Traveler's MF Tripod

Markus Albertz · Jan 28, 2009

Good day,

I am looking for the most sturdy, lightweight and yet compact tripod suitable for Medium Format cameras (e.g., Rollei SL66) that is available. It should be compact enough to fit in a regular size suitcase. Any suggestions?

I usually shoot large format but seem to travel a lot these days.

Thanks, Markus

Lopaka · Jan 28, 2009

If your budget would allow, check out the Gitzo carbon fiber tripods. Very lightweight, some good ones collapse short enough to fit a larger suitcase, the ball heads take up much less space as well.

Bob

david b · Jan 28, 2009

bogen manfrotto 3442 tripod with kirk bh-3 head

Ian David · Jan 28, 2009

Sturdy + light + compact is always going to mean a compromise. I settled on a Gitzo G1197 and an Acratech Ultimate ballhead for traveling with my MF gear, and have found they fit the bill very nicely. The Acratech heads are pretty pricey new but I found mine second-hand for a reasonable price.

Mark Fisher · Jan 28, 2009

Really Big Cameras (Kerry Thalmann) sells Feisol tripods which are pretty amazing especially for the price. I use the CT3401 for my 4x5 and Hasselblad and it is plenty stable. I use the Kirk BH3 which is plenty for the cameras I use. I had a hard time choosing between the Acra-tech and the Kirk.

df cardwell · Jan 28, 2009

If you aren't too tall, a number 3 gitzo reporter performance works fine... 3 section legs let it fit in a carry on bag. Great for a Leica, a Crown Graphic, and almost everything in between.

Mine is steel, and paid for for a long time. No idea what they call the carbon fiber version.

phaedrus · Jan 28, 2009

Markus Albertz said:
sturdy, lightweight and yet compact tripod

Mutually exclusive, I think. I go with a small tabletop tripod (the Minox branded one, not much larger than a ballpoint pen with all three legs slid into each other. Can you imagine a 'blad on that? Lends itself to ground level perspectives.) and a clamp with mini ballhead for eyelevel perspectives from fenceposts, traffic signs and tree branches.

Christoph

sanking · Jan 28, 2009

My favorite tripod for MF is the basalt Gitzo G1298. It is plenty sturdy for MF and would even do 4X5 if necessary.

Not cheap, but light, sturdy and very well made.

Sandy King

jeroldharter · Jan 28, 2009

Feisol carbon fiber tripod and Acratech Ultimate ball head would be perfect, about 3 pounds, fits in a standard suitcase.

aparat · Jan 28, 2009

I use the Gitzo GT1531. It is very stable, lightweight, and easy to assemble. My old aluminum tripod was great, but just too heavy. The Gitzo GT1531was the single most expensive piece of gear I had every bought, by far. I hesitated a lot before deciding to save up and buy it. I have absolutely no regrets. I also replaced the center column with a Kirk base, to improve stability even more. This tripod has three leg sections, which makes it a bit longer when folded, but has improved stability over tripods with four leg sections - at least that's what I was told by a Kirk guy.

Larry Bullis · Jan 28, 2009

df cardwell said:
If you aren't too tall, a number 3 gitzo reporter performance works fine... 3 section legs let it fit in a carry on bag. Great for a Leica, a Crown Graphic, and almost everything in between.

Mine is steel, and paid for for a long time. No idea what they call the carbon fiber version.

I can second this. Mine's a number 2, I think a bit lighter. I use it with a 2-1/4x3-1/4 graphic, my graflex xl's. No complaints at all. Good and solid, even in moderate wind.

Christopher Walrath · Jan 29, 2009

I used to stack my Manfrotto 6400 with a Mamiya M65j and a 210mm Sekor C and I had no problems w/ stability. Not a drug store house brand but not a heavyweight Bogen either. Nice and portable. Get a little loose after a few years but a simple modification shored it right up. I don't see where you have to shell out anything over $100 USD to get something functional.

TimVermont · Jan 29, 2009

I use a Feisol tripod, but as a square format shooter, all I put on top is the Acratech leveling base. No, you can't shoot bugs on the ground or planes overhead with this minimalist rig, but in total it weighs less than my previous ball head alone. If you don't need to flop to vertical, it may meet your needs.

garysamson · Jan 29, 2009

I would also like to recommend the Feisol tripod and the Gitzo Reporter. I have both and they will get the job done. I used the Feisol most recently for a two month photography trip to Nova Scotia shooting with a 4x5 and a Hasselblad making 1000's of exposures. The Feisol performed flawlessly. The Gitzo Reporter would be more compact for traveling.

FotoGys · Jan 29, 2009

How about the Benro C-268 m8 including ball head SK-1, stable, lightweight carbon tripod suitable for 12 kg load. I'am using it for 3 months now and I'am very satisfied. Total weight about 1.7 kg

Guus

Markus Albertz · Jan 31, 2009

Thank, everyone. I will explore this a little more. I do have a Bogen/Manfretto aluminum tripod that has a comfortable weight and is sturdy. It is just a bit too long for my suitcase... Markus

archphoto · Jan 31, 2009

Which one Markus ?
I have the Manfrotto 055 with the 410 head for my SL66 and RB, works great, and without the 410 will fitt into my suitcase for my traveling back and forth between Holland and Brazil.

Peter

edtbjon · Jan 31, 2009

The Feisols are less than 50cm when folded. If you want a center column with that it builds on with some extra 5-6cm. Then there's the ballhead or whatever you prefer. But these parts (center column, ballhead) can be dismounted during travel and come back on in seconds.
I'm using a Feisol 3401 myself for a Hasselblad and I'm very content with it. Very good value for money.

//Björn

Markus Albertz · Jan 31, 2009

archphoto said:
Which one Markus ?
I have the Manfrotto 055 with the 410 head for my SL66 and RB, works great, and without the 410 will fitt into my suitcase for my traveling back and forth between Holland and Brazil.

Peter

It's a 3001Pro and I use it with a ball head (not sure what model; there is no number on it).

archphoto · Jan 31, 2009

Markus, if you screw the head of, does it fit in your standard suitcase ? This would save you money.....

Peter

Markus Albertz · Feb 1, 2009

archphoto said:
Markus, if you screw the head of, does it fit in your standard suitcase ? This would save you money.....

Peter

Of course, I tried the obvious. It fits in obliquely though is a bit tight.

Klopstock · Feb 1, 2009

One of the wooden "Report" tripods will be a good choice. The price is between aluminium and carbon, so is the weight. But as they are made of ash tree they are extremely sturdy and dampen vibration.

This size might fit:

http://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=details&id=264

They have a huge number of different versions, the bigger ones are very popular among owners of long telephoto lenses.

One of mine is ca. 50 years old, the other 2 years. I tried carbon, basalt and aluminium, but these were the best.

Ralph Javins · Feb 20, 2009

Good morning, Markus;

For my portable work out of an airline carry-on bag, I am using a Bogen 3021-S, the shortened version of the 3021. It is aluminum, and it has a 3/8-16 stud on top of the short column to accept a head of your choice. It does go in the bag along one of the longer sides. No, it is not very tall (and I am about 6'-3"). I have used it as a tool to hold the camera still, up to a 6 by 6. I have put it on picnic tables, boulders, and other things to get the height up.

When back home, I am using one of its bigger brothers; the 3036. That is a separate piece of checked luggage all by itself.

36cm2 · Feb 20, 2009

Markus, for 4 years I've been extremely pleased with a Gitzo 1228 Carbon Fiber tripod coupled with a Markins M10 ballhead (with the Markins tripod base made specifically for the G1228) and a Really Right Stuff clamp. After a ton of research, this combo seemed like the best weight-to-stability option for what I was shooting at the time (35mm Nikon F100 with lenses up to 200mm). I've since used it for medium format (Rolleiflex 2.8F, but your SL66 would be just fine as well) and am now using it for light 4x5 (a Tachihara field camera, while hiking). This tripod/head combo is relatively light, has always felt very stable (even in stiff coastal winds in Norway once), breaks down very smoothly and is extremely well built.

Most people will tell you to buy the biggest/heaviest tripod you can efficiently and practically use for your intended application. I was on the fence for quite a while on whether to get the 1228 or the heavier 1334. In the end, the 1334 wouldn't have broken down to fit into my carry-on luggage, so I got the 1228. The 1228 (with the ballhead removed) just fits (diagonally) in my full-size samsonite carry-on and it's great for travel. No regrets on not getting the 1334 at all, but if I use a heavier 4x5 setup in the future I may have to reconsider.

Best of luck.

Matus Kalisky · Feb 23, 2009

Just 2 weeks ago I got the Feisol Tournament CT-3442 tripod together with the Photo Clam PC-33 from the www.reallybigcameras.com (Kerry Thalmann - VERY helpful and kind, we exchanged quite a few emails before I made the choice). I got it as an ultralight combo for my 4x5 Tachihara for my trip to New Zealand. The weight of the tripod together with the head is 1400g. The head has no problem supporting the camera (it is the smallest model they offer - only 310g).

It was not the cheapest option (Feissol offers also cheaper alternatives, and I had to pay the German duties as well) but is perfectly stable and smooth (only home tested up to now). Feisol offers also a traveller tripod (CT-3441S I guess) that is a tiny bit lighter, but somewhat more compact when packed as it has smaller diameter of the base as the the CT-3442. You may want to check it out.

The 3442 with the PC-33 head mounted fits easily inside a carry on luggage as the collapsed length is 48 cm. I will try to put a report on the web once I am back.

Just remember - if you get a VERY light tripod a bit more care should be taken as it will naturally be easier to tip it over as it will be top-heavy.

Traveler's MF Tripod

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency