Tripod for 70-200 VR

Hey,

I just bought Nikkor 70-200 f2.8 VR and noticed that my current 'no-label' tripod is not really meant for the 1,5 kg lens.

Would you have recommendations for outdoor hiking (nature/animals/birds) photographer for

1) decent head
2) good carbon tripod

Lens is great, VR really works, but one still needs tripod.

--duba

14-06-2005 12:54 PM  IP: Logged  [Edit] [Reply]

for the tripod...get gitzo...its the best and last forever...worth the extra money...

maybe with the Acratech ballhead

14-06-2005 01:03 PM  IP: Logged  [Edit] [Reply]

quote:

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Originally posted by mrdinh
for the tripod...get gitzo...its the best and last forever...worth the extra money...

maybe with the Acratech ballhead

---

14-06-2005 01:53 PM  IP: Logged  [Edit] [Reply]

Hey,

I have progressed with my tripod purchasing to have couple of alternatives. What is your opinion of following combinations for the 1,5 kg 70-200 VR + D70 + TC-14-E?

1) Benro C-228 (1, 67 kg, max load 8 kg) with KS-1 ballhead (separate tightening srew), price together (1460+780) = 2240 RMB = 270 USD

2) Gitzo 1228 (1, 56 kg, max load 8 kg) with Manfrotto 488RC4 ballhead, price together (3000+1130) = 4130 RMB = 498 USD

3) Manfrotto 440 (1,63 kg, max load 5 kg) with Manfrotto 488RC4 ballhead, price together (2980+1130) = 4110 = 496 USD

Any experince with this type of dimensions with lens and ballhead versus 3 way head? What worries me if the ballhead is too light to carry the lens even the max. kilos are way under.

Also if the tripod cannot really support the lens? Any experiences, Gitzo 1228 should be quite common. Manfrotto seems to have one benefit over the Gitzo and Benro, the column can be taken to have support for downward macro photos camera 'hanging' on the side - you think this any useful feature outside studio? Other Manfrotto seems slightly more flimsy than the two other.

I will be going back home to Finland for summer to photograph northern nature and I need to work in semi-low light and carry all stuff long time.

--duba

15-06-2005 08:57 AM  IP: Logged  [Edit] [Reply]

Hey,

I did not get any answers, no wonder same question about what to select has been very topical at Nikonias.com.

Hope someone has opinion about this combination that I selected.

After reading the discussions, I made decision
1) Tripod sturdy Benro C-327. Takes 10 kg load (more than 3* equipment) and weights 1,78 kg. 3 leg sections. This fits nicely to tripod pocket of of my Lowepro minitrekker mini AW. Price here in Shnaghai 2000 RMB = 240 USD. Gitzo 1227 MK II would have been 4000 RMB = 480 USD! New 2005 Benro feels much better than the older series, there seems to be new design with slightly better look.

2) Nikonians seems to have fallen in love with Acra, Kirk, Bogen or Markins heads. Markins M-10 and M-20 seems to get the votes. So I decided to have M-10 and ordered that to my home in Finland from Germany.

All in all, saved going from Gitzo to Benro and apparently quite the same quality, also having one level more sturdy tripod (from 12 series to 13 series)and saving money for the quality head. Nobody actully had complains about Benro. Well nobody had complain about Gitzo either.

I hope this is something that will work. I really look forward to my trip to South Africa after couple of weeks and the summer in Finnish Lapland with these.

I also added to my box a TC-17EII teleconverter to really get close the animals..

--duba

16-06-2005 02:26 PM  IP: Logged  [Edit] [Reply]