big ed Loc: Dudley UK

Thank you for the good advice JR1.....

Hypno Loc: Miami

You would have to be VERY VERY STRONG to carry those tripods. I can see the need for them in a professional setting but if I owned them I would most likely leave them at home. I am good enought with my MeFoto.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Standing on a quayside for hours shooting races with a 500mm I can hang my sandwiches and flask from it and make a tent underneath when sunny

Jack47 Loc: Ontario

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

NeilL Loc: British-born Canadian

Thanks for that informative advice, JR1.

Audi57 Loc: Bedford England.

That's great JR but what is the best Gimbal to buy and what price can I get one (that is worth buying) for please and where ?

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Tripods are considered accessories but indeed they are a necessity. I agree with you that a photographer looking for a tripod should get the best he or she can afford.
All my tripods are made of aluminum. When I was younger I had no problems with them but today they are too heavy to travel with them.
Carbon fiber tripods are light and steady enough although they are expensive. Looking at the second hand market and I find many of them for over $300, not precisely a bargain but much less than a brand new one.
Most recently I traveled to West Virginia to photograph in the Dolly Sods Wilderness area and I used a Gitzo GT-2541 with a RRS ballhead. I could see the difference at the end of the day and the tripod was steady enough to support my camera and lens, about 5 lbs. of weight. I am sure the tripod can support easily 10 lbs. The head, by the way, even when it was the smallest made by RRS did a great job also.
My advise, like yours is to buy the best you can afford.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

For me adding a pro-quality pod and L bracket made a very noticeable improvement in my captures. I am able to use longer exposures and the sharpness has improved.

I also see a large number of pre-owned equipment on secondary used market-places. I was only able to purchase mine because of the signification price reduction. I have not invested in a long yet. When I do I will be looking at a gimble. J. R.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

[quote=JR1]There is always much discussion about people wanting better cameras/lenses etc to "improve their photography"

Remember that depending on "what" you shoot it could be the fact that you really need to use a tripod.

I shoot power boat racing, it always amazes me to see people shooting with long lenses and heavy gear unsupported.

Rarely will you see PROs at football/sport or other events without support for gear.

unquote"

I agree with this 100%. However, tripods are not the only answer - mainly because they are heavy, cumbersome and SLOW. The advantages of using a well articulated monopod cannot be overstated. I am also not sold on gimbal heads - except for GIANT lenses. What I will say about tripods, they have their place in slower, deliberate situations - and where maximum stability is an absolute REQUIREMENT. I use two tripods, a lightweight and a heavyweight -- which seems to be the most effecient way to use them as requirements dictate.

stevebein

I have had tripods which would take the old several hundred pound tv cameras ( wood) Heavy and not much use for me, but I could put a seat on it and shoot from above the crowd.I also have had and still do have a lightweight tripod. Personally I do a lot of wildlife and travel photography. I shoot with carbon legged tripods which are strong but lighter. In all tripods you can get cheap and flimsy. Cheaper, but heavier are the aluminum ones and some are fantistic. They are not as good for travel. REgarding center posts, They are not as sturdy as being just keeping them down but, they can be of assistance. Good ones still are steadier than handheld. You do have to measure your needs against the product you chose to meet those needs. There are amazing wildlife photographers handholding 500, 600 and even 800mm lenses on flying birds with great success. That takes training. In doing macro photography, tripods and focusing rails work best, yet some outstanding macro is done handheld. I have not mastered that, though. So the actual choice is what do you need or want. There are an amazing variety of tripods out there, many companies make fantastic tripods some are very expensive. Imagine paying between $500 and over $1000 for a tripod. Well justified for some. Not appropriate for others. Another consideration is how heavy is your camera lens combo. Lighter photo systems do not need the heavy tripods, while large format and large/long lenses benefit most. Making some statement about one thing is best is rediculous without some background information. The late Galen Rowell, an amazing photographer used a very lightweight tripod to take one of his most famous photos, the Tibet monastery at the end of a rainbow ( a real and not photoshoped rainbow. He knew light, and he knew his equipment. With the new and very popular mirrorless lightweight cameras, the massive tripods are not necessary for most situations. The heaviest will be the best always for stability, but not for practical use. Quality brands abound, just do the homework. One size does not fit all!

TGanner Loc: Haines, Alaska

I am surprised for all the discussion of getting the best you can get, the tripods displayed by JR1 all appear to be aluminum. Over time I have replaced my aluminum tripods with carbon fiber, not so much for the weight issue, but carbon fiber will vibrate less through resonance. This fact should not be ignored. Sure they cost more, but wasn't this the point in the first place?

g0sub Loc: Torbay, Devon,UK

Try here, I just got one, seems OK

http://www.lensmaster.co.uk/rh2.htm

8-)

riverlass Loc: northern California

Good discussion about tripods. Thanks JR for all this information. I don't want to be like so many other folks who have 10 tripods in their closets and are still looking for the "right one". I have a Benroe travel angel which is great to carry on an airplane, but it's not a strong tripod. I want to buy ONE MORE and it has to be solid, strong, steady and useful for my new Macro obsession.
Your information will help me decide. Thanks.

RAK Loc: Concord Ca

Impressive set of hardware man. I am going to get a gimble but being a gear head I am going to try to manufacture one myself first. It will probably cost me more in the front end but I usually end up with better than what somebody else did.

RAK Loc: Concord Ca

I wanna arm wrestle ya just to see!