Are there any GOOD tripods for use in sand?

[Terence]

After practically destroying a (thankfully) cheap Bogen at Great Sand Dunes National Park, I'm looking to find something for an upcoming weekend trip to Moab. Specifically, my concern/interest is with the leg locks and other hardware, and not with sinking into the sand.

I know Moab's much less sandy than the sand dunes, but sand is a condition I've run into enough times that i think it'll be a good investment.

I have a few old Graphlex Crown wood tripods that I might consider putting a modern head on, but am hoping for a modern design. My extra-large Gitzo seems like a potential disaster as it leg sections fit so tight they act like pistons. Any sand would surely destroy that fit.

I'm looking for something that can support TLR's, a Hasselblad with a 150mmlens and 2x converter and a Toyo 45CF, which is pretty light. The head would likely be a medium size ballhead or my Bogen 410 geared head.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Terence,

Benbo.

Though you can also strip, clean and rebuild Gitzos. I still have one that I dropped into a stream in the Himalayas at about 6,000 feet. It was COLD getting it out and I had to strip it to remove the sand that got in from the bottom of the stream.

Cheers,

R.

 

[arigram]

Manfrotto makes these tripod shoes attachments which fit all kinds and work for sand, snow, mud and such environments.
http://www.eagleoptics.com/index.asp?pid=366

Before getting these I had constructed my own using plastic plates and soda bottle caps.

 

[noseoil]

You might try the "ol' tennis ball" trick. Depends on the weight involved, but you can slice a tennis ball and it will lock onto each foot of the tripod. This may be enough to help, otherwise, use a bit more ingenuity to fabricate some "snow shoes" out of whatever (like Ari's idea). Best of luck and let us know what you come up with. tim

 

[Pinholemaster]

Pie Tins

Put cheap aluminium pie tins on the bottom of each tripod leg so the tripod doesn't sink into the sand.

I use this technique for beach camping to stack a tent down. I use the tins as anchors by burying them in the sand with the tent stack and guy line attached to the tin via a hole in the center of the tin.

 

[Terence]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I guess I need to reiterate, "my concern/interest is with the leg locks and other hardware, and not with sinking into the sand."

 

[arigram]

I appologise for not reading your request correctly.
Maybe you can "dress" the tripod legs, with something akin to a really long condom. I am not sure if you can find plastic bags sold in that shape but certain items, like poster hanging tubes are wrapped in those shapes.
You could ofcourse sew your own in cloth, or take a piece of fabric or plastic, cut into stripes then glue or sew velcro strips.
I guess wrapping the legs with bandages would be too time consuming and non functional.
Another thought is to use a light studio lighting stand which (atleast mine) doesn't have anything at the lower part of the legs for sand to get into.
Blowing sand in the wind could be a problem and only "Tripod Condoms" TM could be a good protection. Maybe I should market the idea!

 

[reellis67]

I live in Florida, where sand is king, and while we don't have many sand dunes left like what you are talking about, I've never had any problem cleaning the sand out out my Bogen tripods leg locks and they're 20 years old. But, if the locks are a problem with what you have now, you might try a surveying tripod. They are made of wood, can accept just about any head, and sturdy as all hell to boot. The legs on the one I have lock by friction, but the lock is a screw that tightens the two outer leg struts against the inner third strut. I've never had problems with it even in deep sugar sand. They are tall too, if you need them to be. I think mine hits 7 feet or so, with no center column.

- Randy

 

[Terence]

Actually, that IS a pretty good idea, Aristotelis.

Until it comes on the market, maybe some material gaffer-taped around the locks would work. Something easy enough to peel apart when you need to change the position. Replace it each day, etc. A little tedious, but a good idea nonetheless.

 

[Terence]

The only problem with the surveying tripods are compactness when folded. We use them at work, but I'd have to take a pretty big bag to stuff the thing into.

 

[reellis67]

No doubt! Mine is a monster, although on the up side, it is great for starting conversations when photographing in groups...

- Randy

 

[resummerfield]

......you might try a surveying tripod. They are made of wood, can accept just about any head, and sturdy as all hell to boot. The legs on the one I have lock by friction, but the lock is a screw that tightens the two outer leg struts against the inner third strut. I've never had problems with it even in deep sugar sand. They are tall too, if you need them to be. I think mine hits 7 feet or so, with no center column......

Randy is exactly right on this. I own Gitzo tripods, and have used several other brands, but my Sokkia wooden surveyor tripod is by far the best tripod for outside shooting. Heavier than my Gitzo, harder to pack, but much more stable for even the heaviest camera.

 

[Terence]

Thinking out loud . . . okay, typing out loud . . . there must be some sort of easily adaptable thing out there. The neoprene hand guards for kayak paddles wouldn't stretch enough to get over a knob.

Can anyone think of a sleeve with either an elastic at each end, or a drawcord at one end and an elastic at the other?

I guess I could do a sock of some sort with women's elastic hair bands, but I'd prefer something where the cinch was integral. And the fabric would preferably be a tight weave or solid, to keep the sand out.

 

[arigram]

If you are not in a hurry, why don't you buy some fabric, plastic or even leatherette, some elastic cord and give it to a sewing professional that can make three tripod leg sleeves for you? I am sure it won't take them more than a day and it would be a good lasting solution.

I wonder really how big companies like Manfrotto haven't thought of a solution or a special tripod design for those environments.
I have carried my Hasselblad on the beach with both my 050PROB and carbon tripods and had to be extra careful with the sand.

 

[Terence]

I agree. Even after brushing, vacuuming and blowing out as much sand as possible, I can still hear the crunch when I tighten anything on the tripod.

It took me almost two hours to get everything out of two Hasselblad lens flanges before I stopped hearing the same noise when adding or removing the lenses.

 

[Vaughn]

Partial solutions...

Always extend the lower legs of a pod about half way -- that keeps the leg-locks above the ground and away from the sand.

Slide your hand down the leg before retracting it to knock off any sand.

When not in use, don't lay the pod on the sand/ground -- extend the lower legs a bit and set it up instead.

After a day of shooting (and/or during the noon break), enjoy a beer and clean out any residual sand fom the day's photographing.

vaughn

 

[jgjbowen]

Yes, the surveyor tripods aren't very compact, but a wooden tripod is the answer to your problem. Look at the old Zone VI lightweight tripods, or the Burlbach (sp) or a Ries....afterall, the Ries held up quite well for one Edward Weston and I believe he just may have used them in a desert or two

Good luck in your quest,

 

[jovo]

Can anyone think of a sleeve with either an elastic at each end, or a drawcord at one end and an elastic at the other?

Well, yes, a sleeve with ends you can tighten down are available at Home Depot or Lowe's for coupling PVC pipe. They use the kind of clamps you tighten with a screw driver or socket wrench, and it would take you a while to prepare them. but if you're not going to disassemble the 'pod for a while, they offer a solution...a watertight, airtight solution at that! BTW, they can take a great deal of compression so you can use a size that fits over the leg clamps, but will compress down to the leg diameter. They'd be easiest to use on a Gitzo, much less so on a Manfrotto. Click on the image to get a more realistic view.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=23471-34146-RC40&lpage=none

 

[Lee L]

There are some models of metal tripods that have the legs "reversed" in the sense that the larger tubing section is at the bottom, and the upper sections slide down into the lower sections. They are sold to work in harsh, wet environments, and should work well for your purpose. Don't have a particular model name or brand at hand, but I seem to recall Bogen and perhaps Gitzo making them. I use a wooden Berlebach on the beach, and it's easy to knock the sand off the wood before collapsing it, and it won't bind from sand like the metal nesting tubes do.

Lee

 

[Daud]

I have been using one of the early Uni-Loc (similar to Benbo) legs "reversed" type here in Oman for a number of years and as long as I rinse it with fresh water and apply a very thin film of something like WD40 to the leg tubes once in a while. It has never given me any problems and believe me when I say that sand here can get in to everything, given the slightest breeze.

 

[Shmoo]

Saran wrap...wrap the joints...

 

[Jim Noel]

A good old wooden tripod can not be beat. They dampen vibration, stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Neither sand nor water nor salt bother them. Just clean up after the day is over and be ready for the next day.

I prefer Otto tripods over Ries, but sadly they are not made any more.

 

[seawolf66]

Terence: Are you familuar with a type of stocking that goes on your arms to cover them when their cold , Its like a Knitted cloth tube , These would help minimize the amout of sand getting at those joints::

Thanks for the replies guys.

I guess I need to reiterate, "my concern/interest is with the leg locks and other hardware, and not with sinking into the sand."

 

[David Henderson]

I guess I must just be lucky with Manfrottos- I have a 3011 and a 3001 which for several years have seen a great deal of photography on beaches including partial immersion in salt water, not to mention use in environments like Death Valley dunes. And I don't even clean them outside of roughly dusting off any dry sand from the outside. The locks work fine and the legs open and close smoothly.

 

[Peter De Smidt]

Yes, the surveyor tripods aren't very compact, but a wooden tripod is the answer to your problem. Look at the old Zone VI lightweight tripods, or the Burlbach (sp) or a Ries....afterall, the Ries held up quite well for one Edward Weston and I believe he just may have used them in a desert or two

Good luck in your quest,

The Zone VI lightweight allows you to unbolt all of the legs. That would make it somewhat easier to ship. I used to have one and it was very easy to clean sand off. It is heavy and bulky, though.