Suitable carbon tripods?

[Sirius Glass]

Not sure which person you are implying is missing technical knowledge, but my point is that Alan ruled out something out of hand without realizing he's made journeys over oceans in vessels made of the same materials. And the word you're looking for is "decisions."

Not in carbon fiber deep diving submarines. It has never been an excepted building material for that because it was not build to industry standards and testing for deep dives.

 

[MattKing]

Moderator hat on:
Comparisons of deep sea submersibles designed for the depths of the Titanic and tripods suitable for normal usage make no sense on a photography site!
Hat now off.

 

[BrianShaw]

Moderator hat on:
Comparisons of deep sea submersibles designed for the depths of the Titanic and tripods suitable for normal usage make no sense on a photography site!
Hat now off.

Not too sure what the metric equivalent of a 10-gallon cowboy hat is… but you need one!

 

[MattKing]

Not too sure what the metric equivalent of a 10-gallon cowboy hat is… but you need one!

How about spurs instead - and a lariat?

 

[DREW WILEY]

Stealth bombers are made of carbon fiber. But I don't think I'd fly in one of those new Boeing jetliners reliant on lighter weight lithium batteries. You can't just pull over, step out, and call AAA if they catch fire.

 

[BryanFlnt]

Hi folks,

I know this has probably been done to death over the years, and with all things there is a trade off, however I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I'm wanting a sturdy carbon tripod to for me to take on my travels, it will be my primary tripod so I want something that works well.

I intend to mount my Hasselblad 500CM and also my EOS 30V with 24-70 USM lens (which is quite heavy).

I've not got a massive budget, circa £250/$300!

I've seen quite a few used older Gitzo series 2 types come through on eBay in the £150-250 range on eBay which look well built and seem to come highly regarded.

I'll be wanting one with a hook where possible so I can weigh it down a bit to help stabilise, as I plan to use it for long exposures outdoors.

I've always been of the view that it's better to buy good quality stuff used, than new stuff that's cheaply made, which is why I've not considered any of the newer (Chinese made) stuff.

The only other thing I've considered is a Peak Design Aluminium tripod, however there is a lot to suggest they have more vibration than their carbon equivalents and people should pony up for the carbon version (which is sadly out of my price range!)

If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations, I'm all ears!

Thanks!
TT

I love my Leophoto tripod. More than your budget, but maybe on the secondary market you could find an option.

 

[Truzi]

How about spurs instead - and a lariat?

Do you mean a golden lariat that makes one tell the truth?

 

[BrianShaw]

Even a 25 karat gold lariat can’t make that happen, it seems.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

Would you ever fly over the Atlantic Ocean in a vessel which uses materials used to make soda cans (aluminum) and tripods (carbon fiber)?

Would you ever cross the Atlantic in a plump, slow, hard to manoeuvre and even harder to stop overloaded steel and iron made heavy oil burning and stinking, noisy and trembling 'tub'?

 

[MattKing]

Would you ever cross the Atlantic in a plump, slow, hard to manoeuvre and even harder to stop overloaded steel and iron made heavy oil burning and stinking, noisy and trembling 'tub'?

If you do, watch out for the icebergs

 

[Philippe-Georges]

If you do, watch out for the icebergs

Then, I would rather watch out for incompetent captains...

 

[_T_]

I know you’re not considering Chinese tripods, but Leofoto products are quite nice at half the price of others. Take a look at the reviews and ratings on https://thecentercolumn.com/

I would say check out Leofoto, they have alot of tripod options on their site. Plus on their leofotousa.com site they having a "Summer Flash Sale" for 20% off, it even applies to stuff they have on sale/open box. The coupon code is SFS2023

Add me as a third on leofoto. I have one of their summit series carbon fiber tripods. I use it with my cambo sc to shoot 4x5. I figure if it can handle my monorail at full extension and give me sharp images at 9:1 magnification then I’m sure it’ll take your hasselblad with ease.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Not sure which person you are implying is missing technical knowledge, but my point is that Alan ruled out something out of hand without realizing he's made journeys over oceans in vessels made of the same materials. And the word you're looking for is "decisions."

I was trying to be ironic and funny.

 

[bdial]

I have an older Gitzo Mountaineer CF that I bought second-hand. It does fine under a Hasselblad, along with various other cameras, smaller and bigger. The leg clamps needed some cleaning when I first bought it, but after that it has performed well. If I were looking for one now, I'd try to find one with the newer anti-twist leg logs, but it's a minor issue.
CF is great if weight is a major factor for you, otherwise Aluminum or Wood may fit budget considerations better.

 

[Besk]

I was trying to be ironic and funny.

I thought you were! So didn't comment.

I bought a used Gitzo G1228 tripod years ago for everything up to 4x5 monorail cameras up to 240mm lenses.

It's the original design. The round columns require a certain sequence of tightening and un-tightening the collars - easily learned and becomes a habit.

Replaced the center column with something from Markiins. The only time I don't use this tripod is when I want something heavier for weight reasons.

 

[DREW WILEY]

The first thing I did with my own original Gitzo CF was get rid of the center column, and adapt the top to "headless", or at least use of only the Sinar rail clamp itself. Since I routinely use long lenses and a long rail, I also switched out my standard Sinar bellows with an extra-long more rigid Horseman bellows, and had no problem taking shots on that CF at 500mm extensions. That's because it's so easy to balance a Sinar at any point along the rail you wish. Of course, it's also easy to shorten the rail and substitute a bag bellows for wide angle work if needed. That has been my long-haul backpacking tripod for 4X5 and MF for decades.

But for day use, I prefer my wooden Ries tripods, and also have one of the most stable Feisol CF tripods as my lighter weight option when it comes to 8X10 format. I think of that as a wise old age investment - and lo and behold! - my mid-70's have actually arrived !

 

[abruzzi]

I thought you were! So didn't comment.

I bought a used Gitzo G1228 tripod years ago for everything up to 4x5 monorail cameras up to 240mm lenses.

It's the original design. The round columns require a certain sequence of tightening and un-tightening the collars - easily learned and becomes a habit.

Replaced the center column with something from Markiins. The only time I don't use this tripod is when I want something heavier for weight reasons.

I have the same tripod, bought used last year for $150. I added a $100 used gitzo 3-way head. It easily enough for any MF camera I own, though maybe not for the 300mm on the Pentax 67. I also use it with my lighter 4x5. It’s a great deal if you can find one. I have an aluminum G345 for heavier 4x5 and 5x7, and a G505 on the way for 8x10 (we'll see if a 5 series is overkill…)

 

[jeffreyg]

I designed a gadget that will support my Hasselblad with the 350mm as well as the 350+2x and hold it with the weight evenly distributed over the center of a tripod. I use it with a large Bogen. I had a machine shop make it. Some years ago for a very reasonable price. Anyone interested I can
photograph it with my phone and post it.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I added to my Chamonix 4x5 camera a four-inch plate that allows it to slide along the matching Quick Release I added to my tripod. That allows easy balancing of the camera on the tripod. The plate has 3/8" and 1/4" screws to match the two holes in the bottom of the camera to secure it better and prevent any twisting.

 

[DREW WILEY]

I really like my 300 tele for my P67, which has a collar mount. But it is a quite a beast compared to Hassie 6X6 lens of equivalent focal length. It's a nice lens for use in the wind or quickie road shots. But a tiny Nikon 300 M lens when used for a 6X7 or 6X9 roll film back is more versatile and far easier to tripod-stabilize. I never use traditional pan-tilt tripod heads for these kind of applications, but only for shorter lighter 6X7 teles like the 165/2.8 Pentax. The ultimate mount for my 300 EDIF Pentax is a laminated hardwood & phenolic bar with two screw positions : one for the camera body, the other for the lens collar, which in turn is bolted directly to the platform top of my larger Ries wooden tripod. It gives me a similar angle of view as a 450 lens on full 4X5 film.

My CT3472 Feisol CF tripod (which I've modified for direct platform top attachment) gives me plenty of rigidity, equivalent to my larger Ries, but not the same sheer bully mass in terms of shear-wind resistance or jabbing the spikes solidly into the muck (both tripods have spikes). But I bought the Feisol, which is less than half the weight of the Ries, for sake of inevitable aging issues, as well as for greater travel compactness when collapsed. Likewise, I have a complement of both a smaller Ries wooden tripod and smaller Gitzo CF for 4X5 and ordinary MF usage. But whenever realistic, I prefer Ries.

 

[ant!]

Interesting read, as I am also looking for at tripod, without it being urgent. I am mostly shooting handheld, but from time to time a longer exposure time would be great (not minutes/hours, just a bit longer then the usual handheld).

My heaviest setup would be the Pentax 645n with the A300/4 (together about 3kg), but mostly using shorter and lighter lenses. All my 35mm stuff is significantly lighter, and the Fuji GW690 of course as well (and has no mirror slap). Digital (in the rare cases I use it) is mFT, so even lighter, no extreme lenses there.

I am looking as well at the Leofoto LS-324C since it is in reduction, and the K&F Concept X324C4 (how does this compare to Leo?). Or 3 Legged Thing Billy2? Does this price range/weight category makes sense? I would need a ballhead (preferable arca type), and am 1.84m high. For portability, a bit shorter would be ok I guess.

 

[_T_]

3 legged thing massively overstates the weight capacity of their tripods. You can’t use their marketing numbers for comparison. If you want something comparable from them you need to go up a couple price brackets

 

[Pieter12]

Interesting read, as I am also looking for at tripod, without it being urgent. I am mostly shooting handheld, but from time to time a longer exposure time would be great (not minutes/hours, just a bit longer then the usual handheld).

My heaviest setup would be the Pentax 645n with the A300/4 (together about 3kg), but mostly using shorter and lighter lenses. All my 35mm stuff is significantly lighter, and the Fuji GW690 of course as well (and has no mirror slap). Digital (in the rare cases I use it) is mFT, so even lighter, no extreme lenses there.

I am looking as well at the Leofoto LS-324C since it is in reduction, and the K&F Concept X324C4 (how does this compare to Leo?). Or 3 Legged Thing Billy2? Does this price range/weight category makes sense? I would need a ballhead (preferable arca type), and am 1.84m high. For portability, a bit shorter would be ok I guess.

I had a three-legged thing tripod and ended up getting rid of it. Too flimsy and the legs would loosen up at the base and need to be tightened up with a wrench every once in a while. I now have the Leofoto 324 with the LH40 ballhead and use it quite a bit for travel. Two downsides: no adjustable center column (there is a fixed one that comes with it or maybe as an accessory and the ballhead is not offered with a lever clamp like RRS (they copied everything else, why not that part?).

 

[Sirius Glass]

I had a three-legged thing tripod and ended up getting rid of it. Too flimsy and the legs would loosen up at the base and need to be tightened up with a wrench every once in a while. I now have the Leofoto 324 with the LH40 ballhead and use it quite a bit for travel. Two downsides: no adjustable center column (there is a fixed one that comes with it or maybe as an accessory and the ballhead is not offered with a lever clamp like RRS (they copied everything else, why not that part?).

What was the brand and model of the bad tripod? That would help others avoid that model.

 

[Pieter12]

What was the brand and model of the bad tripod? That would help others avoid that model.

I think is was called Eirk. But if it is representative of the rest of the line, I would consider others first. And not buy one unless you can see it and handle it in person.