amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

As I understand it....

You are going to convert your old, heavy tripod to "long lens only" with a gimbal head and plan to use that with the 150-600mm.... and you DON'T plan to use either your old tripod or that lens on hikes.

You are asking about the Neewer tripod leg set (model number would have been helpful), as a lighter alternative that you'll use when hiking, swapping the ballhead to it from your older tripod. This rig will be used with camera and lens(es) OTHER THAN the 150-600mm.

I don't know which of the Sigma 150-600s you have... but I think the "Contemporary" weighs about 4.5 lb., while the more robust "Sports" version weighs closer to 6 lb.

Neewer appears to be a brand name used on a lot of Chinese knock-offs.... Like Meike, MeFOTO, Zomei, and other brands that change often and you might never have heard of, while some become relatively well known over time. This doesn't necessarily mean something is "bad"... There are a lot of good products being made in China, too. Probably most of the batteries and memory cards we use in out cameras are made there, regardless what brand name is on them. Plus some "re-branded" products get well known names. For example Vivitar, Kodak, Duracell, and Polaroid brands are all used on a lot of stuff they don't actually make.

I found a Neewer tripod on Amazon that has the same general specs like you mention (26.5 lb. capacity, carbon fiber, $109.99) but it comes [u]with[/i] a ballhead. This is a "travel tripod" design, with legs that reverse backward over the ballhead to be able to store as compactly as possible. In order to fold that design that way, they typically come with a matched size ballhead. Your current ballhead may or may not work with the design, if that's what you plan to do. (It will probably be possible to fit your ballhead and use it, but may only be able to fold the legs "normally"... not reversed if your ballhead doesn't "fit" the same as the one already on the tripod.)

The specs on that tripod don't say what diameter the top tube is. It appears to be fairly small. Plus it uses 4-section legs, which allow it to fold up smaller, but also makes for a very small diameter bottom section, as well as slower setup and more joints that don't improve rigidity. While it's stated to be 66" tall... that's with both the legs and the center column fully extended (which you want to avoid if at all possible because it greatly reduces stability). The cited heights ALSO include the ballhead (usually leg set heights don't include any head). Without the center column extended, the tripod and head are 57" tall, with the legs fully extended. Without the center column and with only the three larger sections of the legs extended, it's 45" tall. Only you can say if these are tall enough for your purposes. (Measure your eyeline.... and allow for camera body that positions its viewfinder eyeport a little higher than the above measurements.)

This Neewer tripods specs (according to the Neewer website) says it weighs 3.4 lb. I have to assume that's both the leg set and ballhead that's on it. That's extremely light weight.

It appears the ballhead uses an Arca-Swiss style quick release. You would be wise to get one custom fitted to your camera, with built in anti-twist protection. The "generic" plates, like the one supplied with the Neewer ballhead, are notorious for allowing things to loosen and slip (they can be locked in place by adding a set screw, but that will also permanently mar your camera).

That Neewer tripod has a "feature" that allows one of the legs to be removed to use as a monopod. I'm not sure about that.... does it compromise stability and durability? I really don't know.

I do like the "twist type" leg locks used on it. That's my preferred type of leg lock, especially for tripods to be used "in the field". The twist locks are low profile to keep from catching on things while being carried, are self-adjusting for wear and relatively resistant to dirt and water.

I also sometimes use a center column "reversed" for low level shooting with camera & lens hanging below the tripod, the way they show in one of the illustrations. That's a nice thing to be able to do.

I think I found your "10 Best Tripods" list... If you notice, they're all oddball Chinese knock-off brands on that list... all the links lead you to Amazon or eBay stores... and the tripods are very similar. The ESDDI, of example, looks identical to the Neewer that you're considering, except the ESDDI uses a different, two-piece center column in order to be taller (and probably VERY unstable when fully extended). I bet it's one company marketing a couple different tripods that are made in the same place and offered with a few different accessory combinations.

If you'd really like to see a more "real" and honest "12 Recommended Travel Tripods" list, look at B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/travel-tripods
Not all tripods on that list are what I'd recommend... five or more leg sections or extremely short (I don't want to always be bent over like the guy in the illustration!)

They also have a list of "10 Recommended Full Size Tripods": https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/10-recommended-tripods-photography

For only $110 for that Neewer tripod, you might give it a try.... Especially if bought from (and fulfilled by) Amazon. They allow you to return it if it's not up to your expectations. Normally I'm highly skeptical of and would usually avoid tripods that cheap.... But who knows! Maybe it will be fine for your purposes.

EDIT: You also mention buying or planning to buy a gimbal for use with the 150-600mm. You might not be aware, there are also "gimbal adapters" that work in conjunction with a ballhead, so that you don't end up with a "dedicated long-lens only" tripod the way you do with a full size gimbal (i.e., you replace the existing head with the gimbal... and have to swap it back to use the tripod for anything other than long lenses with a tripod collar). Here's a fairly good overview of the different types of gimbals: [ur]http://www.carolinawildphoto.com/gimbal_list.htm[/url]

Personally I use a full size gimbal (cheap Chinese knock-off... cost about $100) on one tripod... and Wimberley Sidekick gimbal adapter with a Kirk BH-1 ballhead on another tripod. The latter is more versatile and is the main tripod I carry. The other tripod with the full size gimbal is only used when I need to set up two cameras with big telephotos on them.

htbrown Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

[quote=amfoto1]As I understand it....

You are going to convert your old, heavy tripod to "long lens only" with a gimbal head and plan to use that with the 150-600mm.... and you DON'T plan to use either your old tripod or that lens on hikes.

You are asking about the Neewer tripod leg set (model number would have been helpful), as a lighter alternative that you'll use when hiking, swapping the ballhead to it from your older tripod. This rig will be used with camera and lens(es) OTHER THAN the 150-600mm.

I don't know which of the Sigma 150-600s you have... but I think the "Contemporary" weighs about 4.5 lb., while the more robust "Sports" version weighs closer to 6 lb.

Neewer appears to be a brand name used on a lot of Chinese knock-offs.... Like Meike, MeFOTO, Zomei, and other brands that change often and you might never have heard of, while some become relatively well known over time. This doesn't necessarily mean something is "bad"... There are a lot of good products being made in China, too. Probably most of the batteries and memory cards we use in out cameras are made there, regardless what brand name is on them. Plus some "re-branded" products get well known names. For example Vivitar, Kodak, Duracell, and Polaroid brands are all used on a lot of stuff they don't actually make.

I found a Neewer tripod on Amazon that has the same general specs like you mention (26.5 lb. capacity, carbon fiber, $109.99) but it comes [u]with[/i] a ballhead. This is a "travel tripod" design, with legs that reverse backward over the ballhead to be able to store as compactly as possible. In order to fold that design that way, they typically come with a matched size ballhead. Your current ballhead may or may not work with the design, if that's what you plan to do. (It will probably be possible to fit your ballhead and use it, but may only be able to fold the legs "normally"... not reversed if your ballhead doesn't "fit" the same as the one already on the tripod.)

The specs on that tripod don't say what diameter the top tube is. It appears to be fairly small. Plus it uses 4-section legs, which allow it to fold up smaller, but also makes for a very small diameter bottom section, as well as slower setup and more joints that don't improve rigidity. While it's stated to be 66" tall... that's with both the legs and the center column fully extended (which you want to avoid if at all possible because it greatly reduces stability). The cited heights ALSO include the ballhead (usually leg set heights don't include any head). Without the center column extended, the tripod and head are 57" tall, with the legs fully extended. Without the center column and with only the three larger sections of the legs extended, it's 45" tall. Only you can say if these are tall enough for your purposes. (Measure your eyeline.... and allow for camera body that positions its viewfinder eyeport a little higher than the above measurements.)

This Neewer tripods specs (according to the Neewer website) says it weighs 3.4 lb. I have to assume that's both the leg set and ballhead that's on it. That's extremely light weight.

It appears the ballhead uses an Arca-Swiss style quick release. You would be wise to get one custom fitted to your camera, with built in anti-twist protection. The "generic" plates, like the one supplied with the Neewer ballhead, are notorious for allowing things to loosen and slip (they can be locked in place by adding a set screw, but that will also permanently mar your camera).

That Neewer tripod has a "feature" that allows one of the legs to be removed to use as a monopod. I'm not sure about that.... does it compromise stability and durability? I really don't know.

I do like the "twist type" leg locks used on it. That's my preferred type of leg lock, especially for tripods to be used "in the field". The twist locks are low profile to keep from catching on things while being carried, are self-adjusting for wear and relatively resistant to dirt and water.

I also sometimes use a center column "reversed" for low level shooting with camera & lens hanging below the tripod, the way they show in one of the illustrations. That's a nice thing to be able to do.

I think I found your "10 Best Tripods" list... If you notice, they're all oddball Chinese knock-off brands on that list... all the links lead you to Amazon or eBay stores... and the tripods are very similar. The ESDDI, of example, looks identical to the Neewer that you're considering, except the ESDDI uses a different, two-piece center column in order to be taller (and probably VERY unstable when fully extended). I bet it's one company marketing a couple different tripods that are made in the same place and offered with a few different accessory combinations.

If you'd really like to see a more "real" and honest "12 Recommended Travel Tripods" list, look at B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/travel-tripods
Not all tripods on that list are what I'd recommend... five or more leg sections or extremely short (I don't want to always be bent over like the guy in the illustration!)

They also have a list of "10 Recommended Full Size Tripods": https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/10-recommended-tripods-photography

For only $110 for that Neewer tripod, you might give it a try.... Especially if bought from (and fulfilled by) Amazon. They allow you to return it if it's not up to your expectations. Normally I'm highly skeptical of and would usually avoid tripods that cheap.... But who knows! Maybe it will be fine for your purposes.

EDIT: You also mention buying or planning to buy a gimbal for use with the 150-600mm. You might not be aware, there are also "gimbal adapters" that work in conjunction with a ballhead, so that you don't end up with a "dedicated long-lens only" tripod, the way you do with a full size gimbal. Here's a fairly good overview of the different types of gimbals: [ur]http://www.carolinawildphoto.com/gimbal_list.htm[/url][/quote]

Thank you. This was very helpful in clarifying my thinking.

TBerwick Loc: Houston, Texas

You can check out Steve Perry's Backcountry Gallery on Youtube. There is a video on it that discusses another option which is to use a gimbal head on a monopod. That would certainly lighten the load.

bigtoxy69 Loc: Grosse Tete louisana

Well. Here's A Thought. ? If you Have an Amazon Store card or even if you Don't ? Try ordering it from Amazon. Either with the Store card or another Credit card ?? Try it in a Safe location like around or in your home if it isn't Enough Tripod for Your lens ?? You'll see it and you can return it to Amazon and either Refund your Amazon account ? Or Credit card. Without risking your own Dollars. Till you see if it Will work for You ??? If it does Great pay but off if not Return it and Get A Refund !!!

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Once again BigToxy pays no attention to the age of the conversation. In this case your studied opinion 3 YEARS LATER is appreciated.