prcb1949 Loc: Ex Zimbabwe - Now UK

Hi there - guys I need some advise on what of the above you would recommend. I am looking for something that is light but at the same time robust enough to handle a Sigma 150-600C on a D500. I know not the heaviest of combos Thanking you in anticipation!!

neillaubenthal

TBH…I would seriously consider a carbon travel type tripod if you need relatively light…that will be plenty strong enough for that lens. Pick one without a column as that degrades stability and get yourself the right head to go on it. If you are doing a lot of long BIF shots then that might lean towards a gimbal head but if you want to do other things as well that points you towards a ball head…but there are a couple of alternatives that while not quite as good for either landscape or BIF perform admirably well in both and means you only need to carry a single head. I use a FlexShooter Pro (the large size but the smaller one will also work for you combo and is lighter) which is sort of a cross between the two types. Hudson Henry believes primarily in fluid heads and they work well for him and his styles of shooting so you really can't go wrong there either especially if light is high on your list of needs.

The trouble is…you can't really go out and spend $150 and expect to get anything like what you need. I have a small lightweight travel tripod that will fit inside my suitcase but in that case I was specifically looking for small and light and was willing to accept a small ball head and really only being adequate for long lenses. Hudson over on his site assembles and sells tripods…but he uses high end legs and heads and while he has full size, medium, and travel none of them are cheap.

I hesitate to recommend specific brands of legs because I have only used a single make…my legs are Induro but RSS and Leofoto and others are also fine and will get lots of recommendations…but all of those are higher end legs. You'll probably spend most of $1000 for high end carbon legs with a decent head and the various things you need…Hudson's featherweight travel one is 985 and weighs 4.something pounds as I recall with a weight limit of 13 pounds which your rig is well less than.

As we used to say in the Navy…good, fast, cheap…pick any two.

OTOH, depending on how much it will be used and how much the weight vs cost equation fits into your budget and physical abilities and/or willingness to carry it…a decent set of aluminum legs and a ball head is probably less than $500. Is that a world beater tripod…obviously not…but as we also used to say in the Navy…better is the enemy of good enough and without a better understanding of what your definition of good enough is it's hard to say whether that would be adequate. I took many a picture…mainly waterfalls since I'm largely hand held unless the shutter speeds are really slow and that's pretty much a requirement for waterfalls for either smoothed water or HDR compositing…with both a $100 no name tripod and my current $150ish travel tripod…and I have the Induro and Flexshooter which were probably $1200ish total for heavier needs when carrying it around isn't needed…if it is then I take the travel one, don't use the column, and accept that it's good enough rather than best available. But then…I don't have a 600/f4 or 800PF lens either because I'm not willing to carry the weight on a hike of either of those and accept that a Z 400/4.5 and 1.4TC is good enough for my needs.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

You lens weighs about 5 pounds. Your camera weighs about 2 pounds. Triple to insure strength and stabiliy that and you need a tripod rated to suppor about 20 pounds.

For my own entertainment, I used B&H and searched for carbon fiber "tripods with heads", rated between 20 and 26 pounds, with ball heads and that will convert to monopod use. There are 17 to pick from!

The $209 "Oben CT-3565 Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod and BZ-217T Triple-Action Ball Head" got 42 4.5 star reviews and weighs 3.2 pounds.

The $420 "Benro FTA28CV1 Travel Angel Series 2 Carbon Fiber Tripod with V1E Ball Head" got 22 4.5 star reviews and it weighs 4 pounds.

There are 8 more to look at between $290 and $370.

Only one has flip locks and is probably the one I would pick because of that. At only $139, the SmallRig AP-10 Carbon Fiber Tripod with Ball Head gets just one 5 star review. Even though it weighs only 2.6 pounds, it is rated for 26.5 pound loads. (I put in a stock alert. I might buy one!)

prcb1949 Loc: Ex Zimbabwe - Now UK

Thank you both for your advise. Will start shopping around.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Here is what I recommend - it is NOT a travel tripod or for LONG hikes ..... but "robust" enough to have decent stability.

Carbon fiber, top tube diameter 32mm, 4 section legs or less, minimum height 63 inches not using center post, but DO get a center post so you can go higher FAST ! .......I assume you will be doing SOME birds..... I like this one - https://www.ebay.com/itm/255980152958?epid=23053102173&hash=item3b999b287e:g:ICUAAOSw3a9j7FJB&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4ApWIWalOPCPrLXTAyI64QWvIT%2BoWzeFC2GeeztsXbvlRiMc38ri4iGompNIe9DbJxD%2FLc1t8hh2vwg2T%2BohSe5FgB%2FSay07KnwWUIupNd8J%2B7QT093g%2B0%2FKxDwWPtzQYWr%2Fz91wJxx6VG3ggvOpVlGUNF28Uya6MJUZNiDG9XEo31PKI6%2F4A8Nxo7qb53cqSqKgxqHguva9%2FQJKbCLFO83IyjAuZJgkPtI3yiuYrhmoIwzJafUX5kYS4P2OOBhuJvAqBj2AqHhDpw6vX7NCu27cmYdYpA4XSug1du%2FtPtZe%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-bxkIz0YQ

For a monopod, I recommend ones that can go very SHORT as this is an asset when using a bodypod, or when sitting as from a car or bleachers. This one is "robust" and collapses to 17 1/2 inches - https://www.ebay.com/itm/175642714456?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1C9YY0LoVRpK1oo5U7iS1Vw40&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=175642714456&targetid=1587268787897&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=1015208&poi=&campaignid=15275224983&mkgroupid=131097072938&rlsatarget=pla-1587268787897&abcId=9300697&merchantid=112191768&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5PX66bu5_gIVfQZMCh290wQ_EAQYASABEgIt8fD_BwE ...
At 900mm equiv. FOV, I do not recommend travel type tripods for your set-up !
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ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

As alluded to already, it makes a difference whether you are looking for absolute stability for long exposure shots, or simply something to support the weight of your rig while you are shooting BIF, etc. Travel-size or not? Be very clear on your goals as you shop. You may find that you need several for different types of shooting.

The only truism about tripods is that you should get the best one you can afford as your first purchase. Otherwise, you will spend and waste money of cheap junk that will break and prove unsatisfactory and you will end up with a good one in the end anyway. Ask me how I know!

The web site thecentercolumn.com tests and reports on tripod stability.

Best of luck!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I would not recommend either if your shooting birds in flight. If your shooting birds on a nest or waiting for a bird to show up, or landscapes, then you can think about a tripod on monpod. I like Benro or Induro equipment (same company) they make quality equipment at a reasonable price point.
Check them out on B&H.
Again, if your shooting BIF, I do not recommend either. I shot the image below with a Sony 600mm f4 hand held.
Come on man, you can do it too.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

When considering a tripod vs a monopod, remember, you can leave your rig on a tripod, freeing up your hands to do something else. With a monopod, you have to hold on to it all the time unless you lay it down on the ground, which sometimes is not a good idea. Both will support your lens and a monopod is a bit quicker and more flexible once you get the hang of using it. Both will support your camera, but each has its pros and cons.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I would like to recommend an OBEN tripod. It is aluminum and very strong. The standard head is very versatile. The legs are fully adjustable and one leg unscrews and can can be used as a monopod. I also have a FOTGA L200 bracket. It helps to hold and focus big pieces of glass. (I love my Sigma) in all it’s not a bad addition to what ever camera make you have.
Not to leave traveling undone, I attach a small dog tag with my name and address on my camera bag, tripod bag and any other gear that I take. Sure it won’t help in the return of an item, but it makes it easier to help IDing it when traveling.

This rig went to Barcelona, Spain without a hitch. Truly awesome gear.

Jsykes

My wife and I both have the Oben CT-3565 Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod, excellent product and great for travel

bwilliams

Check out Mephoto they make some that the center post converts to a monopod

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

I have had a Cullmann 3430 for probably 20 years or more. Not sure if they are still available but it has a centre column that can be used as a monopod and is ample to hold my D7100 and a 70-300 lens stable. If the wind gets up there is a hook on the centre leg that one can hang something heavy from to anchor the tripod firmly.
Has clips to set the height and a floating level assist at the top.
It still works as good as the day I bought it, tho I do look after my gear and give it a good hose down after using it in sandy/ dusty conditions. Not carbon but is not too heavy although I wouldnt categorise it as light either.
Worth a look if you can find a second hand one in good condition.

Edit: Not available here but has a photo. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/113837-REG/Cullmann_CU_3430_CU3430_Tripod.html Mine hasn't got the leg straps and don't remember ever having them when I bought mine.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I’m pretty happy that my OBEN has a hook to weigh down the tripod. I also have a tripod hammock to put other things to use and weigh it down. The fact that one leg will unscrew and morphs into a monopod saves me the aggravation of schlepping another piece of gear. The L Bracket supports my Sigma lens.
I wouldn’t say the tripod is light or heavy. It just does the work.