Help me to select a tripod and head

[Miramar]

Tim,

It is possible to get good results with the 40D 100-400mm combo, but I don't think a tripod is your answer. Practicing panning, high shutter speed (1/1000 min), AI Servo, IS Mode 2, 1 focus point, and avoiding using the lens either wide open or at full length will all help.

Dave

[Richard B]

Try one of the new three legged things, bit on the pricey side, thou outstanding tripods.http://www.3leggedthing.com/tag/product/list/tagId/13/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Owned a Manfotto for many years they are good tripods also,
Tripods are not really much use for flying aircraft, with your set up getting pin sharp images should be pretty easy with some practice,
photoshop is your freind also for getting the shots looking as they do.

[Phil Standfield]

Hi
Miramar has suggested the settings i use with my 100-400. Just keep the shutter speed down 1/250 ish or lower for props and rotors. I find you just need to keep practicing and it will come. Have a look at my Riat post all pictures were taken with either 550 body- 500 F4 lens or 7D body 100-400 lens all hand held. I use a gimbal head on a gitzo tirpod for bird pictures but a tripod for panning is too much of a pain with aircraft
Hope this helps
Stan

[vortex003]

It's always a bit of a pain though to see a shot from someone else that you KNOW you should have nailed, especially if their kit is the same as yours :p

As Stan has mentioned, that's where the practice comes in.Having the same set-up is no guarantee of identical quality images.

Takes a while but stick at it!