Stability of tripod with geared centre column?

[Henry Carter]

I shoot 4X5 location portraits mostly indoors, often with a 300 mm lens, on a tripod without a centre column. I use a 300 series aluminum Gitzo tripod without a centre column. The finicky adjustments when making a tight portrait often involve camera height, and adjusting three tripod legs is sometimes frustrating. Using a geared centre column for small height adjustments would be much easier.

I was taught to avoid tripods with centre columns due to rigidity concerns. Would a geared centre column on a Gitzo 300 series tripod offer good stability, or is it best to avoid using a centre column?

I am not overly concerned about the added weight. I am only interested in function and rigidity.

I do not have a studio, all my shooting is on location (but mostly indoors and not far from my car).

I don't want to buy a new heavier tripod, I am happy with the size and stability of my Gitzo 340 and Arca B1 (or Linhof 3-WAY LEVELLING HEAD 3663). I am simply wondering about the advisability of adding a geared centre column to my existing tripod for tweaking height adjustments of my 4x5 camera.

Regards,
Henry

 

[bobfowler]

The absolute best center-column tripod I've used is my Bogen 3036 (now replaced in their line by the model 475). It weighs a ton and is rigid enough to hold anything I can think of putting on top of it.

As a side note - My wife and I hung our upper kitchen cabinets using the 3036 as a jack!

 

[David H. Bebbington]

I would say it is correct to avoid excessive use of a center column, but I don't think a tripod is less stable just because it HAS a center column (even if left in its lowest position). I have a Manfrotto 058 tripod which I use for heavy stuff (including 8x10" Sinar Norma) and with which I would confidently use 6 or 8 inches of (geared) center column, and also a De Vere tripod with a center column of about 3" diameter which is very stable. I also have a Manfrotto 055 tripod which is my main outdoor tripod (Crown Graphic 4x5") and with which I would avoid using the centre column at all.

You say you don't want to buy another tripod, which is fair enough, but the neatest tripod design I have ever seen is the Manfrotto TRIAUT (triple automatic) mechanism. This features a central collar just under the tripod head. Twist this about 5 degrees and all three legs release and will drop down by gravity. There are also individual releases on each leg. You can raise or lower the tripod literally in 2 seconds.

 

[colrehogan]

The absolute best center-column tripod I've used is my Bogen 3036 (now replaced in their line by the model 475). It weighs a ton and is rigid enough to hold anything I can think of putting on top of it.

As a side note - My wife and I hung our upper kitchen cabinets using the 3036 as a jack!

I have a model 475 and use it (in addition to a long lens support) with my 8x10. I don't go very far from my car with it. I use a model 3001 with everything from 35 mm to 4x5 and it has a center column which gets used also.

 

[noseoil]

I only have one tripod, a Bogen 3051 with the 3047 head. It has a center column and is very stable. Although it looks a bit oversized with the 35mm on it, I also use it for the old 8x10 B&J beast which weighs 17#. Biggest drawback is the weight, at 17# just for the tripod a full pack ends up being quite a load to deal with on a hike. This thing has banged around on walks, in the back yard and in the car. It is very stable, easy to use and set up, and good in the wind. tim

 

[John Koehrer]

Henry,
Go for the geared column, It's smooth & makes for easy vertical adjustments. It isn't tall enough to be of concern (12-15"). I use mine for minimal vert. adjustment (1-3") Sounds like you want to similar.

 

[Canuck]

The stability issue is a moot point for most of the "better serious photo" tripods. FWIW, my Majestic tripod is a pain to move about but all the geared movements makes it nice to fine tune things.

 

[Deckled Edge]

Henry,
I too vote for the geared head. You are shooting indoors, so likely there will be little force on the column unless you have an f1.4 Gorrilagon or some other heavy item on the camera to increase its inertial moment. The old adage against a center column is to prevent you racking it all the way up to obtain "a monopod on three feet." Keep the column no higher than ~9 in. and you'll save yourself a lot of inconvenience goofing with the tripod legs.
Outdoors, I would minimize its use.