Eternal Tripods?

[DrTang]

Am I the only person who hates, hates, hates Tiltalls?

do not like them...at all

wouldn't even take one if offered for free


DO, however like Linhof, quick-set hercules, majestic.. also gitzo and some bogen

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Induro carbon fiber. Half the price of Gitzo, nearly the same weight. Very nicely made. I bought one last year to replace my two-ton Bogen 3001. I suspect they're durable as long as you don't drop them on a large outcrop of granite.

My first tripod was a Slik, with aluminum channels for legs. Bought almost 30 years ago. Very inexpensive. Nice and light, and utterly useless for holding anything steady. Gave it away a year later. You get what you pay for.

I had my Induro carbon fiber tripod fall 10 feet onto rocks at the top of a waterfall, then go over a 20' high waterfall, with my whole plate camera still attached. It came out of the experience unscathed (the camera, not so much). The tripod even floated.

They're a relative bargain - much cheaper than a comparable Gitzo, but they're still not cheap. My vote for a tripod for someone on a budget would be an aluminum Bogen/Manfrotto. They're sturdy, inexpensive, and don't weigh a ton.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

For my 8x10 I use a Camera Equipment Co. wood tripod, mine has a heavy-as-sin Pro. Junior pan and tilt head which I have been threatening to replace with a clamshell for about 20 years. It weighs with the current head 15.84 pounds, and will support me balancing on the 4"x6" platform on my stomach. I believe the legs are ash.

 

[rmann]

Best USA made tripod - Ries, why settle for anything less?

 

[benjiboy]

Best USA made tripod - Ries, why settle for anything less?

Why, is the U.S.A. the only place in the World where quality tripods are made ?.

 

[Rick A]

I have owned both the Marchioni and Leitz branded Tiltalls and still have a newer version(non Star-D) that are seriously reliable and not too awfully heavy. These have all served to support Calumet cc-4xx series monos and all my other gear as well. I purchased an Induro AKB-2 for my last CC-401 and love the thing, much lighter than the Tiltalls and easier to set up, rated for twice the load too. I never took it out in the field, as I prefer to abuse my Tiltall for that, submerge in water and dirt and still functions as it should.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Best USA made tripod - Ries, why settle for anything less?

when's the last time you priced a Ries? They might be great tripods, but they're a major spend, even used... The OP was asking for a good BUDGET tripod.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

when's the last time you priced a Ries? They might be great tripods, but they're a major spend, even used... The OP was asking for a good BUDGET tripod.

The CeCo I referred to above is every bit as good as a Ries, wieghs about the same if fitted with a clamshell head, and cost a hundred bucks with a ball-bearing pan tilt head (that would cost serious cash today). I'll never need another. But I really do need to make that lightweight head...

 

[edp]

Love my CF Feisol. Light, tall, very small when folded so I take it with me overseas.

Yeah, me too.

 

[fotch]

Why, is the U.S.A. the only place in the World where quality tripods are made ?.

I don't thing that is what was meant. Rather, older products made in the USA, UK, Germany, etc are better than the Chinese imports.

Things may change. Maybe the imports get better or maybe the more expensive good stuff is no longer made. JMHO

 

[benjiboy]

I don't thing that is what was meant. Rather, older products made in the USA, UK, Germany, etc are better than the Chinese imports.

Things may change. Maybe the imports get better or maybe the more expensive good stuff is no longer made. JMHO

They used to say the same thing about Japanese imports years ago until they got their foot in the door with better, cheaper and more reliable products, they also used to think that little yellow men all had poor eyesight, and couldn't fight until they conquered nearly all of South East Asia in WW11. I have bought many household items in recent years that were made in China, and I can't say in all honesty that they have been in any way inferior.

 

[lxdude]

One good budget tripod I've encountered is the Slik 500dx. It's not light, but it's rigid. The 700dx costs more, but is taller. Also good.
Another good tripod at a good price is Giottos. I have a large aluminum one with a tilt column which I use for macro with medium format, and I have been pleased with it. Most models are available in either carbon fiber or aluminum, and with twist locks or flip locks.

I also have a CF Feisol that I like a great deal, though I wouldn't call it budget, except compared to a Gitzo. It gives very good value for the price.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Another option would be a used ALUMINUM Gitzo legset. They did make metal tripods back when nobody made carbon tripods, and they're generally bulletproof items. Make sure to inspect them in person, though, as a lot of old Gitzos have seen very heavy professional use and are a bit sloppy from wear. But if in generally good shape, they'll not fail on you, and frankly, even when they're worn, they tend to be a lot more solid than they'd suggest by appearances.

 

[rmann]

when's the last time you priced a Ries? They might be great tripods, but they're a major spend, even used... The OP was asking for a good BUDGET tripod.

Buy it once, use it for a life time. To me that is a good use of $$, better than going through a series of purchases. Not many on the used market speaks to the owners satisfaction not the quality of a Ries. Even new they are less than most carbon tripods. A Ries will never get jammed with sand or dirt, salt water is not a problem, super easy to clean the legs. Hardware is metal and easy to maintain. Legs dampen vibration as well as any material and do not have preset stops so it can handle any type of terrain easily. Costumer service is outstanding, in the unlikely case you need it. And if it is not "your tripod" they hold their resale value better than most other brands.

 

[pdeeh]

Buy it once, use it for a life time. To me that is a good use of $$,.

Which is fine, if you have the $$.

If you don't have the $$ ... well, as I think someone else said, no tripod at all is much less stable than any cheap tripod.

Not everyone can spend the equivalent of two or three month's rent on a tripod.

 

[rmann]

Which is fine, if you have the $$.

If you don't have the $$ ... well, as I think someone else said, no tripod at all is much less stable than any cheap tripod.

Not everyone can spend the equivalent of two or three month's rent on a tripod.

What can you rent for $200 a month? A J100 new is $600 which is a lot less than a new Gitzo carbon or RRS carbon. A cheap tripod is a weak link and degrades everything else you are using.

 

[chip j]

dolica

I asked the original question to compile a list for beginners on a budget.

My first tripod was a Velbon in 1978, and I sold it last year only. These old aluminium Velbons are eternal and good enough to be used as a weapon. But they are only tall enough if you extend the middle column, and then they are not stable at all, and for that size they are very heavy.

My second tripod was a Berlebach, very stable, quite cheap, taller than the Velbon, approximately the same weight.

I made a choice a year ago and purchased a Gitzo 3541XLS, very stable, up to 2 meters tall (very useful for architecture and landscape photography), and it only weighs 2kg. The only downside is the hefty price. It's only okay because this is probably my last tripod.

What would you recommend to young photographers that look for a very portable, lightweight solution?

Dolica AX620B100, adout $40

 

[John Koehrer]

This has gotten a little bit off track.
The OP asked for additional(to his list) tripods that would fit a starting photographers budget.

Where most good, new tripods would strain many old timers budgets. That's not the question. Is it? In hindsight, it does save $$ to buy the best but if
you're starting out you may not have the $$. I know I've gone through several different brands as the condition of my wallet improved.

 

[Tom1956]

These days I'm using a Horseman 8x10 on top of the Tiltall I bought in 1976. Talk about a Sherman tank sitting on toothpicks... But it works.