Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

My set up is a Nikon D850 and Nikkor 200-500 w 2x teleconverter. I use a carbon Induro tripod that I picked up several hundred dollars off the original price as it was a floor model, in the box with all the pieces. Absolutely perfect and it is a workhorse. It was fitted with a very stout ball-head and I got the arca plate for the lens to support its weight. Very happy with price and it will hold pretty much anything I throw at it. All in $350.00

photoman43

I suggest an Induro (now owned by Benro) series three tripod. A series four would be better. Which model depends on your height and any need to pack it to fit a suitcase. Something like this:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/used/1158041?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp4bK4Oyr_AIVsxXUAR2d8gsFEAQYBCABEgIoefD_BwE

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Cold. brutal fact of tripods: Buy cheap-Buy often. National Parks are litered with cheap tripods that have failed while in the field. I have seen several of these bargain tripods blown over by the wind. I know this sounds cruel but life and photography are both very harsh on trying to short-change the solution to a problem. Stop and think how much it may set you back if you have to replace your camera b/c of tripod failure! Then, go buy one from a reputable camera shop and be both happy and safe.

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

Many comments here from seasoned folks that know better.
Try to see it from another perspective.
You want us to agree on you putting $2-3K worth of gear on a $46 tripod.
NOT going to happen.

Please reconsider and spend no less than 5-10% of the value of your gear on the legs.

Good Luck

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Original poster's Sigma 150-600mm C lens weighs 4.5 lb. Their Nikon D7200 weighs 1.5 lb. Total weight, 6 lb. If they use a full size gimbal on a tripod leg set, that head will weigh about 3 lb. Or, if they use a combination of a medium duty ballhead and a gimbal adapter, those will also end up about 3 lb. Maybe they'll sometime use a battery grip and/or a flash, adding one or two lb. So the total weight they will be putting onto a tripod leg set will be about 8 lb. at most. Unless they plan to go to bigger, heavier gear in the future a Series 3 tripod (approx. 50 lb. capacity) would be overkill and a Series 4 tripod (~60 lb. capacity) would be massive overkill. With the gimbal head, even in carbon fiber those tripods will end up around seven or eight lb., possibly more. In other words, the tripod and head will weight more than the camera and lens!

I use three Series 3 carbon fiber tripods myself... but I sometimes put an 8 lb. lens, 2 lb. camera, large flash, flash bracket, teleconverter and other accessories on them. Potentially 15 lb. total... Roughly 3X or 2X the load the OP will be putting on their tripod. I use leveling platforms under the heads of the two tripods I use with gimbal/gimbal adapter and have a rapid column on the third tripod (extra tall and extra low angle shooting). These add a bit of weight, so each of them, with leg pads, carrying bag, etc., weigh about 9 lb. It's a load to haul around, so I have been seriously considering getting a lighter tripod for those times I'm not shooting with my big lenses and DSLRs.

A good Series 2 tripod (~30 lb. capacity) would be sufficient... costing less to buy and weighing less to haul around (making it more likely to actually be used). If OP chooses to use a ballhead/gimbal adapter combo, they would be fine with a medium duty (~30 lb. capacity) head, and probably would be happy with the lighter weight, less expensive Jobu BWG "Micro" gimbal adapter (~10 lb. capacity).

Unless they plan to get bigger, heavier gear in the future (at a time when mirrorless cameras and the lenses for them are shedding weight), and want to get a heftier tripod rig to be prepared to handle that. Good tripods tend to outlast the gear mounted on them... I've counted at least six or seven different generations of film and digital gear that have been on my oldest tripods. The Bogen I bought in the late 1970s ($400 at the time) has seen 4x5, medium format and 35mm film cameras, as well as various digital since. At around 18 lb. I only use that aluminum beast "in studio" now and it sits on a wheeled dolly so I don't need to pick it up. But I hauled it all over when I was a whole lot younger. Even trekked and climbed around the cliff houses at Mesa Verde with it.

M1911 Loc: DFW Metromess

You can also look at used tripods on ebay and the usual retailers.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Yes. I bought two of my Gitzo tripods off eBay... Both older models that were used but like new and came with some valuable accessories. I easily saved over $1000 off each of them, compared to what similar Gitzo tripods and accessories now sell for brand new with tax and shipping.

The only thing I'd caution is do your homework, to be sure you know exactly what you're buying off eBay. I was well familiar with those two tripods.

If you REALLY want to save money and don't care about weight or age, go check out local secondhand stores. There are often tripods there, though you have to be careful. A lot of them are junk. But some are not. At least in a store you can check the tripod out for function, missing parts, etc.

Not long ago I picked up a Bogen #144 leg set with a #3025 head at a local Goodwill for $10. The head was loose, but I knew that was only because no one had tightened the set screws underneath that Bogen/Manfrotto uses to lock their heads in place. It's aluminum and rather heavy. But sturdy and good for various things, including low angle work with the center column reversed. It didn't have an Arca-compatible platform, but I was able to find a good adapter on eBay for $16, including shipping from China. Not that I really needed another tripod, but for all of $26, what the heck! It's very similar to a modern Manfrotto Manfrotto 056 3-Way pan/tilt head that sells for $95 new, sitting on a Manfrotto MT190XPRO3 aluminum leg set that sells for $255 (except the old Bogen uses thumb screw leg locks, which I prefer over the Manfrotto's lever locks).

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

The thing with tripods is they provide two functions, support and stability. Support is how much weight they can support, stability is how resistant to vibration they are. If you’re shooting a long lens on a gimbal then support is probably most important. A $46 tripod is unlikely to offer either. I was looking at the Gitzo’s and RRS and others when I took a flyer on a $200 Artcise tripod on Amazon(US). I’ve been very impressed with it. It’s a bowl type and comes with a removable center column but it’s tall enough I haven’t used it. It’s not the lightest carbon fiber tripod but it’s not too heavy and it’s rock solid. I also got their $109 ball head and I get no slippage at all. I would also agree with Amfoto and look at something like a Wimberly Sidekick instead of a full gimbal. All that being said, if I’m shooting that long lens I prefer to go handheld, but if I’m at a rookery and want to train my lens on a nest for any length of time I use a monopod with the Wimberly monogimbal.

77" Carbon Fiber Bowl Tripod Camera Video Tripod with 65mm Fastbowl and Center Column ARTCISE AS80C+EC2 Professional Camera Tripod Stand for DSLR Camera, Video Camcorder, Max Load 44lb/20kg https://a.co/d/fAaETMn

Low Profile Ball Head Tripod Mount Ball Head 52MM Diameter ARTCISE LB52 All Metal CNC Machining with Two 1/4" Quick Release Plates for Tripod, Monopod, DSLR, Camcorder，Max Load 66lbs /30kg https://a.co/d/enMr5Jk

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

When using a gimbal, using a leveling base will make life much easier/better ......

And with these large 600mm zooms, also using one one of these will also be advantageous - https://www.ebay.com/itm/203015844543

Actually, 150-600mm zooms are NOT strong candidates for a gimbal - they are a better candidate for a a good video fluid head. 500mm + f4 primes are the true candidates for gimbals.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I have a fairly high-end video fluid head and don't like it much at all. My big lenses I use with a Nest gimbal and small lenses I either hand hold with a pistol grip on the tripod foot or on a monopod with a heavy-duty ball head that has a pistol grip for locking and unlocking the head.

For tabletop macro work I have a Manfrotto geared head and a little tabletop tripod. I sometimes use it with a geared rail for doing focus stacking.

stevetassi

Don’t skimp in purchasing a tripod. If you’re looking to get one, save up and budget for $800+ to spend on quality legs and ball head combo. As others have said, visit your local camera shop to see which setup is best for you.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

By now you've read many different responses to your post. While each response differed in one way or another they all told you the same thing, your $49.00 tripod is "trouble city." The verbage you used to describe it ran most people off track. $49.00 will not buy too much quality at any major camera shop. But the "give away" for this piece of equipment reads "Victiv Camera Tripod 63-73" for Canon Nikon." No manufacturer lists "Canon Nikon" as a valid selling point. Compare Goodyear Tire and Rubber selling tires for "Chevy Ford" cars, it ain't done! Your second mistake came when you asked this forum to give you ideas FOR something! This forum will do just the opposite and tell you what NOT to buy. There is "cheap" and there is "inexpensive quality." Cheap is a $49.00 tripod/ball head. Inexpensive quality is a $700.00 Gitso tripod with a RSS BH-40 ballhead. Lots more money could get you the top of the line Gitso and the BH-55. Inexpensive quality put men on the moon. Cheap would have put our astronauts in Byscane Bay. You actually did the proper thing when you asked, in advance for help. The forum might not have saved you money but it DID save you time and gave you experience. Both of those combined are the benefits of UHH participation.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Remember the Golden Rule of tripods. You want three things. A tripod that is sturdy, light, and inexpensive but you can only pick two.

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

A sign I had in the Engineering office for years,

"Fast, Cheat or Accurate. Pick any two!"

Twigphoto Loc: Maryland, USA

My thoughts!
https://wp.me/p7qGBG-1sZ
I hope this helps you!
Tom