Camera Labs

Hi guys,

Have been looking for a good tripod for some time now, and I have some models that I am considering. I am sure that I want Gitzo to be the brand (a lot of people have recommended this to me) but I am not sure what kind of stuff would be most useful to me. There are quite a lot of tripods and heads to pick from.

To make an informed decision it is also useful to keep in mind the gear that I have now and that I plan to own and use with the tripod:

Canon EOS 7D
Canon EF 17-40/4/ L USM
Canon EF 24-105/4 L IS USM
Canon EF 100/2.8 L IS USM Macro
Canon EF 70-200/2.8 L USM
Canon EF 100-400/4.5-5.6 L IS USM

I am considering a ball head for all of these lenses except the 100-400; I would like to use a swing head for that one. Gitzo has a couple of series, and the higher the number the bigger and sturdier the tripod (if I am not mistaken). I am looking into buying a 6XCarbon Serie 1 or a Basalt Serie 2. The ball head will be a Gitzo, the swing head probable some other brand. I think that if you go for a series 1 or 2, that you need a series 1 or 2 ball head to go along with it.

So my question to you guys: is my reasoning alright? Will a series 1 or 2 be enough for me? Will it be sturdy enough and have enough balance? Or should I spend a whole lot more on a series 3, 4 or 5? Thanks for helping .

- Mike

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Cameras: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EOS 40D
Lenses: Canon EF 17-40/4 L USM, Canon EF-S 60/2.8 Macro USM, Canon EF 70-200/2.8 L USM, Canon EF 100-400/4.5-5.6 L IS USM
Want list: Canon EF 24-105/4 L IS USM, Canon EF 100/2.8 Macro L IS USM

I can tell you they are very well built and sturdy - the best tripods I've used.

I'd recommend totalling your maximum load and using their site specs to see which would suffice, with a bit of leeway in case you get anything bigger in the future - as this will be a tripod for life!

Thanks Gordon! I noticed you used a Series 1 yourself on your bear photography trip in Canada (was it?). Thought you used a 100-400 + 7D as well. How did it feel for you? Was this a steady combo or would you have liked to have used a sturdier Gitzo?

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Cameras: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EOS 40D
Lenses: Canon EF 17-40/4 L USM, Canon EF-S 60/2.8 Macro USM, Canon EF 70-200/2.8 L USM, Canon EF 100-400/4.5-5.6 L IS USM
Want list: Canon EF 24-105/4 L IS USM, Canon EF 100/2.8 Macro L IS USM