Gitzo for 4x5 field

I'm looking for a light weight set of legs for my 4x5 field kit. I want a legset that weighs less than about 3 pounds with a folded length around 20 inches or less. I don't need or really want a long center column but, would love to have a self leveling head (like the Berlebach semi-ball head thingy on their 8043).

Which Gitzo do you suggest?

I will second the question, but if I may, ask about any brand of tripod that would meet those criteria.

I have the Berlebach with the leveling head that you mention and love it. However after a recent trip lugging it around, I wonder about a lighter alternative for hiking.

A couple of points from having done a similar look myself:

<20" knocks out a *lot* of tripods and often leaves the very lightweight which may not be stable enough for a 4x5 kit
<20" often implies a lot of leg sections or a pretty short overall height. If you go to 22" you will have more choice.

I tried to maximise over weight <1.5 kg (about 3lb), height without column of >115cm and folded length <55cm (~22"); I did not have the $$ for gitzo carbon fibres so looked at both feisol (the CT=2442) and benro (the c-228 a little taller than 20" folded). I bought the benro off ebay from a seller called shamino123 and have been very happy with it. A friend has the benro c028 (2.4lb, 18" folded) which he uses for a light weight hiking gig: it has no problem holding a 10lb monorail but its *very* top heavy. (IIRC the old rule of thumb was weight of tripod+head ~ weight of camera)

Looking at this again I might buy the feisol as i like the flat platform: I really have never used the column.

Yeah, I see what you mean about the folded length requirement. Maybe, I should just back off and ask what is a sensible Gitzo CF tripod for extended overnight backpacking with a light weight 4x5....

I'd really like to use a very low profile head...maybe a self leveling head with a very simple pan head?

Brad,

You may wish to consider a Feisol tripod. My company Really Big Cameras is an authorized Feisol dealer and an APUG sponsor.

You can see specs and prices on all Feisol tripod models here. It sounds like the CT-3442 would meet your requirements for lightweight and compact.

It also supports the optional LB-7567 leveling base. You can read more about how the leveling base works in (there was a url link here which no longer exists).

Feisol also offers a very affordable panning base (PB-70) that could be mounted on top of the LB-7567 leveling base.

If you have any questions about the Feisol tripods or accessories, I'd be happy to answer them here, or through PM or email.

Kerry Thalmann
Really Big Cameras

Just a warning about Gitzo, the back up service is terrible. I've been waiting for nearly three months for some simple spares ordered through their agent over here.
Pete

Brad,

I currently use a Gitzo 2530 with my 4x5 field camera and it seems just right in terms of stability. It folds down to 25" or so. Previously I used a Gitzo 1540 which would fold down to 21" and could fit in a wheelie. Although I never had problems with camera movement using it, I usually hung my backpack from the column as a precaution. It is very light but at the very limit of what you could get away with, IMO.