tripod discussion.

[walkalot]

hi guys,had a chat today with some friends as to which tripod was best to use with 600mmlens 300-800mmlns. some would say aluminium was best, others say carbon, others say wooden is best,the debate went round in circles until someone said wooden is best because thats what some professional wildlife photographers use. interested to know anyones thoughts on this subject. regards, walkalot.

[ecoleman]

I've read that the pros with long lenses prefer wood because it absorbs a lot of vibrations, which can be very pronounced with long lenses.

[Hairyduck]

I'm all for carrying the lightest tripod that's sturdy enough for the lens in question. Which in my case means using a gitzo carbon jobbie for my 600 VR. No problems with rigidity and light enough to lug around everywhere

[mho]

I use carbon fibre Gitzo tripods (CF is a good vibration absorber, better than ali) but if you have mega money to spend you want to get yourself a Sachtler tripod, ultra stable, more so than the Gitzo's but cost a fortune.

[towershot]

If using BIG lenses I would pay more for a gimbal head than an all singing and dancing tripod, if money is no problem get both, but a Wimberly type head is a must in my opinion for wildlife and big lenses.

[CT]

The obvious consideration when choosing a tripod for big lenses is stability, but there are other important considerations, such as weight and ease of use. The Gitzo GT Series aren't cheap, but they combine great rigidity with lightness, and the latest twist lock legs make them a piece of cake to set up and take down very quickly - they're a joy in use.

I wouldn't look any further unless I was spending a great deal more wonga, and what I might gain in stability I could lose in weight and ease of use.

[straycat]

i have an old manfrooto built like a tank,heavy and steady never take it out the house.
i use an older manfrotto monopod outdoors its light but dosent flex.