite as compactly. (More sections means more joints to "wobble", as well as smaller diameter tubing on the lowest sections... Plus are slower to set up than fewer leg sections.)

The ballhead (and many others) use Arca-Swiss style quick release. So you will need to buy a plate for your camera, too. I recommend getting the custom fit ones, as they do the best job by far preventing twisting when in use. "Universal" quick release plates often slip at the most inconvenient times. Especially when there's a longer, heavier lens "hanging" on the front of the camera.

You're Bogen/Manfrotto 3047 may or may not have a quick release.... they were made both ways. If it does have a quick release, it will be one of the Bogen/Manfrotto proprietary type and not directly compatible with Arca-Swiss style lens and camera plates (which are far more universal... even Manfrotto is now producing heads using it). Either way, there are adapters available to allow A-S to be mounted on the Bogen large/hexagonal QR, small/rectangular QR and plain platform without QR.

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

Thank you very much for your input. Yes, both my Bogen/Manfrotto 3047 head and my 3028 B/M head on my mono pod have the Bogen hexagon quick release plates. They both date back to 2006. I would like to be able to utilize these plates but know nothing about the adapters that would permit this. Would I find these when looking for the Benro Travel Angel Series 2 tripod on possibly the B&H website? I would want to go with the aluminum version since the extra 1/2 pound in weight isn't that much, and I feel that the durability of the aluminum version would withstand rougher treatment, (cold weather, dropping, etc.), vs carbon fiber version. Thanks again.

Bobby123

I used an aluminum Bogen/Manfrotto until I found Feisol. They are very sturdy, surprisingly light, and tall enough for me even though I'm 6'3" and don't want to be a hunchback. I showed mine to a couple of pro photographers and they were very impressed. I am not aware of any issues with durability and have dragged them along on 8,000 mile photo trips. In a month I'll have them outside in New Hampshire but don't expect any issues at all.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

All the tripods I am aware of with geared center columns are BIG and heavy !

No geared column, but this is what I would recommend you look at .....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Promaster-Specialist-Series-SP532K-Professional-Tripod-Kit-with-Head/142993820969?epid=594308450&hash=item214b188d29:g:cuAAAOSwJHRb11G6:rk:3:pf:0

Has 32mm top section legs, goes to 70 in. height without raising column, top panning ball head with 45mm ball, 6 1/2 lbs weight.
You can make adapter to your hex plates ....
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Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I have a lot of nice light tripods that I bought till I spent the money for a good one, You may mot need a carbon fiber one if you don't travel on foot too long to take pictures.
One rule is get a tripod as heavy as your wife can carry.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

I bought this one and love it; very sturdy and tall enough that I never even have to raise the center post. It is the right height (I'm 5'10") with only the legs extended. On top of that it is only $140! It's a full sized tripod but still light enough aluminum that I've carried it on short hikes of around a mile with no problems (69 years old).

https://slikusa.com/collections/tripod/products/pro-700dx-amt-complete

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Weight is really your friend when you are using a tripod. It's where stability and resistance to motion created by the wind come from. If, of course, your tripod is so heavy that you can't or won't carry it, you won't get any benefit from it no matter how good it is. Imagine an axis with "light weight" on one end and "sturdy and stable" on the other end. The trick is to find a tripod somewhere on that axis that meets your needs, because it's not possible to get both in the same tripod.

When using heavy equipment, especially with a lighter tripod, it is absolutely critical to make sure that you lens is pointed out over one of the legs. If the protruding weight is between two legs, the limit of stability is going to be nearer the center post, and it is vary easy for everything to topple forward and land right on the end of your lens. (I saw this happen at the last workshop I attended.) Keep in mind also that if you use your tripod with the legs less than fully extended, the area of stability is even smaller, making it easier for everything to topple over.

One last comment...and this was to me from an experienced travelling professional landscape photographer...right now, carbon fiber tripods are more in fashion than aluminum or other metal ones, it seems. But his observation was that if you accidentally step on one of your tripod's legs (it has happened) or take a fall and land on it, breaking one of its legs, you are likely to be out of the tripod business. If you similarly damage a metal tripod, which usually bends one of the legs, you can most likely straighten the leg enough to continue shooting and finish what you are doing. You might eventually have to remove the bent leg to get home with the tripod, though, because it probably won't retract like it's supposed to.

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

Thank you for your input and recommendation. Yes, my Manfrotto/Bogen 3236 tripod with geared center column and 3047 pan head weighs in at 14.2 pounds. I was hoping to find one with only 4 leg sections that would be at least 5 1/2' tall with legs fully extended and center column fully lowered. I'll search and see if thee is a Promaster-Specialist-Series-SP532K-Professional-Tripod which meets these criteria. Thanks again.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

I have a Manfroto BeFree tripod along with a Manfroto Travel Backpack that has a side pocket for the tripod. Tripod has a fairly decent ball head, but sorry no center column ratchet (which I am not fond of anyway). The tripod is nice and light, yet easily handles my D500 and Tamron 150-600mm f5-6.3 G2 wildlife birding lens. Backpack holds all your necessary gear for a hike including a pocket for a water bottle.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

As mentioned earlier, the Slik Pro 700 DX is one of my other recommendations - I like the 3 section legs, but only goes to about 60 inches without the center column - and no head.

- https://www.ebay.com/itm/Slik-Pro-700DX-Super-Titanium-Alloy-Tripod-Legs-615900/371546840953?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372

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latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

Do a search for Gene 51. His recommendations are right on. Instead of a series of increasingly expensive cheap tripods, buy the best and cry once. It will last forever. Vibration is the issue not the weight the tripod supports. Expect to pay $600 or more . I purchased a $200+ tripod. Longer exposures were sometimes problematic. I read Gene 51's post, purchased the tripod he recommended (He provides the evidence and physics supporting his recommendation--Feisol CT 3472 ) What a difference it makes. Save your money and buy the best (Best includes different manufactures.)

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Thanks Late for the props!

I was just waiting until the usual suspects weighed in with their super low cost recommendations and well-meaning but misguided advice mostly coming from shooters that have not really used a quality support system and have no real basis for comparison.

The OP will not find a cheap tripod that is rigid and stable enough to support a 300mm lens (450mm effective field of view) on a crop camera, period. Especially a 300 that hangs off the lens mount without a tripod collar. I have a friend that was using a Benro FTA28CV1 Travel Angel Series 2 Carbon Fiber Tripod with V1E Ball Head, and was completely frustrated - using shutter delay, live view, and a cable release - and was still getting vibration with a 24-105 that was causing her to reshoot when doing landscapes more often than not. I lent her my Feisol CT3442 and she was more than surprised at how little vibration there was. But I knew she was in the market for a 100-400 F5.6 II so I lent it to her again once she got her lens, and she got mixed results - better than the travel Angel, but not as good as she had hoped. I then lent her my CT-3472 - and she found happiness. No need to look any further, the tripod and head was only 1.5 lbs heavier than her Travel Angel, and substantially more stable, with it's 37 mm top tube and high quality 8 or 9 layer carbon fiber (I don't recall which, and it is not on their website), it is extremely stable and dampens vibrations very quickly. There are comparably priced tripods from Benro, Sirui, and slightly higher priced ones from Induro Leofoto etc - but they are almost all heavier and many include a center column that must be used.

I would not advise the OP to look for a lightweight tripod with a geared column that is much lighter than what he has - he'd have more of a chance of finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

I gave my [predecessor to the Manfrotto 3236 - the Bogen 3051+3047 - away - too heavy, not at all stable with anything longer than 150mm, and impossible to carry due to it's two section legs. I used it with a view camera and normal to wide lenses and it was adequate in studio, but not good at all as a field tripod. The CT 3472 is way better in every way to the Bogen. If the OP wants to buy just one tripod, then the 3472 is what I suggest, since he wants to rely on a tripod to hold his 300mm on a cropped camera steady.

Personally, that is not a very heavy combination, so I would suggest that the OP consider using the stabilization in the lens for a while to see if it does what he wants. He will have more freedom to react to fast moving wildlife, birds especially, and let him get a lighter and less expensive CT3442 - which is actually pretty good for a 300mm lens and shorter, and does ok in a pinch with closeup and macro. And he should get a ball head and ditch the vibration monster 3047 head. That thing is dreadful unless you have a fairly massive and heavy camera (like a Sinar P 4x5 with a 90 mm F4.5 Nikon SW lens - total of 19 lbs for camera and lens. The shear inertia of that much camera makes it somewhat self-stabilizing, and ok to use on a tripod like the Bogen in a studio environment.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is to double check that the head arrangement for whatever you decide to buy allows for good, positive contact between the tripod head and the camera/lens combination. I have a Manfrotto 250 Dual that I realize does not measure up to your guidelines, but that generally meets my travel needs. The big exception is that the plates are a little too small and do not provide good rotational control of the camera body unless everything is really tightened up...significantly tighter than I would prefer. The result is that the whole arrangement can turn on the mount unexpectedly when rotated into portrait orientation if the mounting screw is not really tight. This can happen even with a D810/14-24 mm f2,8 zoom combination.