manfrotto 028 with 136 head, suitable for 8x10?

A guy at work came into one of these tripods with head and has no use for it. It's like new and he'd sell it to me for around 100US dollars. It seems pretty sturdy so was thinking maybe it would work with 8x10 (deardorff). Then I hear a lot of talk about wooden tripods "get a good wooden tripod or your wasting your time". Are the wooden models that vital? I surely don't want to waste my time and money shooting 8x10 if a tripod will be the culprit behind unsatisfactory results. Thanks for any info...

http://www.allradio.se/webbutiken/manfrott_028-136.htm

You dont have to get a wodden tripod, I have a carbon fiber which I use for both the 8x10 and the 12x20. The tripod you are being offered is certainly a good deal and will certainly hold your camera steady, but...and here is the big but, did you look at the weight of the thing? 12.5 Kg that is about 34 pounds!!! I bet you your enlarger with shipping all the way to Mexico that you will carry that thing once and decide to get a lighter one. It certainly is a great tripod and for side of the road or short distances it certainly will work just fine.

Then again for $100 it is an unbeateable deal and I would get it, if you dont like it I am sure you can sell it for the same $100.

I have a wooden tripod. In the cold the tongue will not stick to it and the vibrations from outside sources are lessened. Looks cooler. Buy the Manfrotto. Jorge is correct on all accounts.

lee\c

My first large tripod was Manfrotto (Bogen). It developed a problem with the aluminum of the legs galling. This makes the legs difficult to extend and retract. I don't know if they still have this problem or if they have rectified the design problems that created this condition. I use wood now...simply a designer appearance factor (as Lee stated). Besides my tongue got frost bitten a couple of times too.

Thanks guys, well, it looks like getting that tripod is a bust. We posted it on NZ's version of ebay last week. Since there were no bites I started considering buying it, but now there are 3 people bidding on it and it's met reserve so...

Will probably hold out for a wooden or cfiber one like Jorge's