Tripod for my RB67

Does anybody have any thoughts on this tripod for my RB67? Or Vanguard tripods in general? They advertise it supports 11 lbs, my RB67 is 6 lbs. The price and weight seem reasonable, but I've never heard of the brand.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Vanguard-Aluminu...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5d22708656

Boy i bet this opens a can of worms...I have a Giotto aluminum tripod. It weighs about 6 lbs. itself but is very sturdy and hold my RB very well.. I am not sure that an 11lb max weight tripod would do a good job on a 6 lb camera? I also have a Manfrotto that has a max weight of about 10-11lbs and it barely works with my D300.
But that is just my opinion and this subject will have lots of them.

Amazon.com has it for $126. and free shipping and I saw others from $86. up. Couldn't find anything out about it though so you are on your own. Looks like an inexpensive one for limited use I would say -----

I'd look for an older Leitz or Marchioni Tiltall for $100, if that's your price range.

I'm using an Induro C214 with Manfrotto 468MGRC2 ballhead for my RB.

Works like a dream!

I have a heavy duty Manfrotto for my 4x5 which weighs over 12 lbs. I'm sure its overkill for the Toyo, but it works fine and I carry it and the Toyo on a stroller. I'm looking for something that is "safe" for the RB67 and weighs in at 6-7 lbs and costs less than $250 including the 3-way pan head. I don't care what it's made of.

tiltall(star-d,same thing) worked for me, still have it

moved up to a gitzo ser. 5 (HEAVY MO-FO), but solid enough for anything. definitely NOT a field tripod. been thinking of selling it to get one of the new carbon fiber ones (7.5lbs vs 25lbs).

but the tiltall's are great, and the sliks are really nice too. built well, and they were the no.1 I would sell when I worked at a camera shop here in LA. cheap, chinese made, yet will last years if treated right !


here's the 700dx with a head for $139.99 at b&h

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/131427-REG/Slik_615_315_Pro_700DX_Tripod_with.html

-Dan

Hard to say without actually holding it, I would say that it looks a little flimsy for an RB67. The old Manfrotto (Bogen) 055 series are not too expensive or heavy if you get the aluminium versions and work ok with RB67's as long as the lens isn't too long (mine is ok up to the 140 mm macro, but not really enough for the 250 - for that I tend to use a Gitzo aluminum series 3). On the other hand, if you use mirror-up on the RB, then the only vibration comes from the leaf shuttter which is negligable really, probably less than a typical focal plane 35mm shutter, and you have all that mass to dampen vibration.

I can't stress the importance of not skimping on the tripod with this camera. I had the quick-release on a velbon tripod fail and the rb67 hit the ground.. I've learnt from my mistakes.

I have a Manfrotto #055 which is sturdy enough, though, by itself, maybe not heavy enough in windy conditions; however, when coupled with my Manfrotto #268 ball head, the combination weighs 4.5 kg (10 lb.) and feels quite solid. The tripod is strong enough that I could suspend my bag from the centre post if necessary. Manfrotto quick release heads have a secondary safety catch to prevent accidental releases.
Ted

I have the Slik 700dx and it works great for the RB67, very sturdy and the weight is not bad at all.
Marty

I have a Manfrotto 3021Pro with a Manfrotto 3030 Head

I have to wholeheartedly agree with those above concerning the Marchioni Tiltall / Star D Professional (same tripod different label, I have both). The ones that were built in New Jersey are extremely well made.

Mike

DanielStone said:

moved up to a gitzo ser. 5 (HEAVY MO-FO), but solid enough for anything. definitely NOT a field tripod.

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I have two Gitzo series 5 tripods, and I use them in the field on a regular basis. I recommend getting to a good store, if you can, an getting some hands' on experience. It's more expensive in the long run to buy something that you won't be happy with in the long run, and thus making multiple purchases, than saving up for something good right off the bat.

JW one thing I sometimes do is use a lighter-weight tripod... without the head. The same screw that attaches most heads to tripod legs will also mate with the rb (you may have a reducing screw in your rb but removing that isn't hard). The tripod screw can usually be adjusted such that you have very firm and wide-area attachment to the underside of the camera. It damps out any vibration very quickly.

The obvious disdvantage is that you lose quick angular control (you do angles by moving the legs). But if you can get past that, the advantages are numerous. The setup as I describe it is very stable, so much so that I have started to do it with big LF cameras as well. Also the absence of a head saves several pounds of pack weight (and the heads are also a really annoying thing to pack for air travel; I find I have to disassemble them to cram them efficiently in a bag, which is a shame because no airline objects to me carrying the tripod onboard, but they do sometimes -understandably- object to the head...)

Of course, the rb, with its rotating back, doesn't need the third pivot point that most heads have anyway. Minor angular control can of course be had by extending the legs. I have used many heads with the rb, including the fancy pistol grip things, and actually I found that most of the instability was in the head. So then you can go with a head more geared for LF, or.... decapitate

Anyway, even if you decide not to go topless on a routine basis, this might be a useful tip for those times when you forget a tripod mount or whatever (Who? Moi? forget a tripod mount? Naaaah....)

mikebarger said:

I have to wholeheartedly agree with those above concerning the Marchioni Tiltall / Star D Professional (same tripod different label, I have both). The ones that were built in New Jersey are extremely well made.

Mike

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And different factory. Not Marchioni bros. Original Tiltall was USA made. Star-D was an import w/plastic grips & crude compared to the original.

martyryan said:

I have the Slik 700dx and it works great for the RB67, very sturdy and the weight is not bad at all.
Marty

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Slik 700DX is great. I filed a bit of it and sawed the center column away, now it goes very near the ground too.

The included pan head is decent, but by no means great. Especially the quick release plate is very loose on mine, and a heavy camera like RZ67 just turns around :S I'd get a good ballhead with Arca Swiss mount to replace it.

Sorry John, I have the Star D Professional (tag says made in USA), exactly the same as the Tiltall (which I also have). You are right about the plastic ends on the handles though, I had to go down to the darkroom and take a look.

Maybe you aren't old enough to have seen the original Star D's? The second generation was made overseas, the more hands that name went through the worse it got, again just like the tiltall.

Mike

I've spent the last couple of days searching on the internet for the perfect tripod for the RB67. I finally decided on a new Induro AP2 from KEH for $120. Then they tell me the shipping would be $80, and I might (or might not, depending on luck) have to pay customs duty and taxes. My second choice was the Slik 700 for about $20 more, but I liked the quick-release on the Induro better. Thinking I would be screwed on shipping on that as well, I started looking in Canada, knowing the price would be higher and the shipping less. Vistek has the AP2 for $300, but the AKB2 (the ballhead version) for $220. These tripods are both the same price at B&H, $181 - don't know why KEH was so much cheaper. I've almost decided to go with the ballhead. The tripod and ballhead are rated for 18.7 lbs, so in theory at least should be ok for my 6 lb RB67. The tripod weighs 4.2 lbs, a lot better than my 12 lb Manfrotto.
I will start niggling at my accountant to spring for some $ for the Induro AKB2 unless one or more of you tell me I'm crazy - for considering this tripod, or for getting a ballhead. This is the tripod, if anyone cares to look.

http://www.vistek.ca/marketing/procentre/induro/tripodkits.aspx

Thanks for the advice and general talk about suitable tripods. APUG is indeed a great resource and well worth the subscription fee!

johnnywalker said:

I've spent the last couple of days searching on the internet for the perfect tripod for the RB67. I finally decided on a new Induro AP2 from KEH for $120. Then they tell me the shipping would be $80, and I might (or might not, depending on luck) have to pay customs duty and taxes. My second choice was the Slik 700 for about $20 more, but I liked the quick-release on the Induro better. Thinking I would be screwed on shipping on that as well, I started looking in Canada, knowing the price would be higher and the shipping less. Vistek has the AP2 for $300, but the AKB2 (the ballhead version) for $220. These tripods are both the same price at B&H, $181 - don't know why KEH was so much cheaper. I've almost decided to go with the ballhead. The tripod and ballhead are rated for 18.7 lbs, so in theory at least should be ok for my 6 lb RB67. The tripod weighs 4.2 lbs, a lot better than my 12 lb Manfrotto.
I will start niggling at my accountant to spring for some $ for the Induro AKB2 unless one or more of you tell me I'm crazy - for considering this tripod, or for getting a ballhead. This is the tripod, if anyone cares to look.

http://www.vistek.ca/marketing/procentre/induro/tripodkits.aspx

Thanks for the advice and general talk about suitable tripods. APUG is indeed a great resource and well worth the subscription fee!

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Johnny, just a warning, with single action ball heads one lever releases the ball in all directions at once, and you have to careful to support the camera before releasing it, for an RB 67 you might be better off with the pan and tilt head so you can control the movement in all three planes independently. I use a ball head they are very quick to adjust for my Mamiya C330Fs, but it has a separate tension and pan control.

I am using the Berlebach Report 4032 with a built-in ball head for my Pentax 67. You can't tilt it horizontally to shoot verticals with it, but I guess that's not an issue with the RB67. It's a wooden tripod, dampens vibrations extremelly well. Weight is about 7 lbs, but the drawback is that it is somewhat unwieldy to carry if youre hiking long distances, but certainly possible if youre fit for it. Advantages: Extremely stable and wind resistant, low price and excellent quality, no need to buy any accessories since the built-in ball head is all you need, wood is very good material, especially in freezing conditions.

johnnywalker said:

Does anybody have any thoughts on this tripod for my RB67? Or Vanguard tripods in general? They advertise it supports 11 lbs, my RB67 is 6 lbs. The price and weight seem reasonable, but I've never heard of the brand.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Vanguard-Aluminu...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5d22708656

Click to expand...

That looks like junk to me. Not being difficult but I would not put an RB67 on that thing. I agree with the others about a used Tiltall. For your budget you could probably find a used Bogen 3047 3 way pan tilt head and Bogen legs are well.

I use a big old Canon ballhead on either a Manfrotto 3021 or Gitzo 320 (aluminum, bought used) for most photography. But for my RB, I put a Monfrotto 3029 pan and tilt head on the heavy Gitzo. Given the weight of the camera, I really prefer the pan and tilt head. I don't like the ring clamps on the Gitzo, but the stability is very good - I think the legs weigh 7-8 lbs alone.

I've had second thoughts about the ballhead. I was imagining trying to hold, balance and point the RB with one hand and fiddle with that little knob with the other. Looks like I'll be paying the high shipping fees from the US for the panhead. Price is right though.

Look at a Benbo. Medium size. It's heavy and held my Rollei SL 66 with ease.
Morry Katz - Lethbridge Canada