Light weight Carbon Fiber Tripod: I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a good, sturdy lightweight carbon fiber tripod for traveling. I need it to be able to hold a D800e...

foto.bug Loc: Las Vegas, NV

I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a good, sturdy lightweight carbon fiber tripod for traveling. I need it to be able to hold a D800e along with my Sigma 150 - 500 mm lens.
I'm not sure of the weight combo, maybe up to 10lbs? I currently own the Manfrotto 058B, which I love, but it's too heavy to haul when hiking up steep trails.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

My carbon fiber Gitzo Series 3 is only 4 pounds. But you have to decide on a head and I believe the head weighs close t that since it's a gimbal style of head. Mines a Wimberly knock off.

jimbo96

Don't have experience with the carbon, but I have done a lot with the D800. I find that lightweight and tripod are not the best combination for long lenses. I use a 600mm Goerz artar for moon shots, and get decent results with shutter delay (5 sec) AND delayed exposure (3sec) to give the mirror slap a chance to settle.

Bamboo Loc: South Carolina

For hiking steep narrow trails I take a monopod. Generally they are a third the weight and often a third the cost.

doduce Loc: Holly Springs NC

foto.bug wrote:

I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a good, sturdy lightweight carbon fiber tripod for traveling. I need it to be able to hold a D800e along with my Sigma 150 - 500 mm lens.
I'm not sure of the weight combo, maybe up to 10lbs? I currently own the Manfrotto 058B, which I love, but it's too heavy to haul when hiking up steep trails.

I use a Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 with a Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol grip ball head. Really like the setup. It is nice and light--the tripod is 3.7 lbs and the head is 1.4 lbs, so it comes in a just a tad over 5 lbs. I'm 6'2" and have plenty of height even without fully extending the center column. It has a 90 degree capability for flowers, bugs, etc, if needed. The tripod has four-section legs which, I told, has marginally less stability but it allows me to take the head off and put it in a suitcase when I travel. I do wish the head was a bit lighter, but I may try a compromise ball head to use when I travel. All about tradeoffs, I guess.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

After reading up on the carbon-fiber tripods and thinking maybe I needed to spend $300, I checked the weights and find that they weigh about what my trusty cheapo ($45) SLIK U8000 weighs. It is sturdy enough to handle my 100-400 telephoto, and I personally like the quick-snap leg clamps better than the screw ones. It doesn't let me reverse the center post for ground-level photos, though. I have to get down on the ground if I want those. As I am getting older, maybe a new tripod isn't such a bad idea...

g0sub Loc: Torbay, Devon,UK

foto.bug wrote:

I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a good, sturdy lightweight carbon fiber tripod for traveling. I need it to be able to hold a D800e along with my Sigma 150 - 500 mm lens.
I'm not sure of the weight combo, maybe up to 10lbs? I currently own the Manfrotto 058B, which I love, but it's too heavy to haul when hiking up steep trails.

Pricey, but Manfrotto MT057C3 057

8-)

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

This is my travel tripod...Thankfully, I won it & didn't have to buy it...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=903227&is=REG&A=details&Q=

CTTonymm Loc: Connecticut

foto.bug wrote:

I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a good, sturdy lightweight carbon fiber tripod for traveling. I need it to be able to hold a D800e along with my Sigma 150 - 500 mm lens.
I'm not sure of the weight combo, maybe up to 10lbs? I currently own the Manfrotto 058B, which I love, but it's too heavy to haul when hiking up steep trails.

Gitzo Traveler series are light, well built.

Capsurfer Loc: Sydney Australia

foto.bug wrote:

I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a good, sturdy lightweight carbon fiber tripod for traveling. I need it to be able to hold a D800e along with my Sigma 150 - 500 mm lens.
I'm not sure of the weight combo, maybe up to 10lbs? I currently own the Manfrotto 058B, which I love, but it's too heavy to haul when hiking up steep trails.

I have both the tripod and the monopod from these guys, Sirui, worth a look, strong, light and well priced.

http://www.sirui-photo.us/Sirui-Best-Choice.html

wilikioti Loc: Deep South, USA

foto.bug wrote:

I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a good, sturdy lightweight carbon fiber tripod for traveling. I need it to be able to hold a D800e along with my Sigma 150 - 500 mm lens.
I'm not sure of the weight combo, maybe up to 10lbs? I currently own the Manfrotto 058B, which I love, but it's too heavy to haul when hiking up steep trails.

The only tripod I would trust with the combo you have is the tripod you already have. Its weight is there for a reason.

foto.bug Loc: Las Vegas, NV

I know but it is so darn heavy!!!!!!!!

wilikioti Loc: Deep South, USA

foto.bug wrote:

I know but it is so darn heavy!!!!!!!!

I know what you mean! I have a 25+ years old Bogen that's a back-breaker but it's the only one I trust with my 70-300mm. I have tried the light-weights but get too much vibration.

OldBobD Loc: Ohio

Light weight, sturdy, cheap. Pick any two.

RAK Loc: Concord Ca

I used to do triathalons and bicycle centuries. The thing is I did not just go out and do those things I worked out and got myself in condition for them. Just a thought, but I am now working back from Bi Later knee replacement surgery and damn it's hard work but I will get to the point where I can lug the equipment to get the job done