Tripod Advice

My main setup is a Nikon D7200 paired with the updated 80-400 lense and was looking to buy a tripod. I have never owned a tripod and from looking online they go anywhere from a few hundred to over $1K. The main thing for me is it will be used outdoors and would be good if its fairly light. Any suggestions as to a setup and is the included Nikon lense collar for the 80-400 suitable, some shooters upgrade this but is it necessary. Only 1 local camera store in my town and they don't carry much, so in the my purchases have been at Henrys in Canada. Thanks for any input.


https://www.henrys.com/

I have a Vanguard Altra Pro 264 AT. I like the legs and it is pretty solid, but I did not like the ball head that came with it. It seemed to slip just a bit. I got the whole rig on sale and a few months in I bought a used Arca Swiss Head and an inexpensive gimble head. The ARCA Swiss is rock solid and the Gimble balances out and does fine tracking birds from my porch.

It works well with my D7200 and 200-500 f 5.6 Nikon. My suggestion is to get the most expensive tripod you can afford and look at capacity and make sure it exceeds you heaviest setup. Everyone told me that and I couldn't part with the cash. I am sure you will get a lot of suggestions today.

Are you primarily looking to use it for support for your 80-400mm lens? There are different features available on tripods so you will want to narrow down what is the most important for you.

For example, if you do any macro photography, you might want one that gets especially low to the ground. Some allow the center column to be inverted (so the camera hangs upside down close to the ground). Others have legs that splay out very wide while removing the center column and replacing it with a shorter column (also allowing the camera to be very close to the ground). And others allow the center column to be on a diagonal/tilted. Those with a tilting center column might be called some type of lateral arm tripods. There are twist locks for the legs or flip locks. Sometimes people have a preference for one over the other.

Height preference is also something to consider. A tripod is more stable when the center column isn't raised all the way. And that's why you may have seen photographers bending over to look through a camera's viewfinder.

Gitzo and Manfrotto are owned by the same parent company, but there are a number of well-respected names such as Benro. These 3 brands are ones I've owned which is why I'm mentioning them.

There is a less-known brand called Sirui (pronounced Sue Ray). Their waterproof carbon fiber tripod is rated very well although I don't know if their less expensive models are as highly rated. This one is their tallest and probably their most supportive.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1156937-REG/sirui_bsrw2204_w_series_waterproof_tripod.html

Some tripods come with heads and others are only the legs. Personally I prefer to choose my own head. And choosing your own head will be another big decision for you. As Dan mentioned, the gimbal head is quite popular for supporting long lenses. Since I don't own one, I have no idea of their weight. But you will want to factor in the weight of the head as well as the weight of the legs.

What I've learned over the years is that there isn't one tripod that's good for everything. The ones with a center column are great for macro, but won't give you the ability to shoot at eye level unless you extend the center column (not a good idea). For long lenses, a center column is useless, so look for one that is tall enough to let you shoot at eye level (unless you don't mind leaning over or using live view with a tilty screen). I've also found that ballheads are not as useful as a gimbal for big, heavy zooms. Currently, I use a Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 with a Benro B1 ballhead and an Induro GIT404XL with a Wimberley gimbal. Good luck.

I've got a few tripods and I agree with Singlerosa - there is no totally universal tripod - each has its advantages.

I've had good experience with Benro and with Vanguard. As with many things in this hobby I'd stay away from the cheapest of the cheapo's but I have never been persuaded to part with the cash they want for the top of the line Gizmo's either. While Carbon is nice, but for a few ounces of weight more aluminium works fine if you get the 'good brands' and not those ebay cheapo's. I have a couple of the cheaper drug store models - make fine stands for off camera flashes now.

I would say that the tripod you will take with you is the best one to start with. I bought a "Transfunctional Travel Angel" because who doesn't want a Transfunctional Travel Angel? It is by Benro and is the easiest to transport and does the job.

The other one I use is the Vanguard Alta 263, a bit bigger to lug about but great for its versatility - no hesitation recommending that one.

And a good ballhead is a must.

I have the Alta Pro 263 AT. Same as Dan's 264 but has 3 section legs. Its aluminum, not the lightest out there but I'm not carrying it far. I was ok with the included sbh-100 head at the time but grabbed a larger sbh-250 head for cheap and glad I did. Swapped the head when I got my 150-600 lens. It is very solid with my camera and big lens. The sbh series heads are discontinued now. The newer Vanguard BBH series heads are said to be Arca-Swiss compatible. The tripod does some neat things for when I do special macro shots. Consider if you need that ability or not.
A flimsy tripod will haunt you, been there, done that. You can see them shake especially when using a long lens. Although at the low end in price, the Vanguard does the job for me.

Tripods and heads are rated based on the maximum weight of the camera/lens that will sit on them. Start with those spec's and you'll eliminate about 1/2 the universe... More weight the combo can handle, means more money... Manufacturers try to eliminate tripod weight by using composites which drives the prices up further... Put your heaviest camera/lens together with a few filters and remote triggers and weigh it, and use that as your base requirement...

A lite tripod and using the 80-400 don't really go together. Stability is the most important thing in a tripod. Get the best tripod you can afford.

I have a Manfrotto that I love. I also have a Manfrotto Monopod that I use with a Gimbal and my 150-600. This makes for a great walkaround combo for birding and wildlife. I also have a Dolica that I used for a couple of years till my wife decided she wanted her own tripod so I gave it to her and bought my Manfrotto. The Dolica is a very sturdy tripod and I have never had a problem with it.

Don Kuykendall said:

A lite tripod and using the 80-400 don't really go together. Stability is the most important thing in a tripod. Get the best tripod you can afford.

I have aManfrotto that I love. I also have a Manfrotto Monopod that I use with a Gimbal and my 150-600. This makes for a great walkaround combo for birding and wildlife. I also have a Dolica that I used for a couple of years till my wife decided she wanted her own tripod so I gave it to her and bought my Manfrotto. The Dolica is a very sturdy tripod and I have never had a problem with it.

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I am going to try the monopod and gimbal next week. A friend has gotten us access to a small game farm during the offseason. Hope to take the 200-500 and the D7200 for some elk and Buffalo as well as some birds. It will be my first time to try it.

I like the monopod/gimbal combo with the 200-500 for birds. Or, just a straight screw-on to the monopod for sports.

Danno said:

I am going to try the monopod and gimbal next week. A friend has gotten us access to a small game farm during the offseason. Hope to take the 200-500 and the D7200 for some elk and Buffalo as well as some birds. It will be my first time to try it.

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How did that combo work for you?