Which tripod, which head?

[dekade]

I'm a newbie in digital photography and need advice. I love wildlife and bird photography and have for this a Canon 7D with an EF 300mm 1:4 L IS lens plus 1.4x converter. For birds I try to use my old Novoflex Noflexar f=600mm 1:8, which weighs nearly 2kg. I really battle to get in-focus shots. One of the reasons surely is that I only have a quite wobbly tripod which makes manual focussing very difficult. Besides weight of the equipment, what are the criteria to select a suitable tripod and head? Any recommendations? Please consider that my budget is limited (hobby).

[Andrew Roos]

Read http://www.bythom.com/support.htm. I would say you need at least the equivalent of the Gitzo 3 series. In terms of being on a budget, elsewhere on his site he notes that Benro makes some good Gitzo knock-off legs at reasonable prices (but don't confuse Benro with Benbo, who make utter rubbish). I was at the ODP shop the other day and they have a large selection of Benro legs, so I'm sure Forgiss can advise. Feisol (www.feisol.com) is another option for legs, but I wouldn't consider their heads. Here you should only consider the 3371 and 3372 (i.e. the models with a 37mm diameter for the largest leg section). Don't skimp too much on the head - I would think a Kirk BH-1 ball head (which is cheaper than the equivalent RRS and Markins heads) or perhaps a Gimbal mount for that 600 f/8.

[dekade]

Thanks a lot, Andy, for sharing your knowledge. Now I know how little I knew about tripods. I realise that I'm in for quite an expensive step. Can I bother you with some more questions?
- I couldn't find the Feisol legs in the ODP shop. Who sells them in the PWV area?
- Is there a cheaper alternative to the Kirk BH-1, without compromising too much? Even the ODP special makes me cringe!
- Is a monopod an alternative for my application? Any recommendation?
I really appreciate your help!

[Leo Theron]

Thanks a lot, Andy, for sharing your knowledge. Now I know how little I knew about tripods. I realise that I'm in for quite an expensive step. Can I bother you with some more questions?
- I couldn't find the Feisol legs in the ODP shop. Who sells them in the PWV area?
- Is there a cheaper alternative to the Kirk BH-1, without compromising too much? Even the ODP special makes me cringe!
- Is a monopod an alternative for my application? Any recommendation?
I really appreciate your help!

The best money I'ves spent to date on support:

- Kirk BH-3 (Depending on what you shoot - get the BH-1)

- Good solid, old, aluminium Gitzo legs - replaced with modern legs later on.

- A monopod with a 234RC head.

Do you really want to see what your 300mm (and your 600mm) lens can do? Get a good, strong, PROPER tripod AND learn how to use it. You will be really surprised.

The BH-3 and mounting plates makes it quick and easy to use your tripod, so it is used more often, resulting in better pictures all around. A good tripod and head combination used properly will outsmart the best handholding technique, VR or similar stuff.

[visagieh]

Dekade

The 600 you have is not that heavy, with your budget in mind, have you looked at Manfrotto 055 and ballhead. Its rated 7Kg but as have to stress a absolute minimum.

Support is real, and one tends to skimp on this.

I would go bigger/better legs, skimp a bit on the head now for later upgrade, or bite the bullet and go all the way. On the tripod, myself would prefer one without a center column. You can go much lower and it is more sturdy.

Legs, you don’t have to go carbon, Gitzo or Benro

With a 600F4 and manfrotto 055, the legs fully extended just dont do it. Even halfway you have to see the vibrations that just the shutter cause. We are talking now a lot more weight.

Big thick Monpod is lekke for following birds and smaller animals. Don’t know if it will suit you with MF.

If you can, best is to try to visit the shop with your gear. See what works.


Hannes

[Andrew Roos]

Thanks a lot, Andy, for sharing your knowledge. Now I know how little I knew about tripods. I realise that I'm in for quite an expensive step. Can I bother you with some more questions?
- I couldn't find the Feisol legs in the ODP shop. Who sells them in the PWV area?
- Is there a cheaper alternative to the Kirk BH-1, without compromising too much? Even the ODP special makes me cringe!
- Is a monopod an alternative for my application? Any recommendation?
I really appreciate your help!

1) Feisol does not sell through retailers, only direct over the web. So for local support I suggest Benro though ODP.

2) Not that I think would be suitable for a 600. For the 300 f/4 the Kirk BH-3 would be an alternative.

3) If you can manage the extra weight, Manfrotto 055 legs might work. Or Gitzo aluminium legs as Leo suggested. You can always improve the stability of the legs by not fully extending them. To save money over the Benro you would probably have to purchase second hand. I would still go for a decent head though, and I do think the BH-1 is your best option.

4) I don't have any experience with monopods, but very much doubt whether a monopod would give you the stability you need.

Cheers
Andrew

[Leo Theron]

10,

Agree with Andy:

- My thinking was that if I eventually get a longer lens than the 300/4, I will factor in a Wimberley. That is why I bought/rationalise the BH-3 head.

- If I must buy now - BH-1!

- Travelling (by air) the BH-3 and a Manfrotto 190 does duty very well, especially for a smaller camera - GF1, G1, etc. This setup is not sturdy enough for a 7D/D2X and tele lens

- Looking around for a second hand tripod might just do the trick...

- The most time consuming act (and costly when you drop your camera ...) when setting up a tripod is attaching the camera to the 'pod. That is why a good mounting system is so important.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Also considder the Benro GH-A as a smaller Gimball solution for your 300mm f/4

[dekade]

Thank you, Andy, Hannes, Leo and Sean for giving me your good advice. I think I got your message, loud and clear! Now it's up to me to come up with the funds (and watch the classifieds!) .

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

T... Now it's up to me to come up with the funds (and watch the classifieds!) .

For reference... the GH-A is about R2,000

[Peter Veitch]

4) I don't have any experience with monopods, but very much doubt whether a monopod would give you the stability you need.

I have a Wimbeley and Gitzo series three graphite legs. This is my bench mark.

I had (my wife now has) the Manfrotto 055ProB. I would not use the extended more than about 40% with my 500 f4.

I also have a heavy duty Benro aluminium monopod with a tilt head which can take the arca swiss plate on the 500 f4. This is used in confined spaces for support and only just does if shutter speed is right up! Suggest you PM Simondp for an opinion as he is an accomplished monopod shooter of note!