Cubanphoto

Looking for a good "used" tripod. Medium level (not a pro), need it to have a load capacity of 30 lbs (13.6 Kg).

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

When you settle on a few brands, look on eBay.

tcthome Loc: NJ

budget?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Just curious, what camera are you using that weighs 30 pounds.
That is incredibly heavy to lug around.

Cubanphoto

It doesn't weigh 30, but I was putting a "safety" factor into it. Also if it is rated for that load, it should be rigid enough.

But to answer your question, the gear combo can be: D7000, D500, D750 and D5 with a Nikkor 200-500mm glass.
All that gear is not mine, it is a family gear, my sons and I

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

A 1DX MIII and a EF 800mm lens comes in at 17 pounds soaking wet.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Huh?

A 1DX Mark III body weighs 3.175 lb. with battery & memory.

An EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM weighs 9.9 lb.

I'm old, so am still using "old math", but doesn't that add up to just over 13 lb.?

4 lb. of water.... If I recall, that's about a gallon!

Cubanphoto,

How much do you want to spend?

If you have a budget around $500, I'd recommend a Gitzo G1325 Mk II or G1348 Mk II. Those are "Series 3 Systematic" tripods both rated for 33 lb. and older carbon fiber models that are widely available used for $300 to $400. They're practically bulletproof too, so even a used one is likely to be in usable condition so long as it hasn't been abused in some silly way. "Systematic" are modular... there are any number of accessories available to configure them a number of different ways, depending upon your needs.

These tripods are not the lightest or the smallest, by any means. But they are very well made, quite steady and ideal for "big lenses". New the G1325 and G1348 leg sets alone sold for around $900. Then you had the cost of a head and other accessories, as needed. It's easy to spend $1500 to $2000 setting up a brand new one today.

The G1325 in particular was extremely popular among wildlife and sports photographers ten or fifteen years ago. It uses 3-section legs and normally isn't fitted with a center column, ideal for maximum stability. There is an optional "Rapid" center column avail., if wanted... Or an optional "Leveling Platform" that sits under whatever head you decide to use upon it.

The G1348 is very similar, but uses 4-section legs and is "extra tall".

I am 5' 9" tall and use both tripods.... My G1325 is fitted with a leveler (adds 1" height) and a Kirk BH-1 ballhead (about 4" tall) and when used with a large telephoto I fit it with a Wimberley Sidekick gimbal adapter (which adds a bit more height). In either configuration, with or without the gimbal adapter, the G1325 is plenty tall for me. I don't quite need to extend the legs fully to use it very comfortably. The G1348 is around 6 foot tall itself, so by the time a head and/or accessory is added to it, can position a camera high enough I need a short step stool to work with it! I rarely need to extend the lowest section of the legs on the G1348.

A few years ago I bought two of my tripods used.... C1325 with a Leveler for $325 including shipping, etc. I added a $100 Chinese made gimbal to it for use with large telephotos. My G1348 cost a bit more, around $400 including shipping, but included a Rapid Center Column. I put an $80 Smith-Victor BH8 ballhead on it, rated for 50 lb. (Still works fine though it looks pretty bad after a few years use. The Kirk BH-1 on my other G1325 has held up a lot better cosmetically, but also cost 4X or 5X as much!)

If you don't want to spend that much, there are aluminum Manfrotto and Gitzo that weigh more, but are good and stable. I've had a big old Bogen (Manfrotto) for 40 years that still works great, has supported a lot of big cameras and lenses over the years, but weighs a ton (actually something like 18 lb., which is at least double the weight of the Gitzo carbon fiber tripods). You can buy one of these used for $100 or a little more (sold new for upwards of $400, in the 1980s!)

Heck, I recently bought an old used Bogen (also made by Manfrotto in the 1980s) for all of $10. Cleaned it up, tightened a few screws and lubricated a few things and it works fine. Not sure it's rated to support 30 lb., but pretty sure it could handle my largest lenses (10 lb. plus camera).

I would warn about the Manfrotto and Gitzo tripod heads, though. If you want a quick release system, they mostly each use their own, proprietary QR designs that aren't compatible with anyone else's. Only a few of the most recent Gitzo and Manfrotto (which are owned by the same parent company, BTW) are now using an Arca-Swiss compatible QR system. That's the most universal and is necessary for use with large telephoto gimbal heads, in particular.

The pan/tilt head that was on that old Bogen didn't have a quick release. But it was easy to add an Arca-Swiss compatible QR platform to it. I got one for $16 shipped from China. Works fine!

A key reason that I recommend both Gitzo and Manfrotto/Bogen is because, if needed, both are pretty easily repaired. Most parts that might need replacement are widely available for my 20 year old Gitzos... and even for my 40 year old Bogens! Not that I've ever had to do a repair on any of them, more serious than replacing a lost screw on that $10 Bogen.

There are other good brands, I'm sure. Though I don't know if many of them have the track record of Gitzo and Bogen/Manfrotto. I'll stick with what I know and have used for decades without any problems at all.

Cubanphoto

Very comprehensive response. Thank you.
Indeed, I am zeroing on a Gitzo. There is one near me on Craigslist and I am going to go see it tonight.
Again thank you

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Quick rounding.
Still no where near 30 pounds no matter how anal you want to be.

Rhl0630

I have several that fill that requirement. I’m getting to old to use my heavy stuff. I’ll get back to you

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Look at the vanguard tripods. I have the 263pro. Nice they have many to choose from very reasonable

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

Amphoto, a gallon of water weighs 8 lbs. A quart of water is 32 ounces (2lbs). A quart of water weighs 2 lbs so since there are 4quarts per gallon 2X4 = 8. Also I learned in my water supply course that water is 62.4 lbs per cubic foot. Figure it out.
Bud

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Any size, weight or cost constraints ?? ......
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Swifty Loc: Canfield Ohio

I have a Bogen 3020 with a Bogen M48 ball head for $150 plus shipping from 16417. Tripod weighs about 12 lbs. will hold 30 lbs easily.

Swifty Loc: Canfield Ohio

Correction M168 ballhead