I agree with the above advice - no need to spend millions of dollars at first - particularly if you are not sure that you are going to use it often. I am including some links to some decent carbon fiber/alluminum tripods that are being sold on e-bay - not for a ton of money, either. The heads stink, and you will have to replace them, but the bodies are quite nice and get the job done. Not a bad pair of legs for under $100.00.
James
PS They are the same tripod, just different prices.
http://cgi.ebay.com/PRO-CARBON-FIBER-MAG...1QQcmdZViewItemhttp://cgi.ebay.com/PRO-CARBON-FIBER-MAG...1QQcmdZViewItem
