This is what I have. It works great as a traveling tripod..

Http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...gen_Manfrotto_725B_725B_Digi_Black_Tripod.html..

If you are ready to carry ~ 7LB tripod (should be stable outdoors at wind) I can recommend Slik pro series + ball head..

In my opinion tripod is N2 most important photographic equipment. Don't go too cheap, otherwhise you will outgrow it very fast and hate... .

Check out ebay item id 110151987214 it doesn't have spikes as my old slik 7000 tripod, but is not that heavy as my monster... .

Http://www.stan-pustylnik.smugmug.com..

Clint,.

Just yesterday I saw Bogen / Manfrotto 725B tripod in our local store. It's too unstable for outdoors if wind will occure. I would not recommend it for evening shots requiring longer then 1 sec exposure.http://www.stan-pustylnik.smugmug.com..

I have absolutely zero problems taking long shots (nt)..

I almost forgot I am 6'3" so a tripod on the taller side would be great and one with a quick release reafure would be great too. and I am planning on buying a battery/grip extender for the bottom of my camera in the near future if that makes any difference..

Thanks..

You need tall tripod, otherwise if you will bend yourself over because of short tripod for every composition you will get sore back next day....

Higher is camera from ground - less stability. Manfrotto, Gitzo, Slik all do N1-high/heavy/stable tripods in addition to N2 compact/light/unstable. N1 are expensive. You can attach any head (ball head or pan) with quick release to each legs with or without adapter..

I would try to go to local photo store (ritzcamera, penncamera, and try before buying)..

Pro tripods are well build and have just mechanical parts, not that easy to break. You can buy very good tripod of previous model at KEH.com or ebay..

Http://www.stan-pustylnik.smugmug.com..

Hi Kozak (are you Russian by the way?),.

I don't have a tripod yet myself, but I was recommended this company:.

Http://www.amvona.com.

Good luck!..

No not Russian the name is Polish/Czech. Anyone else want to chime in?..

Amnova makes good tripods(stable)..

It was my first good tripod with ball head that I used intensively indoors/outdoors for 2+ years before killing it completely during long exposures in ocean surf (legs connectors corroded, ball head with quick release too)..

I bought used Slik Pro 7000 legs and manfrotto medium ball head with quick release after it (happy sofar)..

Http://www.stan-pustylnik.smugmug.com..

Stan do you know what model it was? is it in my price range?..

Also will my plans of adding a grip extender/battery pack on the bottom of the camera change anything?..

Kozak,.

Battery pack adds weight. It's bad and good. Bad, because you need ballhead capable holding additional weight. Good because heavier - less vibration from wind..

Avmona is successful seller on ebay. http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZamvona.com.

I bought my tripod from them. I don't remember tripod model now, it's at home And I use slik for last 2 years)..

Avmona has multipe good tripods. They are heavy, sturdy, mine was made from stainless steel. Now they do carbon and from aluminum too..

I checked their current tripods on ebay and think "AT-858BL" could be good for you.do search on item 200130705651.

Http://www.stan-pustylnik.smugmug.com..

The battery grip doesn't make any diffeence that matters, other than letting you bend over just a tiny bit less..

If you are not shooting sports, where you look through the camera for long periods of time, you will not be spending much time bent over peering into the viewfinder. So, height is less important, as far as sore backs go..

Where height matters is in placing the camera at a height you like for your photography..

Depending on the subject, without a tripod you should be up and down and crouching and bending and standing on tip-toes anyway..

About your lens maybe it is a good idea to assume future purchases, too..

Remember that lighter tripods, when only partly extended, are as stable as bigger tripods, extended..

The type of head matters I use a ball head on a Velbon maxi 343 (which is a very small tripod, notwithstanding the name, and is an exc ellent tripod for a lot of work) and a threeway head on a giant Benbo Model 2..

WHAT YOU SHOULD REKALY DO is go to a big store yourself..

Tripods are very personal, and some just simply feel much better than others, plus you'll get a much better idea of whether youw ant a ball head or another style..

PLUS at $100 (US money? You're not in the US, I note, or at least your camera isn't) you'll find a huge difference in the quality levels and features and sizes and stability, and probably can get "really good" in only two out of four of these. Pick up the tripod, and you'll be sable to set priorities..

In Canada, for about $100 Cdn there's a tripod called a "Sherpa" that seems like great value..

Also in Canada check shipping to wherever you are Henrys.com has 350D/RebelXT bettery grips, spare battery, and camera case for half price..

BAK..

Excellent advice!.

I completelly agree. Tripod could be great helper and "love from first site" or "so bulky, uneasy - hate it so much... "..

Http://www.stan-pustylnik.smugmug.com..

BAK unless I misunderstood you I'm in the US I don't know how you got the idea I was in Canada! But I agree I'm going to try and make it out to a camera store this weekend or next, the only thing is when ever i've been to a store they have a very limited selection of tripods (and I think they are a little over priced!). And the more I think about it I would like to try more night shots because i've never really got the chance to do a star field or anything like that...

Kozak,.

Just to get you more motivated I'm posting couple examples of images I'm proud of. No way I could get them without good/stable tripod.

30 sec exposure tripod standing in shalow surf:.

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4 sec exposure with flash.

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10 sec exposure with CPL and 2 ND grad combination.

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2 sec exposure with same filters.

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30 sec with CPL (Circular Polarizing Filter).

Image control:Zoom outZoom 100%Zoom inExpand AllOpen in new window.

Http://www.stan-pustylnik.smugmug.com..