Are there any GOOD tripods for use in sand?

[Jon Shiu]

Hi, I've used a Slik 300dx at the beach for 5 or 6 years and it has never had a problem with sand.

Jon

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Terence,

If the 'reverse leg' design of the Benbo doesn't suit you, see if you can find a Gibran somwhere. These rare, expensive tripods were only made for a few years but can stand even repeated immersion in sandy salt water for long periods thanks to their teflon-anodized finish and unique plastic leg lock design.

They're also the only tripods to have made it into the Museum of Modern Art collection...

Note that a similar design to the Benbo 'boss' (if you can call it that with such an unusual design) first appeared on a machine-gun tripod in (I think) WW1 so they were pretty tough.

Cheers,

R.

 

[polaski]

"Specifically, my concern/interest is with the leg locks and other hardware, and not with sinking into the sand."

Benbo tripods have lower sections set up to keep out water and sand up to the end of the lower leg section. That said, if the sand blows, it'll get into hardware. Try plastic trash bags sealed with tape. It worked in the Gulf War.

 

[Tom Stanworth]

yes, traditional wooden ones like berlebachs.

 

[jmdavis]

Berlbachs are a relatively inexpensive answer to this problem. I have both wood and aluminum tripods (and I'm picking up another Ries wooden tripod in a couple of hours).

It has been stated earlier in the thread that the wooden tripods (specifically Ries) worked well for the Westons (Edward, Brett, Cole, Kim). The Berlebach is not a Ries, but it is a good wooden tripod that will work for all of the formats you shoot. I use my 3032 for MF (RB67, Yashica C), LF (ToyoView G, Shen Hoa and formerly a 5x7 B&J). It will also support some of the lighter 8x10's and I have used it for my Green Monster (C1 FrankenCamera with a Magnesium back/frame and an AL front standard) on more than one occasion, but only under close supervision in low or no wind conditions. They are stable relatively simple tripods. The Ries is both more stable and more simple but also at least 2x the cost for the legs alone.


Mike

 

[Doremus Scudder]

I use the cheapest/smallest Bogen/Manfrotto tripod available and work in sand often. Here are my recommendations.

1. Extend the lower (smaller) leg sections fully first. Don't use the top sections only when you don't need full height. This keeps you from setting the leg locks themselves directly in the sand.

2. Use a bandanna/handkerchief, etc., to clean the sand from the lower leg sections before collapsing them (I often just use my hands...).

3. If a lot of grit gets into the leg locks, disassemble and clean them. It is easy and requires only a screwdriver.

4. Replace the leg locks when they get sticky or wear out. Manfrotto sells replacement parts cheaply.

I find that with reasonable care, my leg locks last years and years. I don't see how you could destroy them so quickly...

Best,

Doremus Scudder

www.DoremusScudder.com