Tripod for 8x10”

AigBlender · Apr 17, 2021

My question is about a good tripod and head for a 8x10" large format camera.

In your opinion a tripod Manfrotto 028B and a head Manfrotto 400 or 405 is a good choice ?

Other suggestion ?

Thank you

With best regards

Gianluca

MatthewDunn · Apr 17, 2021

Pricy, but I use a Ries.

Lachlan Young · Apr 17, 2021

Series 5 Systematic Gitzo legs & Series 5 low profile 3-way head.

Alan9940 · Apr 17, 2021

MatthewDunn said:
Pricy, but I use a Ries.

Same here...Ries A100 sticks with an A200 head atop.

voceumana · Apr 17, 2021

I spent a good bit of money on my Ries tripod, but I have never regretted it. It is the most comfortable handling tripod I've owned--you will appreciate the wood in cool, cold, and hot weather if you get one since it tempers the movement of heat into/from your hands.

Kodachromeguy · Apr 17, 2021

The gent. is in Italy. If he wants a wood tripod, he is much more likely to be able to source a Berlebach. Is there a Ries vendor in Italy? How do you think he can buy a Ries?

John Earley · Apr 17, 2021

AigBlender said:
My question is about a good tripod and head for a 8x10" large format camera.

In your opinion a tripod Manfrotto 028B and a head Manfrotto 400 or 405 is a good choice ?

Other suggestion ?

Thank you

With best regards

Gianluca

What camera and what type of use will the camera see? Studio? Field? Both?

AigBlender · Apr 18, 2021

I would like to use the camera (for the moment I haven't) both, studio and in the field. I havent' found Ries in Europe; I found an used Ries tripod on ebay (219 $ of delivery costs ???), but the cost is very high, and I preferred not to buy in USA, too expensive = delivery cost + duty + taxes.
I don't want a carbon tripod, or wood or aluminium.

Lachlan Young · Apr 18, 2021

Having used most of the big aluminium Manfrottos up to & including the 161, they're ok in the studio, and a lot more trouble than a classic aluminium Gitzo series 5 Systematic in the field. The Manfrotto leg angle adjusters are pretty fiddly to deal with for such a heavy tripod.

AigBlender · Apr 18, 2021

I havent' found the aluminium Gitzo series 5 Systematic in Europe, like I've said before I preferred not to buy in USA, too expensive = delivery cost + duty + taxes. I don't want spend more than 1000 € for a Gitzo in carbon (I found it also in Italy), there is the tripod Benro C38 or C48 in carbon and price is less than a Gitzo.

Lachlan Young · Apr 18, 2021

AigBlender said:
I havent' found the aluminium Gitzo series 5 Systematic in Europe, like I've said before I preferred not to buy in USA, too expensive = delivery cost + duty + taxes. I don't want spend more than 1000 € for a Gitzo in carbon (I found it also in Italy), there is the tripod Benro C38 or C48 in carbon and price is less than a Gitzo.

The Gitzo system used many names/ numbers - the ones to look for are: Tele Studex (series 5); Pro and Super Studex (series 4) - the series numbers I recall are 500, 504, 505 - later 1500, 1504, 1505 - and the 515/ 1515; 400, 403, 405, 410, 413, 415 - again I think they acquired the 'G-', then 'G1-' prefix at some point in the 1990s. Heads are G1570, 570 etc.

Nokton48 · Apr 18, 2021

In the studio a good camera stand is almost a necessity.

8x10 Sinar Norma Long Apo Ronar 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

BrianShaw · Apr 18, 2021

AigBlender said:
I don't want a carbon tripod, or wood or aluminium.

That leaves out almost everything, except the cast iron studio stand. Isn’t the Manfrotto aluminum?

I’ve used an old heavy Manfrotto in both studio and field fir a 4x5 monorail. It works quite well but is heavy. My biggest complaint now is the weight. My biggest complaint in the past was cleaning the dust, dirt, and mud from all of the crevices.

btaylor · Apr 18, 2021

Before you said both field and studio I was going to suggest the Linhof R Stativ. It’s amazingly stable and has no trouble supporting my Linhof Color 8x10 which is a beast. But it isn’t much for the field- bulky and heavy.
What camera will you be mounting on it? I have a Berlebach Report that supports a Calumet C1 reasonably well. It’s wood and relatively inexpensive. I have a lot of tripods and it’s usually my first choice.

Lachlan Young · Apr 18, 2021

btaylor said:
the Linhof R Stativ

I'd tend to describe it as a studio stand you can fold up & use outdoors! As you say, it is a bit of a monster to deal with - but no more so than many wood tripods.

radiant · Apr 18, 2021

I would say that tripod needs to weight at least two times what the camera weights.

And ballheads just suck with heavy cameras. Now it holds -> open a bit for adjustments -> full swing towards graity. Only way to make minor adjustments is to hit the camera towards direction you want to make the adjustments. Ready for releasing shutter? "Look ma, I'm slipping!"

Tom Taylor · Apr 18, 2021

A lot depends upon the type of camera: monorail or folding field. For a Toyo 810MIIm(15 lbs) I use a series 3 Gitzo (G1348) and Arca Swiss z1-sp ball head. The tripod (~5 lbs without the head) supports the camera well and the head (~1.2lbs) holds the camera to the tripod securely the only issue being is that it is tedious to level the camera with a ball head - a 3-way head would be better but I chose that particular combination for hiking with a backpack and use this combination for 6x7 Pentax and Toyo 4x5 AX. For the Toyo 810G which is a monorail I use a Manfrotto 475B with RC4 3-way head and 2 rail clamps.

Thomas

Bob S · Apr 18, 2021

btaylor said:
Before you said both field and studio I was going to suggest the Linhof R Stativ. It’s amazingly stable and has no trouble supporting my Linhof Color 8x10 which is a beast. But it isn’t much for the field- bulky and heavy.
What camera will you be mounting on it? I have a Berlebach Report that supports a Calumet C1 reasonably well. It’s wood and relatively inexpensive. I have a lot of tripods and it’s usually my first choice.

It’s name for the past 40+ years is the LInhof Heavy Duty Pro tripod.

Alan Gales · Apr 19, 2021

I use a Ries for my 8x10 but I have owned a Berlebach in the past. I prefer the Ries for the leg locks but the Berlebachs are very well made too. Ries is American made and Berlebach is German. You can't go wrong with either of these wooden tripods for 8x10.

I don't know what the used market is like in Italy but I have saved a ton of money by buying used tripods.

Pieter12 · Apr 19, 2021

You might want to search the Large Format Photography Forum (https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/). There has been a lot discussed about tripods for 8x10.

Tom Taylor · Apr 20, 2021

Tom Taylor said:
A lot depends upon the type of camera: monorail or folding field. For a Toyo 810MIIm(15 lbs) I use a series 3 Gitzo (G1348) and Arca Swiss z1-sp ball head. The tripod (~5 lbs without the head) supports the camera well and the head (~1.2lbs) holds the camera to the tripod securely the only issue being is that it is tedious to level the camera with a ball head - a 3-way head would be better but I chose that particular combination for hiking with a backpack and use this combination for 6x7 Pentax and Toyo 4x5 AX. For the Toyo 810G which is a monorail I use a Manfrotto 475B with RC4 3-way head and 2 rail clamps.

Thomas

A quick addendum: My first (of 2) 8x10 cameras was a Toyo 810G which was a non planned for purchase when I suddenly received a 20% off the purchase price coupon from Ebay (they haven't done that since!) and I accidentally spied a beautiful black G while looking for a 80mm El Nikkor lens to replace the 75mm El Nikkor. I used that camera for a couple of years with a Manfrotto 475B which I already had for making negatives for alternative prints. When I purchased the Toyo 810MII I also purchased a Gitzo G1500 series 5 tripod with series 5 Rationnelle head with extended platform for mounting 2 tripod clamps all in good condition for just $250 from an online for sale board. I now use the series 5 Gitzo with the 810G and, as stated above, the Series 3 Gitzo for the MII. The 475B I use for astronomy with Fuji 16x70 binoculars with a parallelogram mount for big binoculars and when shooting with a Toyo Robos. For me only the G1348 is suitable for backpacking with the camera. The others are too heavy and don't collapse to a reasonable length for the pack.

Thomas

nosmok · Apr 23, 2021

I use an old Graflex wooden tripod on my old 8x10 wooden cameras-- a #3 or #4 should support almost anything. They are not ultra-convenient but not too bad, and light weight for their strength and height capabilities. Plus they're reasonably plentiful and deals can be had with patience.

Morgenland · Apr 29, 2021

pro media gear tripods will do the job.
I may suggest Carbon Fiber 42 Series. The price is similar to Gitzo.

KenS · Apr 29, 2021

Those many years ago, I got a 'good deal' on my Zone Vl (wooden) tripod. It was somewhat 'over my allotted budget' but I believe after all those 20+ years, it was what I now consider to have been a "GOOD" investment.

Ken

GKC · May 13, 2021

You could repurpose an old surveyor's tripod and save some money. I don't use a head while out hiking with 8x10---unnecessary weight!

Tripod for 8x10”

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