BIG lens tripods, what ones best?

[Bushcraft]

To go with my Sigma 800mm I will need a heafty tripod and head.

Do any of you guys use a Wimberly Gimble Head - Version II? If so any tips on what pod it works best with? and are there any other things I may need such as adaptors?

The weight will be up to 8KG for the lens and camera, etc.

Many thanks
Kris

[nightshade]

I like the Benbo,but for heavy look at Gitzo their 1300,1400,or1500 range http://www.gitzo.com/

[Bushcraft]

Originally Posted by nightshade

I like the Benbo,but for heavy look at Gitzo their 1300,1400,or1500 range http://www.gitzo.com/

Cheers Nightshade

[Kev Lewis]

Originally Posted by Bushcraft

To go with my Sigma 800mm I will need a heafty tripod and head.

Do any of you guys use a Wimberly Gimble Head - Version II? If so any tips on what pod it works best with? and are there any other things I may need such as adaptors?

The weight will be up to 8KG for the lens and camera, etc.

Many thanks
Kris

Take a good look at the Manfrotto Long lens support model number 393. The way they show it with the lens slung underneath the frame is terrible! BUT if you use it with the frame under the lens it is superb for in-flight work !. Warehouseexpress plus others sell it for around £99. The 393 will bolt directly to the top of most tripods, add a second QR adpator plate to the order as they are very useful. I've played with the Wimberley and Kirk models and yes they are good but they don't give you any more than the 393 head does AND the 393 supports the lens where it should be supported, underneath! I will be updating my manfrotto 055bPRo soon to a Gitzo as they are more sturdy, probably the CF15xx series

[geezedtee]

Hi Kev.
That is exactly where I want to be. In the process of buying a 400mm f2.8 and have tried it on my Gitzo and Kirk B1 head. That's good for static stuff, but wildlife aint static. I was thinking of getting the 393 but what lens plates do I need is the question. Presumably Manfrotto long ones? The DIY mounting of Flash bracket - could you not drill and tap the top bracket to take a mount?
Regards
George Trebinski

[Kev Lewis]

Originally Posted by geezedtee

Hi Kev.
That is exactly where I want to be. In the process of buying a 400mm f2.8 and have tried it on my Gitzo and Kirk B1 head. That's good for static stuff, but wildlife aint static. I was thinking of getting the 393 but what lens plates do I need is the question. Presumably Manfrotto long ones? The DIY mounting of Flash bracket - could you not drill and tap the top bracket to take a mount?
Regards
George Trebinski

Hi George, you need the long QR plates this will help you balance the camera/ lens combo better. If you mount a flash on the camera the extra length allows you slide the lens forward a 1/4" to re-balance it. I would not recommend hanging the lens under the bracket as manfrotto show it, it just doesn't work well at all. Just sit the lens into the head with the mounting plate under the lens, this way it is very solid and well balanced. You could easily drill and mount a flash bracket but I normally use a 580Ex gun and better beamer adaptor on the hot shoe. Doing it this way allows me to rotate the lens from landscape to portrait and retain the correct flash coverage.

Since my 1st post I've bought a Gitzo CF1348 tripod and the 393 head sits on it all the time

[Brian Phipps]

I use a gitzo 1548, expensive but extremly rock solid, I also use a Wimberley MK II pattern head that you can buy from Ebay for about £150 and is superb, ( bought mine second hand from one of Kevs mates), biggest lense I use is a 500mm and can`t fault the set up.

Brian