For your situation, I'd suggest comparing a Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head against a standard ball head. Geared heads are way safer cuz they won't accidentally "flop" and damage your glass, plus they're much more precise for technical framing. Honestly, with a heavy 5D IV, the security of a geared head is totally worth the extra weight... I've seen too many ball heads slip!

Dude, I totally get where youre at with this. When I first kitted out my 5D, I made the massive mistake of thinking every single accessory had to be some high-end luxury brand. Honestly, it was a disaster... I blew like $500 on name-brand accessories that didnt actually make my shots any better. Such a waste of cash, tbh, and it realy set me back when I could've been spending that on actual trips. If you wanna save some serious money while still getting great results, look at power first. The 5D IV eats batteries when youre using Live View for precise focusing. Instead of paying $80 for one OEM battery, I've been using the Wasabi Power Battery (2-Pack) and Dual USB Charger for Canon LP-E6N, LP-E6H for years. They're like $30 for two, and while they maybe hold a tiny bit less charge, the value is just insane compared to the Canon ones. Also, people always forget about a leveling base. Trying to level tripod legs on uneven rocks is basically a nightmare. I had issues with a really expensive one locking up in the cold, so I switched to the Neewer Pro 69mm Precision Leveling Base. It's about $50 and built like a tank. Plus, since youre doing landscapes, youre gonna be in the rain eventually. Don't buy a "pro" $100 weather shield. I use the JJC RI-9 Large Rain Cover for DSLR which comes in a two-pack for like $15. Theyre basically disposable but work perfectly. Basically, my lesson learned was: dont overpay for the label. The 5D IV is already a beast; it doesnt need premium plastic bits to take a good photo. Just get the budget stuff that works and spend the rest of ur money on gas to get to the mountains! Peace. 👍

So I once hiked four hours only to have a generic shutter release fail in the rain... seriously, it was a nightmare. Ngl, for your 5D IV, you gotta get the Canon RS-80N3 Remote Switch. It's built like a tank. Also, be careful with media; i'd only trust the SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO CompactFlash Card 160MB/s because those CF slots are sensitive to cheap cards. Lesson learned: dont risk a pro body on amateur gear!!

Came here to say the same thing lol. Great minds think alike I guess.

Yeah I definately agree with the point about not blowing your whole budget on luxury gear right away. Ive been looking into the filter market lately and it realy comes down to how much color cast you can tolerate... basically some brands are way better than others. If you want the best glass, honestly just go with anything from Breakthrough Photography, they're like the gold standard for landscape guys right now. Or maybe check out Haida if you want something a bit more budget-friendly but still solid. Also, think about how you're actually carrying the 5D IV into the field. It's a chunky body, so getting a dedicated mountain pack is a game changer. Just get any bag from Shimoda or F-Stop and you'll be set for years. It’s wierd how much people overlook the actual carry system compared to the camera tech, but a bad bag will ruin a trip way faster than a cheap tripod head will, tbh.

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Agreeing with the idea that you dont need to drop a fortune on every single accessory. Tbh, one DIY thing I always suggest for 5D users is just carrying a small, sturdy bag that you can fill with rocks to hang from your tripod center column. It gives you that extra bit of safety and stability in the wind without having to buy or carry extra weights. I'm always kinda paranoid about my gear tipping, so this is a must-have for me that costs basically nothing.

Are you planning on shooting mostly near the ocean or in sandier spots? It makes a huge difference for what you need to keep that 5D IV safe. I learned the hard way after a trip to the coast where salt spray and fine sand basically jammed my focus ring. It was a total nightmare and really expensive to fix because I didnt have the right maintenance tools with me in the field. To keep performance high, you gotta be proactive about maintenance. Make sure to consider these for long-term reliability:

• Giottos Rocket Air Blaster Large to blow grit off the lens mount before you ever open the body.
• VisibleDust EZ Sensor Cleaning Kit with VDust Plus because changing lenses in the wind is a recipe for stubborn dust spots that ruin your aperture-stopped-down shots. I would suggest being really careful with the rear LCD too. Even if the body is weather-sealed, a stray tripod leg or rock can crack it while you're scrambling over terrain. I always put a Vello GSP-C5D4 Screen Protector on mine for peace of mind. Honestly, the 5D series is a tank, but one piece of grit in the wrong spot can mess up the performance of your sensor or glass. You really gotta think about the environmental wear and tear before you head out.

Helpful thread 👍