Suggestions for sturdy tripod?

[bvd1]

Amateur photographer here, playing with my new 150-600mm Tamron lens this morning. This was hand held leaning against my house. I am interested in buying a sturdy tripod, the one I have is not very sturdy, camera and lens weigh over five pounds. Any suggestions for a sturdy tripod and swivel head?

Cropped from original.

 

[coach]

I've always read that using a remote release was important to keep the camera from shaking. I know many new cameras have blue tooth that can operate it. Probably get what you pay for in a tripod. I never paid much and never been real happy with what I got.
Nice shots. You did good holding it steady.

 

[Don Lovel]

I just bought one from Vortex for my 80mm objective lens spotting scope. I do like all the adjustments it can do for using it in rough terrain.
It even has a hook where you can hang a sandbag or weights off of the bottom of the leg junction to stabilize it

 

[Jeepnik]

Honestly, it comes down to how much you want to spend. Also, look for one that you can suspend a weight of some sort from the bottom of the center post. The weight lowers the center of gravity and steadies things greatly. All tripods will have a weight rating.

You pretty much have two choices of materials of construction these days. Aluminum and carbon fiber. Carbon fibers is lighter, aluminum (in my opinion) is "stiffer". Aluminum tripods do come in "lightweight" versions, but the ones I've looked at seem a bit flimsy.

If you stick with some of the big names (Manfrotto, Gitzo, Berno, Giotto) it's pretty hard to go wrong. You can go to sites like http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ and see hundreds of choices and prices. Like most things you get what you pay for.

Then we get to the heads. Stick with a ball head as it gives you the best range of articulation. You'll see the same names on these as tripods. Now you don't always have to have the same brand head as tripod, but unless you're absolutely sure things are compatible it's best to do so.

Personally I use a carbon fiber Manfrotto (I tend to take my wherever I go and weight matters) and a Manfrotto Hydrostatic Ball Head. While you can spend more, this combination seems, for me, to be a good balance of cost versus function versus weight.

Oh, with regards to remote shutter function, some of the newer digital SLR's (I use Canon) now have Wifi connectivity that lets you use a smart phone or tablet to not only trip the shutter but make exposure setting changes. You can get remotely operated tripod heads that allow wireless control, but they cost big bucks.

The good old fashion time delay still works, but it's very clunky compared to what can be had today.

 

[loiblb]

The one that works best for me is Manfrotto. Well made

 

[David Bradshaw]

bvd1.... TILTALL has been in production since shortly after WW II. Machined aluminum tripod with 3-tube extension legs. Machined aluminum head assembly with no-slop adjustments. Bought mine used in the mid-1970's; it's been carried hither and yon. Have broken other tripods and cussed their non-existent stability. The Tiltall is the one tripod I don't second-guess, nor wonder why I'm not using something else.
David Bradshaw

 

[Rick Courtright]

bvd1.... TILTALL has been in production since shortly after WW II. Machined aluminum tripod with 3-tube extension legs. Machined aluminum head assembly with no-slop adjustments. Bought mine used in the mid-1970's; it's been carried hither and yon. Have broken other tripods and cussed their non-existent stability. The Tiltall is the one tripod I don't second-guess, nor wonder why I'm not using something else.
David Bradshaw

Hi,

David, on your recommendation, I went looking for a Tiltall. It was a toss up between getting a new one (reputedly Chinese?) and an earlier US made model. Most of the Marchionis I found (original maker, US) looked pretty war torn, but I found a Leitz (Gen 2, also US) floating about in "the bay" that looked good, even has the original case, and the price, though not a giveaway, was reasonable. Maybe more than reasonable if it's anywhere close to the "like new" description. We'll see when it arrives...

That said, thank you for the heads up!

Rick C