Tripod for 8x10...your thoughts

[Ole]

I've got two, both wooden.

A Stabil, with a huge UniLock ball head which I use for most things.

And a Gandolfi with a felt-covered plate, which I use for those cameras where a big felt-covered plate seems more appropriate. Like the antique 24x30cm plate camera.

 

[Mongo]

Mongo, do you use some kind of quick release in your C1/Berlebach combination?

Nope...I just use the tripod as it came out of the box. With the C-1 it's pretty easy to mount the camera while it's folded and then open it up. Well, at least it's easy for me...YMMV.

(That's me with the Berlebach and the C-1 in my avatar. The tripod's not fully extended as I wanted it a little lower for that shot, but at 6'7" I find the 4032 to be just the right height for me.)

Be well.
Dave

 

[bob01721]

"... I was a surveyor in the Army, and I never saw a 40 pound transit..."

First, thank you for your Army service, Eddy. Was it Churchill? Orwell? ... who said, "We sleep soundly in our beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on our behalf." Something to that effect. Anyway, thank you.

I'm ignorant of surveying, so I asked my brother about your comment and he said he was referring to the weight on the tripod, not the weight of the transit. My bad. He said they yoosta use something called a "total station" with a weight hanging below the pod's yoke—for stability—and that forty pounds is a fair estimate of the weight on the tripod.

I'd bet if I could figure out a way to get comfortable on it, it'd support me.

 

[Bruce Schultz]

Berlebach here too. Only $230 from B&H. Just got rid of a big, heavy Bogen, 3036 and cut the weight almost in half.

 

[Gordon Coale]

I posted a similar response to a similar thread on ULF tripods. First, I don't have an 8x10, just a Burke & James 5x7. Second, I believe the first duty of a tripod is not to be light but to be rigid. Hence, my choice of a Majestic tripod and head. Sally Mann used one of these on her 8x10. They can be had for as little as $60. I paid $107 for mine with an extension arm. I doubt there is much out there that would be more solid.

 

[Capocheny]

Hi Dorothy,

I'll second the Manfrotto 475... great tripod in my opinion. Since my camera is a Dorff 5x7 I'm able to use a Manfrotto 410 head on it.

Alternatively, the Majestic pods are stable as the Rocky Mountains! And, very reasonably priced too!

As for the studio, I use a proper camera stand since the camera (Sinar X) I use is a heavy beast. I'm just in the midst of upgrading to a Salon 280I with a couple of trays.

Cheers

 

[bobfowler]

I posted a similar response to a similar thread on ULF tripods. First, I don't have an 8x10, just a Burke & James 5x7. Second, I believe the first duty of a tripod is not to be light but to be rigid. Hence, my choice of a Majestic tripod and head. Sally Mann used one of these on her 8x10. They can be had for as little as $60. I paid $107 for mine with an extension arm. I doubt there is much out there that would be more solid.

Gordy, what are you doing with a tripod? All you really need is one of your straps to hang the camera from a tree branch. After all, if a bench vise and hammer or an old computer monitor won't break it, that 5X7 B&J should be a walk in the park!

hehehe

 

[Gordon Coale]

Duh! Of course, a neck strap for the 5x7 Burke & James! Actually, that gets me thinking of neck straps for my 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 and 4x5 Graflex SLRs. Hmmmm...

 

[MarcoF]

Nope...I just use the tripod as it came out of the box. With the C-1 it's pretty easy to mount the camera while it's folded and then open it up. Well, at least it's easy for me...YMMV.

(That's me with the Berlebach and the C-1 in my avatar. The tripod's not fully extended as I wanted it a little lower for that shot, but at 6'7" I find the 4032 to be just the right height for me.)

Be well.
Dave

Dave, thank you!!

I was asking that because I use a Manfrotto quick release and, while I found that the Berlebach is very stable, the C1 on the quick release is not so stable, well, nothing that has ever prevent me to take sharp pictures, but I was looking at a more stable way to mount my C1 to the Berlebach, i.e. I think I need a larger plate than my Manfrotto quick release...any suggestions will be greatly appreciated (I was suggested that a Majestic head will do the work just fine, but I'd like to avoid using an head, if it's possible...)

Ciao

Marco

 

[JHannon]

Dave, thank you!!

I was asking that because I use a Manfrotto quick release and, while I found that the Berlebach is very stable, the C1 on the quick release is not so stable, well, nothing that has ever prevent me to take sharp pictures, but I was looking at a more stable way to mount my C1 to the Berlebach, i.e. I think I need a larger plate than my Manfrotto quick release...any suggestions will be greatly appreciated (I was suggested that a Majestic head will do the work just fine, but I'd like to avoid using an head, if it's possible...)

Ciao

Marco

There was another thread here on a similar subject. One way is to add a 1/8" plate to the bottom of the C1. There are threaded holes in the c1's base that can be used to attach the plate. I am having a similar problem due to the C1's plate design. I am going to try it.

Here is the thread (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[JohnArs]

Oh there is a very good company its called Wolf!
Dead Link Removed
I like my first woody from them, prefer it over my Gitzo Carbon!