Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

[quote=ggttc][quote=Gene51]Please post results from both your cameras and both lenses, particularly with pictures taken between 1/60 and 1/250. Just curious. It's just that 1/2000 sec exposure can make any tripod look like a star.

I don'think reading reviews from amateurs or less experienced photographers who have no basis for comparison. The first 10 reviews basically said - I bought this, it didn't break, what a deal. I am so happy I did this. Very little about what cameras and lenses, and what kind of results they got. A review from a trusted source is far more indicative of what you can expect.

Then there is the Moose Peterson video where he says, "if you have a very expensive lens [and camera] and you have a very cheap tripod, you're nuts" I am not saying this applies to you, but maybe Peterson would. $4700 in one case, I think would qualify as expensive camera and lens.

I hope you have good camera insurance. Just sayin'[/quote

I shoot mainly BIF and wildlife...so the lowest I shoot is 500-640. I will try it out tonight at 160 or so on a moonshot.

LOL...I do have camera insurance...and an Optec sling that is around my neck when I take the camera from the cabinet to the camera bag.

And I rarely use tripods...I did try it out on wildlife last week and it suits my purposes.

But an interesting thought...I'll try it at a lower SS.[/quote]

Great shot of the corona!

However, a shutter speed of 1/500 and a distance of 4,294,967,295 meters, or 2.6M miles, you are not likely to see much loos of sharpness due to movement, and 1/500 is shorter than what you would see vibration from shutter shock. I would say that 1/160 would show it.

BTW, I think your camera may be front focusing by about 91,000,000 miles at infinity.

ggttc Loc: TN

[BTW, I think your camera may be front focusing by about 91,000,000 miles at infinity. ]

Thanks for the tip Gene....lol

I knew that...

Anandnra Loc: Tennessee

Well put.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Slik-Pro-700DX-Super-Titanium-Alloy-Tripod-Legs-615900-/371546840953?epid=127553115&hash=item5681eadf79%3Ag%3AaDQAAOSwmNlZY3Bm&_trkparms=pageci%253A3c18e712-aa2b-11e7-a663-74dbd18028bf%257Cparentrq%253Aef08007315e0aa46a91ed031fffecd87%257Ciid%253A5

Pick a good head to go with it ......you may have to upgrade when you get to 600mm .....

queencitysanta Loc: Charlotte, North Carolina

You the best tripod you can afford. Check with MT Shooter on the board http://www.cameracottage.com/ I bought four tripods over time. This was my second carbon fiber, with a Nikon D800 and a Sigma 150 - 500 was not stable. Carter fixed me up with a Next NT-364C. This tripod is solid as a rock. Don't buy a cheap flimsy tripod just to have one, you will end up buying another one and another one.

SteveMcBill

If you are moving to the Canon 5D Mark-IV and are thinking of a 600mm lens then you will need a tripod that can cope with the weight and which can provide the stability you will need. I use a Gitzo Systematic Series 4 Carbon tripod for my 5DIV and my 7DII with a Canon 500mm f/4 lens and often use it with either the 1.4x III Extender or the 2x II Extender. Occasionally I wonder if I should have gone to the Series 5 which has greater diameter legs (more stability) BUT I certainly would not go for a cheaper tripod or less than the Series 4 or you will only be re-buying tripods again at some point in the not too distant future. Good luck with it all but please do the research beforehand and then go into your local camera shop and try YOUR camera and lens combination on a few before you buy.

Hank Radt

Most practical advice yet! (Kinda obvious, when you think about it, but we sometimes forget the obvious...).

stevetassi

If you plan on using either a 400mm or 600mm Lens, then forget a $150 tripod. A solid and sturdy tripod/head combo will run around $1,000.

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

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Good links -

http://www.bythom.com/support.htm
https://digital-photography-school.com/everything-about-tripods-phil-steele/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIWvjfI_-PA
http://digital-photography-school.com/build-ideal-tripod/
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/5-pros-and-5-cons-of-using-a-tripod/
http://www.lightstalking.com/tripod-heads/

leftj Loc: Texas

In this case "very good" is a subjective undefined term.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

The general rule is to buy the best tripod that can be afforded. If you have no experience using tripods be very careful before you begin to spend your money. Mistakes could be expensive.
My suggestion is to go to a local store and try the tripods they have. Ask questions assuming the person or persons in that store know what they are doing and have good photographic knowledge. The information they can provide could be very valuable.
If there is a local camera club go there and ask for help. I am sure they will be very pleased to help you. Do not select something at random that could make you feel bad about your purchase later on.
Be a wise buyer.

arkitektn

I just bought a new tripod. I needed sturdy. I did learn that the weight ratings really don't mean anything. Even though I don't plan to ever use a big 600, with my heavy 800e and my 300 I needed to go to 45# weight to get sturdy enough.

As for me and my budget, I went sirui but with the biggest ball head they made the k40. It's more about the head than the tripod.

russjc001 Loc: South Carolina

Checkout Vanguard tripods. I own two.....the 263AT for home and 265AB for traveling. Both are sturdy and handle the weight of my equipment. My biggest lens is a 70-200.

JohnFrim Loc: Somewhere in the Great White North.

The above comment doesn't apply only to travelling with the more compact travel tripods. You may have heard the expression that "the best camera is one you have with you." Well, that applies to tripods as well. If you buy the big, heavy sturdy expensive one that "requires a sherpa to transport" (as one person said) then it will not be of use to you if you left it at home in the closet or even in the trunk of the car when you went out on your walk.

If your choice is a hand-held shot vs any tripod, even a cheaper lighter tripod will get you a better photo than nothing, especially if you use a few tricks to help you reduce movement (solid footing, self-timer release, minimum leg and zero centre post extension, extra weight pulling down on centre post, shielding the setup from wind, etc). I am not suggesting you buy cheap, light and wobbly, but do factor in how you will use the tripod. If you lean toward a static setup for extended periods of shooting you may be willing to lug that beast out into the field, but if you are a traveller/hiker who is on the move a lot and only needs a tripod occasionally then you might sacrifice some stability for more portability.

A final consideration that has not yet been mentioned is features of the tripod, like twist-lock vs lever-lock legs, reversible centre post for low angle shots, or pivoting centre post for horizontal offset. And make sure you get a head (ball, pan/tilt) that meets your needs and preferences.