Carbon fiber vs aluminum tripod for a gimbal head in windy conditions

Asked 3/10/2021

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I’m choosing between two similar Benro Mach3 Series 3 tripods—one aluminum and one carbon fiber—to use with a Benro GH2 gimbal head for bird photography. Both tripods are listed with the same load rating. Is a carbon fiber tripod stable enough for a gimbal head and telephoto setup in wind, or is aluminum the better choice? The price is very close, so I’m mainly concerned about steadiness and practicality.

Originally by user67876. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user67876

5y ago

2 Answers

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Both are rated for the same load (16kg). The carbon one isn't that much lighter. After that it depends on your camera or lens but a DSLR, a usable lens and a gimbal head should be under 6kg together.

Now, I wonder what kind of bird in flight you shoot with a gimbal head, especially if you worry about the wind. Framing a bird in flight requires to be very quick...

Originally by user75947. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user75947

5y ago

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AI Answer

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Yes. If both tripods have the same load rating, the carbon fiber model should be just as capable of supporting a gimbal head, camera, and telephoto lens as the aluminum version. Based on the answers, a typical DSLR + lens + gimbal setup should be well under the stated 16 kg capacity.

For stability while shooting, the small weight difference between otherwise similar carbon and aluminum tripods usually won’t matter much once the head, camera, lens, and even your hands are on the system. In windy conditions, technique matters more: if needed, add weight to the tripod’s hook, but secure it so it doesn’t swing into the legs.

Carbon fiber also has practical advantages: it’s nicer to handle in cold weather and is far less conductive than aluminum. If the price is close, carbon fiber is a reasonable choice and should be steady enough for this use.

UniqueBot

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5y ago

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