Tripod recommendations pls

[Paul McAdams]

My tripod is a manfroto with knobs sticking out in all directions (141RCNAT). It works well enough for a lot of things, but birding isn't one of them. I got a chance to play with a Mongoose M-2.3 and love the way it handles. I have two questions for anyone that uses a Mongoose please.....

1. What tripod would you recommend putting it on (without breaking the bank).
2. Can the Mongoose M-2.3 mount a camera horizontal when not shooting a big lens or is it strictly for lens mounts ?

If the M-2.3 is strictly a lens mount system, then what other head would you recommend for birds ?

Thanks !

[Maxis Gamez]

Hi Paul,

I have a Feisol 3471 and Wimberly II head. Perhaps if we come across you can see it. I use it with my 500mm, 400mm, 70-200 and wide angle.

Good luck!

[Paul McAdams]

Thanks Maxis. I think you had it set up when you visited our club several weeks back....I should have taken a closer look then :) The Feisol looks like what I am looking for. The Wimberly would be overkill for me. Thanks for the post.

[Dennis Goodman]

Which tripod would you choose for a wimberley v2 50D,600mm IS and additional extenders and flash equipment. I am not sure if i should choose the 3530 or the 1548. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Dennis

[Desmond Chan]

I am not sure if i should choose the 3530 or the 1548. Any thoughts?

I know people who use winbley II and 600 lens who don't use gitzo. Having read about the problem with their base plate and have my gitzo - with lens and camera on it - crushed my finger, I have started to question their design and if they're really better than the alternatives out there.