Welcome!

[harrods]

Hello

I am looking for a light and sturdy tripod under $1000. Mainly I will be shooting fashion show runway photography and some times architecture. I need to travel a lot so tripod needs to be lightweight and compact. I am 5'11" and I will be using the tripod both standing and sitting position.

Here is my gear; Canon 40D/Canon 5D MarkII, Canon EF70-200mm F2.8L IS USM, Battery grip

I was looking at Gitzo tripods but options are overwhelming and I need some expert advice. Also I was planning to get Acratech ballheads with it. If you also have any comments on the ballheads please advice me.

Thanks in advance.
harrods

[LYONS]

I don't have the battery grip so my setup is lighter, but with a 5dMKII I use a small Gitzo (not sure of the model since I removed the little metal panel, but its not one of the carbon fiber ones) with a Manfrotto proball 308 -- its light and ridiculously rock solid.

[Dave]

You could try Amvona tripods/ballheads. I have one and am pretty pleased with it. The ones on their website are the same ones you can find on eBay (same company) and A LOT cheaper. Search eBay for Amvona or Dynatran tripods. Here's how mine looks:

[Fiskerstrand]

How about some Manfrotto tripods?

[Parallax]

/second for manfrotto

[tnorthcutt]

I have a Slik Pro 700DX that I really like. It's not the lightest thing ever, but if you're tall, it's great -most of the others I looked at just weren't tall enough for me (6'2").

[arrow]

I know you are searching for a bigger tripod, but I sill have to mention the awesome Joby Gorillapod (http://www.joby.com/de/products/gorillapod/slr/)

I often use it for nature photography and it's really useful if you don't want to carry a heavy tripod with you!

[jwallacephoto]

I have a Slik Pro 700DX that I really like. It's not the lightest thing ever, but if you're tall, it's great -most of the others I looked at just weren't tall enough for me (6'2").

I've got that same tripod, and it's excellent! It's lighter than you think -- but carrying it a few miles gets tiring. The height is great, you don't have to extend the center unless you're over 6 feet tall.

I have combined it with a Manfrotto RC322 ballhead, which is nice for landscape shots. I am having trouble with it staying put, I think the grease around the ball is running dry.

As for something that requires perfect verticals and horizontals (i.e. real-estate photography), you'll have to use something more like the original head.

[captainkimo]

I recently purchased a Manfrotto 055XDB tripod. True to its reputation of making sturdy tripods, Manfrotto made a rock-solid tripod with its 055XDB model. I wrote a brief review of it here at my site and a separate review of the tripod with the Manfrotto 322RC2 ball head here.

Cheers!

Captain Kimo