Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: light tripod and head for Canon 7D & 100-400

  1. #1
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    371
    Threads
    30
    Thank You Posts

    Default light tripod and head for Canon 7D & 100-400

    A friend of mine is looking for a tripod and head for her camera gear. I have the Manfrotto 055XDB with a 486RC2, but it is a bit heavy. I saw those great Wimberly heads and light tripods at the Photo Worshop. Is there a compromise between what I have and those that are so pricey. Or would those heads work best for bird photography.
    I hope this question made sense. Thanks in advance.
    Nancy

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    1,647
    Threads
    83
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    We really need to know what type of shooting your friend is doing. Birds in flight, for example, requires totally different tripod/head than scenics or macros.

  3. #3
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    371
    Threads
    30
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    She does do some birds in flight, but also a lot of perching birds. She also lives near a lake and walk the perimeter of the lake with her camera as well.
    Thanks.
    Nancy
    Last edited by nancy hazen; 12-28-2010 at 02:01 PM.

  4. #4
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    1,647
    Threads
    83
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    If she went with the carbon fiber version of the 055, she'd save some weight, but match the performance of your aluminum model. Can her budget cover the premium in cost?

    For birds, a gimbal head is the way to go, but you can spend less than Wimberley and good results, particularly with a relatively light lens like the 100-400mm. Have you got an idea of what she's willing to spend for the tripod/gimbal combination?

  5. #5
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    371
    Threads
    30
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thank you so much Dave. I just emailed her the link to this discussion. In a way, it is for me as well. Eventually, I'd like a lighter weight tripod and Wimberly head too. I also have the 7D and 100-400. Eventually, I may upgrade to a longer lens, but not for a long time. Which Wimberly head would you recommend for me. I walk the small lakes of Santee Lakes and Lake Murray. My tripod is too heavy to lug around, so I bring my all. Monopod. I'm constantly adjusting the ball head, even when I'm sitting waiting for ducks or birds.
    Thanks for your help.
    Nancy

  6. #6
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    1,647
    Threads
    83
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    The Wimberley II and the Mongoose 3.6 are the most popular gimbals here. I don't think that your ballhead his stout enough to work with the Wimberley Sidekick, which I use, but it's combined with $300+ Arca-Swiss Z1 ballhead in my rig.

    You need to check out the carbon fiber Manfrotto 055 tripod first to judge if it's light enough for you to carry. These good, but expensive, gimbal heads will be largely wasted on a monopod. While there'll be improvement over constantly adjusting a ballhead on a monopod, it'll not afford you the potential steady platform of a tripod.

    If a tripod is too heavy for you, then Really Right Stuff has a monopod head that locks the camera either horizontal or vertical. When I used a monopod a lot, this is the type of arrangement that I liked. I leaned the monopod front and back to angle down and up. A ballhead is really unsteady and hard to adjust while you're having to hold the monopod. It's not as good as a tripod for getting truly low speeds, but if you use high shutter speeds, it's as good or better than hand held, because it takes some weight off your arms and allows you to rest. Most sports photographers work with monopods.

  7. #7
    William Malacarne
    Guest

    Default

    Nancy

    I have one of the RRS heads for my mono pod and it works very well.

    http://reallyrightstuff.com/Items.as...dsMono&key=cat

    Bill

  8. #8
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    371
    Threads
    30
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Bill and Dave. You've given me a lot to think about. I won't be upgrading for a while, but I'll pass this infor onto my friend. Thanks again.
    Nancy

  9. #9
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Nova Scotia, Canada
    Posts
    1,065
    Threads
    347
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I recently got an Acratech Long Lens Head for use with my Manfrotto carbon fibre tripod, and it's very light, and seems to work well with my D300 and 300 f/4 AF-S + 1.4TC.

    Richard

  10. #10
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    371
    Threads
    30
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Richard Stern View Post
    I recently got an Acratech Long Lens Head for use with my Manfrotto carbon fibre tripod, and it's very light, and seems to work well with my D300 and 300 f/4 AF-S + 1.4TC.

    Richard

    Thanks Richard. I appreciate the idea.
    Nancy

  11. #11
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Albuquerque NM
    Posts
    58
    Thank You Posts

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics