Calumet Wood-Field XM 4x5

[rpsawin]

I took the plunge today and purchased a very nice used Calumet Wood-Field XM 4x5. It's my understanding that it is a rebranded Tachahari. I'm sure I will be posting lots of questions and picking the greater brain...lol

One of the first issues I would would like some suggestions on is for a tri-pod and head. Any thoughts will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Bob

 

[RoBBo]

I've got one of those, though not re-branded.
It's a wonderful little camera.
My LF setup weighs less than my MF one...
And by that, the tripod I got for the latter works great for the former.
I've got a Manfrotto 804RC2 head on a pair of 3011BN legs, never shown any signs of shake or issues with supporting the camera, plus it's relatively light and easy to carry.
I ride my bike around the city with the Tachi, 2 lenses, 10 holders, my spot meter, the aforementioned tripod and my 35mm P&S with no problems, and still enough maneuverability to shoot with the P&S while I ride.
It's a great setup.

 

[walter23]

I took the plunge today and purchased a very nice used Calumet Wood-Field XM 4x5. It's my understanding that it is a rebranded Tachahari. I'm sure I will be posting lots of questions and picking the greater brain...lol

One of the first issues I would would like some suggestions on is for a tri-pod and head. Any thoughts will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Bob

I have a manfrotto 055B pro legs (bogen 3021 I guess in USAian terms) + their standard low-to-mid-range 3-way head (not geared or heavy weight or anything fancy - don't remember the model number) with the RC2 quick release system. It works great for my shenhao which is heavier than the tachihara. I don't need anything heavier for this (in fact, I wouldn't want it). Any tripod that would provide stable support for a medium format system (or 35mm with a moderately long lens) should work fine for your tachihara. You don't need any of the big guns. A monorail might be a different story though I do know a guy who uses his cambo on the same tripod/head I have.

To give you an idea of the kind of head:

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It's just a decent, reasonably sturdy but not too heavyweight head.

 

[John Koehrer]

What he said! Manfrotto 055, Tiltall's another. Gitzo reporter. There are just so many choices.

 

[walter23]

You can get more elaborate and more sturdy if you want, but this is a very good economical setup that I use. I find the head of my manfrotto can vibrate a little bit (that's a head issue, not a legs issue - you can see how it kind of sits high on all these narrow hinges) - which is actually much more of a problem with my SLR + 200mm lens. When I hang my 4x5 off the end of the horizontal column in the arrangement in the second picture it gets pretty shaky.... sharp negatives though, I just have to wait for wind to die down (which I generally do anyway unless I want motion blur).

If I ever upgrade anything it will be to get a more sturdy head. But this one works very well so I'm in no rush to drop the $500 or so that I would need to upgrade.

 

[rpsawin]

Thanks guys...now I have homework...lol

Bob