Hi!

I'm picking up a new Canon 600mm F4 in the next few weeks, i'm really wondering what the best tripod for it is, alongside a wimberley head.
Its going to be a Gitzo with a wimberley MkII, so far the GT5540LS seems to be one i'm pretty certain of, but i'm wondering if many people on here use such a lens and if so what tripod you'd recommend to carry the weight well, and be very good with vibrations and steadiness..

Any help would be appreciated!

Any of the GT-55 series will work extremely well with that lens. With good long lens technique, though, you can get away with the GT-35 series. I use the older a 1348 (approximately equivalent to the current GT-3540LS), and lots of people I know use the 1325 (GT-3530LS equivalent).

The best thing you can do is evaluate your own requirements for the tripod. If you're tall, you might want to look at the extra tall 55 series tripods. If you are looking for something lighter (either to carry, or on your wallet) and have good technique, think about the 35 series.

The head and tripod you have in mind is perfect for your lens.

I had a thread on this topic just recently. After taking advice I decided on a Gitzo GT3540XLS because I wanted more height. It just might not be as rigid as the 5-series but I figured that with the gimbal head not locked down anyway (so that I can follow birds or animals) it hardly matters that the tripod is a tiny bit less rigid. Certainly weight is not a problem.

The 5-series tripods are either way taller or way shorter than the 1.9m high 3540XLS.

I wouldn't insist that anyone get a tall tripod but these beasties are expensive and it seems better to have one a little too tall than a little too short. That way you might avoid having to buy another one later on.

Gitzo's advice recommendations about the appropriate focal length for use on their tripods seems a bit conservative to me. e.g. consider that if a 500mm or more needs a 5-series then no-one can reliably use a TC on a 300 or 400 without a 5-series, and yet people routinely and successfully use a 500 or 600 with TC on a 3-series.

- Alan

If the 600 is the IS version, the 3530 is enough, otherwise for the non-IS the GT-55

Alan321 wrote:
I had a thread on this topic just recently. After taking advice I decided on a Gitzo GT3540XLS because I wanted more height. It just might not be as rigid as the 5-series but I figured that with the gimbal head not locked down anyway (so that I can follow birds or animals) it hardly matters that the tripod is a tiny bit less rigid. Certainly weight is not a problem.

The 5-series tripods are either way taller or way shorter than the 1.9m high 3540XLS.

I wouldn't insist that anyone get a tall tripod but these beasties are expensive and it seems better to have one a little too tall than a little too short. That way you might avoid having to buy another one later on.

Gitzo's advice recommendations about the appropriate focal length for use on their tripods seems a bit conservative to me. e.g. consider that if a 500mm or more needs a 5-series then no-one can reliably use a TC on a 300 or 400 without a 5-series, and yet people routinely and successfully use a 500 or 600 with TC on a 3-series.

- Alan


I also wrote the same in your other thread.
Gitzo say and write in their Catalogue about the Systematic tripods. The 3 series are for lenses 300 to 500mm
exact copy here
""A great choice for professional equipment, medium format and DSLRs with 300mm up to 500mm lenses""

And my tripod that I use with Wimberley head is the 3530 LSV. It's only 148 cm. I can never use it fully extended with the gimbal head even if I'm 182 cm tall.

I have a 3530 Gitzo and a 5540 Gitzo. The 600 isn't near as stable on the 3530 as on the 5540..

FWIW, I use a Sigma 300-800 at up to 1600mm on a Gitzo 3540L with fine results. I'd like a GT55xx as well, but the weight of this setup is fine for me, the tripod is sturdy enough (though I wish there was a tall 3 section tripod instead of a 4). I wanted something that wouldn't bog me down so much, because these lenses, bodies, and other gear that tags along when I go out is not exactly light.

I know that they say up to 500mm in the description, though they also claim a nearly 40 pound load capacity... I'm sure that the 55xx will be more stable, but weight vs height (w/o the center column) was a major concern for me, so the 3540L was my pick, and I love it. Before owning one, I never understood why people raved about them so much....now, I kinda want a lightweight one that I can use for macro work and a very hevy duty one for the shorter trips away from the car or where I'll be set up all day....heh

Anyway....I would not hesitate to run the lighter 600 4L IS on my 3540L if I were to get the 600, and I'd be happy with it at 1200mm as well....if you're going to do a lot of moving around, the 35xx series is right for you. If you don't mind the weight and require ultimate stability, then the 55xx series is better for you. Neither series is exactly what I'd call bad....

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your replies, I think i'll go with one from ther 5XX series, as I've only really got the chance to spend this money once and would prefer the stability, and i'm not that tall (1.7 meters) so I don't think i'd need a really long tripod..