Tripod for 8x10 which one?

[Sean]

I've seen metal, graphite, wood, 8 pounds to 20+ pounds. I am having problems deciding. I want it all but don't want to spend $800 US
Main requirement is for it not to be the weakest link in my system. NZ can have windy conditions so I'll need all the grunt I can get without breaking my back in the process. thanks

 

[Ole]

Get wood. Mine's a "Stabil", Swedish, mail order only from www.stabil.nu. Weight slightly under 3kg, price SEK 2300 (about $300) plus transport. I've supplemented mine with a big ballhead. I'll put a picture of it in the "non-gallery-gallery", with my 7kg Technika 5x7" and 1kg 30mm Xenar on it. Utterly stable in anything less than a hurricane.

 

[Francesco]

Ries Backpacker. Not the sturdiest but a great compromise for size and weight if you do a lot of hiking with your 8x10. I use a Wisner 8x10 Expedition on it with lenses mounted on Copal 3 (I have used a 750mm Apo-Germinar on it no problem). Do not know the new price these days but I am almost sure it is less than 800 bucks.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Lots of nice legsets out there, but in the head department, I've been really satisfied with the Gitzo G1570M, low-profile, 3-way pan head. I particularly like it with my 11x14" camera, which is a flatbed design.

I'm using a Bogen 3233 legset, but it will be fine on any Gitzo 3xxx or larger as well as others.

Robert White has good prices on Gitzo.

 

[Donald Miller]

If you want stable and inexpensive you may want to look into a wooden surveyors tripod. That is what I use and have used for years. I mounted a Majestic geared head on mine and it holds everything including my 12X20 with no problem. Cost to me was less then $300 US complete.

Majestic geared heads can be had for a fraction of retail on Ebay. I bought the one with the 6 inch platform. The tripods come up as well. I think that bmac and others use these tripods as well.

 

[Sean]

good info, thanks! I'll let you all know how it goes..

 

[David R Munson]

Another vote for a Ries. I would say the J-100 with a J250 head. I know they're really expensive, but they're worth the cost and do show up on the used market from time to time. I got an older A-series set of legs and a J-250 head used for about $400 total a few years ago. If you could find a deal like that, it would be well worth it, I think. Alternatively, I've heard lots of good things about Berleback tripods, which you can get directly from Lotus View Camera (they ship worldwide). Might be worth a look.

 

[livemoa]

Sean, I have a Berlabach. Solid, easy to use good in Wellington wind. I hang a plastic fuel can full of water on mine to give it more stability when the gentel wind blows.....

 

[jantman]

I've heard lots of great things about wood tripods, and maybe would get one of them if I could spend the $30,000 on all the other gear I want.

There's one issue that these wood-heads don't recognize, which is that an equivalent cost and almost equivalent weight metal tripod will dampen vibration pretty damn well too. Why? Maximum capacity.

I use a Cullmann Titan CT200. I've only had it for about a year, but am very happy with it. It's been beaten up from Rockport, Maine to standing in sea spray at the Jersey shore, and is built like a tank. It's the Saltzman of tripods, in my opinion. It has a few weak points, but I like it better than any of the Bogens or even the Majestic, though I haven't used one.

The number one tripod which I would get if I had the money is a Schatler. I've used a 40-pound EFP camera on top of one, and it'a a beautiful tripod - the carbon fiber ones, I mean.

Anyway, as to capacity, my CT200 is rated at 154 pounds, and withh hold my 25 pound camera no problem, and with VERY little vibration. The only time I notice vibration is with the tripod at full height, including center column (21" I think) putting the camera at about seven feet or so. Then, it takes a little while for the vibration to die down.

 

[cjarvis]

Something sturdy and economical: Bogen/Manfrotto 475 legs with a 3030 three-way tilt/pan head. It's not exactly light, but it offers good bang for the buck.

 

[David R Munson]

Another thought - check out the Dutch Hill P900. I haven't handled one, but it seems a better option than modifying a surveyo'rs tripod, as it's a photographer's tripod made by a survey tripod manufacturer.