Brand new to LF looking for a intro level tripod

[Armentor1]

hey guys, I just got a B&J rail camera 8x10 with a 305mm kodak portrait lens. The next piece to this puzzle seems to be a tripod. I'm looking for a tripod that can be purchased for under $200 that will support the 8x10 format. Any ideas? I ran across this Davis and Stanford model at B&H but have never heard of the company. Has anyone used one of these before?

thanks-
dave

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Davis and Sanford makes some fine big tripods, but I'd look for a used Majestic (be sure it includes the Majestic head) as an affordable tripod to get started with in 8x10".

 

[tessar]

Another used tripod to look for is a big wooden Paul Ries. I don't know when mine was made, but the 6-inch-square platform says Made in Los Angeles, so I imagine it was more than a few years ago. The controls are big and strong and easy to adjust. It holds my Agfa 8x10 (heavy) rock steady. I paid $100 Cdn. for it at a used camera store.

 

[jp498]

Sweet lens you got there!

If you don't mind going over $200 just a little Berlebach has some quality tripods for new under $300. That's next on my list, unless I got a steal of a deal on a kodak portrait lens.

http://www.hpmarketingcorp.com/berlebach.html

Used majestic and ries are also universally well regarded. I have a cheap surveying tripod I use for my 8x10 camera. I have an adaptor plate to go from 5/8" to 1/4". It's not ideal in terms of features or looks, but it works well and was <$100.

 

[Rick A]

Alot of the LF and ULF users are mounting their rigs on surveyors tripods. These are either aluminum or wood and can be purchased for under $80 including a thread adapter for 1/4-20 or 3/8-16 thread pitch, depending on what your camera requires. These pods are super sturdy and will last your lifetime.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

That's one heck of a deal you got there on that camera, especially with that lens. I'll second the recommendation of the Majestic tripod and head, and also recommend looking for a used Bogen/Manfrotto aluminum tripod with the geared center column (I forget the exact model number). It's a beast, and will definitely confine you to the old "50 feet from the car" range, but it will hold that camera rock steady. I suspect with that combination though you're going to be mostly using it in the studio anyway, so the weight is not much of an issue.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Another used tripod to look for is a big wooden Paul Ries. I don't know when mine was made, but the 6-inch-square platform says Made in Los Angeles, so I imagine it was more than a few years ago. The controls are big and strong and easy to adjust. It holds my Agfa 8x10 (heavy) rock steady. I paid $100 Cdn. for it at a used camera store.

Of course if you see a Ries for $100, jump on it, but that's quite a rare find. They are excellent tripods, but also very much in demand, and even quite old ones aren't cheap.

 

[Armentor1]

Thanks for all of the advice, I'll let you guys know which direction I decide.

 

[mjs]

With the little tripod block thing these originally came with (it clamps around the rail and has a tripod screw socket in the other end,) you don't need a tripod with a head; just the tripod will do, at least, for now. A surveyor's tripod would be good, as was suggested above, and you don't need to spend for a "real" head right away.

Mike