[quote author=Elite link=topic=2688.msg28184#msg28184 date=1197332709]
[quote author=Ibn link=topic=2688.msg28171#msg28171 date=1197311772]
'cause it'll last you a very long time. Good stability and if you're ever hiking/using it, it's much lighter than any thing you can get for the price.
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Aren't most of them weight about 3-4 lbs?? I notice some can handle much more load but do you really need that? Camera and len doesn't weight more than 10lbs. Unless you have some giant len ;D . My camera and len weight only about 3 lbs. I can understand spending $ on a really good len/camera but not the tripod. I just don't want to spend $ on something that I don't really need
..
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There are a few other factors when considering how much it can handle in terms of weight.
1. In extremly windy conditions (like standing up on the cliffs in marin headlands next to the golden gate bridge in wintertime) it is sometimes good to hang a VERY heavy bag off the hook on the center column to stabilize your tripod and camera. If you can hang like 100 lbs off that, then it would be very solid (just an extreme example).
2. You can lean on it a bit too if you wanted to. Sometimes I find myself leaning on it, down on it, etc. when I'm at odd angles... especially when shooting my tank (though some surgeon like people can steady hand hold shots amazingly =)
3. so you can brag about it? and one day you'll get a super monstrous heavy lens =)